Nearing the Mountaintop

When people ask 'how is construction going?', the metaphor I keep using is that it has been an intense uphill trek but we're nearing the peak and will soon start the long, but easier, downhill side. There are basically three criteria for reaching the peak (or turning the corner, to throw in another metaphor): completing the elevator shaft so the elevator installation can begin; enclosing the frame and laying new roofs so the building will be watertight; and building new stairways so the workers can go from ground to third floor without passing through our living space. The peak is in sight! The stairs went in this week.


First, another hole was cut in the 2nd floor ceiling, and the exposed perimeter was waterproofed with spray foam. Unlike all the other new stairways, the 2nd-to-3rd floor stair is supported with stringers on both sides (the others cantilever off a center stringer).

The other big events of the week centered on spray foam and scaffolds. We're using eco-friendly soy-based foam as insulation (and temporary waterproofing) instead of regular fiber pads. It costs more but it creates a total barrier to wind and noise. It gets sprayed onto the inside of the DensGlass between the pieces of steel frame (or elevator shaft, in this photo). The sheetrock interior walls get mounted on top of the foam.

After D. demanded several start-overs to ensure proper quality and safety, a new crew erected scaffolds and started installing DensGlass on the north and west faces of the new floors. This crew will also stucco the exterior - color(s) t.b.a.