It Looks Like A House!

When I left for vacation about a week ago, the site had a garage and the first level of framing on the house done. So, what do I see when I get back? I see a house that is almost completely framed! I love to see progress like that.

Front

All of the interior framing is done as well:

Dining Room

Upstairs rooms

One of the many energy-saving features of this house became visible at this phase of the build out. We are using a roof sheathing that includes a reflective film that helps to reduce the heat gained in the house during the summer, and reflect warmth back into the house during the winter. It is essentially a normal plywood sheet with a coating applied to one side. In the weeks ahead we will also be adding Energy Star compliant insulation in the ceiling as well as a concrete tile roof that further adds insulation value to the roof. The effect of these three features working in concert with one another should translate to minimal heat loss/gain through the roof cavity, which is where the majority of a home’s heat is lost.  Thus, any investment that insulates the ceiling cavity pays dividends on heating bills.  Here is a look at the reflective roof sheathing from inside the house, looking up through the trusses:

Reflective Roof Sheathing

The only thing left to do for the framing at this point is to frame out the front and rear porches. This will be done over the next few days, and also the windows will be installed.