Exterior is completed....the sacrificial construction lower door will be replaced with the final exterior door once all the subs are out. Brick chimney by Mark Check, roof by John and Ryan Golke.
Rand Rusin placed retaining wall rocks as part of the final rough grading process with his backhoe. In spring, black dirt and final plantings will be done.
The extremely rocky subsoil made the septic install a little bit of a challenge.
Trim carpenters Jeremy and Matt take a well deserved rest. There is nothing like putting the wraps on a project and the feeling of a job well done to put a smile on the face!
Derek, of Bob's Plumbing and Heating, instructing the Homeowner.
Here is the front view of the Masonry Heater. Masonry Heater Veneer by Mark Check Masonry, and the cabinets were custom made by Twin Springs Design.
The masonry heater veneer by Mark Check taking shape. The Homeowners selected rocks from the site and are using them along with a tumbled brick supplied by County Concrete.
Dave Shantz is working on the masonry heater module construction. The double layer of firebrick in the center of the photo is the primary combustion chamber where the door is mounted.
This hydronic heat exchanger was built by Bob's Plumbing and Heating and will be inserted into the ssecondary combustion chamber of the Masonry Heater. It will supply hot water for domestic hot water and space heating when the heater is fired.
Weeks before the anticipated installation date, trim carpenters - Jeremy Liszewski and John Booth make an inventory of trim details for machining back at the shop. For the windows, they will machine oak sills to be fit into the rounded plaster returns.
The Plastermasters from Appleton did rounded corner returns for the windows using the same skip trowel plaster surface applied to the walls. Plaster is not only a durable, an aesthetically pleasing finish, but it also adds considerable interior mass to the house. This enhances tthe passive solar heating and cooling effects.
View from the tower window that overlooks at the river to the south.
Matt and Jeff sheathing the first floor deck. To accomodate a thin slab on the main floor level which will enhance passive solar performance, the floor framing was bolstered. White pine floor sheathing was milled and air-dried on site. This material is not only a prudent use of resources and quite strong, but will not outgas like other sheet goods choices.
This beautiful, wooded site was carefully cleared by a First Choice Forestry crew from Junction City. The resulting logs were sawed into 1" boards by Shane Firjus of Tomorrow River Sawing. We will use the air dried, rough sawn, white pine for roof and floor sheathing on the house. The 1" rough sawn aspen will be kiln dried and milled into 3/4" T&G paneling by Feltz Manfacturing in Stevens Point, WI.