We're getting there!

It's been a doozy of a week and a very full Mother's Day.

Let's try and crank this out quick-like.

On Monday Dean finished framing out the single-bay garage door opening

in preparation for Advanced Door sending a "technician" out to install the door.

Just an insignificant, random thought:

Why do they call them technicians and not installers?

I dunno.

That evening we got the first newel post installed. 

The second was a bit problematic as it turned out to be a tight fit 

what with all the components between the floor joists in that area.

Earlier in the day, Inspector Craig came in place of Inspector Mike

to inspect the pressure gauges on our radiant heat tubing to 

make certain they were holding at 100 psi. He also did a walk through

to check for any splices in the tubing.

It was the quickest and easiest inspection yet.

Tuesday morning the gypcrete foreman called and informed us that our job had been 

postponed until Monday. That was discouraging, but as it turns out was better for us anyway.

The garage door "technician" showed up while I was in class

to install that single bay door and put all the straps and handles on.

And...

our interior doors were delivered.

It doesn't look like it, but there are 16 of them.

We got that second newel post installed. It was a booger.

We also ran pex for the radiator line for the north-east basement bedroom 

and I can hardly wait to share that little detail with ya'all when it's time.

There were several other little details in preparation for the insulation crew and

listing them would be tedious for both author and reader, so I'll forego them.

Wednesday Dean pressurized all the water lines, rerouted the waterlines for the 

garage faucets, ran the 220 circuit to the auxiliary panel in the garage, 

insulated the pex to the north-east bedroom radiant heater and ran a water line 

from the manifold to the swamp cooler. 

I dusted all the blocking on the framing (yes, you heard me and indeed I did) 

and vacuumed between the framing and sheeting of all the exterior walls because 

I did just couldn't stand the thought of any dirt or debris of any kind being 

forever locked in the walls of our home when the insulators finished their work. 

I also cleared unnecessary items from the garage, stacked lumber, swept up and  

situated what we couldn't move out, into the center of the garage floor.
And I wrapped each of our newel posts with a leftover roll of foundation sill insulation
and then covered them with plastic to protect them.

I'd taken them to our cabinet maker to be painted. Matt did a fabulous job
and I didn't want to take any chance of getting insulation spray on them.

The first two of the insulation crew showed up early Thursday morning.
They were two very nice young men and when they saw all the tubing down on the floor
they got nervous and were hesitant to start working. They were very worried about
causing damage with their work boots,  heavy hose and ladders.
They called their boss, their boss called Dean and Dean reassured them that it would
be okay and that he would personally assume any damages, but asked them to just be cautious.
Everything turned out great.

For years I regularly watched "This Old House" and "Hometime" on PBS.
Those shows were like my grownup Saturday morning cartoons.
The first time I saw this type of insulation demonstrated on those shows
I knew I'd want to use it if ever we built another house.
I love that we get about a 21 r-factor, but I also love that it completely seals the void in the stud wall
and in my mind, that'll also keep those wretched 8-legged creatures from infiltrating.

Another insulation options that I saw demonstrated on those shows  and loved is blow-in...

which we chose for the basement.
Again, in my mind this is not only a great insulator, but a good
barrier for those nasty spiders taking up residence in the stud walls.
It was more fun to watch this being installed than the spray in, but isn't as
'clean' and made me cough like crazy. I probably should have had a mask on.
This insulation option for the basement also meant that we didn't have to cut
and install a jillion little pieces of fire blocking and that's a sweet deal right there.

We just had regular bat insulation installed in the garage...

Friday was a very chill day- literally and figuratively -
it was rainy and cold and we felt like we could actually take a breather
from the rigorous to-do list we'd been constantly working on.
I had an appointment at the hospital, so I had Ryan come stay here just in case
our boiler showed up. Sure enough, it was delivered by freight less than an hour after I'd left
for that appointment.
When Dean got home from work he got right to terminating all the coax lines at the splitter and then
he and I ran the copper tubing for the swamp cooler.
And then we left for a Friday night 'date' at Costco!
Larissa and Joe had shown up just before we left so they tagged along.
Costco was our destination because Dean wanted to picked up some Salmon
and pretzel rolls for a Mother's Day feast for moi.
YUM.

Something strangely familiar went down Saturday...

Dean worked on our automobiles!
I actually think it was a refreshing change for him.
The truck got a full front brake job, lube job, oil change, transfer case service
and front axle service.

Amica got an oil change, tire rotation and other general maintenance.
Our Retro Bungalow's garage is officially broken in!
Cool.

While Mr was playing 'grease monkey'
I vacuumed and vacuumed and vacuumed
and vacuumed some more.
I meticulously cleaned the entire sub floor and sleepers making certain to
get every spec of anything on,near or under all the radiant tubing.
I plugged in my phone, plopped on some ear protection and listened to my entire
John Denver collection twice and then some while the shop vac roared.
We're officially ready for the gypcrete crew.
WHEW.
Oh, yeah...
Dean insulated both bathtubs. That was actually my job, but I took
so long vacuuming that he went ahead and did it after
 finishing with the Amica and the ol' truck.
And we did our best to fix a floor creak, but it won.
We think that when the sub floor was put down at the end of the side entry hall,
the joist didn't get any or enough adhesive on it.
It bugs Dean, but I told him that in my opinion
a little floor squeak adds a bit of character and charm to a home.
Mars and Venus misalign again to maintain balance in the universe.

That's it.
Thanks, as always, for stoppin' by.
Good night and God bless.