Work continues outside and in

Our carpenters have taken a break from installing windows, so that they can complete the fascia board trim around the roof and be ready to install the roof itself, since most of the roofing material has already arrived. In place of wood, we are using Hardie Board, a tough fiber cement product, this time around because of the trouble carpenter bees gave us with the cypress we used the last time. We had used cypress siding on our first house in 1979 and had no trouble with bees, but the cypress on our second house, finished in 1999, was much more to their liking.

Here carpenters attach Hardie Board as a fascia board on the side of the garage. The Hardie Board will later be painted a color to match the roof - probably a dark brown.

 Meanwhile, on the inside the heat & air guys are busily installing ductwork. Here in the basement, they are hanging two supply ducts for the main floor and basement zones. Baffles will direct the conditioned air to one or the other zone, following directions from the two thermostats, which can be programmed for four different periods during the day and night. With the help of our two woodstoves, we should be plenty warm even on the coldest days. The geo-thermal heat pump will provide us with the most efficient and low-cost heat and air conditioning available.

Finally, it's about time to show our readers the floor plans for the house. It is designed to have everything we need on the main level, including the garage, which will make transition in and out comfortable even on the coldest and rainiest days.

As I mentioned earlier, the master bath was moved to the old sunroom, and the old bath space now becomes a walk-in closet. The master bedroom also is enlarged by the addition of a bay window and the elimination of the old closets. Some of the space that was open deck outside the kitchen door is now included in an expanded kitchen and used for pantry and additional space for a breakfast table.

The ground floor remains basically the same, but the den has acquired another window on the south side and additional space by incorporating a storage room on its northside.

I wish you well until next time.  --oc