Tag Archives: habitat

Notes, 9 Dec. 2015

Megan visited today — mother of Jadin’s friend Molly. She loves what we’ve done with the house. Thank you, Megan. She is officially only our second visitor.

Above, Habitat hauled away the last of the items we are donating from Emerald Hill. This is what remains — a collection of single-pane aluminum windows, the old fireplace mantel, and one of the original red-and-white-painted front doors. We’ve done well. We’ve done good.

The painters continue to prep the house for the big painting party that Ron is scheduling to start as early as next week.
The painters continue to prep the house for the big painting party that Ron is scheduling to start as early as next week.
The panel system that comprises Jadin's shower is finally going up, glued into place and pinned into position with two by fours.
The panel system that comprises Jadin’s shower is finally going up, glued into place and pinned into position with two by fours. The right-hand panel is not yet installed.

Notes, 5 Aug. 2015

Ron, left, and Steve, right, show four of the different types of electrical wire that Capstone is threading through studs, joists and rafters. Yellow to power the microwave and oven, black to power the induction cooktop, and two different yellow wires -- "two pair" and heavier gauge "three pair."
Ron, left, and Steve, right, show four of the different types of electrical wire that Capstone is threading through studs, joists and rafters. Orange to power the microwave and oven, black to power the induction cooktop, and two different yellow wires — “two pair” and heavier gauge “three pair.”

Electrical. The electrical walk continues, locating switches and outlets in the house. It’s day 3 of the electrical rough-in. Steve from Capstone Electric, Ron from Ranserve, and Steven focused today on the family room, kitchen, pantry, office, mudroom, garage, exterior lights.

Steven has homework — a run to Ikea over the weekend to purchase samples of the LED puck lights that will be used in display niches in the entry hall, and linear LED light strips with motion sensors that will be used inside closets. Steve the electrician needs one of each to figure out how to wire them up properly — “because no LED light fixture is wired the same as another.”

Almost two hours. With 10 minutes left over for Steven and Ron to talk about the flooring and building of stairs. Ron thinks he has it figured out. More detail to come.

Plumbing. Albert and the team from Custom Plumbing continue to install red, white and blue PEX tubing for water lines, while also pressure testing the gas lines.

Painter. Ron has the painters working in the house for the first time, caulking all the holes and sealing open joints in the exterior framing and siding, preparing the house for expanding foam insulation that would escape through any punctures in what will become a “sealed envelope.”

Habitat donations. Steven contacted Habitat at Ron’s request to ask for a fourth pickup — we have more stuff pulled out of the house for Habitat to recycle.

Draw 2. Larry at South Star reports the wire transfer payment by the Leons to Ranserve executed today. Kathleen at Ranserve is cheering.

 

Befores / Afters

The exterior of the kitchen wall as of 22 July 2015.
The exterior of the kitchen wall as of 22 July 2015.

Yesterday, the brick exterior wall at the back of the kitchen was cut open for the new, larger window over the kitchen sink — and the original sliding glass door was still in place.

Same wall, 24 hours later. The new office window to the left, the new kitchen window to the right.
Same wall, 24 hours later. The new office window to the left, the new kitchen window to the right.

Today, the framing crew cut open the wall to add the new window to Steven’s office, and then mounted the new office and kitchen windows into place.

New window on the left was a brick wall yesterday.
New window on the left was a brick wall yesterday.

Here’s the new window in the office, from inside the office. More light!

The sliding glass door is removed from the back wall of the kitchen, and concrete mixed to create a new footing.
The sliding glass door is removed from the back wall of the kitchen, and concrete mixed to create a new footing.

And the sliding glass door has been removed. The brick wall here will be extended to the right, toward the garage. A new 36-inch wide exterior door will slot into the corner with the garage.

The original sliding glass door from the kitchen.
The original sliding glass door from the kitchen. With Steven’s backpack sitting guard.

Here is the sliding glass door, removed, ready for donation to Habitat.

 

 

Habitat pickup #3

DSC_1899

Habitat for Humanity has nearly emptied the garage of items we are donating.

DSC_1905

And they took away the HVAC condensors.

DSC_1907

With the third Restore/Habitat receipt hanging on Ron’s project-tracking whiteboard in the garage control room.

Habitat pickup 2

Kris and crew load the Habitat truck with some of the donations we are making as Habitat executes the second of three planned pickups.

Week ending 26 June 2015 part 1

  • It’s Friday. Emerald Hill is quiet. There’s no one working, because we can’t move forward without the framing plan from the structural engineer. Time is going to waste.
  • Barry at Custom Plumbing Services approved the plumbing selections, no changes, no additions. Kathleen at Ranserve alerted Jonell at Ferguson to start the order and delivery schedule. Jonell confirms and is also assembling the specification portfolios needed for construction and installation.
  • Kyle at Elite Heating and Air Conditioning updated the Manual J to four tons at the request of Austin Energy Green Building. Steven forwarded the update to Miki at AEGB.
  • Framing lumber is delivered to Emerald Hill.
  • Steven is working through change orders 1, 2 and 3.
  • Mark from Ranserve, Brett the architect and Steven are scheduled to meet 1 July to review options for exterior siding — what reveal, smooth or cedarmill finish, mitered corners or not, vertical or horizontal. Steven and Jacquela promise a quick decision.
  • The house across the street is sold. There’s a dumpster in the driveway. Looks like another remodel is underway.

Here’s a photo tour of the house as of today.

Back in the remodel saddle

Back from NYC and “day job” earning money to pay for this remodel, tackling the to-do list:

  • Manual J. Kyle from Elite advises that his math now calls for 4 tons HVAC, after reviewing numbers with Austin Energy Green Building. Kyle updated system configuration, saving the Leons approximately $500. Kyle advises he will contact AEGB with updated numbers and share copy with Steven.

HVAC observation. Emerald Hill at approximately 3200 sq ft heated will have half the HVAC "tonnage" as the Leon's existing 4200 sq ft heated -- 4 tons dual speed at Emerald Hill vs. 8 tons multispeed at Sea Eagle View. Emerald Hill is getting new insulation -- foam in the attic, blown-in in the walls, new exterior sheathing, new siding, new dual-pane insulated windows, and more, but will that suffice when Sea Eagle has foam everywhere? This math is worrisome ...

Kyle messages: "Bigger system will give you the extra capacity to cool the house more quickly if you wanted it cooler than 75 degrees when it is more than 100 outside and also will give you extra capacity if you have a lot of guests.

"The smaller system will run more often and remove humidity better and generally speaking be more efficient."

  • Habitat. Mark Rehberg from Ranserve reports Habitat pickups #2 and #3 of donated items are now scheduled for 2 July and 8 July.
  • Structural Engineer. Steven pinged Ben Feldt to ask for ETA on structural engineering needed for wood framing, plumbers, HVAC chases.
  • Exterior siding. Brett Grinkmeyer, architect; Mark and Ron from Ranserve; and Steven will schedule a meeting at Ranserve to review options for Hardie exterior siding — what reveal, what finish, what labor budget, what materials budget.
  • Front door. This is a Critical Path Item (CPI). Steven is working with Mark and Ron to identify options — wood species, paintable or stainable, glass or no glass.
  • Doors. Additional exterior doors at kitchen, back door, garage, and interior doors. Mark tells Steven that Ranserve has received proposal from BMC West. Ron is reviewing. Steven asks to share.
  • Door hardware/handles. Steven began contacting 2-3 weeks ago suppliers of door “jewelry” recommended by Ranserve. He’s starting to get responses.
  • First draw. Steven is coordinating paperwork for first draw payment to Ranserve by SouthStar Bank SSB. It’s a process. Brett Grinkmeyer completed his architectural signoff. Kathleen Baker at Ranserve has to complete form supplied by Dawn Embry at SouthStar. Steven will sign. Larry Weisinger at SouthStar will inspect house. Ranserve will receive money.
  • Plumbing fixtures. Ron, site supervisor, and Barry at Custom Plumbing are to complete review of plumbing fixtures selected by Jacquela and Steven. With that review, Kathleen from Ranserve and Steven will be able to finalize the Ferguson order.
  • Flooring. Will we be able to save and refinish the existing oak floors?

Demo continues

The HVAC chase across the family room is gone, as is the ducting. The thick grey and black cables power the HVAC system at right side of photo. Ranserve is using the system to cool the demo crew and push insulation dust out of the house.
The HVAC chase across the family room is gone, as is the ducting. The thick grey and black cables power the HVAC system at right side of photo. Ranserve is using the system to cool the demo crew and push insulation dust out of the house. The HVAC systems — upstairs and down — will be decommissioned next week and removed for donation to Habitat.
Upstairs in bedroom 4, looking toward what will be the master bedroom. Most of the insulation original to the house is removed. The demo crew continues.
Upstairs in bedroom 4, looking toward what will be the master bedroom. Most of the insulation original to the house is removed. The demo crew continues.
What's left of the framing around the skylight that we think was added in the 1970s. The skylight will be removed and donated to Habitat.
What’s left of the framing around the skylight that we think was added in the 1970s. The skylight will be removed and donated to Habitat.
Ron and the demo crew ran out of storage room in the garage for the items staged for donation to Habitat. That's the master shower door resting against sheets of OSB, with the OSB protecting two mirrors -- one from the master, one from bath 3. To the right, the quartz countertops from the master bath.
Ron and the demo crew are stacking at the back of the garage after running out of storage room for the items staged for donation to Habitat. That’s the master shower door resting against sheets of OSB, with the OSB protecting two mirrors — one from the master, one from bath 3. To the right, the quartz countertops from the master bath.

Things we did today: 18 June 2015

  • Habitat. Lauren Gregory from Habitat scheduled pickup for 24 June of items staged in the garage for donation.
  • HVAC. Kyle Bacon at Elite HVAC and Bryan Mitchell at Carrier are reviewing the HVAC systems and selections. Ross Britton finalized bath vent/light units with Elite. Elite updated quote to include vent/light units selected by Steven.
  • Doors. Ron Dahlke from Ranserve obtained quote for potential front door from Brian Wolter at Stock Building Supply. Steven will review with Ron. Still waiting on additional exterior and interior door quote from BMC West.
  • Countertops. Steven is scheduling a meeting with Kim Strmiska at Austin Stone Works to walk the “boneyard” for “remaindered” material left over from other jobs that might be adopted for use as shelving in the master shower and at the fireplace hearth.
  • Plumbing fixtures. Steven received updated quote from Jonell Speak at Ferguson and forwarded to Ranserve and Jacquela for final review and approval.
  • Kitchen appliances. Steven messaged Kristin Nauert at Harway with questions about the appliance selections, working toward final review and approval.