Underlayment

Since we have a little time before the crew is ready to start hanging drywall, we decided to put down the underlayment.  Since we already have 3/4" material on top of the joists, we are just putting down 1/2" CDX but we are using 2-1/2" screws into the joists and 1-1/4" everywhere else.  This is making the floor so much stiffer!

Drywall Prep

After looking at what was left to be done and how little time we have left, we decided we need to hire out the drywall work.  We found a good drywall crew and met with the owner yesterday.  He gave us a good price and he comes very highly recommended by a friend of a friend.  So we spent today knocking out the remainder of the punch list before they get started.

As you can see, we have also moved everything out of the cabin.  Everything at this point is either piled on the deck, under the house, in the shed or in the trailer to be parked in the shop at home until the floor is done.  The drywall crew will start late this coming week and they should be done in 9 to 10 days.  We'll work on the outside while they do the inside.

Insulation

The insulation in the walls is finished and all the vapor barrier is hung.  We will be doing the ceiling when we take the roof off in a couple years.  It will be much easier to do it from above and we can air seal around all the light cans and penetrations that way, since we have no attic access.  Here you can see what will be the pantry shelves in the utility room.

Underlayment

We are almost done ripping out the old underlayment.  The only 2 spots left are in the master bedroom and under the toilet.  We will have to remove the toilet to get that piece out, so we have just left it for now.  Here you can see where the previous owners nearly doubled the size of the cabin right after they bought it.  Rumor has it they paid $5,000 in the late 60s, but we don't know what the addition cost.

Insulation

After spending all day running around yesterday, we finally got back to work on the cabin.  We got the framing on the gable end finished and  installed the insulation on the west wall.  Everything is air sealed as well as we could for a cabin of this age.  This picture was taken before the vapor barrier was put up, but that is done too.

Kitchen Floor

Today we finished ripping the underlayment out of the kitchen, living room and dining room.  Under the floor is the original tongue and grove floor that was laid down before the walls of the cabin were constructed.  This stuff is really cool, but very flexible and leaks air like crazy.  I hate to cover it up, but we don't have much choice.

Kitchen Floor

We started ripping the old underlayment out to start getting ready for drywall.  Under the 80s or 90s linoleum was a layer of plywood.  Under that was a layer of linoleum that was very old, probably 40s or 50s.  Someone had painted it at some point in the past.  We really want to talk to the previous owners to see if they know anything about it.

Siding

All the siding on the cabin has been cut and hung!  We could not be happier with how it has turned out.  We have started to do some of the caulking the corners and around the windows, but it will take some time to finish before we can start painting.

Siding

The siding on the lake side of the cabin is all installed!  We took a break and went to the Twin Lakes Schoolhouse Ice Cream Social which meant we were only 2 boards short of finishing even the street side.  I'll get it done first thing in the morning.

Siding

Tonight after work we got the siding on the long wall of the deck finished,  So now we only have the front of the shed, the south wall of our bedroom and the street side wall to finish.  We should be able finish it tomorrow or Sunday.

Siding

After work we finished the siding on the west wall of our bedroom.  It was so nice working on the deck where we didn't have to deal with sloping ground.  Next up is to work on the long wall on the deck.  It will take some work with all those windows to cut around.

Siding

After work tonight we managed to get the siding on the east wall of the cabin finished.  What is left is the street side, the 2 walls on the deck and the wall facing the lake.  Most of that is made up of some fairly short pieces until we get to the tops of the windows.  We're still on track to finish this weekend though.

Siding

We had to take the whole weekend off from working on the cabin due to some horrendous weather up there.  But we have started back to work and the siding on the west end of the cabin is all cut and hung.  Because of the slope of the ground on this side, this was one of the hardest walls to complete.  The east wall has some slope but nothing like this side, so it think it will be next.

Siding

It was hot this weekend, but we managed to hang the rest of the siding we had on hand.  That got us up to the top of the windows most of the way around the house.  I'll pick up the rest of the siding on my way home today so we can finish, hopefully this weekend.  I'm also going to get some siding caulk so Kelly can start caulking the seams while I'm at work.

Siding

We have finally started to hang the siding.  We have up to the bottom of the windows done all the way around the house.  This is Hardie Plank fiber cement siding and the primer on the boards is very close to the color of the paint we are going to put on the house.  So we are getting a pretty good idea of what the house will look like when it is done.