September 26th:
This week, Deb, Tim, Jennifer and I drove up a little earlier and were able to get a good night sleep Friday night. Tim and I arrived at the cabin around 7:30am to start installing bathroom fans, bathroom shower walls and a few other miscellaneous items. We are in a big hurry because Jed decided that he needed to start rocking on Saturday around 11am. Deb did a real nice job sweeping up the minor mess left by the insulators only to have the sheetrockers trash the place. Ha Ha. It is crazy trying to work around the sheetrockers. They started rocking the ceiling downstairs while we continued work in the bathrooms and laundry room. I am frantically running around to make sure that I have not missed anything prior to the walls being enclosed by sheetrock. About mid afternoon Tim noticed that the electrical outlet under the stair was covered by rock. We were able to find the outlet box and get it exposed. All other outlets were cut through without incident. Although it was hectic having the sheetrockers working while we were finishing our work, it actually worked out well because I was able to explain how we wanted specific items constructed. When we left on Sunday afternoon, they had completed most of the upstairs and all of the downstairs. Unfortunately, once the stairwell was sheetrocked, I noticed that I needed to adjust the header over the landing because the ceiling was 1.5” too short for the code required headroom. I did a quick calculation and determined that I could cut the beam down to a 9” depth and taper the ceiling at the dining room back to the first floor joist to get the required head room. I am glad I found this item now rather than after the sheetrock was finished.
September 23rd:
The inspector showed up at 9:30 and approved the house for sheetrock. I called the Jed to let him know that he could start sheetrock on next Monday. He said that he would actually like to start sooner but I told him that I still have too many small items to complete and cannot get back up here until Saturday.
September 22nd:
The insulators arrived at 10am to start their work and Darren Strand was already excavating for the septic tank and leach field. The jobsite was a little crowded since the insulators had two large trucks that where necessary to install the “Spider” insulation (a type of insulation that is blown into the stud cavity; a corn based glue is mixed with the fiberglass to hold it in place) and Darren had two large pieces of equipment to dig the hole for the septic tank. The insulation was in place by 6:30pm.
September 21st (Monday):
Had the Frame inspection today (Monday). The inspector had a few concerns but I was able to clarify most of the items and also agreed to have them addressed at the insulation inspection on Wednesday morning. I called the engineer while the inspector was onsite to have him clarify that it was ok to have only a double top plate as the header for the two rear dormers since the windows are only 3’ wide.
September 18: (Saturday)
Well I plan to have a Frame inspection on Monday so this will be a crazy weekend. The HVAC contractor (Jim Coons) spent several days this week installing the majority of the duct work and plenums. Pete will be up Saturday to finish the gas, DWV, and water. I need to help the roofer pick a spot for the gas vent to penetrate the roof. We need to be careful to place the vent between the ribs of the metal roofing. By the way the roof on the front of the cabin is almost complete. I took another half day off work on Friday and drove up to get an early start. Deb and Tim arrived late Friday night and Pete arrived on Saturday morning. Saturday was a daunting day. Tim and I worked hard to finish all of the wiring details and install the main panel with rigid conduit that tucks under the front eave. I helped Pete with the plumbing from time to time and then went back to wiring and other miscellaneous details. I also chose the location for the fresh air heat exchanger and ran a 4” pipe through the upstairs closet down into the kitchen ceiling and over to the living room. Fresh air from the outside will enter the living room and stale air will be taken out at the top of the stairs (about 70 cfm continuous). We also had to install 5- 12’ sheets of 5/8” sheetrock on the garage ceiling.
September 11th:
I spent the week filling the van with all of the parts to complete the electrical and picked up the cast iron tub. Since Stan and Will plan to come to Almanor this weekend I figured it was a good time to carry the 300lb tub up the stairs. Ed decided to arrive on Friday morning so I took off work early (around 9am) and made several stops on the way up the hill to pick up additional parts and meet with several contractors (cabinet, insulation, and garage door installer). I got to the cabin around 2pm and began helping Ed with the wiring. Tim, Deb, Stan, and Will showed up Friday evening and as usual we were up early Saturday to assault the unfinished cabin. Will and Stan built a catwalk (Will called it the Boardwalk) from one end of the attic to the other. Since the roof has a 12:12 pitch the attic is about 7’ tall at the peak. After finishing the “Boardwalk” Stan began installing the whole house fan and Will used the magnet on wheels to pick up nails and metal from the yard. Ed and Tim pulled more wire and I finished the closet framing and tried to keep everything in order. Ed reminded me that I need a light in the attic and Tim picked several locations for additional electrical outlets. It is a chore to remember all the locations for switches and outlets. On Sunday Ed began making up the wires (connecting grounds, neutrals, and hot wires in the electrical boxes and Tim worked with Will pulling wire for several more circuits (now instead of following Ed, Tim was leading Will. Everyone learns something new). Tim, Deb, Stan and Will had to leave early but Ed decided to stay late Sunday and leave on Monday morning because he could see that I wasn’t going to finish the wiring by myself. I think everyone really enjoyed the hard work. Oh I should mention that Deb has done a great job of keeping the house clean and making breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, Tim, Stan, Will, and I did lug the cast iron tub up the stairs with minimal effort. Four pairs of hands are better than one!
September 4th:On Tuesday, September 1st I drove to SF to pick up Cynthia and Ed at Pier 35 as they returned from an Alaskan Cruise. Ed asked how the cabin was coming and I told him that it is framed and I plan to start the wiring this coming weekend. Ed was excited at the prospect of coming up to help with the wiring and I was excited that he was excited. During the ride home we made plans for Cynthia and Ed to come up for the Labor Day weekend (yes labor it will be). Deb, Tim, and I arrived late Friday night got a short nights sleep and were up early on Saturday to begin work. Ed and Cynthia arrived at around 10am. Tim and I had done a little preliminary layout but had not started placing the electrical boxes. Ed had tools in hand and asked were to start so I said that he could start pulling wire in the living room since that room had boxed ready to be placed. While Ed drilled holes I nailed boxes in place. Saturday seemed slow since we only got wire pulled in the living room but we did have the holes drilled for two more circuites. The next day (Sunday) Tim and Ed began pulling wire (it goes much faster with two people working the wire through the holes) while I continued to place the boxes and drill holes for the additional circuits. Work continued feverishly until Monday afternoon with about 50% of the wiring completed. I also began work on a closet above the stairs for bedroom two and finished securing the chimney. Ed said that he would return the next weekend to help complete the wiring. It is fun working with Ed.
Well I plan to have a Frame inspection on Monday so this will be a crazy weekend. The HVAC contractor (Jim Coons) spent several days this week installing the majority of the duct work and plenums. Pete will be up Saturday to finish the gas, DWV, and water. I need to help the roofer pick a spot for the gas vent to penetrate the roof. We need to be careful to place the vent between the ribs of the metal roofing. By the way the roof on the front of the cabin is almost complete. I took another half day off work on Friday and drove up to get an early start. Deb and Tim arrived late Friday night and Pete arrived on Saturday morning. Saturday was a daunting day. Tim and I worked hard to finish all of the wiring details and install the main panel with rigid conduit that tucks under the front eave. I helped Pete with the plumbing from time to time and then went back to wiring and other miscellaneous details. I also chose the location for the fresh air heat exchanger and ran a 4” pipe through the upstairs closet down into the kitchen ceiling and over to the living room. Fresh air from the outside will enter the living room and stale air will be taken out at the top of the stairs (about 70 cfm continuous). We also had to install 5- 12’ sheets of 5/8” sheetrock on the garage ceiling.
September 11th:
I spent the week filling the van with all of the parts to complete the electrical and picked up the cast iron tub. Since Stan and Will plan to come to Almanor this weekend I figured it was a good time to carry the 300lb tub up the stairs. Ed decided to arrive on Friday morning so I took off work early (around 9am) and made several stops on the way up the hill to pick up additional parts and meet with several contractors (cabinet, insulation, and garage door installer). I got to the cabin around 2pm and began helping Ed with the wiring. Tim, Deb, Stan, and Will showed up Friday evening and as usual we were up early Saturday to assault the unfinished cabin. Will and Stan built a catwalk (Will called it the Boardwalk) from one end of the attic to the other. Since the roof has a 12:12 pitch the attic is about 7’ tall at the peak. After finishing the “Boardwalk” Stan began installing the whole house fan and Will used the magnet on wheels to pick up nails and metal from the yard. Ed and Tim pulled more wire and I finished the closet framing and tried to keep everything in order. Ed reminded me that I need a light in the attic and Tim picked several locations for additional electrical outlets. It is a chore to remember all the locations for switches and outlets. On Sunday Ed began making up the wires (connecting grounds, neutrals, and hot wires in the electrical boxes and Tim worked with Will pulling wire for several more circuits (now instead of following Ed, Tim was leading Will. Everyone learns something new). Tim, Deb, Stan and Will had to leave early but Ed decided to stay late Sunday and leave on Monday morning because he could see that I wasn’t going to finish the wiring by myself. I think everyone really enjoyed the hard work. Oh I should mention that Deb has done a great job of keeping the house clean and making breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, Tim, Stan, Will, and I did lug the cast iron tub up the stairs with minimal effort. Four pairs of hands are better than one!
September 4th:On Tuesday, September 1st I drove to SF to pick up Cynthia and Ed at Pier 35 as they returned from an Alaskan Cruise. Ed asked how the cabin was coming and I told him that it is framed and I plan to start the wiring this coming weekend. Ed was excited at the prospect of coming up to help with the wiring and I was excited that he was excited. During the ride home we made plans for Cynthia and Ed to come up for the Labor Day weekend (yes labor it will be). Deb, Tim, and I arrived late Friday night got a short nights sleep and were up early on Saturday to begin work. Ed and Cynthia arrived at around 10am. Tim and I had done a little preliminary layout but had not started placing the electrical boxes. Ed had tools in hand and asked were to start so I said that he could start pulling wire in the living room since that room had boxed ready to be placed. While Ed drilled holes I nailed boxes in place. Saturday seemed slow since we only got wire pulled in the living room but we did have the holes drilled for two more circuites. The next day (Sunday) Tim and Ed began pulling wire (it goes much faster with two people working the wire through the holes) while I continued to place the boxes and drill holes for the additional circuits. Work continued feverishly until Monday afternoon with about 50% of the wiring completed. I also began work on a closet above the stairs for bedroom two and finished securing the chimney. Ed said that he would return the next weekend to help complete the wiring. It is fun working with Ed.
