Fuck You, Insulation: And Other Tales

Hey, hey, hey...cool things happening on the house front, people. But alas, insulating the addition is not one of them. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that insulation is trés important, especially in the freezing Alps...I mean, winter in Creede. But Styrofoam insulation is a little bitch.

There are many different types of insulation--Styrofoam, fiber glass, spray foam. And it all comes in different sizes and thicknesses. The first step in insulating the roof is cutting out and shoving this Styrofoam stuff into these lovely slots in the ceiling. This is something I get to do because it doesn't require tons of construction knowledge and is the shit RJ doesn't have time for (aka: doesn't want to do). For good reason. Because it sucks.

I think it sucks so much because it requires SOME type of calculation, so you can't just zone out. You have to measure the length and width of each space, size it down slightly, and shove. And pound. And shove again. All, ideally, without breaking it. And depending on its thickness, it can go pretty easily. It isn't a HUGE deal if it snaps, but it sounds like a popping balloon and somehow makes you feel like a failure. Also, when you cut it up, it's a bit like nails on a chalkboard. It squeaks and squeals. Plus, it's frickin' messy and you end up with tiny bits of it all over your clothes and in your eyeballs. I've had to wear my glasses all day because several pieces got stuck in my left eye this morning, making contacts really irritating.

The Necessary Evil that is Styrofoam insulation.

Next, you use spray foam insulation to seal up any holes you've left via breakage or miscalculation, and then you add fiberglass insulation on top before sealing it all up with drywall.

Ah...fiberglass insulation. I'm told it has become less hazardous over the years, but still makes your skin itch like hell if you're not careful. All of this bullshit will totally make your home toasty and warm in the winter. And I can tell you: after spending several years in a log cabin, in the colder months, in the mountains of Colorado (read: cold as fuck), consistent warmth is very exciting. So I do it. For me. For us. For the world. For the baby seals.

Gentle Readers: As you may have realized, the installation of insulation means that the addition is now closed in! Yay!

The dormer RJ added to his "Mann Cave" on the second floor. He has fantasies of filling this space with an incredibly large (ahem, obnoxious) flat-screen TV. Boy, am I married to a MANly Mann or what?!

RJ is now working on adding and finishing interior walls and other smaller things before the plumbing goes in. His plumber friend stopped by this afternoon and they talked through what was going to be happening over the next couple of weeks.

The plumbing will most likely be our most expensive investment into the house, to date. We really are starting from scratch with both this and the electric.  I'm not sure how long B (the previous tenant--genius and severe alcoholic/hoarder) was without either, but it was at least a couple of years.
***I really want to write an entire post about B, but I feel like I need more facts to do so properly. All I can really do is talk about what I've heard from other people. He sure is a tragic legend around here.*** 

I think once we get water and electricity flowing to the house, I'll feel a bit better about moving in at the end of next month. The end of October is the goal because it is also when we have to start making mortgage payments, and that PLUS rent at the cabin is no bueno. And though I have said in the past that I did not EVER want to live in a house that wasn't finished--when rent + mortgage payments are staring you in the face, you re-evaluate real fast.

One thing I love about RJ is his artistic spirit when it comes to building. And what creativity can come out of doing things cheaply. It forces you to think outside the box. RJ remembered recently that he had acquired a bunch of old windows several years ago. They aren't practical to use as actual windows--they're old, single pane and not entirely straight--but they are really useful for decoration. Therefore...we've added several inside the house!

A half wall, on the other side of which will house the washer and dryer.

View from the Mann Cave. The staircase is right behind the windows. 

Since my last blog, we've added the sheeting (OSB) and Tyvek to the roof, which is a bit thrilling and scary to do. I know 'cause I helped! And RJ has built a brand new staircase with railings made from an old fence (another creatively re-purposed item).

In the midst of all this continuing progress, only two weeks remain in CRT's 2013 theatre season. This is both good and bad for me. I have no job lined up yet for the winter, so I'll be in Creede until at least the end of the year. After this month, I can spend most of my time helping RJ with whatever he needs, plus making him meals and being generally supportive. Not because I'm a "wife" but because this is his thing--this building thing. And he's doing it for us. And honestly, it's one of the most satisfying things I've done outside of theatre. And the wonderful difference is that it's a creative outlet that will last long after we finish it. And we can keep creating it, be it a garage or a new coat of paint or the addition of a painting or piece of art.

Right after the creation of the front porch many weeks ago, RJ mentioned that we should get a couple of chairs for said porch--to relax and enjoy the view. After a couple months of lazily searching, some friends who live in Mexico most of the year but own an Airstream trailer in Creede, let us borrow a couple of their teak folding chairs to serve this very purpose. So tonight, I bought a couple of 24 oz cans of cheap beer and we sat out on our porch, on these chairs and admired the view.

The chair. And the Banquet of Beers.