Sheathing and Windows

This day involved the most overt progress since the framing went up back in July!  The sheathing went out without any drama, thanks to pre-planning by the framers to place studs 2' apart.  But first I had a little work to do to fill up some cavities in the studs that were too narrow for me to blow in with cellulose.

It's pretty low-tech: stuff the gap with rigid foam and use spray foam to seal it in place.  Once the foam dries, I sawed of whatever stuck out.

Big excitement when the windows and door arrived!  Note the sheathing in the background, closing in the Light Straw Clay.  (Finally, I won't have to worry any more about a driving rain re-soaking the LSC.)

Here is my idea for a termite shield: I screwed a strip of the trim material below the sheathing.  The TruExterior, manufactured by Boral, is made up of recycled fly-ash and resin, so no insect will want to eat it.  It is dimensionally stable and immune to water damage, so it will do double duty to protect the exposed bottom edge of the plywood.  So the only thing a bug will see from the ground is cedar (which is naturally insect resistant), TruExterior, and concrete.

All the windows are in!  Ready for insulation.