front door options

We need to choose our exteriors doors so that Neil can install the final casing and then put a temporary door up to secure the house.  Many of the contemporary door styles, just don't fit with what we want...and the ones we really like are over $3000 for one door, like 3 or 5 below.  We like the use of metal on those two and our thinking is to do something ourselves, like #6.  Start with a $600 fir door (which is really a fir veneer with a solid core of other wood) and then route out and apply a metal panel to the exterior.  Even thinking of laser cutting our address number into the top panel.






























I used photoshop elements for the study above.  I took a still image from the model that i had created for the drawings in Archicad and grabbed images off webpages of the front doors and replaced the doors with the different styles.  The lighting isn't perfect, but it very quickly shows the options.

pot of Chapucas

windows all in!

Spring has arrived and our windows are all in.  We have had some issues with them that took a bit to get sorted out, but they are now all installed and looking good.  Many of them are casement windows below with an awning above.  This will allow for upper ventilation without being a security issue.

The gutters are also on and look great! Love how they just disappear.  Downspouts are just temporary till we finish the siding.

The above picture shows our cat door to the deck...just a slider window.  Being indoor cats, they are going to love having access to the upper deck!

The windows are Milgard Ultra series which is all fiberglass. We evaluated a few different windows and settled on Milgard because they are a local company (manufactured in Tacoma, WA), their great customer service and lifetime warranty for as long as we own the house.  Also other window packages were coming in higher and with 50+ windows, cost was a major consideration. 

We went with the flat black exterior, but it would have cost an additional $5,000 to do black on the inside, so we decided we were all right with the white.  They are also triple glazing, with 2 panes of Low-E coating on the glass to give us a lower U-value averaging .26. Surprising this only added about $500 to the entire $30,000 window package.  Triple glazing also helps with sound control from the busy street....but it adds considerable weight to the window...especially with our larger windows.  Luckily during install, the window sashes were removed for easier handling.

gutter choices

 The roofers are almost done, so we need to decide on gutters today.  We are going with the "fascia" type on the left.  I did not want to go with the typical k style gutter seen on the right.  Too busy. 

construction update

 We are moving right along.  Exterior framing is done and the roof is in the process of being installed.


The kitchen is to the right and dining to the left leading out to the deck.

Our 8'x8' slider was an interesting feat in getting it up to the second story.  It took 4 guys on scaffolding to lift it over the parapet wall. I wish I had pictures of that.

It's exciting to have the upper deck framed in.  Fun to imagine hanging out on it in the future.

The light gray material is TPO which is a thermoplastic polyolefin single-ply roofing membrane. Underneath the TPO is 2" of rigid insulation and then there will be 9" more of blown-in insulation in the joist bay. 

All the water that lands on the deck will drain to the scupper in the upper corner in the above picture.  On top of the TPO we will have concrete pavers on pedestals at the level of the main room. 

Above is the skylight and windows in our shower/tub area.  Below is looking out the 2nd bedroom.

Before the composition roofing goes on, we had a ice & water shield installed as extra protection since we have a low slope roof  (3:12 pitch )

And windows are starting to go in! Here is our first layer of weather protection.  Tyvek DrainWrap next up 1-1/2" of rigid insulation.

framing update

Our main living space is framed up and has the sheathing up on the roof.  It feels good to stand in the space and begin to feel what it's going to be like. 

attic truss

 The house is really starting to take shape. 

 The opening in the floor here is where the stairs will go.

Above looks towards the back bedroom.  The first truss is a girder truss which will carry some of the main room roof load.  Beyond that first girder are attic trusses.  There's not much headroom up there, but enough to put our mechanical equipment for our ducted mini-split and a little extra storage. I had the truss manufacturer add depth in the truss above the attic space so that we can easily put insulation in the roof.  The attic will actually be conditioned space which means that our attic will also have drywall on the ceiling and walls.

Our skylight in the shower will be going above where Neil is standing.