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Concrete foundation and beginning of framing89 viewsThe wait for the concrete to be poured pushed back the whole project. We were lucky to get it in when we did. There is a special sealant on the concrete as we're using that as the bare floor. Special high grade insulation was used under the concrete so the slab stays warm when and heat loss is minimized. The day we started framing it poured rain!
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Drywall and "mud"67 viewsWe used aquaboard in the facility for maximum moisture resistance.
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Drywall and "mud"60 viewsWe used aquaboard in the facility for maximum moisture resistance.
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Drywall and "mud"74 viewsWe used aquaboard in the facility for maximum moisture resistance.
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Drywall and "mud"72 viewsWe used aquaboard in the facility for maximum moisture resistance.
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Electrical80 viewsWe wanted to have more than enough outlets in the facility so we placed them every 5' near the floor level, as well as some near the ceiling. The heaters were tied into digital thermostats that change the temperature 4 times per day to match the changes in a tropical habitat. We used 3 rows of high grade fluorescent lighting that were all tied into a digital timing system to match the sunrise/sunset of a natural habitat. I "supervised" as an electrician friend of ours did the wiring.
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Concrete and framing74 viewsYou can see how shiny/smooth the concrete is with the sealant on it after it had rained.
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Framing Progress73 viewsThe framing went up very quickly and we couldn't believe the progress that was made in just one day after months of planning, ground work and the wait for the concrete company!
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Painte walls and heaters62 viewsWe used 10', 2500 watt, white baseboard heaters in the facility. They were more than enough to keep the temperatures even during the day as we used so much insulation. With the heaters on, the concrete slab(with the help of specialized insulation under the slab) is always warm to the touch.
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Inside walls after framing59 viewsAfter the concrete was poured the area for the building looked smaller than I had pictured. Once the framing for the walls and roof were done, it look substancially bigger! We then prepped for adding high grade insulation. We used 2'x6' studs for the walls to allow for additional insulation. The goal was to keep the building as warm as possible, even in the event of a power failure.
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Interior Framing58 viewsIt was hard to get a picture from inside the building to show how large it is inside. This picture was taken from the opposite corner to give an idea of the space available.
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After Painting95 viewsHere you can see the finished paint job as well as some of the fluorescents on the ceiling. We tried to keep everything white so it all blended in.
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After Painting72 viewsWe used pre-cut trim along the seams of the aquaboard in order to eliminate the steps and time involved with taping, mudding and sanding all of the seams. These strips also provide "tracks" that we can run power cables etc down.
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After Painting79 viewsWe painted the interior with a high grade, moisture resistant paint. We chose white so the room would be as bright as possible. It felt good to put the final touches on the interior!
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Plywood Framing77 viewsThe building really started to take shape once the plywood framing started going in. A contractor friend of ours in town helped with a lot of the finer details of construction!
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Plywood Framing67 viewsA front view of the building after the plywood framing was finished. We then worked on adding the door and windows.
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Plywood Framing73 viewsWe used a high grade plywood for the framing and roof to add to the quality, strength and help with insulating and stopping outside airflow. An airnailer helped us blow through these steps!
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Shingles Added76 viewsThis picture was taken afer the roof was finished and the windows added along with an exterior vapour barrier.
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Siding67 viewsA side view of the building with the siding almost complete. We put 2 windows on this side of the building as they face into the yard and provide natural lighting.
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Siding62 viewsThe siding went on surprisingly easily, that is, until we reached the sections that had to be cut to the grade of the roof! Luckily, we had my father in law working on the project and thanks to him, the final product looks great!
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Siding67 viewsA front view of the building after the siding was complete. The outside outlet had not yet been fully installed and there is now a motion sensor light above the door. We used a heavy duty exterior door and hardware for it. The last step was just to drill the holes for, and add a deadbolt.
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Siding64 viewsThe finished product at an angle. The siding looks a little pink in the pictures but it's actually beige to match the siding on the house.
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Electrical Hardware88 viewsHere are the 2 digital thermostats that raise and drop the temperature throughout the day. It's coolest at night, warms up a bit in the morning, warmest during midday and the afternoon, cools a bit in the evening, and drops to the lowest temps again for the night. The darker box is the digial timing system that matches the on and off times for the lighting to the natural sunrise and sunset.
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