We spent time with family for Christmas but had lots of time to work on projects too. We installed the vent for the master bath when it was too cold and wet to be outside and worked on grading and putting in a short retaining wall when it was dry and sunny.
We've been on an epic quest to purchase duct from our local big box store. We ended up buying a few sections from an awesome local hardware store. We try to buy local as much as possible, and wish the local stores would be open weekends and Sundays.
One more major milestone down. The inspector asked several questions, and Ian was prepared for every one. No punch list. He was complementary of all the work we had done.
Now on to low voltage for internet and a security system.
No, not baseball. The home run is the wire that runs back to the panel.
And the sunset from our master bedroom. Ahhh....
We took a bit of a break for a few weeks. Ian had a trip out of the country and I spent my weekends catching up on other things. We got back to it this weekend and got the playroom and stairway wired. Only a few rooms left before we can get the rough electrical inspection.
Use a wide chisel as a hammering surface when there isn't enough space to hammer directly.
We hunted all over the internet and couldn't find a good examples of how to install electrical in the shallow framing around our basement wall.
We used carlon new work boxes. They are single gang boxes, but double gang wide so they have 18 cu in capacity. To safely secure the romex, we used EMT conduit. The EMT keeps the romex in place and protects it from damage during sheet rock install. Make sure to use the plastic bushings so that the end of the EMT is smooth and won't cut the romex.
We weren't sure how to use the knockouts on the boxes because they are different than the rest of the Carlon line. Just push, and the plastic flexes out of the way.
We wired light boxes near an attic access. The cables need to be in conduit or protected within 6 feet of attic access. Ian's discovery in the process: armored cable is not symmetrical, so the screw in connectors are really easy on one end and much harder on the other.
My husband suggested that as I learn new skills, I blog about how I do things. Maybe it will be helpful to someone else. I used to hate nail in boxes, they come with a lip that spaces them sort of right if you are going to have 3/8 in sheet rock. But we're planning on 1/2 inch and boxes that are too shallow are a fire hazard. So, here's my process:
1. Measure and mark the center of your box. I had to adjust due to the framing. This is a closet light that can be a little off center.
2. Measure the spacing of the nails, both horizontal and vertical (see photo).
3. Mark where the nails should go, in my case 4 1/2 in apart and 3/4 in back. (See photo).
4. Start to hammer and make sure you are hitting your marks. Hold the box tight to the board. You may have to check, and if you're off start the other nail (so that your nail doesn't pull back in the bad hole) , then try again.
5. Once both nails are started, use a small level to hold the box straight as you nail. (See photo)
6. And nail till your box is secure. In my example, I should have given myself about 1/4 more space on the left. My hammer head didn't clear. This took some creative (and not recommended) hammer work to get the nail in. But the job is accomplished.
Not quite 16, more like a ton and a half. We worked on the drainage in an area in front of the house that once was a planter. We also backfilled the drainage in front of this wall. Something that our contractor should have done, but never did. It feels good to have one less open trench.
We did want to have to get up on that ladder each time we needed to open it close our clearstory windows, so we ordered openers and just got the low voltage wiring in to control them.
I've mounted boxes as Ian drilled holes for the cables. The key to mounting the boxes is to measure exactly where the mounting nails should go. This helps me make sure I leave the right gap for the sheet rock.
Last week, I forgot to blog, but we got a lot of wiring done. So far today on our labor day work-a-thon we've installed a bathroom fan.
Ian built a sheet rock chase to surround one of our vents. We're going to end up with a nice built in cupboard in front of the vent. I helped with a lot of wiring and vacuuming.
More work this weekend on the upstairs electrical. It doesn't look much different, but it is progress.
I was afraid it wouldn't fit. But it does! The plumber was here today and worked on rough plumbing. Ian's dad leveled the floor and we mounted a door and did more work on electrical.
Today Ian's dad fixed framing so that our shower valves can go in the right place. Ian and I worked on installing lights and outlets in the downstairs storage area.
Today we worked on putting plywood over the old subfloor. The floor feels so stable now. Lots of screws. No more squeaks!
Ian and I spent the last two days continuing to work on kitchen electrical. All the lights are in and rough wired.
Walt spent the last two days keeping water and dry land separated.... He backfilled over the water service with sand, then magnetic marking tape (spray painted blue, because we couldn't find the water marking tape in stock), then to original grade and tamped to compact. The picture doesn't look amazing but after months of an open trench cutting through my yard, I'm so thankful.
We all said it was good. And there was evening and there was morning...
More circuits wired this week. My accomplishment for the weekend was installing the red clips which control electrical cables, per code and keep multiple cables safely away from where they might get hit with a nail during Sheetrock installation.
It's supposedly safe to be here now. Still a slight odor. It seems quieter even though there is still no insulation in the walls.
