Summer 2011

Built-in Sofa

Meawhile inside the house, the new sofa was almost done.

Plumbing the system

Here is the plumbing diagram we will use for the system. We had to make a few minor changes including:
1. Using a temperature differential controller instead of an automatic controller in the floor loop
2. Adding a mixing valve to the domestic hot water supply.
3. Providing some form of 'heat drop' for excess heat that will be generated in the warmer months.
Installation will begin soon.....stay tuned!

Happy New Year! Let the plumbing begin! We started installing the system on New Years Eve. Not for any symbolic reason, I just didn't have anything better to do.......

I mocked everything up and had Solar Services Inc. come by and make sure we were on track. The Radiant Floor Company also provided a lot of feedback on the diagrams (which were revised once more) before we soldered all the pipes. Our original need for a 'heat dump' turned to be unnecessary. This system includes a drain back tank so the heat transfer fluid (water) can drop out of the panels when the system is not in use. The trade off here lies in the need for a larger circulation pump to lift the water every time the system kicks on.

With all that copper in the utility room someone recommended we get a guard dog. This little lady seemed scary enough!

Shower Repairs

The outside shower is being replaced. We removed all the decking and plumbing to make way for the new shower design....(see our precision drawings below). I spend so much time drawing this stuff on napkins during my lunch break that CADD drawings have been replaced with site sketches on plywood panels. The outside shower is one of the most important items in this renovation and we all look forward to having it back!

The Rear Window

We finally finished most of the trim on the rear window and the colored panels have been installed. Most of the day was spent cutting small pieces of trim and staining them prior to installation.

Back Porch Ceiling

Glen came back last weekend to help us with the back porch ceiling. As usual, he did a fantastic job putting it all together. We used the same plywood panels found on the interior ceiling. I spent the night before they arrived pulling the sub base off the ceiling and removing all the bird nests. PETA would have a fit, but I won't tell if you don't!

The Back Deck

Back outside again to finish the deck. We are using recycled flooring from an old furniture factory. The boards are about 3 1/2" thick and vary in length from 4' to 13' long. This ended up being a lot of work so I hope it works out. I don't know how I would ever price this if I had to do it again! There is something to be said for standardized lumber......


Meanwhile, Pam was hard at work on the brick path that will connect the driveway to the deck. These are the bricks we have been collecting from all over town and most have been used at least once before on the house. We seem to just keep pulling them up and re-using them.