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Sorry about the huge delay since the last post. October 26, 2013. Layout begins. Step one was to mark out where all the penetrations were to go on the roof. Step two was to actually install flashings at all those locations. To ensure the lines were strait the four corners of the support...

At this point I was starting to cut it close to the first snowfall; ideally I wanted to get both the solar and the wood burning fireplace in before snow and winter set in. Crucial to all this is getting all the work dealing with shingles done. I had already pushed hard on the roof to get all the...

October 21, 2013 - I picked up all the materials for the solar mounting system. Trying a new flashing product this time (Zilla flashings), I did a test run to see how installation would go. The remainder of the racking system is the Conergy brand racking system.

Thanks for the interest, feel free to ask any questions you have here. Certainly I am sure everyone else would benefit from any discussion on the matter. Full disclosure, I have spent over a year professionally installing solar, this is just a fulfilment of my desire to have my own system.

I would like to address this comment; I am not really sure what you are getting at. My electrical service comes into my garage through a two way meter, from the panel board inside my garage I feed the loads in my garage and a feed for my house. From this I also have a 40A breaker that my...

This grade of Roxull being made for industrial applications means it is fairly rigid. These are offcuts because they were the ends of sheets that were cut down to make them fit into the wall of the building being insulated. I simply cut the pieces to width and shoved them in. I am lucky to have...

You have no idea. Much time was spent with a compressor and vacuum trying to get it all out.

Worth mentioning, I was able to salvage Roxull offcuts from work that were destined for the garbage. I wish I had had my truck for this endeavour, It took many loads on very warm days with the windows rolled up. There will be enough to insulate the entire garage walls however.

October 25th, 2013 - Cut in the conductors for the mast into the meter socket. And the conductors cut into the panel board. EPCOR finally changing out the service. And my bare support, making my garage look a whole lot more holy then it is. Service change done, time to finish the...

October 16 -24th, 2013 – Several hours spent every day after work hammering away at the shingles. This being my first roof was quite the learning experience. I decided very quickly after doing the first rows by hand to purchase a shingle nailer, got a smoking good deal on a used one from Home D...

The mast/ panel board and conductor to feed the house being installed meant I could now book the service change. It being so late in the year means every new construction and their dogs are trying to get service changes at this time. I was told it would be two weeks before I could get mine done...

October 13th , 2013 - Due to time constraints regarding getting the roof closed in before the snow, I decided to have a friend come and install the garage door for me. This freed me time to work on framing the ladders for the lookouts. Based on the pain it was to build them on the roof I...

It is a floating slab. You can go bellow frost line but it's not common for garages in this area. I looked at it but it was a VERY large price increase so I decided against it.

Thanks, This system will provide power for the house yes. This system is 'grid tied' meaning it essentially uses the local power grid as the battery. I would really rather stay away from the expense and hassle of batteries. The only major downside to grid connected systems is that if the grid...

October 13th 2013 - As things being strait forward is less fun... here we go. I had the good luck of my old service running through the last few trusses of my roof. So I had to leave off finishing the end of my roof till the line was relocated. As such I moved on to finishing the siding on the...

October 3rd - Work on the ladders on the east side of the garage. October 5th - Started sheathing what I could of the roof.

October 2nd, 2013 - Raising the trusses. Had to wait till the evening to have help. Five of us total. Since I would not have the help the next day I had us simply get all the trusses up and I could finish the roof on my own later.

Just me, a couple wall jacks and a step ladder.

The roof trusses arriving, the neighbours were generous to let me use their parking pad to store them till help arrived for the lifting of them into place. Though it was worth showing my cutting station, it was a rainy fall so having cover to continue working along on the limited days I had...

September 30th - October 1st - Raising of the walls. Wall height, 8'6", 3/8" plywood. North and south walls framed with 2x6 studs. East and west walls framed 2x4 on 2x6 plates staggered to maximize insulation. http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/ericpenel/IMG_4783_zps17b3d553.jpg