On the first day of installation of the polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation, we were all reminding each other to make sure the roof membrane in the peak of the ceiling got sliced out (before the foam was installed!); otherwise all the meticulous attention to detail on Kyle's part for the roof venting system would be wasted. This was successfully accomplished in the loft peak, where the ridge cap had already been installed. Ultimately Kyle sliced out the portion in the peak of the great room from up on the roof, as he was installing that final ridge cap. This is B's helper, B, working up in the loft.
Here the polyiso blocks are being installed in the ceiling of the great room, the "cathedral ceiling". It turned out that no adhesive was needed, because B&B were able to cut the foam precisely enough that it could be friction-fit really securely. The two worst parts of the job were 1) the tiny fiberglass fibers which were mostly quite loosely attached to the dark facing paper, and brushed off easily onto clothing or skin ("the gift that keeps on giving," as B said), and 2) the peskiness of insulating around the electric boxes and wiring with spray foam, which comes in various expansion strengths (confusingly labeled), just to keep us guessing when we went to pick up supplies. Generally we wanted the spray foam with the smallest expansion rate, so as to more easily control the application around the wiring.
So the first day a lot was accomplished, by avoiding the spaces which had electrical boxes in them. The Xs below the level of the future chair rail in this view are reminders not to insulate before the installation of the shower pan, due to the carpentry installation process. The oil-filled electric radiator in the foreground was needed on a few unseasonably cold and gusty days, and was powered by an extension cord (two actually) from inside Big D's basement studio.
Then came the little chunks to be pushed into the spaces between to joists of both loft spaces; then triangles and other geometrical configurations, here seen in the bow wall of the sleeping loft.
Lastly on the insulation (except for the shower pan wall spaces), B and M (a new helper, a recent college graduate in sculpture and new media), and ultimately Kyle, had the fun of spraying foam into crevices and around electrical boxes. Some of the foam tended to get a little out of control, which necessitated shaving it off. Or in some cases the spray foam began lifting out the block of polyiso, which later necessitated shaving that off. The loan of an awesome flexible Japanese hand saw by B (who generously loaned a number of pieces of equipment and tools -- thanks so much!) made the insulation shaving go much more smoothly than it otherwise would have. So other than tossing more fiberglass fibers into the air and into cracks and all over the floor (fiberglass makes Laurie cranky, can you tell?) the insulation installation was a huge success!
The source of some crankiness, in the interest of having a really toasty home in cold weather...
Somewhat tidier but not yet fiber-free!! Where is the shop-vac? This post has a cliff-hanger ending....!!!
Kyle and electrician P converse about the construction portion of the installation of two exterior outlets on the house. One will be at the stern, looking ahead to a possible use on a porch, and the other is for the entryway light just outside the door, on the starboard side. It was decided to wire the entryway light connection as an outlet, and not hard wire the fixture. It was thought prudent to plan to remove the light fixture before barreling down the highway (creating 60 mph hurricane force winds) without having to worry about it being sheared off by the force of the wind. (Note Kyle's nifty styrofoam pads on the extension ladder in the background -- added in order to rest the ladder against the roofing without any nicks or scrapes or dings.
Here Kyle is installing the wiring box by the door, having custom-made a nifty reversed cedar siding frame for it that will hold the screws for the receptacle and lid.
And this is what the stern outlet looks like on the inside of the house, blocking having been added to secure the position of the box. It is the blue box you can see behind the short 2x4. The grey box is for an interior receptacle below the window seat. Eventually this small area will be filled with spray foam.
The finished stern exterior outlet with its cover, a nice bronze instead of the usual white or grey.
P rigged an instant roller for the 12V wire, with Big D's crowbar, Kyle's ladder, and a coat hanger from my trunk. It works perfectly. She gets the two lengths of 14-3 tinned copper stranded marine cable up in the peak of the ceiling in no time.
In mid-wire-pulling, I decide we need to re-route the 120V and the 12V cables to avoid the openings to the future cubby (the peak of the shed out on the tongue, which will be accessible from the loft, not the shed). What you see is the re-routed cables going down the starboard gable line of the bow wall. The cubby openings will be on either side of the two (tallest) center bays between the bow studs. P generously humored my change, and it was done by the end of the hour.
A piece of nifty scaffolding equipment of B's (shaped when folded up a bit like the letter "W") creates this gangway going from one loft to the other, allowing P to tie up the 12V cable with the 120V pipe and prepare the junction box for the chandelier fixture.
A view of the stern storage loft mid-wire-pulling. Note the 12V and 120V systems are two completely separate systems, and there is no inverter involved. The 12V will only be powered by the deep-cycle marine batteries and the 120V powered by household current from a friend's garage, or an RV hook-up.
Sketching for the positions of the marine 12V double receptacles. This is in the stern wall to starboard of the big window. The outlet will be accessible in the sidewall of the starboard bookcase in the windowseat nook. Probably for a USB charger!
We almost had enough 12V cable on the 100 ft. spool from the marine store, but ended up buying about 20 feet from a big box building supply store. It was stranded copper OS cable, 14-3, and worked fine.
Not to be forgotten at the tail end of the post is the taillight re-installation. Kyle removed these after the first towing journey for their protection during the heavy exterior construction phase. Now they will be replaced for good, ready for the next move!
Kyle is in the home stretch of the roofing installation here. The ridge cap goes on last, after cutting the roof wrap that was over the venting, and installing the perforated venting strip, and the Z trim. Lots of caulk and adhesive and rivets. All the screws are concealed. It turns out the dormer ridge cap line is lower than the main ridge cap line; the main (cathedral portion) ridge cap will be 2-3" higher than the dormer ridge cap. Though a little bit noticeable, all of it is entirely secure and weatherproof, and I am brainstorming a weather vane to be located there in the future. Perhaps made of the leftover copper from the shower pan!
Some of the tools of the concealed fastener standing seam metal roofing trade. Lots of delicate and gooey things to be worked with.
Here is a look at the dormer ridge cap (oops -- pictures in this post are not in chronological order!) during installation. Again, we have the higher geometry thing going here....
And, voila! The roof is finished! Looks awesome and lovely with the stained cedar siding. (Now if someone would only stain that ONE fascia board above the loft windows -- !)
Here is a look at the gable edge trim installed. Exquisite lines. I just want to HUG that roof!! (I can hear Kyle solemnly reminding me that every edge of metal is as sharp as a razor, and the metal is awfully easily bent...) And now on to the bow wall (soon), which has been on hold for quite a while as discussions take place about the design and construction of whatever manner of shed is being contemplated at the moment. There have been many.
Here is another interim shot of the floor. I haven't got a good picture of the finished combed stain. The polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation installation began about two minutes after the floor was dry, and got covered with little shreds of foam in no time. A picture will be forthcoming when the polyurethane has gone on.
A gift from the garden on the hill, delivered by A, posed by me in the tiny house, as a hummingbird and a mole chatting around the stud. Delicious!
I took some shots of the loft windows to send to the screen-making shop in Loveland, so the proprietor could see where the little tabs were to go. To the left of the center latch is the tiny slot which I was noting.
It turns out that the little tabs were not used. The first of three screens, a test, was ready in a day, and fit perfectly. Holes will be drilled for the little metal posts to slip into, a sturdier method of securing them after all.
In the midst of the gathering momentum, I paused to make a sign for us to hold up at the airport for my friend C, returning from Australia. Her daughter E and granddaughter LL picked me up so we could meet the flight. What fun!
.JPG)
