It just started snowing.

These past few weeks, it's been all hands on deck to get the Momplex as far along as possible before winter sets in, so I haven't had as much time to post plans and answer comments, and I do apologize. Thank you so much to everyone helping out - I am so thankful that our community of builders is not only very smart and innovative, but generous and helpful. Thank you thank you!

But we have been making steady progress on the Momplex, and I'm excited to share with you more posts on our work there.

I find myself quite confident when it comes to building furniture. Because if I make a mistake or don't like something, it's either fixable or liveable. But up there on the Momplex, I really loose my confidence fast when it comes time to do things like drilling holes in concrete, setting walls or choosing the location of windows. Knowing your actions and decisions are set in stone is more nerve racking then building independent furniture out of wood!

But with winter fast approaching, there hasn't been time for self doubt or second guessing, and I find myself just doing whatever it takes to get the job done.

I remember back in college having a horrible bussing/dishwashing job at a chain restaurant, and the dish sink drain backed up. We girls all said, "Ewwwww, I'm not sticking my hand in that drain!"

And someone said, "Find a Mom! They aren't afraid of anything and will do whatever it takes!"

Wall Anchoring

After we built the walls, we need to anchor the walls to both the concrete slab, the other walls, and the exterior ICF walls.

Exterior Wall Attachment

To keep the walls from falling down, we immediately screw the interior framed walls to the ICF blocks at the black fastening strips. Where no fastening strip is available, we used 1/8" metal strapping to reach the fastening strips.

Momplex

Step 1 Diagram

Step 1

<h1>Interior Walls to Interior Walls</h1><div>The interior walls need to be nailed together. We make sure all the walls are plumb, square, and on the line.

</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/Full/framing-stud-w…; alt="" align="none"></div><div><br></div><div>Remember the blocking we put in the walls?  This blocking is used where interior walls meet up.  Not only does this give you a spot to nail walls together, it also gives us a spot to screw our drywall to when we go to hang drywall.</div><div><br></div>

Step 2 Diagram

Step 2 Instructions

<h1>Top Plates
</h1><div>Top plates are handed up and nailed to the tops of the walls, overlapping wall joints.</div>

Step 3 Diagram

Step 3 Instructions

<h1>Framing Nailer</h1><div>We just purchased a framing nailer for $199 and man has it been a time and sanity saver!  There's nothing wrong with a hammer and nails, but having a framing nailer sure helps out!  The top plates are nailed to the tops of the walls.  Notice how this top plate extends beyond the center wall for extra support.</div>

Step 4 Diagram

Step 4 Instructions

<h1>Concrete Anchor Holes
</h1><div>Finally, the interior framed walls need to be anchored to the concrete slab.  But remember, we have <a href="http://ana-white.com/2011/09/momplex/heated-slab-installation" title="" target="_blank">radiant heat tubes in the slab,</a> and have to be very careful about not drilling into the heat tubes.  So the concrete drill bit is measured and taped off for the depth we can safely drill to.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

Step 5 Diagram

Step 5 Instructions

<h1>Drilling Holes</h1><div>I did the drilling, and let me tell you, I was nervous. Drilling into a heat tube would be catastrophic.</div>

Step 6 Diagram

Step 6 Instructions

<h1>Concrete Anchors</h1><div>Aren't these strange looking nails?  Once they are pounded into the concrete, they will keep the walls from moving or shifting.</div>

Step 7 Diagram

Step 7 Instructions

It's easy to pound these in ...

Step 8 Diagram

Step 8 Instructions

But the last little bit get's tough. Maybe I was too cautious in drilling my pilot holes, but thank goodness, we didn't see any pieces of heat pipes in the sawdust!<div><br></div><div><img src="http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/Full/framing-stud-w…; alt="" align="none"></div><div><br></div><div>And our walls are secured!  </div><div><br></div><div>Now that our interior basement walls are in place, we can start working on putting the upper level floor in and building stairs!  Can't wait to share our progress with you.  Thanks for reading and keeping us encouraged and inspired!  </div><div><br></div><div>Happy Building, Ana</div>