Descending Ashtray

This afternoon, I think I finally completed the framing of our ongoing attic remodel. Now that there’s a child on the way (coming April 30), the clock is really ticking, and I’ve been trying to devote more time to the project. Here are a few photos of the work thus far.

This is a view of the shower. This was one of the trickier aspects of the project, not from an actual framing standpoint, but in choosing how the shower pan was going to work. I went back and forth between purchasing a pre-made, pre-pitched urethane pan or creating a traditional mortar pan in situ. After reading a few articles in Fine Homebuilding and watching several videos, I decided to go with the traditional mortar pan, mostly from a cost standpoint. The urethane pans look pretty simple to install, but they are very costly (mine would have been around $900), and I am always a little hesitant to go with the newest of new materials. Foam just seems like it could fail after a few years, having a bit of flex to it. Mortar has been the standard for at least 50 years, and who am I to argue with tradition? The doorway will get a hinged glass door after tile goes up. Haven’t decided whether I’m going to tile the ceiling above the shower yet. Any thoughts?

You know that old adage, “Measure twice, cut once?” Yeah, I should have applied that to the framing of the bathtub. I carefully calculated all the measurements for width, accounting for the width of a full piece of tile for the tub ledge, thickness of the cement board, declination of the North Star … and still came up several inches short the first time I framed for the bathtub. Second time was fine, though. When laying in the tub, you’ll be able to view the sky through the skylight above. At the bottom right of this photo there will be a vanity for the sink.

Here’s Sarah standing in the bathroom doorway. We’ll have a vintage wooden door on a sliding track here (not hinged). The bedroom closet is to the left of Sarah. I think the closet doorway will have a curtain rather than a door, although I sized both doorways for a 30×80 door just in case.

At the opposite end of the attic from the bathroom will be our bed (left side of this photo, where the garbage can is). There’s quite a bit of room down here, and it should be fairly spacious. There was an existing toilet vent to the right of the big window, so rather than move it, I framed a little wall around it that will contain a simple built-in cubby. A little inset box in that wall will house some sculptures, I think, lit by an overhead low-voltage light (still need to talk to the electrician about that, though).

I’m going to call for an inspection tomorrow. I have been pretty conscientious, and am hopeful of a pass, but we’ll see. The kneewall on the right side of the photo above is new; replacing an original kneewall in approximately the same place. I had intended to leave the original kneewall exactly where it was, but it was built resting on top of the subfloor, which I didn’t think was safe. After jacking up the roof, I re-built it, and moved it forward a few inches so that it would be sitting on some floor joists instead. I doubt they’ll have any problem with that rationale, but they may have issue with my stud spacing in the wall: 24 inches on center, which was how the original wall was built (each stud supports a roof rafter). I replicated the old spacing so I could have room for wider built-ins, but they may not like that. Cross your fingers!

Thanks to all the friends who pitched in to get us this far: Andrew, Thom, Tyler, Dan, Bruce, Greg, Nicole, Amanda, Becca and Blu. You, too Porter-Cable FR350A Framing Nailer. And let’s not forget you, DEWALT DW716 12-Inch Double-Bevel Compound Miter Saw. Couldn’t have done it without you guys.