HVAC and Brickwork and Status of Electric and Plumbing

The Plumbing has very little left to do before the rough-in inspection.  The Electric is in the same state.  And, we decided on a ductless heat pump system and the installation of that system is starting today.  It should take 3 days to do the rough-in.  Then, we should be ready for all of the inspections... by next week.
  















We decided to  use our antique tub in the new house.  Bill had to move a 'shower wall' an inch or two.  Also, in our standard bathroom, we had to chisel out a bit as the walls did not accommodate the standard tub, by about an inch.


 





 
 Meanwhile, Bill has started work, and progressed rather well, on the brick half wall between the living room and the kitchen.  He is using used brick that was here, some of which came from the old farmhouse that stood within 20 feet of where we are building.

 Exterior work is at a standstill.  Excavation is needed, and weather is wet. We need to caulk or at least look at the caulking that has been done.  And the garage needs caulk and paint and the trim around the garage door installed.

EIFS and Garage Umbrella

A crew of two, one from Honduras, one from Guatemala, have descended upon us and are here for the duration until our exterior walls are finished.  (Perhaps a Godsend!) They have finished the South and West.  On to the North!

 Last weekend, Danny and Sterling were here to excavate and shovel and rake the shape for the umbrella over the garage.  This weekend, they were joined by Jesus, and the umbrella was put in place.  And Carol, Kim, Eddy and Evito were other essential crew members. The umbrella is composed of 3 layers of plastic sheathing, and 2 of blueboard insulation, (think a triple decker sandwich) and we topped that with curlex to keep it in place until covered with dirt.  After all that work, we didn't want it blowing away.  Sunday, the subsoil was added.   I think Danny may be adding the topsoil now.  Only one casualty in the endeavor.  The skidsteer caught the buried phone cable as he took the dirt down further than it previously was to scoop it on top of the garage - saved him going around to the west of the house and getting more dirt.  Glad he missed the power line!  Bill has the camera right now with Sunday pictures in it or I would gladly show them.  And then you would think nothing had happened except for some reason, we took all the grass away.

Electrician and Plumber

On Tuesday, the electrician finished up "all he could do" before the plumber does things.  On Wednesday, the plumber came, with the electrician as his helper. They started roughing in the vent pipes and drain pipes.

The second floor water wall

Some of the plumbing on the first floor

 Lots more to do!
We had expectations of our EIFS (modern stucco) being done.  It has not happened as yet.  We are still hopeful. And no progress with excavation as yet.
We are building this house because what we are living needs substantial help.  The roof over the great room has shown us a major leak over last week's rains.  It is getting repaired before the next rain.

We are INTO Foam Here

Our last blog update showed the West Annex covered with EPS Foam (Expanded Polystyrene).  We now have the Southwall covered in EPS Foam.  

Besides foam on the outside, some interior work is still getting done.  The electrician showed up for one day this week and installed fans.  We are starting on the archways that will be at each end of the hall. And the only remaining wall (that needs completion) of the tunnel is also covered in foam.

Finish Coat on South Parapet and Retaining Walls and West Retaining Walls

Another group of workers experienced in EIFS came and this is what the house now looks like.

 As you can see, it is a work in progress.

Garage Senergy Final Coat and Interior (House) Wall Framing by Bill

We are very happy that the garage has the final outside finish applied.  We still need to paint trim and use sealant and put the insulating gasket around the garage door.

Bill did some framing of interior walls in the house so that the electricians and plumbers can use the space in those walls: for a light in the closet and switch to turn it on, and for incoming water and outlets for the washer and dryer.  The closet wall may look like it is wrong because it isn't attached to anything at one end.  However, there will be a wall there - that is where a pocket door will be.

 

 

Electricians and Concrete Finishers

Progress continues.  During the week, we prepare for the weekend crew and/or at least think about the problems and possible solutions to the situations we are in and make sure we have resources for the weekend.  Saturdays, we have our concrete finishers come and make lots of progress.  They have 'cosmetically' fixed our arch on the South wall so that it is ready for or close to ready for the finish coat.  The South wall still needs a thin base coat before the finish coat.  And we have found that we can cap the parapets with EIFS rather than a metal cap.  So today, they are parging the back of the three parapets of the house to make them smooth, and have started constructing the garage cap with the Expanded Polystyrene to form the cap.  Once the cap is coated with base coat, which will probably be next weekend, we will be able to apply the finish coat.

Locust tree shooting up shows that time passes....

Miguel II and Fidel holding proposed 'cap EPS'

Electricians have been out during the week intermittently and accomplished some work.  We always wish it went faster, but it is progressing. And we are discussing interior paint or wall coatings.  And how and when to do the epoxy floors.

Lights on the West wall

Lights on the East wall

The excavator has not been here.  The weather has not been in our favor, with afternoon showers/thunderstorms expected most days.  We are starting to shovel by hand on the garage roof to get an idea of the slope the umbrella will take.  Hopefully soon, we will have good enough weather for a couple of days to complete the garage umbrella. We are also wanting the ends of the earth tubes to be dug up and extended.  This is a big job as they currently end at the North end of the house and need to go to the driveway, thru the heat exchanger under the driveway, and then some into the woods, a total of between 50 and 100 feet.