We passed our final inspection on the first try! WOO HOO!!!
Unfortunately we’re not yet finished with our remodel/addition. There are still a few items on the punch list, but the rest of the work is basically:
- Telephone/network wiring
- Finish the trim work (doors, windows, baseboards, touch-up paint)
- Some extra work in the dining/game room
- A few exterior finishing touches
We can’t put much effort into the house right now because we have to get our next inspection on the quilt shop by June 18, about 6 weeks from today.
We have our “final” inspection on the house/addition today. I don’t expect that we’ll pass on the first try, since nobody else I know has been able to pull that off. The final inspection punch list is empty for now, but Chris (our inspector) will probably give me a list of things to fix once he’s had a look around.
I still have some non-inspection work to do–things like door- and window trim, telephone/network wiring, hanging some (plug-in) fluorescent lights in the garage, etc. I also want to install two “extra” smoke alarms in the front rooms of the house. These aren’t required, but it just seems sensible to have these in every room, (except places where they’ll be sounding false alarms–the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room). The wiring is installed for these, and I have the smoke alarms, but I can’t find their wiring harnesses or mounting rings. :\
Sadly, I’m probably going to have to stop working on the house for a while. Our permit for Barb’s quilt shop will expire in mid-June, unless I can get it inspected before that time. There’s not a whole lot of work left to be done before the next inspection (rough frame and electrical):
- Stucco/siding transitions (east and west sides)
- Rough-in exterior lights (6)
- Re-flash windows
- (McCann) Exterior lath, stucco prep
- Fix bowed stud on south side of building
- House wrap south side of building
- Rough-in spotlights for design wall
- Rough-in ceiling lights (T8 fluorescent tubes), switches (2 banks, 3-way switches)
- Rough-in wall outlets (5, including two 4plex)
- Rough-in ceiling fans (2)
- Compressor closet: outlet (dedicated), overhead light, switch
- Compressor plumbing
Final inspection is tomorrow! Our attic fans are both permanently installed, and the attic is relatively comfortable except from late afternoon until nightfall.
The whole-house fan is wired, tested and operational. Our new fan is a 2-speed unit, whereas our old one had three speeds. We rarely used the medium speed on our old fan, so I guess this isn’t a great loss. The new fan seems quieter on the high speed but a bit noisier on low speed, compared to the old fan. (A net “win” I think, since only the high speed was ever much of an annoyance.)
I got the kids’ closet lights installed and managed to slice up my hands pretty well. (These are surface-mount fluorescent fixtures, lots of sharp metal edges.) I’m glad that I had the foresight to put 2×4’s in the closet headers where the fixtures get screwed to the wall. No drywall anchors–they’re screwed straight into cripple studs, so the fixtures are rock solid!
The required smoke alarms are installed. I have two more that I’m going to install, but they’re not required for inspection so they go to the bottom of the list.
I’ve got to go to work today, but I’m off tomorrow for the inspection. I still have a few things to do tonight and/or tomorrow morning:
- Clean up the light- and switch wiring for the attic lights.
- Wire and install ceiling light in entry.
- Run power to the smoke alarm network. Install two “extra” smoke alarms, time permitting.
Final inspection in six days! Over a third of the items on the final inspection punch list got done today. (Unfortunately none of the attic work got done.) I have to go to work tomorrow, so I’ll probably only get one or two things done in the evening. But I’ll be at home again on Friday or Monday (depending on our HVAC contractor’s schedule). Either way, that’ll give me a 3-day weekend to finish everything else.
Work to be done:
- Install smoke alarms. The wiring is done, except for power feed. Other than that, all I need to do is put up the ceiling mounts and attach the smoke alarms.
- Install fluorescent lights in the kids’ closets. Wiring is done, just need to put the fixtures on the walls and hook them up.
- Bolt the dishwasher into its cabinet.
- Finish installing both attic fans. (Each about half done already.)
- Finish wiring and test the whole-house fan.
- Clean up the light- and switch wiring for the attic lights.
- Wire and install ceiling light in entry.
- (sub) Kevin (the mason) will be out Friday this week to extend the chimney to the required height.
- (sub) José will install the A/C condensor on Friday or Monday.
Here’s what happened today:
- Install the last few (5) switch- and outlet covers (utility room and garage).
- Install last two exterior outlets and weather-proof covers (front porch and outside the new bathroom).
- Install final two exterior lights (outside the back door).
- (sub) Patch the ceiling in old bathroom hallway.
- (sub) Pour the concrete pad for the A/C condensor.
Now that the ceiling is closed up, we’ll be able to use our new whole-house fan (as soon as I finish wiring it). The weather has cooled off again, (I don’t know if it even hit 70°F/20°C today), but it will certainly warm up again in the near future. With our old fan we used to get by quite comfortably up to about 95-100°F, and that was without insulation! It’ll be interesting to see how hot it gets before we can’t stand it and have to turn on the air conditioner.
We have about one week left before our “final” inspection. (Final in quotes because I haven’t heard of many people who pass their first “final” inspection.) Our punch list is still fairly long, but many of those items aren’t required for inspection, e.g. baseboards, window trim, etc. Here’s what needs to be done during the next seven days.
- Install smoke alarms. The wiring is done, except for power feed. Other than that, all I need to do is put up the ceiling mounts and attach the smoke alarms.
- Install fluorescent lights in the kids’ closets. Wiring is done, just need to put the fixtures on the walls and hook them up.
- Bolt the dishwasher into its cabinet.
- Install the last few (5?) switch- and outlet covers in the utility room and garage.
- Install last two exterior outlets and weather-proof covers, on the front porch and outside the new bathroom. (Wiring already done.)
- Install final two exterior lights, outside the back door. (Wiring already done.)
- Finish installing both attic fans. (Each about half done already.)
- Finish wiring and test the whole-house fan.
- Clean up the light- and switch wiring for the attic lights.
- Wire and install ceiling light in entry.
- (sub) Patch ceiling in bathroom hallway. Don and J will take care of this in the morning.
- (sub) Don and J are also going to pour the concrete pad for the A/C condensor tomorrow.
- (sub) José will install the A/C condensor on Friday or Monday.
- (sub) Kevin (the mason) will be out Thursday or Friday this week to extend the chimney to the required height.
I’ll be home tomorrow since Don and J will be working, so I’m going to try to finish the attic work in the morning before it gets too hot. (Plus, once the attic fans are both running that will help control the temperature in the attic.)
