Insulation is completed.

Passed framing inspection on Friday 02/28.  Insulation started that afternoon and was completed by Monday March 1st.  We used all cellulose insulation between the bays for a number of reasons:
1. It is a very cost effective
2. Cellulose is blown into the bays wet so that it fills all spaces and acts as an air barrier
3. Cellulose has a high recycled content, made of recycled newspaper.

With the 1" of rigid insulation on the exterior the walls have an r-value of 23 as opposed to the typical 2x6 wall which has an actual r value of more like 17 (when you account for studs + insulation in bays)

Shell Complete; Rough-in In Progress

First week in February and the shell is finished. PLF Construction moved off site today after blocking interior walls for bath accessories and clean up. Inventory of extra materials and calling the lumber vendors for return of some material. The exterior trim, which was Bodyguard, came in higher than expected by 30%. Tough nut, but we don't want to sacrifice in this area due to our salt air climate. Primed pine gets eaten alive in this area. There are other products: XO trim, KLEER trim, AZEK trim, but they all are pretty much in the same price range.
The Plumber is ready for rough-in inspection, the HVAC contractor will be done on Friday and the Electrician is in progress and probably looking at a week from Friday for rough inspection. We are shooting for Monday February 22 for Framing Inspection with the Town of Chatham. Insulation and Drywall can then begin.
So looking at our numbers we're at $170/sqft. Not bad for good 'ole Cape Cod.

Closing In Shell

Windows, Trim and Siding all getting down before the end of January.
The PLF crew has been really gettin it down.
The clapboard will get painted at the end.
Plumbing has started inside. (Pleasant Bay Plumbing & Heating)
The weather has turned cold, cold, but not before we poured the basement slab.
Hard Rock Concrete rocks!!
Rough-ins should be done the month of February. Drywall and Interior Trim in March-April.
90% of the selections have been completed with the Owner. Alison is designing kitchen and Lynda is coordinating Plumbing, Electrical fixtures.
Ahead of schedule so far!!

Rigid Insulation - Jan, 6-8

The rigid insulation arrived and in the meantime we had reviewed with the framing subcontractors how there can be no thermal breaks with any framing. So ledgers for porch roof have to go up after the rigid and rafter tails need to be trimmed in order for the rigid insulation to fit under and up to the edge of top plates. I also had a meeting with the insulation contractor and reviewed details for basement rim joist area and the soffit blocked area. Later after the framing inspection the inside framing will be air sealed. This will help attain our HERS Rating and Energy Star compliance.

Happy New Year !!

As we bring in the New Year, it's been unseasonably cold and two snow storms have dumped the white stuff. So snow plowing as we continue to frame. Strapping over the hip beams tieing into the wall frame. Sheathing the walls and roof and wrapping the perimeter with Typar before the rigid insulation goes on. There is an issue with our building supply vendor as to delivery date for rigid insulation. So I'm calling our insulation contractor for their help. It seems the big lumber companies on the Cape are not stocking inventory as in days passed. The New Economy ? Ughh!

Steel for Moment Frame

Part of the new Wind Loading requirements for Cape Code get us into providing moment frames around large spans of glass where there is inadequate sheathing panel to resist wind loads in exposed areas. Full speed ahead during the Christmas-New Years break.

Christmas Card Frame

Every year we have our Christmas card decked out with our latest project.
So as the frame is going up and steel plates waiting to be welded on Monday, Alison and Amy took some pictures for the card today.
Plywood sheathing on the first floor and continuation of the second floor walls was on the schedule for the rest of the week.