Bull nose bead is everywhere, including around all of the windows and sliding glass door. The bedroom 3 bath window is trimmed with Restoration Millwork, a green PVC product that has a waterproof finish. The rear porch and carport headers are trimmed in cedar, to frame the outdoor natural surroundings. Exterior lighting includes Baselight warehouse lights (front) and vapor jar (carport) - - each with LED bulbs and made in the USA - - and low profile 2,000+ lumens flood lights on the east and west corners of the house. The mini split compressors have been neatly installed on the south wall, using durable Rectorseal brackets; the line sets are also covered. And finally, on October 24, we said good-bye to our pink flamingo friends and the 05 Desert Fox, which is currently for sale.

The Armstrong foam pad underlayment creates a quiet, comfortable cushion over a concrete slab. We selected the Bruce Turlington wide plank engineered hard wood floor that was edge glued to create a monolithic (floating) floor covering.

The final electrical inspection certificate was awarded on October 14.  Jacki calculated the design load for the house, laid out the service panel, and kept a detailed notebook of all electrical diagrams and circuits. Kevin made all of the final connections in the service panel. There is a whole house surge protector and a transfer switch for a generator, in addition to 1" conduit and ample space for a future solar inverter. The house has 100% LED lighting, inside and out, and there are plenty of receptacles on each wall. Cardboard secured with Frog tape is an excellent way to protect freshly painted walls from being marred by switches dangling from the box.

The Fujitsu heat pump ductless mini splits and Lunos eGO and e2 (all equipped with DC motors for energy efficiency) will provide all of the heating, cooling and fresh air ventilation for the entire house. The Luno HRV's are the "lungs" of the house and bring in fresh, filtered and tempered air by direct, through-the-wall installation (no ducts). The units are also designed to reverse every 70 seconds to expel stale air. The mini splits heat, cool, dehumidify and filter indoor air. Because the compressors are located outside, the units are extremely quiet and are remote controlled. We were able to acquire the newest model of the Fujitsu AOU9RLS3H, which is the most efficient on the market.

The GE Profile Microwave provides up to 400 CFM of ventilation through the soffit, discharging through the wall. We selected a panel instead of a cabinet over the range due to the size of the required duct.

The soffit allowed us the option of venting the third bedroom bath fan out the wall instead of through the roof. Using a section of flex duct in the attic helps to quiet the exhaust and allows for an easier sweeping turn using rigid thinwall PVC for the powder room fan. Kevin used Zip tape to attach the flex duct and PVC and applied fire retardant spray foam around the fan unit in the attic, and also around the penetration through the wall and ceiling.

The answer: Pourable urethane.  We used Sikaflex, which is typically used for filling expansion cracks in concrete. The down side: It takes several days to fully cure and omits some temporary off-gassing, however, the final seal is permanent.

There is a learning curve when installing automatic door switches. Carving the door jamb and jack frame is tedious, however, with a little patience and by only bringing a single switch cable into the box, the wiring process is simplified. The extra time to install is worth it. There is nothing better and safer than opening a door and having instant light.

More pics and details coming soon - -

The interior of the house has been painted. The interior doors have been installed and will be painted this week.  The kitchen cabinets and countertop have been installed - - all appliances coming next week. Vanities, with sinks and countertops, have been installed.  Electrical and lighting is progressing and will be completed within the week. Flooring will be installed next week. All final plumbing will be hooked up and ready to roll before the end of the month, followed by the final electrical and building inspections.

We're getting close - -

Before constructing non-structural soffit, air seal with acoustical sealant or a first coat of tape - - or both, as Kevin did here.  Begin with a 2x4 on one wall, then connect the dots with straight rips of drywall, which are leveled and plumbed. The soffit will then be ready for bull nose and tape.