Episode #11: They do What?

Teddy is surprised the different contractors don’t trip over each other some days! Sometimes the subs working for TLC Construction in building the 1,800 square foot addition are there at the same time. And sometime the subs bring their workers too! Teddy has found it interesting that particular subs do things he wouldn’t have thought are in their areas of expertise!

Teddy knew the plumber would run the piping for the faucets in the bathrooms and utility room. It made sense the plumber would also run pipes and install the sump pump. But Teddy was surprised the plumbers would also run the new gas line! They ran it from the gas meter, not only to the new furnace, but also to the water heater and gas fireplace. Yes, the addition is so large, it needed its own furnace!

Then Teddy saw silver ducting running up and down through many walls. He understands how ducting runs bring heat to floor registers from the furnace. Teddy learned the registers are usually placed under windows on outside walls as windows have a greater heat loss than walls. But Teddy noticed there were also metal runs to open grills high on inside walls! The heating contractor explained those are return air ducts that draw air back to the furnace so the air is heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. Yes, the heating contractor is also the air conditioning contractor! He needed to locate the ducts so the addition is not only heated in the winter but cooled in the summer.

Blue boxes have been tacked up around the addition for several weeks. When Teddy asked what they were for, the electrician explained some boxes were for outlets; some were for light switches; and others were for lighting fixtures. By putting them up early, it allowed the home owners to walk through the rooms and envision turning lights on and off and plugging things into outlets. The TLC Contractors, the home owners and the electrician walked the space together discussing the placements and making adjustments before the wiring was run. Then Teddy noticed a silver box on the wall in the new basement. It looks a lot like the one in the old basement! The electrician explained to Teddy it made more sense to put in another service panel (circuit breaker box) than replace the original one. Teddy understood the wires would run from the service panel to all the lights and outlets, but he didn’t think about all the appliances needing power. No, there isn’t a kitchen in the addition but it does have a new furnace, air conditioner, and water heater – which are also called appliances – and even a gas fireplace!

So much goes into building an addition – especially when the addition is as large as some homes, thought Teddy. Join Teddy next time to see what all the city inspectors thought of the TLC Construction crew’s work!

Episode # 10: House Wrap gets Teddy’s Vote!

Teddy was so excited to go to the job site of the 1,800 square foot addition TLC Construction is constructing because they were going to “wrap” the house! Would it be colorful, pretty, have a bow on top? Teddy didn’t know what to expect but it intrigued him!

When Teddy arrived at the job site, he was puzzled. The TLC Contractors showed him the large rolls of “wrap” and were already putting it on the house. It wasn’t especially pretty. It wasn’t colorful at all! Maybe it had a different purpose than making the addition look nice? Definitely, said the TLC Contractors. House wrap is a thin, breathable plastic-like membrane put on the outside of the house sheathing before installing vinyl siding. They explained to Teddy the reason they were putting up house wrap is the vinyl siding expands and contracts significantly with the changes in temperature and exposure to sun light. To allow for this movement, the vinyl siding is nailed on loose. The siding comes in pieces no longer then 12′ and the pre-punched nailing holes are 1″ long slots to allow for movement. As the contractor starts, they nail the siding on at the bottom of the wall going all the way across at that level. The next row of siding is nailed above, covering the nails of the 1st row. Pretty nifty thought Teddy! You cover up the 2″ roofing nails but allow for movement.

But how does the house wrap under the siding work, asked Teddy. The TLC Contractors explained that because of the loose installation of the vinyl siding, water may get behind the siding and trim. It can cause damage to the sheathing and supporting structure of the house but most often damage occurs around the window and door openings. Fortunately with the care taken to install the house wrap, especially around the windows and doors, the small amount of water that may get behind the siding runs down the house wrap to the foundation wall and onto the ground.

Teddy was very glad TLC Construction was building an addition that will stand up to the varied weather elements of Northern Illinois for years and years! Unfortunately, the TLC Contractors also told Teddy 80 – 90% of homes with vinyl siding do not have house wrap. Most often damage occurs around the window and door openings.

With the house wrap and siding installed, Teddy is anxious to get back inside and see what the mechanical contractors are doing! Join Teddy next time to see how the plumbing, electrical and heating/air conditioning contractors are coming along!

And yes, Teddy votes for house wrap! Since Teddy is a bear, he isn’t registered to vote but he hopes you remembered to vote in the many important elections today!!!

Episode #9: “As Designed” vs. “As Built!”

Teddy loved sitting in on meetings with the architect, home owners and TLC Construction Contractors as they designed the 1,800 square foot addition. It was exciting to see all the ideas the home owners has been dreaming of for years come together with collaboration to create the design! The really neat part, thought Teddy, was this addition was totally unique – no one has one is like it and it had never been built before! However, that also created a challenge for the TLC Contractors.

There sometimes tends to be a difference between “as designed” and “as built.” The most common difference is the placement of electrical switches and lights. Even when remodeling, the TLC contractors “walk the space” with the homeowners deciding how they will use this new area; where they want the switches and outlets; if they want more than one switch to turn on a light; and how they are going to use the lighting. They often use painters tape to mark the place where the switches or outlets could be. Then as they think about placements, they are easily moved.

But more challenging, especially in the case of a two-story structure and with an open floor plan, is the placement of plumbing and heating runs. Despite the best planning, sometimes it is necessary to make changes in the interior and walls to make everything fit. There was a change that took place in the master bath so a return heat duct could be created. The home owners, TLC Contractors, and heating contractor had a meeting and all worked well. Teddy loves the open floor plan and knows the head scratching is worth it!

Then Teddy has heard the TLC Contractors are wrapping the house! He wondered if they used birthday wrap, colorful wrap, or put a bow on top? Why do they even wrap it? Join Teddy and TLC Construction next time and learn about wrapping a house – without using Hallmark or a bow!