Deck Rails - FINALLY

Well it was a long time coming, but I finally completed the deck rails. Got to use more Ipe and with the metal balusters we still get a good view.






Angie wants the rest of the deck to look this good...

Gutters

Truly not that exciting but at last we have gutters! We ended up getting plain old brown ones, nothing fancy, but at least the water isn't splashing on the siding anymore. Guess that will have to be cleaned and stained soon!

Trim & Brackets

Its slow going now, not because the motivation isn't there but because the materials aren't all here. We are still in need of gutters, they are proving hard to find though, well in brown vinyl at least. We really want to match the gutters to the rest of the house, so the hunt continues.

Randy worked on the trim and it looks great, well at least I think it does! It's really nice to see this project coming down the home stretch and to see the garage finally starting to empty out!

In addition to the trim we got those monster brackets up! It is really funny because while on the ground and while installing they are huge, but once we put them up there, well they didn't look so big!

Next up, hopefully the rest of the trim and the railing for the deck!

Ready for rails

Well the decking is all but complete! Still need to make some Ipe plugs (48 of them) to hide the screws holes, but everything came out nicely.



Next we'll clean it up a bit (soap, water, and scrub brush), and then decide if we'll put sealer on it or let it weather naturally.


Even put a Ipe strip under the french door .



UPDATE:

Ipe decking almost complete

Well it was a long, hot weekend with a quick afternoon thundershower each day, but the Ipe decking is complete. I need to cut the 45 degree angles and seal all the cut edges, before the picture frame edging can be applied.







Now on to research for the railings...

Here We Go!

We started the deck building finally! Between the drenching rains and below normal cold temperatures this spring our progress was delayed for many weeks. This past weekend though we had major achievements!


On Saturday we got the post up and in place and had put supports up to get them plumb and level. Randy wanted very much to get the joists up on Saturday as well but a storm kicked up and we scrambled to get the tools in before we got drenched.

Time was limited on Sunday but by the time Randy was done, it was starting to look like the bones of a deck!

Christmas Time!

We figure with the door right there, it will be easy for Santa to find the Christmas tree!
Merry Christmas everyone!

Details

Well the "room" is now a livable space and it's wonderful! We are still working on the trim, but we have some little details to share.

This is the first completed set of trim. The Christmas tree will be placed in front of these doors in the next few days!


This lovely little item is the heat pump for the room. I wasn't too keen on the size as it was bigger then I thought it would be and I was worried about the noise it would make. Well, turns out that once it was installed it didn't look as big and it is quieter than a cat's purr! Plus it makes some serious heat!!!


No, this isn't a thermostat it is the controller for the music in the room! Randy ran speaker cable and Cat 5 from the receiver in the living room to this little gadget and it plays the music from our music server! How cool is that!


Of course this is one of the speakers in the room, there are 2 of them, one on either side. I must admit that I was skeptical of how well it would work, but once again Randy impressed me! This room is more then I dreamed it would be and I can't wait to spend many hours out there!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Yesterday saw a whole laundry list of little details get finished: installed new light, moved old light to outside, new outdoor outlet, new ceiling fan, stained and installed window/door grills, removed plastic from windows, door, and skylights, stained skylights, installed last row of flooring, put down rug, and finally - moved in some furniture!!!











Up next is door and window trim (inside and out), install that heat pump (before it gets cold), put some speakers in the wall (hooked to receiver in great room), baseboard trim, etc...

On to the interior

We took the scaffolding back and then it was on to sanding the posts, beams, and rafters. While the dust settled we installed some extension jambs on the windows. Saturday I sprayed clear coat (2 coats) on the post, beams, rafters, and ceiling. Then came the insulation and as you can see Angie is a wiz at putting it in, note, all pieces go the same direction. She says she likes this best, it's light and easy!



After a rare afternoon off at the Redskins game (Skins 25, Eagles 33). It was on to to full cedar paneling mode. It took all day, but the result was well worth it.




Just a few tricky pieces left and its on to window and door trim.


Friday is delivery day again, heat pump, flooring, and furniture...

Windows, Doors & More!!!

This weekend was all about the front of the addition. We ended up having to rent scaffolding on Saturday so that Randy (note I say Randy because I wasn't going up on that stuff!) could access the entire front of the room, rather then one side at a time. By the time we went and picked it up, set it up and installed two windows and finished the door, it was close to dark!

We started fresh on Sunday, installing the siding. With me at the chop saw and Randy swinging through the giant set of monkey bars we rolled along until we got close to the top, by that time it was dark and those last pieces couldn't be installed until the fascia and soffit went in. (Not to mention that those last lovely pieces needed some serious angles on them!



After a trip to the lumber yard for more cedar we worked on the soffit and fascia. We got the two long sides and the two short sides on the extension done. While Randy was working on the short sides I was putting backer rod into the gaps and filling doors and windows with expanding foam. After he finished up the last of the short side we started working on those cuts. It took a while but the end product is awesome!



Time to get started on the interior for real!!!

Log Siding

Well after four days of rain we were ready to get back at it! While the rain finished up Saturday morning, we kept dry by installing the double patio door. We put the extension sill and jamb on first, then stood it into place (note the brace to keep the door from falling to certain doom). That first step is a doozy!



With that complete it was on to log siding, we started on the high side. Just a couple full rows then a whole bunch of short pieces between the windows. Angie cut while I used the siding nailer to drive them home. In a couple years it will blend right in!



Sunday we finished the other end. Next weekend we'll borrow some scaffolding and get those last two pesky windows installed and get the gable end covered in more log siding...

Doors & Windows

It was door and window weekend. Saturday we got three windows in, after the first one we had it down to a science! We spent a couple hours running around though looking for some drip cap to go over top the windows... On Sunday we put two more windows in and the patio door leading to the deck. The two windows and double door off the front were too much for Angie and I to handle.


Before we could put the three in on the outside end, we had to build a little deck to stand on. We also attached the log corner post before we put the windows in.


Here you can see the windows and skylights from the inside. Next weekend we'll move on to the exteroir log siding. And we'll work on those remaining two windows and door.

Mid Week

They are calling for rain this week so Randy came home a little early to get the flashing done. He started by cutting a groove in the house with the circular saw. Then he made his own "Aluminum Break" to bend the flashing which I had the pleasure of standing on while he hammered away.
It turned out really nice and when the rains came, no leaks which is the very best part!!!

Now me well, don't think that I have been sitting on my laurels while Randy has been working away. Besides being the only member of the brute squad, I am also the hauler and the lifter, the holder and oh yeah, the stainer. We got a delivery of more supplies, the interior siding which is already finished in a clear, all the interior trim for windows and doors and all the exterior siding.


Well each day I load up my staining station and do about 20 boards. (Each morning the staining fairy comes and puts the stained boards away, amazing!) I suspect that it will get a little more challenging as the boards get longer, because while they will, my arms won't!

So here in my room I stain, 2 coats every day. I have a lot of boards to go...

Roofing complete

Well it took all weekend, but we got the skylights installed and all the roof shingles complete. By the 3rd and 4th skylight we had it down pat (first two were a little rough)! Let's hope for no leaks. After that it was just one shingle at a time... We still have to flash against the house but not too many more trips up and down the ladder. Yes, it really was that dark when we finished...

Heat Wave

I think the bigger story today was the weather...90 degrees and 95% humidity - yes, in October. We braved the heat and got a few things done. First we put some cedar fascia up and the drip edge.





After which it was on to ice dam. It's now ready for shingles...

Roofing continued

Well after a short day yesterday (Angie participated in Highland Days trying to sell her wares), we got back to it today with getting the two layers of foam insulation and plywood sheathing installed on the roof. A lot of work that no one will ever see!!!

A hole in the roof...

This morning we got started by taping the seams of the house wrap. After that, we finished putting up the rake board along the gable end.



But before we can put the foam insulation and plywood sheathing on, we had to cut the holes for the skylights. First we made some "boxes" out of the cedar to use as our framing, then we got to the task of actually marking and cutting the holes. Scary, but came out beautifully. Two more tomorrow...then on to roofing.