Small, Incremental Changes

We’ve got a thermometer set up to read in the house (ground level, north side) and the garage.  The upper temperature reading is for the garage, and the lower is inside the house.  A gradual climb in temperature from week-to-week indicates that the house is warming from the below-freezing temperatures we experienced before it was buttoned up with all the gaps sealed and insulated.

Readings are from January 4th, January 14th, and January 20th. RJStegora uses a couple of small space heaters and a dehumidifier to help with drying mudded gypsum walls and also the ongoing concrete drying.

 

Buttoning-up materials:

“rod” insulation between window and door frames and walls. It’s a flexible, compressible foam material.

This white cotton material was blowm into the attic ceiling, the exterior cavities on the 2nd floor, and the garage, mudrom, and breezeway ceilings.

This blue cotton insulation is made from old denim. It is made into large felted mats.

Here is an example of the felted cotton in interior ceiling cavities.

 

Gypsum board and joint compound may seem less exciting than concrete or framing.  We do want you to be impressed with this work:  Some of the walls are 3 stories tall – from basement to second floor ceiling. The crew which put the walls up worked fast, and the “mudder” was a lone fellow, who worked all weekend.  Insulation, taping, sealing, and glass siting are all critical parts of keeping the indoor temperature stable.

 

House and breezeway after “rocking” and “mudding;” much cleaner looking lines.

 

 

Garage has interior walls, and doors!  The interior temperature will be warmer now that the doors are on.

 

Supplies and tools

Tools of the trade, empty boxes

Tape. For seams.

That’s it for the  moment.  We’re looking at finishes for floors, and pulling together the details like tile and cabinets and shelves.