Stucco Prep

The house is being readied for the stucco installation.  They have installed building wrap and metal lath.

 

We will be using Lahabra Stucco.

Solar Tubes

For more light in the (earth-sheltered) back part of the house, we used solar tubes.

In the garage, we used

 

The solar tubes on the garage still need the domes to be installed.

For the closet in the master bedroom, we used Solatube.  This brand was more expensive than the Velux, and Steve thought it sounded like it was better constructed and would let in more light.  To help the budget, we decided to use Solatube inside the house and Velux in the garage.  It will be interesting to compare them and see which brand we think is better.

This is the Solatube from the outside with the dome installed.

Roof

The roof shingles have been installed.  We used

The color is Sienna Blend.

Here is the front of the house with the roof complete.

And here is the back with the installation almost complete.

Cabinets

Our General Contractor, Dick Ludwig, likes to use The Kitchen Showcase in Denver for cabinets.  They are one of few that will come to the site to lay out the design at framing stage.  This way, the design that was created in their offices can be tweaked for a custom fit at the house.  Darrel was out on Friday and laid out the design on the floor to see how it will fit.

 

Here is the layout from the cooktop (part of the vent hood is laying on the floor in the upper right corner) to the dishwasher. 

I've always wanted a built in buffet and china cabinet, and this is the other side of the kitchen.  It starts with the wall oven and then cabinets and counter will wrap around the corner into the dining room.

Here is most of the kitchen, a "u shape".

You might have noticed part of the garage in the last picture, the concrete floor was also poured.  We will be using Koch Cabinets

This picture shows the color and wood finish that we selected.  The following picture shows the door style.

Plumbing and Door Jamb List

The plumber has started to install interior plumbing.

Vent and Drainage Pipes

Shower Base

Tub

Washer and Dryer Hookups with Pex* piping for hot and cold water
 (blue = cold, red = hot)
*http://www.pexinfo.com/

Our G.C., Dick, is taking a long weekend for a much deserved break and to meet a new granddaughter.  He left a "to do" list on the door jamb so that work can continue while he is gone!

Porch

The framers started the porch.  Steve was not sure about having a porch, because he did not want any extra shading to interfere with the passive solar aspects of the house.  But it was an agreement that was reached during the neighbor approval stage to add a porch for interest.  It does give the house an interesting feature, and we hope it will not interfere with the passive solar.

Latest street view with porch added to the front of the house.

Close up view of house with porch started.

 Tongue and Groove cedar boards are being installed on the porch roof to match the soffit under the clerestory.

Accessories

This post is all about some of the extras that are starting to be installed.

 

Here are the stairs to the basement.  They were custom built to be stronger than a prefab set, to have a descent that is not as steep as an ordinary set, and to fit perfectly.

 It's easiest to see this at the floor.  The small rectangle that is framed next to the stairs is a future wiring chase.  If you've ever had to chase wires through pipes and boards to add any new electric in a house, you know why this is brilliant.

These are more accessories to make the house more interesting to the eye.  At the top is a corbel brace made of 4 x 4 cedar.  The eaves will have siding, the rest of the face of the house will be stucco.  Above the garage window is a shading trellis.  Also made of cedar, these will also be installed above all of the basement windows to provide shading.  Another passive solar feature.

The framers are about to start installing cedar boards under the clerestory soffit.  It will be a tongue and groove application*.  Again, more things to add interest to the eye.*http://www.woodworkdetails.com/knowledge/joints/edge/tongue-and-groove

Here is a view of the installation from inside the house.

Staggered Studs

Contrary to popular opinion, wood is a decent conductor of heat.  In a normal wall, the "weak link" in the insulation system is the studs.

 So for this energy efficient house, the studs were staggered so that insulation can go around the studs which eliminates the "thermal bridge" between the inside and outside of the house.