WHAT’S HAPPENING?

My roof is all done.  The roof cap and everything.  It’s completely finished.   I was so happy that the guys had the weather to get it done and that no one got hurt.  It’s really something to be thankful for.   We have things like the drip edge and the gutters to still put on, but everything else is done.

HAVE YOU MEASURED FOR THE WINDOWS YET?

On Monday, we finished framing the 2×8’s for the windows in the front of the house - the squares and triangles.  My brother, KC came over last night and he and John had a big discussion about the proper types of setting blocks and drip molding and the clad that will go on the outside of the insulated windows (the windows on the front of the home).  The  insulated units won’t come with pre-hung materials and nailing strips, like our double-hung units do.   With the double hung windows, you just pop them in the opening and nail them in place.   But with the insulated units, it’s more of a step-by-step process, where we will actually have to use an “L” shaped piece of metal and some quarter-round molding to hang the window.    Anyway, KC and John measured to see how much material we will need to do all of that.

SO, NOW THE FRONT WINDOWS WILL NEED TO BE BUILT? 

Yes, but first, we’ll place those hanging materials in the rough opening, and after we get the molding on the outside, KC will come out and measure one more time before we order the windows.   I just need to make a decision on what kind of glass we’ll have.   For those insulated units, we have our choice of clear glass, bronze glass, or grey glass.  We’re having a bit of debate on what kind of glass to use.   I’m pretty sure I’ll get all of them with low-E glass because it helps keep heat in, in the winter and the cool in, in the summer, and we’ll use less electricity, which is better for the environment.   All of them will be 1″ thick.   I think we’ll end up with clear glass.   I like the bronze, but it will be more like looking outside through sunglasses, and I want to see the real colors.

ARE THE OTHER DOUBLE-HUNG WINDOWS IN YET?

The double-hungs have arrived at our supplier, but we haven’t gone to pick them up yet.   I’d rather have them safe and sound at the warehouse, than on the job site at the moment.

Our next step will be the TYVEK, which is like a wrapping on the outside of the house.  We also have to make final decisions on the siding, because once the TYVEK is on, the siding can be put on, and then the windows can go in.

AT THIS POINT, WHERE DOES THE BASEMENT FLOOR COME IN?

We will be doing the basement floor, the week after next.  We’ll probably do that in four-part sections. 

The other thing that will happen is, that we will have the back hoe tomorrow, and we will be doing the backfill around the outside of the house.  The inspector came and said that the French drains and the waterproofing was all done up to code.  Doing the backfill, it will look more like a house, than a castle.  Right now, there’s a moat around the whole thing.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR POWER POLES?

PP&L was out one day this week, but I don’t know which one, because there are more PP&L poles laying around than there were before.  I believe they needed to bring out more poles so they can reinforce the pole across the street, so it won’t blow down.

SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE CONTINUING FORWARD.

They are, and it’s really exciting.