Kuppersmith Home Renovation Project 4: Roughing In

With the additions to our 1926 Kuppersmith Project house framed up, the brick masons begin work on the brickwork for the outside walls of the house.

In this episode, we:

• Brick the exterior of the additions.
• Install composite decking on the back porch.
• Rough-in the wiring and plumbing.
• Install sliding glass doors.
• Frame the back porch for retractable screens.

Since new brick on the addition had to blend seamlessly with the old, both bricks and mortar were carefully selected so they would match perfectly with the rest of the house.

We also installed the Fiberon composite decking from their Horizon series on the back porch floor. The decking I chose contained 74% recycled material, making it eco-friendly.

Hidden deck fasteners with stainless steel screws are used to give the floor a flawless appearance. Fiberon Horizon composite decking comes with a 20-year warranty against staining or fading.

Inside the house, our plumbers, electricians, and HVAC specialists are hard at work roughing in all the plumbing, wiring, and ductwork to get ready for inspection. Then we can begin installing insulation and hanging drywall.

In addition, we’re installing Broan-NuTone bathroom vent fans, which are tailored to the size and style of each bathroom, along with the piping for our central vacuum system.

In the master bathroom, our plumber installs the ioDIGITAL shower valve from Moen. It can be programmed to control every aspect of the showering experience — from water temperature to sprayers — for each member of the family.

In addition to all the other wiring, speaker wires for the audio system and specialty cables for high-definition TV hook-ups are run through the walls and ceiling to a central electronics component closet.

Meanwhile, our construction crew finishes up the installation of the JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, including a massive 8’x16’ double sliding glass door unit that will serve to separate the family room from the back porch.

Since motorized, retractable screens will be installed on the back porch, framing for the porch columns and beams has to be done to the proper dimensions to allow for easy installation.

With the plumbing and wiring almost complete, the hundreds of sheets of drywall we’ll be using on the house are delivered.

We’re using insulation that weighs 30% less than standard drywall, is more sag resistant, and carries a Class A fire rating.

It also is covered in recycled paper, making it an environmentally friendly choice.

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More Episodes

• The Kuppersmith Project 1: Planning
• The Kuppersmith Project 2: Foundation
• The Kuppersmith Project 3: Exterior
• The Kuppersmith Project 5: Insulation & Painting
• The Kuppersmith Project 6: Interior Trim & Floors
• The Kuppersmith Project 7: Yard & Countertops
• The Kuppersmith Project 8: Screens & Driveway
• The Kuppersmith Project 9: Floor & Patio
• The Kuppersmith Project 10: Lattice & Garage
• The Kuppersmith Project 11: Plumbing & Wiring
• The Kuppersmith Project 12: Landscape & Garage
• The Kuppersmith Project 13: Grand Tour