We set out to build an efficient home and now that weβve moved, itβs obvious that some things are not going to fit and I take it as a good sign.
Category Archive: Build Livable
The Sticky Notes β
As the house project comes to a close we’re removing sticky notes as we go.
This Fireplace Sucks π₯
Sometime in the middle of the house project, I learned a lesson about chimneys that has fascinated me ever since. We were talking about the metal tubes, or βfluesβ that would eventually stick out of our roof and vent our two wood-burning fireplaces. According to the fireplace company, the size of the fireplaces meant the flues needed to be eighteen feet high to work. This explains why.
The Dogs of the House Project πΆ π
There is an unwritten rule about home building projects on Orcas Island: well-behaved dogs are welcome. One any given day there is at least one dog one site and we’ve grown to love them all.
Hibernating in the PNW βοΈ π¦
The winter of 2020-21 was no regular winter. A range of factors all converged to make it like a hibernation that could only end in the spring.
What Does it Want to Be? π¨
There are two considerations in making home finish decisions: what you want and what the house wants. By the time the finishes are being completed, the house will tell you what fits, or not.
“Big Stuff” and House Flooring Decisions π‘
Home construction includes a variety of “big” things. Perhaps the most pivotal is the flooring, because it covers the house, is used every day and is mostly permanent. This is about our floor decisions.
Choosing Recessed LED “Can” Lights
A friend who is a few months behind us in their home project reached out to ask a few questions about choosing recessed LED can lights for their new home.
Designing a Network for New Home Construction
When building a new house, it’s worth considering whether or not to run ethernet networking and if so, what products may work best. This is our plan.
This Was 2020
This was my 2020.
Smart Lights, Smart Home π‘π‘
Our final decisions on smart home lighting and home automation options for our house on Orcas Island.
Senioritis at the Guesthouse π‘ β‘οΈ π‘
After 16 months in our tiny guesthouse, we’ve gotten used to it. But as the house project nears completion, the small things are becoming a bit more grating.
Preparing Drywall for Paint π§Ήπ§½
Before the house could be painted, the dust from level 5 drywall had to be removed and it was a much bigger challenge that I expected and it put a strain on our relationship.
Masking and Painting The House π¨
We are doing the painting on the house project, which ended up being a much bigger job than I expected.
The Impossible Skyscraper in the Guesthouse π’ π
The pile of boxes we have stacked in the guesthouse represent a lot of decisions about the house project.
Designing Our Blackened-Steel Fireplace π₯
Our fireplaces are the heart of our house and an element we took great care to design.
Shou Sugi Ban Siding – Fortified by Fire π₯
The siding for our house is Japanese cypress that has been charred to make it more resilient and beautiful. It’s called “Shou Sugi Ban” or “yakisugi”.
What to Consider Before Drywall is Installed π€ π‘
Once the drywall goes up, a lot of decisions become harder to change. We tried our best to think ahead and avoid any changes.
Rolling Out Our Metal Roof π‘
Our house was designed to have a metal standing seam roof and I was not clear about how, exactly, the roof panels would be delivered and applied. It turns out they are formed on-site.
What is a Rain Screen for a House?
Before siding was applied, our house was striped with wooden supports. These are there to create a rain screen that’s designed not to trap moisture.