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.