As the renovation progressed, we finally started seeing the fruits of our labor with the installation of the new triple-glazed windows. Once the windows were in, the house magically began to come together.
The triple-glazed windows were a big investment, but they made all the difference. They weren’t just about looks—they’re essential for keeping the cold winters out and ensuring energy efficiency, while also blocking the summer heat. For the first time, we could picture how cozy the house would be in winter, with the underfloor heating and solid insulation keeping everything warm.
After installing all the windows, we moved on to the doors and built the first interior wall, separating the technical room from the bathroom. Why start with this wall? The technical room is where all the central heating pipes, connections, main power switches, and incoming water pipes are housed. To me, it already looks like an “art installation,” and I decided to go even bolder by choosing a wall finish that’s anything but plain. Every component in there serves an important function, and I’m pretty sure I’ll need to create an instruction manual just to keep track of what to turn on and off!
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, though there’s still much to do. By the end of last summer, we had all the doors and windows installed, along with the “art installation” that acts as the brain of the house (with the kitchen being the heart). We also completed the first layer of the ceiling. I’m not sure I’ve got all the terms right in English, but the ceiling is like a sandwich—insulation in the middle, with a “gray ceiling” on both the top and bottom. Then we’ll run the electricity and ventilation through it, finishing with plaster on the bottom (the ceiling for the first floor) and heating pipes on the top (the floor for the second level)!
I think that is it about last summer 🙂 It took me some time to find the pictures (it’s chaotic in every aspect of life here) but I’m glad I did it, and now I will have a reference post 🙂
Ilze
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More and more wonderful
Thank you 🙂 Still a lot to do!
Worth the work and insulated windows always pay off.
Thank you! It’s worth every penny 🙂
Wow, your home is coming along nicely, Ilze!! The technical room is very technical indeed. I am excited for you and your family, I want to see the home when it is complete! Have a wonderful weekend, Ilze. 😊😎
Thank you! I hope to share the progress. 🙂
You’re welcome, me too. 😊
We are now staying in the unfinished house… OMG – such a sunset, such a nice aura here. We will stay here through the weekend 🙂
That’s wonderful, Ilze! I am guessing it would be too cold to stay there in winter. Enjoy! 😊👍🏻
We already have central heating (and turned on – cold evening!). We still need to finish the ventilation and plumbing on the second floor. Once that’s done, it will be more efficient for the heating system 🙂
I see, these are exciting times for you and your family!! ❤️😊
Wow…!! That looks all very impressive. I replaced all the glass in the windows with special isolating glass a few years ago. Last years I installed solar panels and a heat pump. So during the daytime the electricity is for free… 😉
Thanks so much! We also installed solar panels, and they’ve been a great addition to the renovations. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes, especially during the day when we can power everything with solar energy. We’re working on our heating system right now, so the whole setup is coming together nicely!
What a brilliant idea to have a Technical Room, everything together and large enough to actually work in. Was that your design idea or is it common in your area? Where I have lived in mild California, all of these technical things have their own small space that is usually not easily accessed. In one house, the water heater was accessed through a door on the outside of the house, and if you needed to light its pilot in a storm — usually the only time it needed re-lighting! — you had to stand in the rain.
I think it’s fairly common here, especially in newer houses. We wanted all the technical equipment in one place: the heat pump, water system, electrical panels, internet equipment, solar controls, and storage. It makes maintenance much easier and keeps the rest of the house quieter and less cluttered.
Standing outside in the rain trying to relight a water heater sounds like terrible design! 😄 Living in Latvia, where winter temperatures can drop well below freezing, having all those systems indoors and easily accessible is a necessity.