FREAKING OUT!

One of the things that had to be done in the new bathroom was the installation of a bathroom fan for ventilation purposes. Originally, it was going to be a wall unit, but we ended up finding a light/fan combo that we really liked on sale, so we decided to center it in the room. Jeff ran the wire to it, and I installed the fan box. Next, duct work had to be run to the exterior wall. Kevin framed in slightly lower ceiling so that we didn't have to take out a double beam up top. This allowed me the 4 inches that I needed to snake the duct work to the wall...

Now let me say that both Jeff and I are petrified of heights! But SOMEONE hasd to climb up on the ladder and install the exterior fan vent. Time to suck it up and conquer a fear.... Our neightbor Brad was kind enough to lend us his ladder, and my first climb up I was shaking so badly that it took me 5 minutes to get to the top! Of course though, I had to bring a camera up to capture the moment for the blog... Here is a view to the ground (2 1/2 stories down...)

This picture gives a little more perspective. I had to cut a hole in the aluminum siding with the reciprocating saw, cut and run the rigid and flexible ductwork, and attach the exterior vent cap. I can tell you that the scariest part was using the saw. For those who have used one, you know that if you approach the cut wrong, it can have quick a kick back. YEaaaaaah.... I ended up having Jeff take out the window so that he could hold onto my belt loops while I was using it (so that if it kicked back, I wouldn't go flying backward off the ladder)...

The mostly finished result. I didn't get a pic at the end after I placed the drip caps back on the siding and finished caulking everything, but we now have an exterior fan vent for the upstairs bathroom :-). (but you won't catch me up on that ladder again any time soon!)