On time, on budget, happy students and a happier client.

DesignBuildBLUFF 2013

We have three days left and there is still a mile long “punch list” filled with all of the final details that need attention. Everyone seems to be working on something different, and every time you turn around there is something new in the house that makes it look that much more like a home.

Porch planter box/bench

The stone floor shower, ready for grout

Bedroom closet/cabinets, ceiling fan and light fixtures installed

Kitchen counter, ready for sink install

As we return for our last session, we become aware of the power of the landscape. The Bluff campus is covered in a blanket of green and the flowering trees signal the official end of winter. For us, this means we are in our final stage of  the building process. This week we have burned, sanded, and installed the siding on the west, north and east walls. The swamp cooler has been installed, and the interior walls have been erected and have their first coat of mud. All of our interior doors are in, and the shower is ready for tile. This week, Nicolas has been crafting our cabinetry in Salt Lake City and will be joining us early next week for installation. Last week, while most of us relaxed in Salt Lake, volunteers from the Northern Wasatch Rotary Club and the Layton Rotary Club nearly completed the construction of the deck. We really appreciate all of the hard work they did while we were away.

Thanks for your help!

Sanding the siding is dirty work…

Captain Jack inspecting the ductwork in the utility room.

Ashley (an Epicenter volunteer) not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Charring the wood is a process called Yakisugi. The result is a product that is weatherproof, insect proof, and maintenance free.

Kristi and Steph burning the siding

The siding installation is complete.

On the last day of our third session, the progress we’ve made on the project is really apparent and really exciting. The siding is complete on the south walls, the interior walls have the first applications of sheetrock and tape, the shower liner is installed, the dryer duct has been installed, and the chimney is complete. We would like to extend our appreciation for the amazing work of the professional masons from Lefthand Masonry, LLC and Maine Masonry Craft. These guys worked all week to complete the construction of the masonry heater and we couldn’t be more thankful for their support.

Rosy, Dan and Jack discussing the installation of the deck.

Keyvin, the sheetrock master.

The first fire in the masonry heater.

March 27-Masons finish the heater

As the construction of the masonry heater quickly progresses on the interior, the siding is going up on the exterior. Installation on the south wall is complete while teams have begun to figure out new conditions on the east wall and soffit connection. Our client visited the site this week and she is equally, if not more excited than we are about the siding. The masons keep telling us that we’re crazy for continually taking off and putting back on the siding. We argue that we’re not crazy, we’re architecture students.

Masonry Heater

The guts of the heater

Matthew installing the siding on the south wall

Steph getting dirty for the sake of the siding

South Elevation- March 27

A group from Engineers Without Borders volunteered their time and hands to help us with our project. We battled hurricane-force winds as we worked on the exterior siding and soffit. Also, we started the final of layers of plaster in the windows under the guidance of the master of plaster, Hiroko. The interior team finished 90% of the drywall in preparation for construction of the masonry heater. Next week, a professional mason will come all the way from Maine to help us build the heater.  We’d also like to send a special thanks to the Bureau of Reclamation for your continued support and donations. Keep your fingers crossed for less wind and more sunshine.

Special thanks to our Engineers Without Borders

Breakers Installed

Siding edge detail

Nico’s fancy siding jig

Volunteers helping install the insect screen on the soffit.

Plaster preparation