Soffits installed, deck started July 5, 2011

Today I finished installing the soffits on the dormers. It was very difficult to staple the soffits at the very back where the soffit meets the roof. The roof is a 9 - 12 pitch so it was difficult to stay on the roof while I was installing them.

The temperature hit 85 degrees today, the warmest day I've seen in Montana this year. Tony is back this week caulking between the logs with Log Jam.

We began in installing the decking today. It is very time consuming getting the three outer deck boards installed because we have to scribe every board and cut them out with a jig saw before we screw them down. Once the three outer boards are installed, the rest will go very fast; all we have to do is cut them to length, router and stain the end we cut, and screw them down. We will reinstall the 4 X 8 sheets of OSB on the deck top with a couple of screws to protect the surface from damage during the rest of the construction.

I will be moving cattle for Myles Carpenter for the next few days. I will be getting more logs from Myles in return.

Installed soffits on end gables July 1, 2011

I started installing the soffits on the end gables yesterday and finished them up today. Tomorrow I will install the soffits on the dormers. Once the dormer soffits are completed, I will frame out the windows with 2 inch rough cut cedar and the house will be ready for the siding, which I plan to order next week.

I also have to order a bunk of tongue and groove boards to finish the soffits on the sides of the house. These will be stained before I install them. I have 8 angled can lights to install over the covered decks on both sides of the house (4 per side) before I install the soffits. These will be installed and wired next week.

I finished framing out the end of the deck on both sides of the house and installed the last backer blocks at the deck support posts earlier this week. All the 2" by 6" deck planks have been stained. Everything is in place and I am ready to install the deck planking.

Bathroom in progress June 30, 2011

Joel Gershenfeld (on the left) and Jim Joyce helped get the bathroom 90% complete on the sheetrock, and to at least 80% complete on the painting. With Joel's help we worked late into the night on the 28th and into the early evening on the 29th to complete the bathroom. We installed the vanity, plumbed in the sink and reinstalled the toilet. We turned on the hot water heater and everything is a go! I'm having a minor problem with a leak at the sink which I will correct by moving the vanity a half inch to the right.

I decided the bathroom could take a rest today so I started installing the soffits on the gable ends. When I went to install the first tongue and groove board I discovered the staple gun I purchased was actually a brad nailer (boxed wrong). Back to the store for an exchange!!!

Tomorrow I will continue with the soffits. When the temperature hits 85 degrees (which is in the forecast for the next 6 days) I will probable begin tiling the shower floor and walls. The basement stays very cool even on the warmest days. We only have 6 more of the 16 foot 2" X 6" planks for the deck left to stain/oil. (173 completed)

Bathroom floor tiled June 24, 2011

Today I removed the toilet in the bathroom and installed the floor tiles. I had to mix the thin set, which I have never done before. In the past I purchased pre-mixed product. I bought a mixer I run with my 1/2' drill. It actually worked very well.

The tile saw I purchased in Butte made the job go smoother with much better cuts. I will grout the tile on Sunday, and install the sheetrock before I reinstall the toilet. The tile for the shower floor will be 6" X 6". The shower wall tiles will be the same size as the bathroom floor tiles; 12" X 12". The shower tiles were shipped today and will arrive in Butte next Tuesday.

Before

After

Bathroom wiring completed, outside sheeted. June 23, 2011

Today I finished wiring the bathroom lights, outlets and fan. Everything works! I then sheeted the outside of the bathroom and the outside of the mechanical room. It's time to tile!

Basement bathroom June 22, 2011

Since my last posting I have the shower ready to tile. I installed the light/fan in the shower; it is ready to be wired in as soon as I pick up the special light switch. I plumbed in the water heater and wired it to the main panel. When I have the shower tiling completed, all I have to do is turn on the breaker and the water valves. This picture shows the water heater and the water manifolds, one for hot and one for cold. I use red PEX for all hot lines, blue for cold.

The manifolds have valves on each outlet. As I add water circuits in the house all I have to do is connect them to the correct manifold and turn the valve.

Tomorrow, after I finish wiring the bathroom, I will begin setting up to install the soffits on the end gables. I purchased a bunk of of 2 X 6's for the deck this week. I have hired a high school student to stain all four sides and the ends. When they are all stained and dry, I will begin installing them.

Windows all installed June 18, 2011

Today I finished installing the remaining windows. The wind was fairly strong today which made it more of a challenge. Yesterday I took a trip to Bozemen to get shower/bathroom components I could not find in Butte. The next project will be installing the shower fan/light and the overhead light in the bathroom. Then I will finish plumbing in the shower and get ready to tile.