There’s been a lot happening here over the last two and a half months. Lately I’ve been focusing on getting the exterior shell of the house weather-tight. In October I selected a contractor to install the tile and dry-in the roof (more on that below). This has allowed me to focus on preparing the walls and exterior for stucco.
A partial list of what I’ve worked on during this time / status:
- All the windows are installed and flashed.
- The front and back doors are installed.
- Drain, waste, and vent plumbing is nearly complete.
- Exterior electrical outlets and fixtures are about half way done.
- Exterior plumbing is nearly complete
My stucco contractor is tentatively scheduled to begin the lath and paper installation on the walls in early January. A lot remains to be done still. Thankfully, we haven’t had any appreciable rain yet! The good weather has enabled me to make a lot of progress.
Figuring out the window flashing at the beginning was a challenge. While it’s not a complicated process, there are many differnt flashing processes and no two methods agree. To make matters more confusing, builders in the East install housewrap before installing the windows, whereas in the West, it is installed after the windows. As such, some of the methods are only applicable depending on where you live. I eventually chose to use a modified process based on a method outlined in an article “Rethinking Window Flashing” in Journal of Light Construction.
One of the modifications that I made to the method was, rather than use a bow-tie patch over the pan flashing at the X-Y-Z point, I placed small strip of flashing along the side and stretched it onto the sill and sides of the window openings by about 1/2″. Then I installed the pan flashing, taking care to cut the corners as little as necessary. This method ensures that there is always about 1/2″ of seal overlap at the X-Y-Z point. I think it is better than the bow-tie method because it follows the correct flashing shingle-concept, whereas the bow-tie method seems to break this rule, as I understand it.
I spent most of October installing windows. Once I got the hang of it, installing them went fairly quickly. Then, Dad and I installed the front and back doors with the transom windows above. Installing doors is more challenging because you must align it for twisting as well as plumb and square. Installation of the back door went smoothly but the front door was challenging and I’m still not sure it’s quite right. The front door slab doesn’t fit perfectly but I haven’t been able to pin-point where the issue is in the installation yet. Letting it sit for a little bit and will come back to it later.
A couple weeks ago, I also passed exterior shear inspection. This inspection was for the exterior sheathing shear walls and nailing of the shear panels. Because I have several panels with tight nailing patterns (spaced <4″ on center), I was required to have a special private inspector come out and inspect those panels separately. I’m planning to be ready for combo frame inspection – the most difficult and comprehensive inspection – in late March.
Lately I’ve been focusing on the drain, waste, and vent plumbing, exterior hose bibbs, and exterior electrical outlets and fixture boxes. My uncle is a retired plumber and has been a big help with that aspect. It’s sort-of like assembling a giant erector set.
On the roofing side, the roofing contractor recently applied a peel-and-stick underlayment, Titanim FR, from Owens Corning. It is a .08″-thick sheet that replaces the traditional 2-layers of felt. Some of the advantages are that it self-seals around fasteners and is highly tear resistant. It was expensive but I think well worth the cost for this particular installation. The tile is scheduled to ship from the factory this week.
It’s a long process but I’m really thankful to have the opportunity to build my own house. My plan is to be ready for final inspection in late summer or early fall of next year. I think I might make it!
Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Sprit.
Titus 3:5
