Basement Slowgress

Since going back to work, everything has slowed down a bit.  In part for lack of time, and in part because it is getting down to the hard bits that just take time, and thought.  All of the macro framing is complete, so that leaves the duct bulkheads you can see starting to take shape here:

We are actually going to do a drop ceiling, but you still need dry wall on all the vertical surfaces, even the stupid ones.

To go with the odd framing, is the electrical, this stuff is mostly slow because of thought, we keep having to check code books, and double check each others work (Erin is doing most of the box wiring, while I'm framing.)  We are trying to keep our options open with respect to the basement as a future mini-appartment, so we are wiring the "bar" as more of a kitchenette, so everything to code with respect to the number and wiring of junction boxes near the sink, and for the future fridge.  So that means 12 gage conductor for 20 amp boxes, and two full circuits of it.  Everyone you ask when it comes to code has a different answer, and it isn't because any of them are strictly wrong, but because code seems to shift every three  to five years.  Especially where it comes to water and electricity being close to one another.

Some good examples of receptacle and sconce junction boxes.

Our dead line is fast approaching, Monday the 18th is when I've self reported to the ESA that we will be ready for inspection.  The inspection hasn't actually been booked, but I figure I have a window of about a week from that day in which the inspection will be done.  I'm optimistic we can nail this on the first inspection and avoid any delays in getting the insulation done.

Speaking of insulation, I now have two more companies coming to quote, so I think I'll have some leverage and a good price.  This is probably going to be the single largest expense in the basement, so I figure doing my research is time well spent.

Anyways, all things go according to plan I'm thinking we will have unfinished drywall in place by Christmas.

Framing nearing completion

Friday, and Sunday I got a lot done on the basement with the help of a lot of support staff with the kids.  There is a real press on now to get the framing done, and then wiring before the cold comes, given I have no insulation. 

As we frame we are finalizing the design, this weekend saw the removal of all the kneed walls, and the addition of an art niche, and some idea generation for lighting.  So we shall see what comes when we are done.

So here are some of the frames installed and started

Start of the wall to the utility room

45 Degree Frame

Utility room wall coming together.

Bathroom Area

I don't have any great pictures of the art niche, in part because it is only roughed in, we have to set the height and depth still.  More updates as they happen, Erin, as time allows is going to get the electrical started.

Friday's Work

Two more frames in, one of them is secured to the steel beam, what can
I say, I like gunpowder fasteners.

More Progress, a little slower

Finished the long wall

Little tricky around the end where the cabinets will go.

Before I nailed my hand...

Finished and secured the long window wall, these frames were cut by Erin
You can see the sump pump box, aka 'future art niche'

 Erin assembled these frames while I levelled and installed them, until I nailed my finger.

Can't recall if I posted this yet

Basement framing progressing

These frames are all secured to the concrete, and to the walls.
Basically that whole side of the basement, except the sump pump is
done.

First frames

They aren't installed just assembled, but here are the first frames
including the roughed in door.

Framing Started (slowly)

I moved a boat load of lumber today, about 116 2x4's, and so framing started a little slowly.  I also was forced to make some frustrating decisions that sent me back to Home Despot twice.  The first is that all the 80" doors are two tall, and the second is that I need to replace the insulation to preserve space and make it easier to work.

You can see here in the attached image how the existing insulation has the door frame askew, so tomorrow it has to come out, and then get the pink insulation ripped out.  So gloves, masks and long sleeves.  I hate working with insulation, but it is the right thing to do.

Framewalk Today

So here are some random pictures from the framewalk, actually these are distinctly not random, but some specific pictures of the backyard. I was trying (without the site plan) to visualize the backyard. So I staked out three stakes, one at 16', 32' and 48'.

And the magic number is actually.... 24 ft. So between the first and second stake is our backyard (typed steak there... must be BBQ withdrawl.)

Anyways, the angle makes the images next to useless, but I enjoy the theory of it at least. Might go back and if my stakes are still there take a shot from inside the house to get a better idea.




And here is just the rest of the random stuff I took pictures of, enjoy:

Roof Sheeting and Doors

Work started up again on March 3, did some sheeting over the porch, and build up the framing for pouring the front patio.


They've also delivered some doors and windows.



I'm expecting a lot of changes today, it looked like they stared work again, and this stuff moves in waves, once they start something it finishes fast, so we will see.

Framing Feb 24 - Raise the Roof

Sorry, I did take pictures, but it is usually the next days pictures that push me to put up the last set, and the house didn't move for over a week.

So here is the last set of pictures I took, the roof went up in a day, just boom!

Snü

Seriously there has been so little snow this year that I didn't know what the stuff looked like anymore. We are now blanketed in a cool white sticky mess of it, ideal for snow balls, snow men, snow fortification, and FINALY, at long last snow blowing.

Okay so maybe it is just the Y chromosome but snowblowers are the pressure washer of the winter, and mine has been sitting all pristine and unused since its arrival this Christmas. I realize 1) the amount of snow we got, and 2) the size of my current drive way don't really warrant a snow blowing, but dammit I wanted to, and dammit I did, and it was good. :P

Our young monkey has established what snow angel's are, although his proficiency is more makes them more snow arm flanging, but we are working on it. He had a good romp in the snow until are lawn looked like a family circus cartoon, and his cheeks were red, but fun was had by all. (sorry no pictures, he was moving fast in low light they just didn't work out.)

Erin pointed out, and this will not make any sense if you don't play Bioshock, but it would be funny/creepy if the little sisters in that game pointed to a splicer trapped in ice and exclaimed in there little scary voice "look Mr Bubbles a snow angel."

As for the house, a little bit of work, they basically finished framing the last of the exterior walls, specifically the great room, which here unto now was looking more like an awesome porch you had to pass through to get upstairs:




The upstairs hall kind of cracked me up with the snow, it was a touch on the treacherous inside, I'm glad that the construction workers have taken the time to build hand rails on the temporary stairs.


Of course, my favourite piece of all the framing arrived as well, the trusses, I love trusses, no seriously, first year statics, was awesome! (I am actually being serious, statics was one of my favourite courses, for lay persons, Statics is effectively the Physics of stuff that under normal circumstances isn't moving, as well as all that free body diagram stuff.)

Views from the great room

One of the things that makes the great room so great is you can see the rest of the house from it, upstairs, front hall dining room, and back into the kitchen.

Dining Room:


Kitchen:


Front Hall:



Alright thats all my pictures for the weekend. I wanted to get one good set of shots in bright light.

Second Floor (now with 30000' ceilings)

Here are some shots from the second floor that they pretty much framed in one day. They work fast.

View from master bedroom


Upstairs Hall


Front bedroom


Middle bedroom


Bedroom adjacent to master bedroom

Interior Shots

Dining Room


Front Entrance from the top.


Front entrance looking in.

They work on Saturdays

So they did a lot of work today, which I was a bit surprised by (being Saturday) but I'm happy to see it go up, the sooner they get a roof and windows on the sooner it is sealed to the elements. So here is the exterior 360.

Framing Feb 18/19

Feb 18
On the 18th they pretty much finished the framing on the main floor. Bryan was enthused to see the a fork lift put up the steel beam in the garage.


Feb 19:
On the 19th they put up the second floor, and poured the front step, Erin got a flat tire.

Framing (title creativity? no)

Day to day

We are moving a long at a fair clip, and I expect daily or nearly daily updates, so don't bore yourself with them if you don't want. Some work on the house yesterday, not as dramatic, but hey it was virtual monday. The framing on the basement is coming together, I imagine the first floor will be on by end of day, but that is just a guess.