Are we there yet? Part 1

Toward the end of September 2024, we started spending the night at the Barndo. By this time our build had passed the two and a half year mark, and we decided that ready or not, it was time to move in.

In the fall of 2023 we had run into a serious snag with heating and air. We met our contractor’s sub at the house who looked around and said, “This is impossible because of the way they turned the joists in the loft. I told him I’m not doing anymore big jobs anyway. I’m not taking it on.” Discouraged, we met with at least four other companies before we found someone who still did their own fabricating and was willing to brainstorm a solution. At that point we figured if we were going to have to be involved at that level, we may as well do our own contracting.

Because adequate space had not been left for the ductwork under the loft and because we wanted things to happen fast, we did the required framing for the ductwork ourselves. In just over a week, the two of us framed soffits in the laundry room, half bath, master closet, and master bedroom. We had to work quickly to stay ahead of the HVAC guys, so we worked at night after Tim got home from his real job.

A week after that, we had to install OSB board ahead of the subs coming to build the fireplace.

As we rang in the new year, it was time to rough in the screened porch which involved insulating and putting up OSB at unnerving heights so we could eventually install the cedar tongue and groove.

In January our electricians started their interior work. In February, we framed and finished an electrical room above the loft bathroom to house the AC units. In March, the sheetrock was delivered. The company we hired to install it was finished in less than two weeks.