Building Update #18 - Gluing & Screwing on the Solstice

Jake's parents are visiting for almost two weeks from Chicago to help us get a roof on the house before the winter gets (too much) worse.  We spent the shortest day of the year putting up sheathing around the joists and then we were able to start gluing and screwing the floor sheathing to the joists for our second floor.

Our first Christmas decoration, courtesy of Jake's Mom.

Jake's Dad on the roof.  The only time he came down all day was for lunch.  Jake had again spent the week clearing snow and ice, but he and my Dad were able to get all the floor sheathing up on to the joists. 

A tarp from Jake's parents topped it off and we were finally under some cover.  Still have to clear all the ice out!  

Jake and his Dad making sure the sheathing was as square as possible before they started gluing it down. 

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Building Update #17 - Misery Loves Company

Jake has been working in the cold, snow, rain, and ice for two weeks.  I have been 'lucky' enough to join him on the weekends, and my Dad has helped out several days, too.  Progress has been slowed substantially due to the fact that we need to chip away ice, clear snow, etc. before continuing on the next step of the build.  

We used a liquid flashing product in all the seams between the plywood sheathing. In order to get certified we have to pass a blower door test showing our house is essentially airtight.  This is one of the techniques we need to get there. 

And over all the nails and holes from pulled nails. 

We spent last weekend connecting the plastic sheeting that is under the concrete to the plywood sheathing with a flashing tape (again for air sealing), but Jake has decided to go a different route, so we have to dismantle a weekend's worth of work. 

Chalk lines for (from nearest to farthest) the mechanical room, powder room, and coat closet.

Now with the interior partitions in.

The powder room.

The mechanical room.  Our electrical panel, cable and internet, water entry, sprinkler system entry, and heat pump water heater will all reside here. 

The day before the big storm.  We can't bring ourselves to see what 10-16" of snow on top of this will look like. All the floor joists are in.