It's time for another update on this ongoing Dallas addition project that includes an enclosed family room, open air patio, and new swimming pool. Our last update ended with the behind the walls mechanical work, such as plumbing and electrical, that needed to be done before the walls could be enclosed. We’ll pick back up there for this update

Insulation and Drywall

With all the detail work behind the walls completed, the next step is to insulate and hang drywall. We used spray foam insulation for this project versus the more traditional fiberglass insulation. As the name implies, insulation works to isolate the home from the outdoors and limits the passage of things like air temperature and sound. Once the insulation was completed the drywall could be hung. The new family room includes a few built in features, such as a bookcase and slightly extended fireplace façade, which are created during the drywall phase of the project.

Trim

With drywall complete, installing trim was the next step. Baseboard and window and door trim was installed along with a wooden beam running the length of the room across the ceiling. Crown molding, typically used in more formal settings, was not included in this room. In a way, trim is like the last step in creating the canvas for the room. The bare bones of the room are finished and the room itself is functional, but it does not have any of the pretty finishes, such as paint and flooring.

Painting

With the walls up and trim installed, painting is next on the task list. The homeowners chose a neutral color palette for the walls in order to allow other details throughout the room to shine. Neutral colors are very on trend, but luckily if trends change repainting a room is one of the more cost effective ways to keep up with what is popular. The back of the built in bookcase, for example, is painted a rich blue that will complement the tile that will be eventually installed around the fireplace

Flooring

The function of the room was an important factor in determining the best type of flooring to use. The room’s close proximity to the future outdoor deck and pool as well as the homeowners’ intention to use the room as a transition between the indoors and outdoors meant that a hard surface floor would be the best option. The homeowners decided to use tile as it would be easy to clean up any dirt that made its way indoors and stand up best to any water tracked in from the pool.

What's Next

At this point in the project most of the behind the scenes and grunt work is done. That leaves us mostly with just the finishes and finer details to complete. Our next update will focus more on the design choices and their execution.

Behind the Scenes of a Dallas Addition Blog Series

Part One: From Site Prep to Framing

Part Two: From Framing to Mechanicals

Part Three: From Drywall to Flooring

Part Four: From Finishing Touches to Completion