I must admit, adventures in insulating don't begin to rival lumber jacking. The 2x4's were faced off the accommodate 5.5" insulation (to meet code). Rick used the old 2x4's that had framed the stalls, so there was no expense there - something entirely different. We put up the insulation in the walls, without stapling it so that the building inspector could see the wiring underneath when he got back from vacation. That needed to be R-21 for you building types, and that needed to be special ordered. It had been delivered a few weeks ago and was just waiting until the other tasks that needed to be done were finished. It was the same insulation as in the floor.
The paced slowed for the next couple of days. Friday night we went out with Chris (the electrician from page 6) and Laura. It was the opening of an Art Auction which Laura and I both donated paintings to. I, of course am ever so fearful no one will bid on my painting.
After shopping around over the weekend and comparing prices, at Chris' urging I gave up on the idea of cedar shingles. Vinyl siding is half the price and will look fine.
August 9, 2004 - Back to hard labor....
Now for the attic/ceiling. That needs to be R-49. To get up to that R value requires 2 layers of insulation, faced and unfaced. After going round and round on who had what in stock we had our local lumber yard deliver what we needed. And guess what - Rick didn't even take down a tree while he was waiting!
Rick helped off load the insulation and the sheetrock that is going to be the walls. We came up with a system for getting the two layers of insulation up there and by the end of the day it was
With all the insulation in place, walls and ceiling/attic - the floor was already approved Rick called the building inspector to check the electrical and insulation. While we waited we started digging a trench from the studio to the house for the electrical cable. Mike is so loving his days off!
Then - he pulled up the driveway...
The good news is, the electrical and framing passed. The insulating did not. Apparently we needed rafter vents so the air can come up through the soffits (which I didn't take pictures of, but geeze isn't this getting old), and above the insulation in the roof. Also the tabs on the wall insulation needed to be stapled to cover the studs.
Rick went back to the store to get the vents and I went online to find out how they needed to be installed. Once again we went into production mode with me handing Rick the vents while he put them in. After that he started stapling the walls. For my own part, I had been done in by digging the trench. I hung in there as long as I could while he stapled, but there was no stopping him. He kept working until he finished at 10 p.m. Hopefully, the building inspector will make it back today, otherwise its Friday morning. Maybe I can get Rick to take a break!
