Saturday, March 2, 2013

House Building Journal - part 13

In reading my last blog from more than a month ago it sounded as if the state of our health and well being and that of the house was dire. It was not at all the case but rather a series of events that all seemed to fall one on top of the other.

January brought much smoother sailing but consequently, less to write about. As I sit in our cozy cabin, the house just a few yards away, all is peaceful and quiet.



Smoke is coming from the chimney as the new boiler hums along heating the radiant floors, insulation is complete and Frits is finishing the central vac system. All week, trucks have been in and out, some sliding off the driveway necessitating Frits to climb on his tractor and pull them out. A large truck belonging to the insulating crew, sat running in front of the house, with long hoses blowing in the insulating materials and guys tracking in and out. It now feels as if the whole house has been wrapped in a huge blanket making it very snug and quiet.

The process was new to us and to many builders in the area. First netting is stapled in place and then the ground up fiberglass material is blown in and held in place by the netting. The fibers of the material attach to each other, greatly reducing the chance of settling that can occur with other blown in materials.

 

During the early part of January temperatures were low and so condensation had formed and frozen on the inside of the exterior walls. Until this could be dried out no insulation could be installed. The radiant heat was already in the basement floor but now we needed it in the main level floor. Once the piping was in place, concrete was poured, leveled and smoothed.

 

Another week had to pass to give time for the concrete to set before hot water could run through the pipes. All the moisture from the concrete was now being released into the air and even more condensed and froze on the exterior walls. The boiler had to work overtime to keep the temperature in the uninsulated house warm enough to dry it out. A commercial strength dehumidifier and a fan helped and so by the time the insulators arrived, we were ready.

Work continues on the exterior of the house with trim and shingles still to be completed. Extra rafter tails have been added to strengthen the overhang to make sure the weight of the snow does not become too much. Working through the winter has it's disadvantages but also it's advantages. We now know where the snow comes off the roof and so when landscaping, we will take that into account. I have already picked out the spot where an ornamental crab apple tree should go. It will serve to screen our bathroom window somewhat as well as providing gorgeous blossoms in springtime.

 

The porch has just a temporary rail and not yet finished floor but will be a favored place to entertain as soon as the weather warms up. Come one, come all!