
A second floor. 
"Freakishly tall," they whisper. 
Aug. 27 -- The 2nd floor walls are poured! No more 100# surging hose, no more crossed-fingers hoping the styrofoam doesn't fall over and no more stacking those insane blocks. Whew-wee, it's a relief indeed. Look at the right-hand wall; can you see the 2, tall and narrow window openings where one is atop the other? At the base of the lower window is the top of the 1st landing to the 2nd floor in the stairwell. As with the inverted U-window, expect the actual windows, themselves, to be tricky looking... 
2nd Floor window details: left to right, the tricky stairwell windows, a small window right by the W.C. (!), two vinyl block casements (like glass block, but vinyl) on the corner (over the bathtub, inside), a short window in the shower, patio door opening and lastly, a tall double-hung window. Bring your quarters, because there'll be peep shows a plenty. 

Nov 19 -- Looking from the staiwell towards the driveway, you can see the vaulted ceiling, which is ~15' off the floor to its highest, interior point. 
Feb. 28, 2002 -- While winter makes another appearance, James and I busied ourselves on the 2nd floor framing. Here is a pic of Missy's reading loft, and I admit it's a bit shorter than I imagined (well, the blueprints didn't emphasize the elevation with realistic clarity; darn those truckstop blueprint/porn magazine racks). Missy's promised me she'll read at least one book up there.

June 2002 -- Skylights are installed, all ceiling electrical is installed, partial rough-in inspection is complete by the County inspector, so that I could install the insulation, so that Dan Garner could come back and get the air conditioning running. That's how the logic around here goes: you can't hammer that nail until you cut down the tree before you can take a dump. Good God, I'm losing my marbles.

Aug 2002 -- At 7 1/2 months pregnant, Missy's still willing and able to do some work at the compound. Here, she's applying pipe wrap insulation in the master bath, which should also help with pipe noise.

Aug 2002 -- This Pro Slope Extension stuff is a new product to speed the installation of custom sized shower floors. Normally, tile setters put in a base of mortar mix atop the subfloor (~ 1 1/2" thick or so), then they cover it with a waterproof membrane, then fit the drain flange, then top it off with another mortar bed, sloped towards the drain. The Pro Slope takes the place of the first mortar bed, allowing the tile men to complete the floor prep in one visit; the Pro Slope is 1" thick styrofoam with cardboard backing already formed into a slope towards the drain. So, the setters only need to put in the membrane, drain flange and top bed. Presto! It's done. Click the picture for the Pro Slope website.

On the left is the master bedroom bath doorway and entryway into the bedroom. Do you see the framing for transoms over the doors? All the drywall is complete up there, but the beaded boards have yet to be applied to the ceiling and the wainscot area on the walls. The right photo is of the bathroom ceiling detail over the shower wall, toilet and garden tub.

Oct 2002 -- People keep asking, "What is beaded board?" This is beaded board: see the bead deatail in the center and tongue-side of each stick? Then, people always respond, "Oh, that stuff, yeah." That's the stuff we're putting on the ceiling (running them vertically, hence the 1x3 nailer battens affixed under the trusses and insulation) and on the lower portion of the walls (vertically, too).

Oct 2002 -- This is what 3584 linear feet of beaded board looks like in my shop. Brian and I have ~60 hours invested in the paint process: each stick primed on all 4 sides to lessen moisture expansion and contraction, each stick sanded and tack clothed, each stick hit with two top coat, and all paint is latex based. The drying racks are an idea revealed in "Fine Homebuilding" magazine: 2"x6"x4' with a 2"x2"x5 1/2" screwed under each end to space the courses. Missy and Henry act as overseers. Actually, Henry's more of a carpet bagger, if you must know.
This trim lumber came from Carter Lee Lumber in Indianapolis. Click the picture for their website, from which you can download their 40-page trim catalog -- really nice stuff.
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