Week #6 & 7: Dried-In

In the last couple of weeks a lot has happened in the newly remodeled attic of this Corvallis addition.

First and most importantly, the South dormer has been added to complete the new footprint and define the volume of the Bedroom. The picture shows the demolition of the South roof. Dean and crew used a chute to remove the debris without creating a dust-storm. It should be noted that Kate and Drew have a very accommodating neighbor who has allowed us to use his parking lot, making a job like this much easier…thanks Steve! Not much later, the dormer was framed, sheeted with plywood, roofed and house-wrapped. All the framing is now inspected and the house is officially “dried-in.” With no more worries about the weather, we can concentrate on interior walls and the staircase. In our next blog entry you’ll see the project drywalled!

The next pictures show the installation of all the walls that will define the new living spaces. From the South side there is the bedroom with the walk-in closet behind the bed. The closet is not only storage and dressing area for Kate and Drew, but also a buffer zone from any noise coming up the stairwell into the second floor. Beyond that, the bathroom is completely framed and rough plumbing is installed.  There is some very interesting framing that Kate and Dean worked out at the roof ridge…it will have a nice sculptural look when it is completed with drywall.

The electrical is being done this week and all of the lighting, switches and outlets have been located on the walls and ceilings for installation. Extra time and care must be taken at this point to ensure that the fixtures will not only be in the correct locations but that nothing such as furniture, cabinetry or shelving will conflict with them once Kate and Drew move in.

The stair is a project unto itself. After carefully cutting a hole in the living room ceiling,  Dean constructed the framework that the stair contractor will use to install the finished components: Oak treads with painted risers, skirt boards, balusters and Oak handrail. The final result will be a fabulous addition to the entry and living room. The windows and skylights in the new addition will brighten up the stair/hall upstairs while bringing light down into the middle of the house. Now everyone has to get used to saying “I’m going upstairs!”