So is it ready Already?!

In a word, no. The valley's still have not been completed. They still need to be foamed to seal out air leakage. One thing I have been unable to communicate to the framing crew is that a lot of the gaps and voids that you wouldn't mess with in stick frame construction you do mess with in panel building. With stick frame construction filling in cracks and voids is virtually impossible. That type of construction has so many opportunities to leak air it really is a joke to try and seal up a house tight.

With panel construction the main structure is so tight suddenly sealing all those cracks and voids is...well first of all it's doable. The wall and roof panels join together so tight that the cracks and voids suddenly stand out and can be addressed. We will be using polyurethane construction adhesive (caulk that is friendly to the foam in the panels) and spray in foam to fill all those gaps.

Most of the gaps I can find are around the windows and ridge beams (right where you would expect to find them). Also the gap in between the roof panels along the ridge line has to be filled with spray in foam as well. One problem is that the crew has continually tried to install the tyvek house wrap before the house is ready to be wrapped. There are several corners (as well as other areas) that have to have OSB installed so that the siding company will have a smooth surface to nail to. I'll have to go in late to work tommorrow in order to have a conversation with the crew to make sure they are on board.

Notice the photo below of the ledge dormer. That doesn't look level does it? It almost looks like it flairs up on either side. Hmmm...I'm not sure that's correct. We may need to use a special tool on that to make sure it is level. What would we call a tool that could tell us when something is level? Hmmm...how bout we call it a level?!!!!

Below is a photo of the same window from the inside. Notice the window starts above the top rung of the ladder. That's higher than my chin! If windows could have sign (I'm channeling Jeff Foxworthy here) this window WOULD definitely have a sign. (something like, "Hi! I'm a stupid window!") The funny thing is I think the crew actually followed the plans on this one. I think this was a design issue (sorry Louie, but who designs a dormer window to start 5'6" off the floor?) I'm sure the crew will love fixing it.

Below is an access door to the area behind the kneewall so we can use it as storeage. This will have to be redone as there will be a wall right where the crew put the access door. Like I've always said on this project...why do it once when you can do it twice?! Aye Caramba!!!!