Moving Forward

We don't have many images for this update, but several things have been done on the house since the doors and windows were installed.  The stucco was installed on the eyebrow and rear elevation of the house.  The HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all finished up and inspected so that we could begin gyp board.  Currently they are taping and bedding the interior and should be finished in the next couple of days.

The Ipe (Brazillian Cherry) wall at the entrance was also recently installed.  Ipe is prized for its stability, durability, strength, natural resistance to decay, and wet conditions.  It is truly one of the best woods you can use on an exterior and is easy to maintain.  Another unique benefit of Ipe is that holds a Class A fire rating, the same rating given to concrete and steel.  Given that it is classified as an "exotic wood" we were required by LEED to make sure the wood we purchased was certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

What made our installation a tricky is that our front door is also clad in Ipe, giving it the hidden door effect.  This was a little difficult to figure out, but our awesome finish carpenter, Randy Timmerman, got the job done.  He worked with us to make sure the door worked perfectly and even built a mock-up of how it would hinge to confirm that we had the detail right prior to beginning work.  The final result turned out beautifully.

Ipe wall & door installation prior to being oiled

The gypsum board being delivered.  We used 5/8" Type 'X' gyp through out the entire house.