The shingles are going on fast now and should be done in a couple more weeks. While you can’t see the final paint colors, the contrast between the different siding materials, along with the Craftsman details, is stunning. We’ve finalized the design of our railings and about half of them are on now.
It is a considerable up charge, but we’ve decided to go with a Lutron Homeworks lighting system. In traditionally wired lighting, lights are wired with high voltage (110v) directly to the switches. You can do things like three (or more) way switching, dimming, etc, but that is about as advanced as it gets. Other thanRead more about Lutron Homeworks (QS)[…]
We chose to use all LED lighting in our house for obvious reasons – the energy efficiency. But there are some other benefits as well. Size Because we are using LED fixtures (not just bulbs) the bulbs are much smaller, and the fixtures, with trim, are 4″in diameter (see the 3″ image above – theRead more about The benefits of LED lighting[…]
No, this doesn’t involve trench coats. A look at any older house quickly reveals the downside of older wooden exteriors. Anything flat that can collect water will eventually experience dry rot, and anywhere that water can get to, it will, and will cause dry rot. To avoid this, any flat surfaces, or anywhere that waterRead more about Flashing[…]
The painters have been staining the shingles for a week or so. The singles we are using come in a 8 foot boards, and are a system that provides more stability and waterproofing. The shingles are nailed to a plywood backing, with a waterproofing material in between. In the long run, these will be muchRead more about Shingles![…]
Our zoning happens to allow a legal second unit, something rather valuable in Santa Barbara. The legal term for this, as we recently discovered is accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. Santa Barbara is a pretty expensive place to live, and has been for a long time. To make ends meet, many people convert part ofRead more about Accessory Dwelling Unit[…]
A lot of the same activities that have been happening for the last month continued this week. The plumbers have finished the fire sprinklers in the basement and first floor. The painters continue to work on the exposed wood rafter tails, barges, out-lookers, corbels, and knee braces around the first and second floor roofs. TheRead more about The house this week[…]