Déjà vu

Last year we moved into the house on Sept 22nd. One year later (roughly) we’ve moved back in after the remodeling is complete (roughly). It all feels very … familiar. It’s still bare studs (although significantly stronger). It’s still cold (even less insulation). It’s still a mess (more so).

However, I’m feeling considerably more optimistic about the next 6 months. Last year we moved in after weeks and weeks of cleanup and gutting. We were cold, we barely got the wood stove in before the freezing weather hit, and we spent the winter fighting for sufficient wood supply. Despite having a few indoor electric outlets and hot water, it was impossible to make real progress on any remodeling task because something was holding up everything.

Fast forward a year, and things are similar, but very different. We have 5 cords of split oak, 2 cords of fir, 4 cords of chopped 2by and plank material, and two mountains of cedar shakes. I don’t think we’ll run out of wood. We also don’t have any significant gutting or structural work to left to do. The hated plank room is bare. The plywood ceilings are gone (and actively venting heat). The mouse infested insulation on the second floor is sitting outside in a 30 yard dumpster. The sagging floors have been jacked up as much as can be expected. The house is a blank slate ready for insulation, electric wiring, new water systems, etc.

So, what’s next? Short term our priorities are:

• Add 1/2″ CDX plywood underlayment to the floor of the second floor south bedroom
• Build the 2×4 wall for our planned three-quarters bathroom in the second floor south bedroom
• Restore first floor plumbing vents by routing through this newly built second floor wall
• Install foam baffles into rafter bays of the second floor
• Add OSB sheathing to the outside of the second floor knee walls (sheer & to protect batt insulation)
• Install 5/8″ drywall ceilings on the second floor and under the eave portions of the first floor

The first three items are a race to replace our plumbing vents. The original vent stacks cut through too many framing members and had to go. Our plan is to bring new ones down the joist bays and then up through a new wall into the attic. Yes, it’s probably a bad idea to be venting our plumbing into the house .. but with the breezes blowing through we’re probably fine.

The remaining items deal with sealing up the largest holes in the building envelop as quickly as possible to retain heat. My current insulation plan will actually allow us to make a big push for insulation before worrying about other building services. This is a good thing. I wasn’t looking forward to another winter of cold.