Small Details

There have been alot of little things being done right now. All of the walls are up and have now been squared and leveled. The roof trusses are onsite and should be going up tomorrow. I've had to put some of my sweat equity in by installing the insulation I bought. Putting that stuff up is very itchy. The foam itself isn't itchy but the black facing is made of fiberglass.

I'm ready for the Shannon problems to stop. Every time I think I'm getting close to finishing, I'm thrown another curve ball. This week it is the upstairs bath. Just as I'm trying to finish the tub install, the new water valve starts leaking. I'm officially done with Shannon. I'm hiring someone to finish the bathroom and possibly other things. I need to focus on Kane and work.

Dave

Dirty Hands

I was finally able to get my hands dirty. My builder happened to be working last Saturday. I asked if I could help. We spent Saturday morning prepping the recently laid floor trusses for floor sheathing. It felt good to put some sweat equity into Kane, as opposed to Shannon. Shannon's bathroom is still waiting, and I'll get back to that this week. I'll be very happy to finish Shannon's updates. I'm ready to focus on Kane, full time.

I was also able to get some help from my buddy Paul to remove a tree that was in the way. This tree was leaning toward Kane Hill Road and he isn't afraid of heights (unlike me). Only a few limbs fell into the road, but Jen and Joelle were quick to get them out of the way. The tree removal paves the way for a much easier path to the front door.

The photos above, were taken from the upper area of the property. It's great to get a different perspective. It's amazing the difference in elevation from the top to the bottom. We should have the second floor deck down by the end of the week.

Dave

WE HAVE WOOD!!

This week is all about wood. Now that the basement slab is poured, the builder began working on the load bearing wood walls in the basement. Once those are completed we will begin to receive the upper floor framing. We should be under roof by the end of next week.

Jen and I also travelled to Pittsburgh for a doctors appointment this week. While we were there, I picked up some used insulation for the exterior block walls. Can't beat the price, and hey, no one is going to see it.

Dave

Slab

Before

After

Jen and I spent last evening laying out the insulation barrier between the concrete floor slab and the gravel underneath. I chose a foil faced bubble wrap. It's about triple the cost of a typical polyethylene tarp. What you get for that money is a warmer concrete slab. And since this will be a living area, it was necessary. I could not afford to add the radiant tubes to the slab like I wanted, so this was the next best thing. Once the slab is poured on Friday, we will be ready to frame the front and back walls, then start the upstairs framing. We should have a first floor deck on by next Friday.

What you are seeing in those pictures above is the underground plumbing for the garage floor drains and the downstairs bath.

Dave