By April 29 most of the GarageDominium framing and sheathing installation was complete. Cornice work has started. The framers also completed the niche and shower framing. Every time we walk through the construction, we find areas to modify and question previous decisions. Is this room big enough? Is it too big? Where are we going to put this or that? Should we have done this instead? Why did the contractor do that?? Wow, that looks cool! On the other hand . . . It’s just the nature of designing and building a house.
For example, while looking at the stairs to the attic, we noticed a large open area at the top of the stairs. It is open from the garage floor all the way to the attic ceiling. After talking with the project manager, we were able to extend the upper landing of the stairs. This created some extra room for maneuvering things into the attic.
The walk-in attic space is already proving its worth. Our attic storage area is basically an unfinished second floor room. Additionally, the HVAC equipment will be in a separate portion of the attic. We have an access door from the attic storage area to the HVAC equipment area. We really detest those attic pull-down stairs found in many homes. Just climbing those pull-down stairs is bad enough, but it makes hauling stuff up and down a real challenge. Instead, the GarageDominium has permanent stairs from the garage to the attic. This design element has made it much easier to install and inspect equipment in the attic. No climbing ladders or pull-down stairs to access this equipment. The design also provides a nice storage area under the stairs.
That same day we met the HVAC contractor at the house and decided where to place the equipment and the supply and return vents. We also discussed the location of some of the air registers and exhaust vents. To minimize roof penetrations, the dryer vent and bathroom exhaust vents will exit at the gable ends.
