We must remember all kinds of details to finish this house properly. Early this week we brought a variety of subcontractors back to the site. Now that drywall is up, Chuck’s Heating and Air Conditioning can install ductwork and machinery in the mechanical room, and Bugbee can blow insulation in the attic. Tim from Pillsbury Excavation returned to improve our footer drains so the backyard doesn’t flood, and the stove contractor stopped by to install and connect the propane tank. It’s rarely easy getting contractors to come when you want them, so kudos to Colin and Terry for their persistence.

Joe installs a maze of ducts in the mechanical room.

The propane tank, hidden along the south side.

Outside, Arnie visited another day to install more decking. The cool detail here is the way the planks fit around the posts. Terry left room for perimeter planks to form a continuous border, and cut out square notches so they fit snugly. (Eventually we will clad the posts to match the farmhouse style.) It looks really slick.

Don’t you agree?

Inside, there’s lots of touch-up paint required. The window extensions got really beat up over the past few months, surrounded as they were by construction activities, so I sanded off the bumps and ridges and then Abby brushed on two coats of white paint. That’s a work in progress. Abby also touches up each ceiling after she finishes the walls, covering up the inevitable daubs of paint that miss their mark. It’s tedious work, but someone has to do it.

Library walls are all painted; the living room and first-floor hall have one coat to go. Nat comes to help as needed. Painting is now on the critical path, because we want the paint to dry before we install flooring… and yesterday the flooring was delivered!

Several wall and ceiling colors visible looking up the stairs. I love the crisp lines.