A Green Home

landscaping

2010-06-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been months since my last post. We have had a busy spring planting 17 fruit trees, one walnut tree, and many drought tolerant, deer resistant, perennial, California native plants. We can't say enough about the UCSC Farm and Garden for their plant sales, pruning classes and CSA. Here is a pic of trees on the east side of the home with some of the plants in the foreground (summer is the

Solar monitoring service

2010-01-18T13:08:00.001-08:00

The solar photovoltaic (PV) monitoring service called PV Watch was installed last week. Click the "PV Watch" image below or in the right pane to see performance data for my solar array. Thanks for reading. Your comments are appreciated.

Blower door test

2010-01-12T11:42:00.000-08:00

Sharon and Andy from Block Energy Design showed up Tuesday morning to do a blower door test on the home. This test determines how airtight the home is. Here is a pic of the Minneapolis Blower Door, made by The Energy Conservatory, installed in the entry of the home.All of the other windows and doors in the home were closed. The blower removed air from the home and maintained pressure inside that

Day 144 & 145: Rock wall and moving in

2009-12-20T11:22:00.001-08:00

On Thursday and Friday, Trevor worked on construction of a rock wall along the north edge of the entry porch. The wall will facilitate drainage and add a few more square feet to the porch area. Here is a pic of the work in progress.On Friday the crew helped us move in marking the official end of major construction and almost daily posts. There are years worth of projects ahead, and I will post

Day 142 & 143: Cabinet handles andt tile work complete

2009-12-17T07:28:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, Alan from Live Oak Design installed handles on the cabinets. Here is a pic of the peninsula.On Tuesday and Wednesday, Joshua completed the floor mosaic and vanity backsplash while I cleaned up in preparation for moving in. Below are pics of the tile work. Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Day 140 & 141: Wood floor and other details

2009-12-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, Joshua and I finished sanding the loft floor. On Saturday, Cindy and I cleaned up the house and applied a first coat of Osmo Polyx-Oil finish to the floor. Below is a pic taken from the spiral staircase. The floor is smooth and no longer gray and oxidized, but still retains much of the character from that old Oregon sawmill.On Friday Justin completed some finish details like pocket

Day 139: Floor sanding and closet shelves

2009-12-10T19:30:00.001-08:00

On Thursday Joshua and I sanded the loft floor. Even though douglas fir is supposed to be a soft wood, this salvaged wood is harder than oak because it is so old and dry. Joshua commented that this floor is harder than oak and maple floors he sanded in the past. Below is a pic of the floor in process.Justin continued work on the closet shelves and hangar rod. Thanks for reading. Please feel free

Day 138: Mosaics , solar water heating and HERS rating

2009-12-09T19:55:00.000-08:00

Joshua continued work on the floor mosaic on Wednesday. Below is a pic of the work in progress. It's great to see it with the paper template pieces removed. He also started work on a backsplash for the vanity countertop.My PV solar system rebate was filed with the New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP) program. A verification by a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) professional is needed to verify

Day 137: Mosaic, closet and solar water heating

2009-12-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, Joshua continued work on the floor mosaic. Here is a pic of the work in progress.Justin worked on closet shelves while I started laying out plumbing for the solar water heating system in the utility room. Thanks for reading. I enjoy reading your comments.

Day 135 & 136: More mosaic and wood floor patching

2009-12-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, Joshua continued working on the family room floor mosaic. Here is a pic of the work in progress.On Monday, we sanded the wood floor test patch samples from last week. The patches held up well so we proceeded to patch cracks, holes and large gaps in the wood floor of the loft. The pic below shows two of the larger cracks after filling. Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave a

Day 134: Another mosaic

2009-12-03T17:28:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Joshua began cutting granite material for another tile mosaic that will go in front of the large sliding glass door in the family room. Here is a pic of the work in progress.Marty stopped by to do a few small items off the punch list. Joshua filled some cracks and holes in several pieces of the old wood tongue and groove loft floor material. He used a mix of Elmer's glue and sawdust

Day 133: Vanity, floor heating and occupancy certificate

2009-12-02T20:18:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, the folks from Marble City arrived to install the granite vanity countertop and sink. The granite matches one of our favorite colors in the shower.I got the radiant floor heating system up and running today. This will be nice for those cloudy winter days when there is not enough passive solar heat gain to keep the home comfortable.We received a certificate of occupancy today! After

Day 132: Stella status

2009-12-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

Stella status:It's been a while since we have seen Stella. She is nearly full grown and has an adult bark.She also has a new little brother named Jackson.

Day 131: Doors and hot water

2009-11-30T20:51:00.000-08:00

Over the long holiday weekend, Cindy finished the entry door and interior doors with AFM Naturals Clear Penetrating Oil. The finish makes the doors look even more beautiful. She also installed hardware on all of the doors and weatherstripping on the entry door. Here is a pic of the entry door from the inside.Today I got the heating system producing domestic hot water. Cheers to hot showers and

Day 130: More soldering and Thanksgiving dinner

2009-11-26T21:27:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday I continued soldering the water and space heating system components together. On Thanksgiving, Cindy and I were able to cook dinner in our new kitchen. It was a very special occasion. A toast and thanks to all of you who helped us get this far.

Day 129: More soldering

2009-11-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday I continued sweat fitting heating system components in the utility room. This will be my sole task until there is hot water in the storage tank. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.

Day 128: Water, electric and cooking

2009-11-23T19:14:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend and on Monday, we made fine progress with final plumbing and electrical work.sliding door hardware installedwater supply connectedcooktop & oven hooked upelectric boiler hooked upkitchen sink & faucet hooked upTOTO dual flush toilet installedI'll close with a pic of the oven and a vid of the most important seat in the house. It was a monumental day having water running in the

Day 127: Pump house and soldering

2009-11-20T19:13:00.000-08:00

Friday was a light day compared to Thursday. Trevor poured a small concrete pad on which to rest a pressure pump. This pump will turn on to pressurize the home's water supply whenever a faucet or other water using device is opened. Trevor finished just as the rain started. Below is a pic showing the pad (right), the water storage tank (left) and the pressure pump (left, foreground).I began

Day 126: Countertops, plumbing and electrical

2009-11-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

Thursday was very busy. The folks from Marble City installed granite kitchen countertops. The color is verde fantastico - they sure look fantastico. I like how the gentle curve of the bar edge compliments the curves of the sink. Here is a pic of the kitchen from above.Other tasks from day 126:Erik installed some of the final electrical detailsI continued working on the water and space heating

Day 125: Kitchen cabinets, heating and net meter

2009-11-18T17:08:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, Alan from Live Oak Design installed all of the drawers on the kitchen cabinets while I continued to layout plumbing for the heating system in the utility room. Here is a pic of the kitchen peninsula cabinets. They look fabulous.PG&E installed the digital electric net meter which we are now officially spinning backwards. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.

Day 124: Shower completed, cabinets and heating

2009-11-17T20:40:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, Joshua finished applying grout to the the remaining shower tile joints. Here is a pic of the completed shower from the bathroom door. It looks amazing!Alan from Live Oak Design continued work on the kitchen and bathroom cabinet installations. Below is a pic of the kitchen cabinets in progress - they look beautiful. It is exciting to see the finishes work out so well.I continued to

Day 123: More finishes and heating

2009-11-16T19:54:00.000-08:00

On Monday, Joshua started applying grout between the shower tiles. The pic below shows a portion of the south shower wall with grout completed. As awesome as the shower looked on Friday, it looks even better today with grout.Alan applied Osmo Polyx-Oil finish to kitchen cabinet doors. I continued working on the water and space heating system in the utility room. Thanks for reading. I enjoy

Day 121 & 122: Shower and kitchen cabinets

2009-11-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

On Thursday and Friday, Joshua finished the shower tile work. Below is a pic of the completed floor. I'm trying to build a green home, but this tile work is going to make me take longer showers :-)Alan continued to install the kitchen and vanity cabinets on Thursday and Friday while I started laying out plumbing for the heating system in the utility room. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your

Day 120: Shower floor and downspouts

2009-11-11T20:35:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, Joshua continued work on the shower floor tiles. All of the material used for tiling the shower is leftover scraps from local kitchen countertop fabricators. Joshua's art is to cut the stone and create a beautiful tile mosaic with the pieces. Here is a pic of the work in progress.Marty, Georg and I installed downspouts. Here is a pic of the souteast corner.I finally removed all of

Day 118 & 119: Shower, downspouts and electrical

2009-11-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

On Monday, Joshua completed installing tile on the shower walls while I cut triangular tile pieces for the shower floor. I sprayed salt water on the copper downspouts to accelerate patina development. Here is a pic of the southwest shower corner followed by a pic of the downspouts.On Tuesday, Joshua started working on the shower floor. I continued spraying the downspouts with saltwater. Erik

Day 117: More interior finishes

2009-11-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

On Friday, interior finish work continued:Joshua continued tiling the shower wallsErik continued electrical wiringRaphael and I applied gypsum plaster to a wall in the utility roomAT&T installed the phone lineBelow is a pic of the exterior west wall with the finish grade. It is exciting to see the end in sight. Thanks for reading. I enjoy reading your comments.

Day 116: Final grading

2009-11-05T21:10:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Steve did final site grading. All of the walls have been backfilled with soil to the final height, and surface storm water drainage paths are complete all around the home. Here is a pic of the east wall showing final grading to compare with yesterday's pic.Here is a pic of the kitchen peninsula cabinets from Live Oak Design in process.I'll close with a pic of Joshua's shower tiling

Day 115: Site cleanup and interior finishes

2009-11-04T21:12:00.000-08:00

Tasks from Wednesday:site cleanup in preparation for final gradingkitchen cabinet installation beganshower tile work continuedelectrical fixture, switch and outlet installation continuedI'll close with a pic of the east wall which I havn't shown for some time. Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Day 114: Plastering completed

2009-11-03T19:08:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, Joshua, Trevor, Marty, Raphael, Georg and I applied the finish coat of lime plaster to the exterior of the south wall. This was a monumental day being the completion of plastering on the home. Below is a pic of Raphael, Marty, me and Joshua at the southwest corner. You can see that everyone’s clothing has taken on a yellow tinge. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.

Day 112 & 113: Exterior plaster

2009-11-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

On Friday, Joshua, Trevor, Marty, Raphael and I applied the finish coat of lime plaster to the exterior of the east, west and utility room walls. On Monday the same crew applied the finish coat of plaster to the exterior of the north wall. The plaster has an integrated mineral tint, so painting is not required. I think the color and finish are beautiful. Below is a pic of the west (right) and

Day 111: Railings

2009-10-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, Marty, Georg and I installed the salvaged railing pieces I cut yesterday. It is surprising how well the old railings go with the new staircase. Here is a pic of the loft taken from the kitchen followed by one taken on the loft looking west.Joshua continued installing tile in the shower. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.

Day 110: Spiral staircase and downspouts

2009-10-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, we installed the spiral staircase that was made by Stocklin Iron in Santa Rosa, CA. Here is a pic of the staircase taken from the dining room.Marty installed copper downspouts between the gutters and drains. Here is a pic of the downspout on the northwest corner of the home.Other tasks from day 110:Erik the electrician continued installing outlets, switches and light fixturesJoshua

Day 109: Interior cleanup and electrical

2009-10-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, we cleaned up the interior. We removed all of the masking materials and swept the floors. It is really nice to see the wooden beams exposed again (it has been a while).Erik the electrician began installing outlets and switches. Below is a pic from the entry door looking at the south wall between the dining room and family room.Can you spot the one completed wall switch? Thanks for

Day 108: Ceiling paint and soffits

2009-10-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Marty sprayed the ceilings with 2 coats of zero Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint (he sprayed the ceilings on Sunday with zero VOC primer). Here is a pic of the ceiling over the kitchen.Justin, Marty, Raphael, Georg and I installed corrugated metal soffit material around the perimeter of the home. We are pleased with the results. Here is a pic of the northwest corner soffit.Green

Day 107: Kitchen cabinets and site cleanup

2009-10-23T17:05:00.000-07:00

Friday was a nice light day after 3 intense days of plastering. Alan Dodd from Live Oak Design installed the bases of the kitchen cabinets.Trevor and I did a bit of site cleanup while Joshua applied waterproofing to the shower floor. We pulled the masking tape and plastic protecting the soffit area to reveal our plaster work up top. We are pleased with the results. Below is a pic of the northwest

Day 106: Exterior plastering…and solar panels

2009-10-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, we applied the 2nd of 3 coats of lime plaster to the south wall.The guys from Independent Energy Systems installed 22 Sharp 224 watt solar panels to the tilt racks on Tuesday - I totally forgot to take a picture. Below is a pic of the south wall showing the plaster and solar panels. Thanks for reading. I enjoy reading your comments.

Day 104 an 105: Exterior plastering

2009-10-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

Monday we had the day off because of rain. On Tuesday, we applied the 2nd of 3 coats of lime plaster to the exterior of the east and west walls. This is called the straightening coat because the plasterers try to straighten out imperfections in the wall in preparation for the finish coat. I worked until 8:30 PM on this coat, so I didn't post Tuesday.On Wednesday, we applied the 2nd of 3 coats of

Day 103: Interior plastering and ceiling texture

2009-10-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

On Friday Joshua, Trevor and I completed interior gypsum wall plastering. It is great to have all of the APEX blocks finally covered. Here is a pic of the sliding glass patio door on the bedroom south wall.Marty applied and knocked down ceiling texture while Trevor, Raphael and I shuffled scaffolding around. Between the rain this week and the water evaporating from the plaster, the house is humid

Day 102: South wall interior plastering

2009-10-15T19:56:00.000-07:00

The power was back on Thursday. We applied gypsum plaster to all surfaces of the south wall except in the bedroom. Here is a pic of the south wall in the family room and loft.Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Day 101: Power outage plastering

2009-10-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

We had a rain delay on Tuesday as the remains of Super Typhoon Melor hit the California coast. The job site held up to the storm pretty well considering we had bare soil everywhere. Power was out at the site Tuesday and Wednesday. We rented a generator which ran the plaster mixer, work light and radio. The generator did not produce enough current to run the compressor, so we could not use the

Day 100: Interior plastering

2009-10-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

On Monday we applied gypsum plaster to the interior north wall. It is nice to see the cold looking APEX blocks covered with a uniform finish. Here is a pic of the great room portion of the wall taken from the loft.The guys from Independent Energy Systems were back again today to install another rack for the photovoltaic array. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.

Day 99: Interior plastering

2009-10-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

On Friday we applied gypsum plaster to the interior west wall. Here is a pick of Marty, Raphael, Joshua and Ben in action.Here is a pic of Cindy in the dining room on Saturday after the wall has partially dried.Here is a closeup pic of the kitchen window bullnose. This detail gives the house a nice old-world feel. Thanks for reading. I enjoy reading your comments.

Day 98: Solar install, shower and final preparations for interior plastering

2009-10-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

The folks from Independent Energy Systems began installing the PV solar panel racks on the roof - pic 1 below. They also installed the inverter (left) in the utility room next to the main distribution panel (right) - pic 2 below.Joshua poured mortar on the shower floor and created a surface that tapers down slightly from the outside edges to the drain.We completed applying masking tape and

Day 97: Preparation for interior plastering

2009-10-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

We spent the day doing the following tasks in preparation for interior plastering.Completed cutting and installing diamond mesh metal lath to the interior edge of the top plate and around the entry doorCompleted applying plastic sheet and masking tape to the curved beams and electrical boxesFabricated blocks that simulate the windowsills during plastering. These blocks are needed because the wood

Day 96: West and north wall plastering

2009-10-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today we applied the first of three lime plaster coats to the exterior of the west and remainder of the north wall. Thanks to Trevor, Raphael, Joshua, Ben, Georg and Justin for helping complete the first coat of exterior plaster in 3 days. Here is a pic of the northwest corner of the home.Some other tasks from day 96:I planed and sanded more of the reclaimed tongue and groove redwood flooring for

Day 95: South wall plastering

2009-10-05T20:38:00.001-07:00

Today we applied the first of three lime plaster coats to the exterior of the south wall. This is known as a scratch coat. It has this name because it is usually scratched while still wet to create grooves for the next coat to latch onto. We do not have to scratch the plaster because the sprayer leaves a nice bumpy surface for the next coat. Thanks to Trevor, Raphael, Joshua, Georg and Ben for

Day 94: Exterior plaster

2009-10-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

On Friday we applied the first of three lime plaster coats to the exterior of the east wall and part of the north wall. Here are pics of both walls respectively. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.

Day 93: Ubiquitous plaster preparation and other tasks

2009-10-01T20:53:00.000-07:00

I’m running late tonight after a very busy day. Here is a list of the things that happened Thursday.Had a successful interior gypsum plaster test in the closetIndirect water heater was deliveredShower floor was leveledHung the entry door and 2 interior doorsFinished applying masking tape and plastic sheet to all exterior windows and sliding patio doorsRinsed the exterior of the east and north

Day 92: Drywall joint compound and plaster preparation

2009-09-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

The Consolidated Drywall folks applied joint compound to the drywall seams, screws and electrical box openings. Here is a pic looking east from the kitchen.More plaster preparation tasks completed today:Joshua installed diamond mesh metal lath at the intersection of the north wall and porch roofWe covered the soffits and one remaining window on the north wall using plastic sheet and masking

Day 91: Plaster preparation and shower enclosure

2009-09-29T20:09:00.000-07:00

In the continuing saga of plaster preparation, Trevor started to set up scaffolding along the south and west walls. I applied masking tape and plastic sheet to the interior of all windows and all doors except one.Trevor and Raphael installed HardieBacker 500 board to the shower enclosure. This material will support the shower tiles. Below is a pic looking at the south and west walls of the

Day 90: Plaster preparation

2009-09-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

We did more plaster preparation tasks again Monday.Joshua completed installing diamond mesh metal lath around the interior window framesI applied masking tape and protective paper to 2 ledgers to prevent plaster contaminationTrevor set up scaffolding along the east wallTrevor applied masking tape and plastic sheet to the exterior of the east windows and soffitHere is a pic of the east wall almost

Day 89: Plaster preparation, continued

2009-09-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

We are getting closer to being ready for plastering. Here is the list of plaster preparation tasks we worked on Friday.Trevor continued filling electrical and plumbing channels in the walls to provide a level surface for plasteringJoshua continued applying diamond mesh metal lath to the interior windowsI completed applying foam insulation to cracks and holes in the wallsTrevor applied masking

Day 87 and 88: More plaster preparation and drywall

2009-09-24T20:27:00.000-07:00

I worked late again Wednesday. We did the same things as Tuesday, so that's my excuse for skipping a post. On Thursday, Trevor and I continued to prepare the walls for plastering while a crew installed drywall on the ceiling and interior walls. Here is a pic taken from the loft.It is nice to see smooth clean surfaces replace the view of joists and insulation. About 6-1/2 inches of the curved

Day 86: More plaster preparation

2009-09-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

I worked late today, so I am just posting a quick list of what was done.Joshua completed installation of diamond mesh metal lath to the exterior of all windows, and to the interior of one windowI installed spray foam insulation around the interior of several 2nd story windowsTrevor continued to fill the slots containing electrical wiring and plumbing pipes with mortarMarty tested spraying drywall

Day 84 & 85: Final grading and plaster preparation

2009-09-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

Joshua, Justin and I ran a successful test of a Tirolessa plaster gun on Friday. We shot the northeast corner wall with a coat of NHL 3.5 lime plaster from Saint Astier. Here is a vid of the gun in action. Steve completed final grading around the home on Friday and Monday. Here is a pic of the home from the southwest.Some of the other tasks started or completed Friday and Monday:Trevor

Day 83: Swales, plaster preparation and another retaining wall

2009-09-17T21:01:00.000-07:00

Steve completed creating 2 swales; one to the east (uphill) of the home and one to the west (downhill). I will plant fruit and nut trees in the downhill sides of the swales. Winter stormwater surface runoff is slowed down, spread out and sunk into the soil by a swale. Soil under a swale will still have water in the drought season after surrounding soil has dried out. This will reduce the amount

Day 82: Insulation, grading and garden wall

2009-09-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

The folks from Tri County Insulation finished spraying foam insulation today. They completed a 7 inch average thickness application in the entire ceiling. The R-value of the 7 inch layer is approximately 40.Tri County Insulation also installed UltraTouch batt insulation in the interior stud walls. This insulation will reduce sound transmission between the bedroom, bathroom and family room.Steve

Day 81: Insulation, grading and site cleanup

2009-09-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

The folks from Tri County Insulation continued spraying foam insulation today. They completed a 5-1/2 inch thick application in the ceiling over the family room.Steve and Trevor completed placement of all the underground pipes and drain lines today. Steve began to do final site grading. It is nice to finally have a normal step down from the porch and patio doors. Here is a pic from the southwest

Day 80: Insulation

2009-09-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

The folks from Tri County Insulation started spraying foam insulation in the ceiling over the kitchen. Here is a pic showing the first 5-1/2 inch thick application.Green comment for today:Consider using a soy based spray foam insulation like BioBased to fill your wall or ceiling cavities. Insulation R-value per inch is equal to or greater than common fiberglass batt material and air leakage is

Day 79: Drainage and insulation prep

2009-09-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a pic of Trevor and Steve on Friday installing the downspout drainage line along the west wall.The folks from Tri County Insulation hung plastic sheet inside to protect the windows, walls and beams when insulation is blown into the ceiling next week. It gives the place an eerie slasher movie kinda feel.Raphael cut channels in the north wall to run solar water heating and photovoltaic

Day 78: Earth moving, continued

2009-09-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

Steve continued trenching today for gutter downspout and French drains on the north and west sides of the home while Trevor assembled components for the drains. I cleaned up the site in preparation for Steve to do final grading. There was not much new to photograph today. Thanks for reading. I enjoy reading your comments.

Day 77: Earth moving, part 2

2009-09-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Steve, who we have not seen since the first week of the project, was back Wednesday to operate the backhoe. He started to backfill trenches on the north and east walls.Steve also made trenches for the French drain and gutter downspout drain lines along the south wall. Trevor installed the 4" diameter corrugated drain lines.Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments. I'll close tonight with a

Day 76: Drainage and POWER

2009-08-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Raphael and Trevor attached J-Drain 400, a water drainage layer over the rubber membrane onto the portions of walls that will be underground. This layer will provide 2 functions:protect the rubber membrane beneathshed water quickly down the wall to the french drainHere is a pic of the north wall with the J-Drain installed - it still

Day 74 and Day 75: Waterproofing

2009-08-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday and Thursday, Marty, Raphael, Trevor and I rolled 5 coats of Ecoline-R liquid rubber membrane onto the portions of walls that will be underground. Between coats 2 and 3, we applied nylon mesh to reinforce the rubber. Here is a pic of the north wall of the utility room after completion.On Wednesday, Joshua completed sealing the interior wood of the last window and all 3 sliding glass

Day 73: Hanging a ledger and more details

2009-08-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

Today Justin planed and sanded the last 4X10 ledger. Justin, Trevor and I hung the ledger on the shear wall.Other tasks from day 73:Trevor installed pipe in the footing trench around the perimeter of the home. Garden hose valves and future irrigation lines can tee into this pipe.I installed waterproofing tape around the exterior of the 1st story window openings. This layer helps protect the

Day 72: Details

2009-08-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

Tasks completed or started today.Joshua coated the interior exposed wood on all but 1 window with 2 coats of AFM Safecoat Naturals Clear Penetrating Oil - a low VOC sealer that will protect the wood. The windows really look nice.The folks from Wildcat Metals installed trim and flashing material.Trevor applied mortar to the seams between Apex blocks that will be underground.Justin put the

Day 70 and 71: Metal roof completion and plaster experiments

2009-08-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

The folks from Wildcat Metals were back Thursday and Friday. They completed installation of the roof panels and drilled holes in the rain gutters for downspouts. Here is a pic of the completed main roof……and one of the utility and porch roof. I am very happy with the appearance.On Thursday, Joshua, Justin, Georg and I tried unsuccessfully to shoot Natural Hydraulic Lime plaster (NHL 3.5) from 2

Day 69: More metal roofing and tree pruning

2009-08-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

The folks from Wildcat Metals were back again today. They completed installation of almost all of the main home roof panels.I took this video of the seamer used to make the mechanical connection between panels. Here is a pic of the underside of the seamer.This was the last day we had the telehandler, so we used it to assist with pruning the trees next to the north side of the home. There were

Day 68: Metal roofing

2009-08-18T20:34:00.001-07:00

The folks from Wildcat Metals were back again today. They completed installation of almost half of the main home roof panels.Other tasks from day 68:Justin, Trevor, Georg and I installed the last windowJustin, Trevor and I installed a trim board under the eaves around ¾ of the main homeCoady the plumber routed vent pipes for the sewer linesHere is a pic from the southeast at the end of the day.

Day 67: Metal roof panels

2009-08-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

This was one of the days I was really looking forward to. The home will have a Standing Seam Metal Roof (SSMR). The panels are too long to be delivered practically, so Wildcat Metals and RMS Supply brought the portable manufacturing equipment to the job site. The fabrication process involved 2 steps. First, material from a coil of steel was passed through a roll forming machine to make a flat

Day 66: Completed porch roof framing + 3 subs

2009-08-15T18:24:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we completed installation of the reclaimed redwood tongue and groove flooring material on the porch roof framing. Here is a pic from northwest of the porch. It looks sweet!Other tasks from day 66:Trevor completed digging the trench to connect the main power to the utility roomErik and Ryan continued to install electrical wiringTim and Carlos started installing the fire sprinkler

Day 65: Porch roof

2009-08-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

Today we started installing the reclaimed redwood tongue and groove flooring material over the porch roof framing. Here is a pic looking up at the northwest corner.Trevor continued digging a trench to connect the main power to the utility room. Erik and Ryan continued to install electrical wiring. Our thoughts are with the people fighting and affected by the Lockheed Fire. Thanks for reading.

Day 64: Door installs, electrical wiring and porch framing

2009-08-12T20:26:00.001-07:00

Today we installed the 2 remaining sliding glass patio doors. The highlight was the 600 pound 4 panel door in the family room.Here is a pic of electrical wiring in process on the south wall of the great room.Here is a pic of the porch framing nearly ready for the tongue and groove redwood flooring Cindy and I were planing and sanding a few weeks ago. We did a bit of cleanup today which is why you

Day 63: More windows and electrical wiring

2009-08-11T21:01:00.001-07:00

We installed 10 windows and 1 sliding glass patio door today. One window and 2 sliding glass doors remain. Here is a pic of Marty and Justin getting ready to install the picture window in the east wall of the loft – Trevor is driving the telehandler.In between window installations, Erik the electrician had me position electrical wiring boxes in their final locations. Erik’s assistant Ryan used a

Day 62: More porch beams, more wall framing, windows and electrical

2009-08-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

It was a busy day. Justin installed the last 4 curved glulam beams over the porch.Marty began framing two interior walls around the bathroom. Trevor and I prepared the openings to accept windows and doors. The window and door delivery happened in the afternoon. We unloaded the truck and had time to install 3 windows before the end of the day. Here is a pic of the loft casement window opening to

Day 61: Porch posts and beam

2009-08-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

On Friday we completed sanding and installation of the porch posts and beam. The posts were site milled redwood. The beam was milled locally from a redwood tree that blew down in a winter storm. Here is a pic of Marty, Justin and Georg standing by one of the posts under the beam.Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.

Day 60: Roof sheathing and fascia complete

2009-08-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today we completed installation of the plywood roof sheathing. Here is a pic from the west edge of the roof looking east.We also completed installation of fascia around the perimeter of the main home. Here is a pic of the west eave showing the rafters, blocking and fascia.This was another rewarding day. Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave a comment.

Day 59: Blocking finished, roof sheathing and fascia

2009-08-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

Today we completed installation of all blocking on the roof. Here is a pic of Justin and Marty from 48 feet up on the telehandler. This was my last opportunity to see all of the framing open to the sky.No, the walls aren’t curved, that’s just the fisheye effect from stitching 3 pics together. Thanks for the lift Raphael!We installed 4X8 foot sheets of plywood sheathing over the rafters, beams,

Day 58: Blocks and outriggers…still

2009-08-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

Today we completed installation of:outriggers on the north wall2X4 inch blocks between the rafters every 4 feet on center2X4 inch blocks between the rafters on the east eaveInstallation of blocking on the north wall is about two thirds complete. The roof framing looks like the skeleton of a huge whale. Here is a pic at the end of day 58. Thanks for reading. I enjoy reading your comments.

Day 57: Blocks and outriggers, continued...

2009-08-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Today we completed installation of blocks on the south wall and began installation of outriggers on the north wall. Installation of 2X4 inch blocks between the rafters every 4 feet on center is about two thirds complete. Here is a pic at the end of day 57. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.

Day 56: Neverending blocks and outriggers

2009-07-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

Today we completed installation of outriggers on the south wall and continued fabrication and installation of blocks. It is time consuming work, but it looks nice when it is done. The roofline is really starting to take shape. The pic below shows the home from the southwest at the end of day 56. Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave a comment.

Day 55: More blocks and outriggers

2009-07-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

Today we continued fabrication and installation of blocks and outriggers on the south wall. The pic below shows completed blocking and outriggers on the southwest corner.Georg and Raphael picked up a load of FSC certified plywood to be used for roof sheathing. The pic below shows it being unloaded. Thanks for reading. Please comment if you wish.

Day 54: Blocks and outriggers

2009-07-29T20:43:00.001-07:00

Today we fabricated and began to install wooden blocks between the rafters on the east and west walls. The blocks serve several functions:Provide proper spacing and support for the raftersProvide a location to fasten the roof structure to the wall top plateProvide a mounting surface for plywood roofing materialCreate a boundary to enclose the ceiling insulationWe also began to install wooden

Day 53: Last of the rafters

2009-07-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Today was a repeat of Monday on the west side of the home. All 16 rafters over the kitchen and dining room were built and raised into position. They were fastened to the hangers on the curved glulam and set in approximately the correct locations on the west wall top plate. Here are two pics at the end of day 53. The first is from the family room looking west over the kitchen and dining room, and

Day 52: Reclaimed redwood and more rafters

2009-07-27T20:37:00.001-07:00

When I visited Heritage Salvage in Petaluma a few weeks ago, I picked up several hundred square feet of reclaimed redwood tongue and groove flooring material. On Saturday and Sunday, Cindy and I prepared this wood for attachment to the small curved glulam beams. When you look up while on the porch or in the utility room, you will see these boards. Here is a pic of 4 boards before preparation -

Day 51: more I-Joists

2009-07-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome back Justin! On Friday we attached more hangers to the curved glulams. We ended day 51 by placing all 16 rafters over the family room. It is exciting to see the ceiling taking shape. The 2 pics below are taken from the loft looking west and southwest respectively. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.

Day 50: Glulam and I-Joists

2009-07-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

We had a small crew again today. We set the 2nd large curved glulam in the beam seats. Then we attached hangers to the curved glulams and hung 3 rafters over the great room before the end of day 50.Green comment for today:Consider using engineered wood instead of dimensional lumber. The I-joists I am using for rafters have the following advantages compared to the solid dimensional 2X10 members

Day 49: Small curved glulams

2009-07-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

We had a small crew today. We attached 9 glulam beam hangers to the utility room and porch roof ledger (brown horizontal board in the pic below). Then we made birdsmouth cuts for 5 small curved glulam beams over the utility room top plate. The glulams are 3-1/8 inches wide, 6 inches tall and 10 feet long. Here is a pic at the end of day 49. I enjoy reading your comments.

Day 48: Curved glulams and loft floor

2009-07-21T20:49:00.001-07:00

The FSC certified curved glulam beams from Standard Structures, Inc. arrived this morning. Two large beams are used in the main home roof framing, and 9 small beams are used in the porch and utility roof framing. We rented a telehandler to hoist the large beams into place – they weigh over 600 pounds each. The following pic shows the east beam being hoisted into place. Raphael has the leash,

Day 47: Staining and sealing the concrete floor

2009-07-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, Joshua and I applied the 2nd coat of Soycrete stain on the concrete slab. We used the "desert sand" color in the bedroom/closet/bathroom. We used the "adobe" color in the great room. After the stain dried, we applied a coat of Acri-soy sealer.The sealer will cure over the next 5 days during which there will be no foot traffic inside the home. After that we will cover the floors with

Day 46: Staining the concrete floor

2009-07-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

Today, Joshua and I applied the base coat of Soycrete stain on the concrete slab. In preparation for staining, Joshua determined that a quick sanding of the entire floor would have the following advantages:remove the majority of concrete reinforcement glass fibers from the surface provide a more smooth finishprovide a more desirable appearanceJoshua sanded the entire floor and we swept and washed

Day 44 & 45: Working for the weekend

2009-07-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

Loverboy played the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Friday night concert on July 10th. They closed their second set before the encore with “Working for the Weekend”. That set the stage for Saturday and Sunday. Some of the work crew would be on vacation the following week at a music festival. The remainder of the crew (including me) will spend Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at a workshop. It made sense to

Day 43: Loft floor

2009-07-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago, I picked up a variety of wood materials from Heritage Salvage in Petaluma, CA. Part of that purchase was 1-1/2 inch thick douglas fir tongue and groove from the floor of the dismantled Fort Hill Lumber Company sawmill in Grand Ronde, OR. The wood is dry, brittle, battered, beaten and torn. In other words, it has lots of character.On Friday, Joshua did a great job selecting

Day 42: Wood framing, continued

2009-07-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

The wall separating the family room from the bedroom and bathroom was built today – see pic below. The wide opening to the left frames the bathroom door. The wide opening to the right frames the bedroom door. The framing between the doors is part of a structural shear wall.We also assembled all of the floor joists for the loft above the bedroom, bathroom and closet – see pic below.I will continue

Day 41: Wood framing

2009-07-08T20:12:00.000-07:00

The interior walls for the bedroom, bathroom and closet in my home are of wood frame construction. The ceiling framing over these rooms functions as the floor framing for the loft above. Hayward Lumber delivered a beautiful load of framing lumber in the morning – see vid below. We started framing the wall separating the family room from the bedroom and bathroom. We also attached joist

Day 40: Wall top plates and ledgers

2009-07-07T21:33:00.001-07:00

Today we cleaned up after wall lift #3. We spent the remainder of the day installing wall top plates – seen in the following pic.The top plates are 2X10 inch pressure treated boards. They are attached through J-bolts to the top of the wall all the way around the perimeter of the home. The roof will be securely mounted to the top plates.We also installed 2 ledgers for the loft to the north and

Day 39: Wall lift #3

2009-07-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

We were ready for the final wall lift after our preparations last Thursday. Pacific Coast Concrete Pumping and Las Anamas Concrete showed up mid morning. Joshua, Justin, Marty and Trevor filled, consolidated, managed the hose and cleaned up - repeated for about 100 cores.Four seats like the one shown below for a pair of curved glulam beams were positioned and leveled.Joshua and Justin finished

Day 38: Getting ready for wall lift #3 (the last)

2009-07-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

Today we prepared for the final wall lift (#3). Yes, the LAST APEX blocks were cut and placed.Other tasks completed:Seats for the 75 foot radius curved roof glulams were installed.Rebar for the porch slab was installed.We shored up the walls for the final pour.Here is a pic looking west from inside the family room at the end of day 37:During final preparation of the porch slab area, Raphael

Day 37: Cutting the curves

2009-07-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

Today we made templates and cut curves on top of the east and west walls. You can see the gentle 75 foot radius curves in the following pic.Other tasks started or completed:Supports for the wall top plate J-bolts were made and positioned.Phone and electric utility conduits and fire sprinkler water line were routed and trenched to their proper positions under the porch area. Wooden forms were

Day 36: Cleanup and stacking blocks

2009-06-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today we removed all of the supports and cleaned up from the lift yesterday. We began to stack more APEX wall blocks. We completed placing blocks on the north, south and west walls. Here is a pic from the south at the end of day 36.Green comment for the day:Look for creative ways to use building materials that may be considered “waste”. I had a problem on the north, east and west walls. If blocks