The DIY House Build - Pt 3
With the flooring done, we could put together and install the island followed by installing the cabinets. The frame was built with larch and some steel brackets to support the overhanging countertop. The island is attached to the floor using zip bolts just like the guardrail.
The biggest reason I built the guardrails upstairs and along the side of the stairs myself was cost. Buying an off the shelf guardrail is quite a fortune. The guardrail on the side of the stairs ended up being one of the coolest things in the house. It consists of strips of plywood cut at varying angles and then arranged in a repeating pattern (“geometric wall art”). It’s in 2 separate parts but the main section weighs several hundred pounds so it took 4 people to lift it into place and then it was screwed to the ceiling and side of the stairs.
With the plumbing, electrical, and guardrails finished, we were able to have out last inspection and got our occupancy permit on October 1st. In the days before we quickly put up the fence in the backyard so that we’d be able to bring our dogs. We were still far from being finished and moving but at least now we could start staying in the house which made things much easier with less commuting.
Before our final inspection the energy advisor came to perform the blower door test and their final inspection in order to prepare their report which was necessary for getting the occupancy permit. Once we had the occupancy permit we were able to cancel our construction insurance and switch over to a regular home insurance. Although we were past the final inspection with the regional district, we still had another inspection with the bank which required more of the finishing work to be completed. At this point I submitted the documents required to wrap up the owner builder process.
Some of the final details left were painting the doors, all of the interior trim, finishing the kitchen cabinets, installing the kitchen shelves, installing the vanity and bathroom cabinet, curtains and blinds, kitchen backsplash, shelving for the mechanical room, and shelving for the garage.
On November 6th, 2024 we got the final report from the bank’s inspector and were in the clear having successfully built our new home. We could now start finishing the studio which took until March 2025 and you can find out all about in the studio build series on YouTube.
The only things left to do were our paver driveway, landscaping, and outdoor kitchen. As of now we’re still finishing off the landscaping and in the process of getting solar panels.
