Clerestory = Clear Views

Clerestory framing is complete, except for window installation.

Clerestory is almost complete.

Framers are finishing the sheathing on the back roof.

Side view.

Clerestory framing is complete, windows should be installed next.

The roof sheathing is completely installed, shingles are next for the roof.

View from future great room.  The clerestory windows will provide light to back of the house.

Caught a view of the moon peeking through the new clerestory windows.

Windows and Doors

Even though the back roof and clerestory are not framed, our builder decided to have the front windows and doors installed.  So from the front, it is really starting to look like a house!

The windows are installed, and a framer is working on installing the basement door.  The clerestory still needs to be built at the peak of the roof.

This is the front door, which will be eventually be under a porch.  It will be at the front of the airlock entry.

This is the back of the house, still waiting for the clerestory to be built.  The roof will go from the top of the clerestory down to the top of this wall.  This is where you can see how much earth sheltering there is.  The back wall of the house is about 4 feet out of the ground.  The garage is the part that has the plywood installed on the roof.

Roof Installation Begins

The roof trusses are installed.

Street view.

Front view of house.

Back view of house.

Standing in future kitchen.

View from master.

Road Closed

The city closed the road for about a block in two directions so the main sewer tap could be installed.

Trench cut in road going from connection at house to sewer manhole in street.

Front wall of house went up. 

 

Truss lumber package was delivered.

Moving On Up

Since the last post, the main underground plumbing was installed, and framing has begun!

Steel joists were installed in basement over the plumbing which will be in the crawl space.  Then wood sheets cover the joists, forming the structural floor.

Finally able to see the house from the street.

 Basement is being framed, Christa is standing in doorway.

Base of interior walls in basement.

Wood joists that will be under main floor.

View from inside basement.

Concrete poured over wood structural floor in basement.  Needed wood structural floor to give room for potential soil expansion, and then concrete poured over for the thermal mass.

Front wall is framed and ready to be erected.

Interior walls of main floor are being built.

Moving Dirt, Again

Lots of activity on site as the tractors were here to back fill the dirt.  Better dirt than what is naturally on site, which is expansive and full of clay, was brought in for the bottom layer and then the mountain of dirt was used to fill in the trenches around the foundation walls.

Front Loader and Bobcat working together to move and smooth dirt.

The front loader dropped a pile of dirt near the wall, the bobcat then drove over the wall and into the crawl space.  These brave men never cease to amaze me!

Bob cat, in garage, smoothing the dirt flat.

View from the north, looking south.  This is looking from behind the house.  The mountain of dirt gone, gives us back our view.

My friend Jana came to see the progress and wanted to meet the neighbors!

Insulation and Drain Board

And the drainage efforts continue with the installation of drain board.  First there needed to be insulation board glued to the concrete walls.  This layer of insulation needs to be outside the walls, rather than inside because there cannot be anything on the inside of the concrete walls for the passive solar aspects to work.  The concrete walls will be part of the solar mass.

Owens Corning FOAMULAR® 250  - R10

DELTA®-DRAIN is a highly effective drainboard that controls the flow of below grade water. Its high water-flow capacity ensures effective drainage for virtually any construction project. The drainboard enhances the effectiveness of waterproofing because it relieves hydrostatic pressure build-up against subterranean surfaces.  http://www.cosella-dorken.com/bvf-ca-en/products/foundation_residential/dimplesheets/products/drain.php

Close up of drain board being installed over foam board.

View from the north looking at back wall of house.  Insulation foam board and drain board installed.