Doug, John, and Cody worked on the flooring, finishing off the powder room and covering the kitchen, dining room, and powder room with cardboard to protect it during the construction. John and Cody put down the walnut accent strip dividing the kitchen and dining room from the great room. This 6" accent strip echoes the walnut post. They also added a bullnose edger board along the top of the staircase. They also put down boards to divide the wood floor from the areas that will be tiled. These divider boards are placed perpendicular to the courses of wood on the floor, so they will provide a buffer between the different rates of expansion of the wood flooring and the tile.
They have put down an outline for the hearth. Jerry and Chris, from PennWood, agreed that the Lopi stove did not require very much insulation on the hearth, so it can be almost flush with the flooring if we use regular tile. Of course, if we go with the 1” blue stone, that would cause the hearth to be elevated above the level of the floor to some degree. Something to consider. Decisions, decisions.
Jonas installed the remaining railing posts in the loft. Three of these posts are positioned right next to a timber post, so the railing posts were split in half and then installed so that it looks like the railing post is embedded in the timber post. Jonas and Bill will now start on building the railings and balusters in their workshop and bring them to the house in sections that will fit between the installed posts. The maple treads for the staircase up to the loft were delivered and are ready for installation.
Adrian is extending the major ducts in the basement and connecting them to floor vents on the main floor.
We've lost count of the 4-legged-furry field Popsicles (voles) the boys have snacked on. Gambol found 2 today: ate the first one quickly but he played a little too long with the second one and Buddy took it away. Gambol tosses his finds in the air and rolls his shoulders over the critter (tenderizing it perhaps?). Buddy can't be bothered; he just gulps them down.
Reading
Hiding in Plain Sight Marta Perry
