An addition to the house... (New pics added 8/23/2010)

[FZ1inTX]

I'd mentioned it before and finally got the contractor we wanted scheduled this past week. The guy is reasonably priced and does very good work. So, I thought I'd share a little of the progress of this build with you all. Since a handful of you have already been here, then you'll appreciate it more.

It is a 12' x 9' addition that follows the back of the house and the roof line as well. You remember my pics of the garden window so now you know where it is going. This will have a cathedral ceiling in it as well. He should be all weather tight and buttoned up by the end of this week. I am finishing the interior with rock and tile flooring.

Here is day two. Day one was the holes for the bigfoot piers.

This is the start of day three. He had this wall studded before I got back out after my shower.

End of day four (Yesterday)... he was supposed to come out and work Saturday but we had a morning of one of the worst thunder storms in a long time. We had many lightning strikes VERY close by this morning!

Today I did the home run for the electrical. I ran a line from the panel out through the sill and up into the building. The builder was thoughtful enough to drill holes through the thicker stuff and around the corners so running the wire was easy! I'm putting in four outlets, a ceiling fan, two hanging lights and a new light at the new door with motion detection. On the gable end, there will be an oval window toward the peak of the roof. Tomorrow, I go pick up the composites I want for the stoop and stairs so he can build those this week.

Thanks for looking! :tup:

 

[NJFZ1]

Looking good so far. And now I can see that there will be a little hiding spot for the bikes when they're not in the garage. You can park them behind the wall (close to the basement doors) and they wont really be visible from the street. Not that you really have to worry about that much over there, but I'm just saying...

 

[FZ1inTX]

Tony, you just gave me an idea... a little carport for the bikes right there. Of course, we have to finish the patio area first but that starts right after this project ends.... my back hurts already!

We're getting anxious to get this done. I'll be going like a madman once the contractor walks away with the last of his pay. Oh, and I AM having him come back to do the taping and mudding because I don't want to!!

 

[BroHay]

couple of questions.....course I tend to overbuild things (sometimes )

6x6 post on what size peir (8" or 12") and use any rebar before the pour?
Lag the ledger to the house?
planning on throwing any supports under the ledger board and using the existing house foundation as an attachment point for support for the backside?

Looking good so far!

 

[FZ1riderNY]

couple of questions.....course I tend to overbuild things (sometimes )

6x6 post on what size peir (8" or 12") and use any rebar before the pour?
Lag the ledger to the house?
planning on throwing any supports under the ledger board and using the existing house foundation as an attachment point for support for the backside?

Looking good so far!

Boy, you and me think alike. The job looks awesome Eric. I was also wondering the same thing. I understand that it's just a mud room, I just thought there would have been at least 2 more posts, mid point under the span. Also, are you leaving the (now interior) door in place? Some interior pics please! I love this stuff.

 

[FZ1inTX]

Some of the questions are spoken to in the pictures but I'll do my best to answer. The piers have the bigfoot at the bottom and the tubes were 10" and the entire unit is filled in a single pour. He used fiberglass-reinforced concrete that is rated to grade 25 (25 MPa) with two rebar drops in each. The ledger board is not lagged but also does not provide the support for the building. What he did was to cut into out existing rim joists and notch and hang the new rims for this construction on top of our existing sole plate/foundation wall. Then, rather than run the joists parallel to the house rather than perpendicular. Thus, the ledger board is not holding the weight of this addition but the original foundation and two piers are. It is a much stronger choice and I concur with his engineering of this. He will be putting R-38 insulation underneath and then the bottom will be covered with cement board and then drylocked. This is why he insisted I run the wire this weekend. I'm leaving shortly to go get the decking and rail kits for the stoop.

Billy, the now-interior door will actually stay but be replaced with something better suited for passage and visibility into the new mudroom. The exiting door is a total wreck and was slated for replacement regardless.

Now for some shots.... It is difficult to get interior shots in a small space but here goes:

Here is where you can see him tying into the existing structure. This was done on the other end as well.

Here is a shot showing the underside with the parallel joists and bridging. Notice that he was careful to make sure all joists were crowned at the top.

Here is the framed opening for the garden window. Looks more than rugged enough for such a large window. I believe that he is adding exterior bracing under the window even though the install says it isn't needed. :tup:

Here's the frame for the new door to be installed. a nice composite one with a steel backbone throughout and well insulated.

Looking up at the rafters. There will be a nice 2' flat area in the peak for us to wire, insulate and install the two drop lights and ceiling fan.

 

[FZ1riderNY]

Thats something else! Notching into your existing joist. I would never thought to have done that. And then to run them parallel to the house! It's amazing how building concepts change from area to area. Over here it would have been ledger bolted to rim joist, new floor joists running 90 degrees from the house, and at least six 6x6 posts set in 12" sona-tubes down about 42".

Great pics, keep em coming. Also, I thought that side door was great! I was amazed at how well it closed. Nice job, can't wait to see it progress!

 

[FZ1inTX]

I'm really happy with the guy's work and he came highly recommended. Now I see why. He sure doesn't cut corners.

That door does open and close well, but it is a mess. Maybe I will just get a replacement glass for it and paint the door to save money. The door itself is still solid. It needs a new sweep under it too.

I just went and picked up the stuff for him to cover the stoop and stairs. I got the new Veranda Acorn decking which has the texture and appearance of old barnboard. For the railing, I got the Veranda PVC in all black. This way, the rails match the front stoop now. That stuff is NOT cheap!!!

I'll be taking pics along the way and updating here so keep a watch!

 

[FZ1riderNY]

I'm really happy with the guy's work and he came highly recommended. Now I see why. He sure doesn't cut corners.

That door does open and close well, but it is a mess. Maybe I will just get a replacement glass for it and paint the door to save money. The door itself is still solid. It needs a new sweep under it too.

I just went and picked up the stuff for him to cover the stoop and stairs. I got the new Veranda Acorn decking which has the texture and appearance of old barnboard. For the railing, I got the Veranda PVC in all black. This way, the rails match the front stoop now. That stuff is NOT cheap!!!

I'll be taking pics along the way and updating here so keep a watch!

If the decking is composite material, make sure you don't do any "butt ends". I don't care what the manufacturers tell you, that stuff moves! I havent seen one brand in my 10 years selling this stuff that doesn't move.

 

[FZ1inTX]

If the decking is composite material, make sure you don't do any "butt ends". I don't care what the manufacturers tell you, that stuff moves! I havent seen one brand in my 10 years selling this stuff that doesn't move.

Nope.... none will be done. The stoop deck and stairs will all be solid pieces. I figured out what was needed and had the guy at HD cut the 16' boards down for me with plenty of room to spare so they are all within 4 to 6 inches of finished size already. I sort of had no choice. My trailer is pretty much blocked in and with a double cab truck and a 5' bed, carrying 16' pieces isn't going to happen.

Outside of getting the insulation and sheetrock, I think we've covered all the interior stuff already. I am going to talk to the guy tomorrow to see what his costs are for the rock and pink stuff and maybe just have him pick it up when he gets the siding.

 

[BroHay]

your attachment to the house has me baffled....

Even though the joists to the new structure are running perpendicular to the main house, the last joist that is resting against the concrete foundation should serve as a means to mechanically attach with lags.

clearly the side closest to the garage was cut in to have 3" bearing (and can only assume that the same was done on the other side). From what I can surmise, those are the only two points that are serving as a connection point for the floor to the existing structure.

The wall and roof will further tie everything together but you are only as strong as your weakest link.

I would suggest that you lag the joist against the exisiting foundation to further tie everything in, and you may want to look at throwing and intermediate post on a paver or two in the field along the 4' line.

you will have expansion/contraction and things will loosen up and you will be setting yourself up for creaky floors.

It is only an 8' x 12' box with entry deck, but you want it to not only enhance the appearance of your property, but you want it to also last.....

I'm not trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill, or in this case, an addition. Anything can be reparied -- the lower it is in the structure, the more $$$ and headache it will cause when it needs to be repaired....

 

[FZ1inTX]

Thanks Adam for the comments. I'll bring this up with him in the morning and ask him to explain better how this is all attached. Perhaps I am missing something? Or, maybe he's not gone as far as he should have based on your concerns. Worth discussion.

 

[FZ1inTX]

I'm sorry for not updating this more frequently. I do have a bunch of pics though!

Today I have been busy with insulation... photos will follow this evening, likely closer to midnight! I have to log into work in 12 minutes to do actual work. Ugh!!

 

[FZ1riderNY]

I'm sorry for not updating this more frequently. I do have a bunch of pics though!

Today I have been busy with insulation... photos will follow this evening, likely closer to midnight! I have to log into work in 12 minutes to do actual work. Ugh!!

You now have 11 minutes left!!!:justkidding:

 

[FZ1inTX]

I missed the deadline... But I had to log into work and get a project over with before posting...

Ok. so here is the updates. Not a lot of progress from the last pics this round... But he is working on it!

I had to laugh out loud at this and a few pics like it. I ran in and showed my wife and said, "Doesn't it look like Big Bird is moving in?

Starting the electrical myself... the contractor was kind enough to drill through the thick stuff and the corners for me!

Some shots of the cathedral ceiling. This sucker is HIGH for such a small room. The walls are over 8' high btw!

These were from Wednesday evening. Thursday, it rained all day but they were here all day and working regardless. I did not get pics that night though...

 

[FZ1inTX]

Then Friday rolled around.... here are some shots from that day's work. I was working from home and started my own part of this project. I took out the window that was in the kitchen that is no longer needed.

Then I did some more electrical. It was after I'd done all of this and installed the breakers that it was inspected and passed. However I was informed that the breakers now had to be arc-fault and the outlets tamper-resistant. So, undo all that and return them, then install the correct items.

This is from Friday... He got a lot done. The builder is very anal about things and it took the two of them the better part of the day to build out the stoop, stairs and railings but the end result was flipping AWESOME! He'll be back on Monday to cover the last piece with white.

 

[FZ1inTX]

We are now into the Friday/Saturday window... And where I now sit, tired and ready for bed!

I opted to go with vinyl on the underside instead of the cement board so it wouldn't be a hassle to undo it and add wiring or plumbing. And yes, it needs to be washed.

Here, you get the first glimpses of the big garden window finally installed! I love this window!!! She loves it too and that is the most important opinion of all.

A shot of the oval window as it sits installed.

And today, I get to insulate after putting up the baffles in the rafters.

 

[FZ1inTX]

A lot of pink stuff went up today. I have a few pieces left to do tomorrow and then it is DONE!!! Insulation inspection is Tuesday and then I start haing the rock.

My arse up on the ladder stapling like a mad man! I am beat after this day's events! I'm glad tomorrow is just a few pieces off the ladder!

And, I found a way to keep your Sam Adams cold when insulating. And it works VERY WELL too.

 

[FZ1riderNY]

It's looking great Eric. You guys made a lot of progress since the last set of pics. It looks like just siding and gutters for the outside and then you head indoors to finish up. Keep the awesome pics coming. It's like watching This Old House on my PC!

 

[NJFZ1]

Yea, Eric it's turning out great! I'm not going to recognize the house next time I'm up there