Egress

The windows in the back bedroom do not count as egress windows. Egress simply means access, and the opening must be 5.7 square feet to allow firemen access. The window is 5.7 square feet, but you have to 1) unlock, 2) unhinge the bottom sash, and 3) unhinge the top sash. For the window to count as egress, you can only have 2 actions, not 3.

So my options are to order a casement window to replace one of the currently installed windows (time, $), or remove the closet framing and reclassify the 2nd bedroom as an office.

Meanwhile, the insulation is nearly complete.

Architect visit

Yesterday my architect Manny Naval stopped by and walked through the house with me and Lou. We went over the list of framing inspection issues -- all pretty minor in the scheme of things. The next step is for Manny to write a letter addressing a few of those points (whether the windows in the back bedroom count as egress windows, the switch from a gas furnace, which was in the original plans, to a mini-split ductless system, and support for a load bearing beam). Lou will take care of the remaining details.

Meanwhile the insulation is being installed so that when the framing inspector returns we can put up the drywall asap.

Well that was interesting

The framing inspection happened Friday as scheduled. The inspector was a sub from another jurisdiction. He had a list of things he wanted resolved. Nothing earth-shattering. My contractor didn't take kindly to him, though, especially when he tried to pin problems with the houses on either side to me. So now we need a letter from the architect on technical issues, possibly a revised architectural plan (because the original plan shows a gas furnace, whereas now it's a ductless mini-split system), and possibly some additional items.

To get some clarity, and avoid having a DIFFERENT inspector show up who will find DIFFERENT items of concern, my contractor will go to the buildings department tomorrow to try and nail them down as to what exactly we need to do.

In the meantime, we'll be able to insulate.

Framing inspection scheduled

We got an appointment for this Friday. Assuming it goes well, we will be ready to insulate and close up (though I think there might be a separate insulation inspection, or it may be bundled with framing). That would make it four weeks of basically doing nothing while waiting for the inspections to be completed.

Electric inspection passed

Now we're waiting on the framing inspection (which couldn't be scheduled until the electrical passed). Once that's completed, then we can close up the walls -- finally.

I wish I was back in Hawaii.