6.30.2018

Jim worked on finishing up blocking on the area below the stairs and then put drywall up!  This first section is all done. 

 



Then he put drywall on the last stair section.  He ran out of J-channel to finish the edges but that's the last detail and then this work is all done!

His next big task is working on the shower.  Since we weren't quite planning to use these particular shower walls, they come out from the wall a little bit.  Jim had to make some blocking to bring the shower mixing valve out to the right position.  He first cut a circle out of some plywood on the band
saw.

Next, he had to use his hole saw and cut the right diameter circle out of the middle.

Ta da - a wooden donut!

Making sure it fits...

A little adhesive...

Then screwing it in place...

The mounting plate for the mixing valve is attached...

High 90/Low 70

6.29.2018 - Stairwell work done!

A great day - Jim was able to cross three items off his occupancy check list today!

He first had to finish up the risers on the bottoms of two stair runs.  These had to be done differently because they aren't fastening to another tread.  He had to remove the tread, make the riser including all the same pocket holes for the screws, and then he made a piece of blocking.

 He fastened the blocking to the back of the riser to give it more stability from any bending forces.

 

Bottom riser done on the main landing...

 



 

And the bottom two are done on the very last run....

 



Then he made the wood frames and got the spindles in for the very top of the staircase!

He took off the top handrail to do some more welding on it, proving that he can take apart the handrails if needed for moving!

So risers, handrail and spindles - check, check and check!  There will be cosmetic touches at some point in the future, like paint, but we are all good for inspection!

His next project was making a bulkhead for the end of the cavity underneath the bottom stairs.

 

 Installing it at the very bottom of the staircase.  Now when it's drywall time, Jim won't have to try and get drywall into the far corners.

Jim also heard from the gas company.  He submitted our application to the local gas co-op last weekend.  Our next step is to have the gas company out for a site review - so that is now scheduled for Tuesday!

The grass doesn't stop growing for occupancy permits, so Jim has had to devote a little time lately to do some maintenance on the mower - putting new air and fuel filters on and cleaning it up a bit.  At the end of the day, he did some mowing.

High 84/Low 60

6.28.2018

Whew...this was a crazy day for Jim (aren't they all?).  The last time the building inspector was out, they were discussing handrail options and he said he would be happy to stop back and see what Jim did.  Although Jim knew that his modifications were more than fine, Jim used that as a way to get him back to the property.  However, when he stopped at the building department this morning, he had hoped to have Jerry out tomorrow but he was leaving on his vacation early and wouldn't be around.  So they set up the appointment for 1:30 today.

 

Which meant Jim had lots of things that he wanted to do before he came out - like finishing the wall framing.  Once he got back to the property and started on this wall, he ran into some issues like broken screws that caused a delay. 

 

But he ended up getting it all done! 

He also got the first piece of drywall underneath the stairs to show Jerry that everything was ready for that.

I knew Jim would need a smile today so as I was making his sandwich this morning, I noticed the bread looked alien shaped so I just added some eyes.  Jim took a picture of it before he ate it!

Jim made out a list of the things that he felt he needed to do before we got our occupancy - remember, our deadline is July 9th or we have to buy another extension.  Once Jerry got to the property, they went over the list.  He liked the handrails (of course).  Jim had hoped to convince Jerry to let him not put the drywall up right now so that we don't have to get a special drywall delivery for just a few pieces but Jerry held firm on that requirement.  However, he told Jim that he doesn't have to have the gas hooked up before occupancy!  He's seen all the furnace and hot water equipment and knows that it's ready and we've applied to the gas co-op, but all that takes time and Jim will have grading work to do for the tank.  So that was a huge relief!  Jim's just going to continue to work to get the list done before the 9th - if it happens, great, but if not, we'll renew the permit and will know that we'll get occupancy soon after.

Jim built the spindle frame this afternoon for the top of the stairs. 

 

Then this afternoon, he got the wooden spindle frames all made.  These take awhile and require Jim to completely reset his saw to make all the cuts.

 

A great day - no matter what day it happens, we know that occupancy is close!  Just as Jim got home, the sun was still bright but there was a very light drizzle - and we got to see a gorgeous double rainbow!

High 75/Low 60 - few drizzles

 

6.27.2018



Jim continued stairwell work this morning - he made the frame for the end wall at the top of the stairs, mounted a bracket, and then made the final handrail piece.  He just has to make the spindle frame and the stairwell work will be done for now!  So much time invested but it sure looks good.

 

Here's the door that Jim picked up at Lowe's yesterday - it matches the one on the control room.

Over lunch, Jim had to make a trip to the Drywall Center to pick up steel to make our wall dividing the metal shop with the stairwell (required for occupancy).  He also had to talk to his rep about the possibility of getting just a small order of drywall delivered. 

Once he got back, he transferred the wall plans to the floor...

Doing some steel cutting...

Jim first put up the top track and then the side pieces.

For the bottom track, Jim had to punch holes in the steel and then use Tapcons to drill through the concrete.

Jim didn't want to compromise any of the beam's structural properties by drilling through the flange at the bottom to attach the top track.  So at this point, he made a box beam by putting up another piece of track...

Completed box beam...

Then he had to add another piece of track on the bottom of that...

The forces on the end of the beam are different than in the middle so Jim was comfortable drilling through the beam at the very end next to the foam.  This is 3/4" steel that Jim had to drill through!

 

High 70/Low 60 - some light afternoon rain

6.26.2018

 

Jim worked on the framing underneath the stairs for drywall - he got the last piece on.  Then he had to go back and screw everything together.

Then he had to work on the last flight of stairs - this requires mostly working on his back!  He decided to do things a little differently on this flight, putting 3 pieces of blocking underneath each tread.

Then he had to first dismantle and then build the next handrail modification.  By the end of the day, this one is all finished - yay!  So the only one left to do is the very top, which should be a little more straightforward. 

Out of all the many boxes of flooring that we ordered years ago - this is all that Jim has left!  He'll probably use the full piece to fill in the edges in the bedroom so pretty incredible!  He had almost zero waste and used every bit!

Jim had to take off a little bit early and go to Lowe's to pick up the door for the wall in the metal shop.  Because it sticks out the back, he had to drop it back off at the carriage house before heading home. 

High 76/Low 54 - beautiful!

6.25.2018

Jim did the majority of the framing underneath the stairs to get ready for drywall.  He just has one more piece at the bottom to do.

 



 

Then it was stair handrail work.  He got the lower handrail modification all done - this picture was done before he did more finish grinding work to smooth everything out.  It looks great!

 

Then he had to work on the very bottom modification - here he's showing me how it will work.

 

 Doing some grinding...

All done!

Next, Jim headed up to the apartment to finish some flooring details.  He had to make the very last little piece at the back of the second bedroom closet.

Then he moved into the kitchen.  Only Jim would put all this flooring underneath cabinets but it sure makes it look nice!

Last full course...

Working around the plumbing...

Back to making tiny pieces...

Kitchen flooring is all done!

Then Jim got the last piece in this area in the master bedroom.

The only spots left to do are a few more small slivers that Jim will have to make against the wall in both bedrooms.  None of that is required for occupancy so he'll just work on it as time permits. 

But it's amazing - Jim has 1-1/2 pieces of flooring left!  Talk about perfect ordering!

High 72/Low 45 - gorgeous!