Dec 092007
 
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Lennon and McCartney said it well:

Two of us riding nowhere
Spending someone’s hard earned pay
You and me sunday driving
Not arriving on our way back home
We’re on our way back home
We’re on our way home
We’re going home

This thing is taking on home-like qualities, even though we still can’t flush a toilet or turn on a light. Money continues to flow like water out of a fire hydrant. The last few weeks have been frenzied, with a half-dozen decisions every day, calls to suppliers and contractors. Our stress is at an all-time high, nicely balanced by the excitement of seeing it all coming together.

The framing is pretty much complete, the windows are all in (except for 3 trapezoidal clerestory windows arriving on Tuesday) and the electricians and plumbers and my friend George Dapsevicius are all busy as beavers. About 20% of the plumbing and electrical are done, with gobs of wiring in the walls, electrical panels getting installed, sewer pipes climbing between floors.

George is putting a clear water-based finish on all the windows and doors, to protect the wood from moisture, dirt and UV. After talking to a few contractors and friends, and doing some experiments, we decided to use Varathane Diamond Polyurethane, in a satin finish. This stuff is working well; after the usual light sanding prep work, the finished surface is smooth and very hard. We’re planning on 3 coats, which should go on quickly now that the masking is done.

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This is a pretty typical interior view, showing the top of the stairs next to the living/dining room/kitchen. The big 4×12 blocking in the elevator shaft is visible behind the stairs, and you can see a soffit framed out over the stairway, a lowered section of the ceiling that is a nice architectural detail. The hallway to the bedroom is on the left.

The pic at the top of the page shows the folding doors between the living room and deck, and here is another view. The gray waterproofing material and a drain are clearly visible, and you can see the bronze-clad aluminum exterior of the doors, with stickers still on the glass. La Cantina did a great job — they fit perfectly, operate very smoothly, and feel substantial.

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