New year 2012.

2011 was an interesting year no matter which way you look at it.

Here's to hoping that going into 2012, more people start to accept the fact that there's an emergency on planet Earth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_El9jYpbzU
It's way past time to get our shit together.

But the begining of a new year is a thing to celebrate - so happy new year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PXxPQKxggU

Framing the basement walls.

As the title suggests, this post will cover construction of the stick-framed portion of the basement walls. I didn't take many pictures during this phase of the build - I was so eager to get started on the framing - so I'll use graphics to illustrate instead. The process was very similar to "Framing the main floor walls" but with a few added details. Over-all this is probably the most complicated part of framing this house because close attention to measurement must be kept in mind for several reasons I'll get into later.

Framing the main floor walls.

I'm skipping ahead with this post, as I will probably do now and again. This will be the first post that covers some of the practical aspects of air sealing this house. Just a reminder that all these "practical aspects of air sealing" are the application of what I have laid out in the "Details" section of this blog. Please note, this post doesn't cover the "building out" of the walls (ie: framing the truss wall) - that will be happening later. It's worth mentioning at this point that one big advantage I've found with the truss wall approach to framing the house is that since the exterior truss framing is all non-load bearing, a pretty straight line can be made to getting the roof on. It's just like platform framing any conventional house but with some added air sealing details. The truss wall can be "built out" at any time.

Footings.

Using a simplified foundation plan I had made from the architect's plan, the concrete contractor and I marked out the outer edge of all the perimeter footings and the center-lines of the peninsula footings. Even with the slim steel pins we were using, it was difficult to drive them into the compacted gravel. A string line was stretched between the pins to outline the house's footprint.

Planning for the foundation.

Once the gravel pad was complete, I had some time to get ready for the foundation job. I had made arrangements and agreed upon a start time with a local concrete contractor months before - yet for a variety of reasons nothing really happened until almost a full month after the proposed start date. Once the concrete guys got going things moved along pretty well... they started work after the first week of July and were finished during the first week of August. I have always been pleased with the quality of the work they did but my blood pressure goes up still when I think back on the time that was wasted waiting around.

The design phase.

The design phase... My favorite phase. So many possibilities. At times I wish I were a design professional so that every day could be a day for the design phase. I started my planning and research for this project in 2007 and started construction in the late spring of 2011 so at least I got to spend a lot of time in the design phase for this house. I think it's important to not be in rush to complete the design phase - for anyone contemplating the design of a new house: start early and don't set deadlines too early.