House Build 2023

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Yeah that one beam, well 3 sandwiched beams, was $1,800 and nobody even gets to see it! I wish I had been there to see them carry it up there. Literally every piece was hand carried and lifted by little bitty guys. No equipment at all, 3 or 4 ladders and 2 aluminum walk boards were the only things they brought with them except for their hand tools.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Meeting with the electrician and insulation people tomorrow morning. I think the electrician will start rough in tomorrow also. HVAC install started this morning. Units are set and ductwork is being put in. Plumbing top out is supposed to start this week also.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

What is the best plan for insulating the fireplace, and what's the best plan for sealing around the flu?

 

[gsganzer]

As much as I like fireplaces, my next house will have a wood stove. More efficient and much simpler.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

This one is a vented gas unit. Basically a gas heater that looks like a fireplace. 45,000 btu with a blower. It will put out lots of heat and operates with a remote control. I think we are really going to enjoy it.

I'm tempted to have them take it out and insulate the outer shed part. It sounds like they usually just insulate the inside wall.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've only messed with a few of them, and in every case, I read the book to see what they say about spacing from insulation and the framing. They where all different in what they wanted, but they where all the same in requiring a certain distance between the unit and everything around it. The last one I did was probably 7 years ago, and I don't remember putting any insulation anywhere near it.

 

[drumminj]

Insulate the chaise if you can (if it's not inside of conditioned space), and air seal with fire caulk/foam where it penetrates the ceiling into the attic/wall.

Our inspector required something to mechanicaly separate the insulation from the chimney flue for our gas fireplace -- in retrospect I wish I'd pushed for rockwool in that area (assuming the inspector would okay it) and paying better attention to the detailing where the chimney exited through the wall -- it wasn't air sealed as I'd expect, and I wasn't able to get the builder to fix it in time.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I'll get the book and see what it says. Also looked up rockwool. Looks like a good candidate.

I'm back seat driving this build so I'm just watching it go and speaking up when i want something different or don't understand something. I'm going to foam all the areas that i can see daylight after the electrician and plumber get done. I'm taking mental notes of areas that need it and the flu definitely needs something i just don't know what. Hopefully the book has some insight.

Meeting with the electrician went good. Going to have receps and LED can lights out the ying yang.

Insulation is going to be a mixture of primarily blown cellulose, minimal bats, and spray foam on the vault in the greatroom and bonus room vault.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Good call on the install manual... Sometimes the easiest things get forgotten...

 

[Tinhack]

Nice place!
I remember my building days back in Ohio. The wife and I were there every day after work and on days off. It was an exciting time filled with good and bad memories. We had a 40-pound chandler going in the dining room. The electrician had a e-box mounted on piece a of tin between the 2x4s for that. That got changed. Workers were leaving empty cans and trash in the walls of closets before they were finished. They were also throwing wood cut-offs in next to the basement walls. I'm glad I found those before they back filled. Stay in close contact with your contractor and don't be afraid to mention what you think is sub-par work or materials. And take lots of pictures of framing and finishing details. It could help later if you want to add outlets, fixtures, cables or an alarm system.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

A big huge beam just to hide it inside the roof assembly!?!? That is killing me, lol.

That is a crazy expensive attic, haha.

Congrats on the progress!

Here is a close up... soon to be hidden forever.

 

[deezler]

Here is a close up... soon to be hidden forever.

View attachment 822325

wow. You should at least add some drop down attic stairs somehow, and make an evil-lair man cave up there or something.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I'll get you a picture of that area. The attic in this thing is probably bigger than my first house. My wife and I laugh about this process, like a oh no we messed up but it's too late to change it now, kind of laugh. Looking at the plans it really felt like we were building a moderately sized house. Then the footers were dug and poured, tiny house... Then the rafters for the great room started going up.... Excessive!

 

[deezler]

Will the insulation go in the lower rafters, or upper? IE will that be a conditioned space, or cold and vented?

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Attic will be unconditioned air.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Speaking of wiring: I don't like outside lights right beside a door. At night they are mostly a bug magnet and they work just as well off to one side. If you do Christmas lights an under eve outlet and an inside switch make that a lot simpler.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Some more attic pictures. The first one is my man cave. Upstairs room above the garage that is air conditioned. It's 19x24 or so.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Other side of the attic.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm not a fan of the AC unit being in the attic because it's usually hard to get to it. The other issue is getting to it without clearing a trail through the insulation every time you change the filters.

I have 6 large dogs, and I change my filter twice a month in Summer when it's dusty out, and once a month the rest of the year. I also add bleach to my drain every time I change my filter. I had them double my filter to 2 inches thick because of the dog hair that ends up in there and the hair would clog up the filter and bend it.

I've built bridges for clients to get to their AC units when they decided to have their Insulation redone. Most of my clients are too old to get into their attics to change their filters, so it doesn't get done, or they pay somebody to do it.

Be sure to have a walkway, or bridge, to get to the AC Unit so you can do basic maintenance and not ruin your insulation.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Bridge is going to be added for both units. Both units have 2 returns with filters accessable from living area. Both have extra large drip trays with fluid sensing shut offs in addition to the unit's standard trays. I was not a huge fan of them being in the attic either but usable space in the living area won out.