Let’s try a change of pace this week, and work inside-out. Beginning with the upper level…

All of the electrical has been run in the balcony floor, so the guys from CH&E are installing the final layers of that system. There’s 1/2″ of homasote for sound-deadening, and 3/4″ of T&G plywood for the final subfloor. Carpet tiles will be the finished floor:

The painters have painted the adjoining railings:

The framers have also installed the OSB and cement board around the chimneys:

And they’ve even framed the hearth on the backside on the main floor:

The plumbers have also provided the gas hook-up for the log kit:

And we received the inserts that will define the arched opening of the fireplace, support the glass doors, and also support the stone surround:

Moving into the bookstore, we find the concealed track system that supports some glass shelving. These tracks will be mostly covered by drywall, with just a sliver of an opening for the shelf brackets to slide into:

The kitchen has begun to receive drywall (you can also see the range hood hook-ups here):

As has the nursery:

Ladies’ room:

And men’s room:

The sprinkler pipes have also begun to be painted, a definite improvement:

In the auditorium, the alcove has been drywalled and mudded:

And the east wall is beginning to be finished. All of the drywall gets a Level 5 finish, which will hide any imperfections that would otherwise be visible in all of the natural light. Here’s what that looks like:

It comes from spraying a diluted mud mixture:

Through this machine:

Then they’ll sand, prime, and paint.

The final note on the main level is the installation of the final door & transom window in the auditorium:

Downstairs, meanwhile, these stacks have arrived:

Which means tomorrow they’ll start hanging. The masons have also begun the stone work around the archway:

Moving outdoors, we can see the south wall has made some progress:

As has the west:

And they’ve mortared the stone under the front porch:

Finally, another small section of the roof has been completed:

So we’re plugging away. Two more months until we get to fully enjoy this building.

Until next week.