2.20.2022

cloudhaus: insulation, cladding, windows, and drywall


Despite all the snow lately, construction continues to cruise at a blistering pace at the cabin. Perhaps the most exciting development is getting a peek at the front cladding going up, and it looks freakin' sweet! The front is clad with the same material that will adorn the roof. Also digging the black, which will help the cabin blend into the forest a bit, at least streetside.

If you look closely, you'll also see that the front porch is now partially enclosed, so the entry is about half as small as earlier posts. This narrower entry looks mucho better by my eyes. One boo-boo I realized last week is that the team spec'd white windows all around, but the ones on the front should have been black on the outside, so we'll have paint those otherwise they will look like ass. Will get a better sense once the cladding and roofing are fully installed next week on how bad that white looks. Who knows: maybe they will look OK?

 
 
The house is now fully insulated with blown-in cellulose. Thought about insisting on foam, but decided to chill and go with what the architect and builder have experience with on the mountain. Given moisture control, temperature differentials, and what-not and my lack of time to research and understand, I deferred. What they did looks pretty dang good (looks like foam!). 
 
Can also see what the front door looks like. Talking about frosting it but leaving horizontal lines clear for me, she, and the cats to be able to look out! May leave as is. 




 
In addition to the windows (and front door) going in, so have the sliding glass doors. The sliders are multi-panel, but I'm not sure if the last panel swings for a full opening. Regardless, they will create a giant opening even if they don't fully swing open. And my-oh-my that balcony continues to look freakin' sweet! 
 
Downstairs is going to be a little dark and tunnel-y, but the focus of our living will be upstairs. The downstairs space will make a great entertainment/cinema room with a big ole TV on the wall.
 

 
That double-hung looking window on the right somehow got past me. Really despise double hung windows...

 
 
The drywall is starting to go in (and should all be up next week). I can't tell what the room below is (primary bathroom?), but there it is. You can see the sliding door  in the wall.
 



In other news, I found an open box version of the exact cooktop we wanted on ebay up in Canada for more than 50% off. It was a little bit of a risk since it didn't come from a storefront, and the box came all beat to hell (thanks US Postal Service!), but the device was complete, unused, and in perfect shape. Really looking forward to seeing this sucker get installed! 

 
It's still stupid expensive, but my philosophy is that you gotta have at least one crazy purchase for a build! I also think that this integrated approach will probably be the future of cooktops in kitchens.

Weather permitting, I am heading up to see the build for the second time this coming weekend (will be hauling the cooktop up there as well). Originally planned to fly up every weekend to check out the build, but covid forced different plans. Will be driving this time and can double-dip part of the trip since I will be doing some work in Fort Stockton next week (and hope to visit the desalination test facility in Alamogordo).

Pulling a little money out of our current house in a home equity loan to help pay for the build (and not completely deplete our cash-on-hand). Fortunately, we got in just as rates are fixin' to go up.

It sure looks like we'll be able to enjoy the cabin this summer! Starting to look more seriously at furniture and whatnot as well as guidance on VRBOing real estate.

Onward!

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