Rough Week

Week 15: This week was more rough-in work with the plumbers and the HVAC subs. Just to make things more interesting, the electrician sub started in the middle of the week also. Great progress on all the rough-in work. We also finally got the permit for the water and sewer installation. Bruce from Wescon came out and spent a few days trenching and laying both 6" PVC pipe for sewage and 1 1/2" copper pipe for the water line. Luckily the street damage was minimal with them boring the water pipe under the road. Of course the first day was met with rain that caused them to delay the installation. By the end of the week, the subs have completed most all their work. after they are done, the concrete guys will be back to pour the front steps, the new footings and piers for the stairwell bump out, the pad for the air conditioner, finalize the window wells, and do the rough grading. After that, I think we will be starting insulation and maybe the siding.

Here is the PVC pipe for the new sewage hookup. The old one was clay that was cracked due to the large maple trees roots.







Here they are topping off the pipe with crushed stone before back filling.







Here they are back filling with topsoil.








Here is the trench for the new water service. We had to tap into a new service junction and then cap the old connection.







Here is Bruce uncoiling and laying the new copper water line in the trench.







Here the line meets the street. They then had to bore underneath the street.







Before boring under the street, they had to add a shut off valve.








Here is what the tap into the water line looks like. We also had to get a larger meter due to the larger pipe.







Here they are digging another hole into my neighbor's yard. This was to cap the old tap we had into the water line. Happily, this is the last time we should have to dig up his yard.






Here is all that is left of the hole for the new tap in. It will be topped off shortly with asphalt.







Here is one of the large return ducts that goes across the old attic space. The return duct is completely insulated as well.







Duct lines running up to the master bedroom.








Here are the main trunk lines that will tie into the furnace.








The duct line here is going into the master bathroom. Since it is going under the balcony outside, it has to be insulated.







Here is the main return next to the basement steps. You can also see the gas line that is going to the fireplace.







This is a back view in the basement of the duct lines and where the furnace will connect up.







The puzzle of duct lines.








Duct lines and water lines in the basement.








More ducts.








Ducts to the master bathroom mixed with electrical box.








The electrician started this week. Yeah, electrical boxes.








Her are the pot lights and fan box in the upstairs family room.








This is the row of pot lights in the master bath.








The master bedroom pot lights and fan box.








These are for three wall sconces in the stairwell.









Here are the pot lights that will be on the balcony.







Here are the outlets for the bathroom, which include the power outlets, the switch for the fan/lights, and one for the thermostat for the radiant floor heating.






More switch boxes. It is interesting to see how the piping is laid out.







Lose up of one of the Juno pot light housing. The top of the box is insulated and fire rated so that it will not burn the insulation in the attic thus causing a fire.






Along with the interior piping, the plumbers added to spigots outside.







Here is what a bathtub drain hookup looks like from the underside.








Here is the main stack line that is connected to the new sewer pipe outside the house.







This is an ejector pump for sewage. This pump is for the fixtures to drain to and if it floods and the sewage starts coming back into the house, the check valve will shut off and no sewage should then flood the house.





Here is another shot of the ejector pump and the main stack line.








This is the water main line hookup with the main shutoff valve that will then be hooked up to the water meter.







This water line to the upstairs toilet caused a lot of discussion. The first idea was to drill through the main structural beam. Instead we decided to go under it since there will already be a soffit that is being built around it and will ultimately hide the pipe.





Close up of the water pipe.








Here are many drains that all converge with the water lines around it. The water lines are going to the laundry room and the drains are form the upstairs bathroom and laundry room.






This is the master bathroom shower rough in. The water lines and valves are all connected.







Here are the master bathroom faucet rough ins. They will be mounted to the wall rather than the vanity top.







This is a insulated vent pipe for the bathroom fan. All the vents will have these running to the outside of the house







Here is one of the Panasonic bath fans we have. These fans are one of the best out there. They are so quite that you think they are not running.






Here is a shot of the bathroom fan hooked up to the vent.








These are the vents outside.








This is where the master bath fan vents will be located.








More vents surround a pot light over the bathtub. This is GFCI rated for use in wet locations.

Rough-In Week

Week 14: This week was the start of the main rough-in stage of the project. Both the plumbers and the HVAC subs spent the week doing their thing. The framing crew worked most of the week with the odds and ends and will be back later for the final framing and trim details. We have the fireplace installed and the new mudroom roof was completed. More doors and the master bath window were also installed. The kids bathtub was installed as well as the guest shower pan. Next week the plumbers and HVAC will continue and then the rough electrical will begin. I am still in wonder at all the pipes and what their functions are. I am going to have to bother Travis, our plumber, to tell me what each one is for or it will drive me nuts. Same with the HVAC ducts. I hope to have a rough sketch with where all the runs are. We have been busy with cabinets and vanity decisions, trim details, the furnace and AC, bath fans and so many other odds and ends. One decision after another. It feels like every night and weekend is spent doing research, looking over plans, discussions, looking over brochures, looking at samples, and viewing endless websites with pictures. We have some temporary stairs for the inspectors who will not go up and down ladders which also allowed the kids to see the upstairs.


Here is the start of the rough-in plumbing. This is the drain for the kitchen sink.







Drain assembly.







The drain assembly going from the second floor to the first.








The drain puzzle.








More drain fittings.








The start of the copper install. This is the hot and cold for the kitchen sink.







Here is a drain cleanout and copper pipes.








More lines in the guest bathroom.








Here is the valve for the guest shower.








The kids tub already to go.








Here is the start of the HVAC. They first cut holes upstairs for the registers.








Here is a close up of the duct register that has been installed.







Here is one of the long runs. Noted is the complete wrapping of the seams with the proper aluminum tape so there will be no leaks.







Here is a shot of the round duct runs coming from the main trunk line and going to the heat registers in the floor. The main lines are nestled right next to the main steel structural beam and run the length of the old house.





Here are three main trunk lines that are heading towards the foyer closet to go down to the basement and connect up to the furnace. We had to shorten the closet from 6 feet to 5 to accommodate the trunks.





Here one of the lines is getting ready to connect to the round trunk lines.







Here is a heat register on the second floor that is on the ceiling.








Here are the trunks in the closet going to the basement.









Here is the back view of the trunks going into the closet.







They have started creating the soffit to hide the ducts in the ceiling.







Her is a run that goes up into the attic space. Notice the full insulation around the pipe.







Inside view of the master bath windows.








Outside view of the master bath window. They will not open due to the power line being close.








This is the sliding french doors that will open up to the deck. The doors have not been installed so that they will not be damaged by items coming in and out of the house.







This is the rough framing for the fireplace. Next to the frame is cement backer board that will go around the perimeter of the fireplace as well as under it to protect the frame.





Here is the installation of the new 30" gas fireplace. Once the gas line and electrical are setup, then the final installation will be done.







Here is the back and the vent to the outside.








This is the outside where the fireplace vent is.








Temporary stairs. Yeah.








Here the roofers are starting the installation of the red mudroom metal roof.







Here is the metal roof over the master bath windows.








Top view of the metal roof.