Days 51 and 52 - It's a marshmallow world ...

Just when I thought we were done with summer getaways, Bob tells us we have to - um - get away. As in, leave the house, vacate the premises, scram. Really? Just as we're starting school and trying to get into a "normal" routine?! In a word, yes. It's insulation time, and Bob did give us a heads up about it - his preferred insulation method is a spray in foam called icynene, and you can't be in the house for 24 hours after they finish. Bob arranged it so that it would be on a Friday and Saturday - that way, we wouldn't have to worry about getting to school. Once we left the house on Friday, we needed to stay out until Sunday afternoon. They spray the first day, and then come back on the second day to trim it along the framed openings.

So, where to go? My brother Paul offered their place in Maine, and that was a tempting choice - but the kids had some things planned in town over the weekend, so we opted for a bargain priced "staycation." Hey, when they kick you out of your house, why not go here?

When we returned home on Sunday night, the house was in good shape, and was a lot less "naked." Very cool to see the insulation filling the frames - you can see the shapes of the rooms so much more clearly.

Looking into master bedroom

Corner window in master bedroom

"This stuff looks like marshmallow!" (according to the kids)

On Monday and Tuesday, the guys were back, getting things ready for boards and plaster. Byron and Ervin took down the temporary door that was separating our living room from the addition.

Framing the new walkway down to mudroom

Looking through mudroom to opening for door to garage

They also framed the pocket door to the "toilet room" in the master bath upstairs:

Outside, they added a bit more to our new front steps (the railing on the other side will wait until after that big window gets installed):

Days 47-50 - Let there be light

Tuesday was the day after Labor Day, and time for the kids to go back to school - and not a moment too soon! 

They were both pretty nervous, as you can probably tell!

That means 6 hours each day that they will not have to "tolerate" the construction noise and commotion - honestly, they have done very well with it, and all summer, we've tried to keep busy outside of the house.  But from now until this project is completed, they have to be out of the house at 8am each day.

This past week was filled with subs - both the plumber and the electrician were back, finishing up their work before inspections. Green lights all around - also for the framing inspection. HVAC guys were here all week, too, finishing up the ductwork and installing the high velocity system. I'll just mention, yet again (in case I haven't made this clear already) - they have been making a huge mess! Drilling holes in various places around the house, leaving a trail of dust behind them. They have been protecting furniture and sweeping up - but, there is dust everywhere at the end of every day. Ugh.

While the subcontractors were at work inside, Bob's guys put some of the shingles up on the front gable  - we're still waiting for the big windows in the front bedroom.

Byron and Ervin setting up the staging

Loving the Cobblestone shingles with the Monterey Taupe plank

On Thursday, they put the skylight into master bathroom - now, let me just say this was up for debate at one point - a should we/shouldn't we question. I am SOOO glad we did - it looks amazing! It truly lets the light in .... I love it.

Byron cutting it in, with help from Ruben

Our view through the skylight! Reminds me of a Paul Pedulla painting ....

Day 10 - Dug out

Digging is done! So glad to see those guys head out today - no offense to them, of course. But the excavator is sooo loud, and to say they made a huge mess out of the side and backyard is an understatement:

All that mess for the 4 foot strip where the new foundation will go!

Tomorrow, the "form" guy is coming to set up the forms where they'll pour the cement for the new foundation. We're adding 4 feet along half of the back of the original house, as well as the addition for the new garage. Try, if you will, to visualize the new garage (good luck - I can't quite do it!) - it will go here:

Also in the mix today - we had a company come out to blow insulation into the walls of our existing house (the walls that aren't coming down, that is). We had an energy audit earlier this year through the MassSave incentive program - they hook you up with a local company that partners with them. Pretty amazing, I think - they work out the rebate directly with MassSave, so you only pay your portion. Bob the builder mentioned to us the day he stripped the siding off the front that now was a good time to get this done (since they drill holes in the outside of the house to blow the insulation in). Thanks for the heads up, Bob - it's done!