In the trenches

While we were in the midst of all this addition craziness, we decided it would be fun to add another element. Since we ran new plumbing and connected it to the existing sewer, it was the perfect time to run an extra water line out to the pasture for a future barn. We'll also put an electrical line in the trench so there is power out there, too. We rented a trenching machine and dug a bunch of trench.

Teach them young...


The trenches

Electricity and siding

Frugaldad decided that he is going to do all the electrical work himself so on Saturday we did some attic cleaning so he'd have access to run wires. Yesterday he drilled a hole through the top plate of the garage wall to run the wire for the new a/c unit. It's the old wire, just moved from its old location. Then he'll run new wire for an electrical panel in the addition.

We hired a guy we know to come and put the siding up, and it is being delivered tomorrow. He is also doing the soffits, so we'll be officially closed in sometime in the near future!

It all sounds so easy, but after the wire is run, it's insulation and drywall, and then it's basically finished space! There might be a place for the new baby to sleep after all!

Exterior foam insulation

We are putting foam insulation on the exterior of the building to help with efficiency since there are so many windows. We are finished with the south wall so far.

HVAC

Last week the HVAC guys came and did all the rough ductwork in the addition. They haven't tied into our existing system yet. We are replacing our 30+ year old furnace as well as putting in an air conditioner to replace the one we got rid of last summer, and we don't want dust in the new equipment, so we'll wait until the drywall is finished before we install the new stuff.

The main trunk in the basement that feeds all the vents


Ducts in the joist bays


Air vent in the basement ceiling for one of the future bedrooms


Air vent on first floor


Air return in south half


Air return over the stairs (serves the north half and basement)

Basement perimeter walls

Frugaldad framed the perimeter of the basement when I was laid up on the couch with a broken ankle.

Our #1 and #2 Priority

We passed our plumbing inspection on Valentine's Day. The inspector was very impressed with Frugaldad's DIY job. Then the following Saturday, Frugaldad cut into the existing septic line and tied the new plumbing into it.

In case you missed the news, I fell and broke my ankle on February 13 so I haven't been outside to take pictures or even see the progress for almost 3 weeks. But Frugaldad assures me that the progess is great. He framed all the perimeter walls in the basement so they can be insulated and now that most of the snow is melted, he and the kids cleaned up most of the rest of the debris around the site.

The last door, finally

I'm not even going to apologize for the lack of updates.

We ordered the last door on Dec 14, it came in 4 weeks later (2 weeks late) and wasn't even what we ordered. So we ordered again and less than 2 weeks later the right door came and was installed on Saturday Jan 26. It is very nice to be able to get into the addition on both sides of the building now, instead of having to walk around.





We're also almost done with the plumbing. The drain side is finished except for the vent out the roof, and there hasn't been a snow-free day to get on the roof yet. A couple weeks ago, an entire Saturday was spend tapping into the supply lines of the house and all the supply lines to the addition are run, supported, and in the walls ready to be attached to fixtures.

The dirt pile out back, once the bane of my existence with it's ability to migrate into my house, is now quite a fun sledding hill.