Roof

After a short period of rain, the roofing crew is not onsite and working hard to get the roof closed off. Since we have a flat roof they are using high density foam boards to build up the slope of the roof and then a very thick roof membrane on top of the boards to seal everything. 

We chose to create a cold roof by facing the white side of the membrane upwards since most of our energy requirements in the house are for cooling the house in the summer time. The white surface will reflect the sun better and help keep the house cool.

Here are the foam boards they use to build up the roof. The boards provide both the slope and extra thermal insulation in the roof.

In the last 2-3 days they finished half of he roof on the main house. The insulation is pretty significant since the thickness of the roof boards is 10-12"  

Window flashing and Huber Zip System

This past week the crew has been working on flashing all the windows to get ready for the window installation. The windows are supposed to be shipped on October 10th and the installation is supposed to begin on October 17th.

The flashing is a combination of flashing tape and a liquid flashing membrane.

They have also framed up the pool shed (left in the picture) and have begun applying the Huber Zip tape. This picture is taken in the beginning of the week before they started applying tape.

The sheathing system we are using consists of a structural panel with an embedded vapor, water and air-barrier applied directly to it. In order to create a completely airtight and watertight sheathing skin, the gaps between the Zip panels are taped with a special black Zip tape from the same manufacturer that bonds with the panels and seals the seams between them.

This picture is taken Friday after they started applying the black Zip tape.

Framing and sheathing - almost complete

Great progress again this week. The crew is in full swing finalizing the framing and sheathing. The parapet has been framed out and sheathing is almost complete. We had our structural inspection a couple of days ago and it came back with no remarks - everything looks good. These first two pictures are from the beginning of the week.

As you can see from the photos it's really beginning to look like a house.

Windows should be arriving on site around October 11th and when they go in it will begin to give a much better sense of the interior. The following photos are from Thursday this week.

Framing - second floor progress

We continue to make good progress on the second floor framing. Roof trusses and sheathing is going in fast now.

Framing - second floor

It has been a couple of weeks and we are making good progress. First some updates on the pool. The pool contractor is back on site and working on plumbing, electrical and getting ready to gunite the pool. Before that happens they will put a layer of gravel up to the orange line that the pool will rest on. The boards on the sides will be used to spray the gunite up against.

The framing crew has made a lot of progress on the second floor. Snapping and plating all exterior and interior walls and framing all the walls. They have also made good progress on the sheathing on the exterior. We are using an all-in-one sheathing system called Zipp from Huber. It is a structural sheathing panel that includes and air-tight and water-proof membrane on the outside. The panels get mounted just like normal sheathing and then the seams will be taped later to form an impenetrable water and air-barrier. 

Here is the second floor seen from the patio side. The rooms from left to right are: walk-in closet, master bedroom, void area above dining table and a little library to the far right. The view from up there? Priceless!

Here you can get a sense for the pool (lower left), the main house and the outdoor living space.

Second unit with shade overhang framed.

And a couple of shots of the house from the street. 

Framing progress

Framing continues and the first floor is really taking shape now. For the last week or so the crew has been working on framing of roof trusses, overhangs, etc.

Here is the area outside of the main entrance

A view through what will be the main entrance door.

Outside of the main entrance.

Main house framing.

Garage and second unit.

The kitchen.

Main living space with the two-story void framed out as well (top left). That area above the dining table will have a full 18-foot ceiling height.

Framing first floor

Now things are really moving along. The crew has started framing and has made really good progress this past week. It looks like the first floor is 90% done now and they have started installing the last headers and steel beams.

The outer walls are all framed with 2x8's to provide a much thicker wall cavity than is required by code. Our wall assembly will be insulated with Roxul mineral wool insulation batts.

To provide enough structural strength to the building, we are using steel beams in the main two-story unit.

Here you can get a feel for the 3-car garage (2+1) in the foreground, the second unit (upper left) and the mudroom and pantry to the right of the garage.

Here you can see the entry door (lower right) and get a feel for the open living space that will have two living rooms and an open kitchen - all in one open floor plan.