Week in Review!

As we told Jay the Builder, we are very pleased with the progress of the house. It seems to be moving along at a nice pace. Every day we see progress. We know there is a moving van at the end of the tunnel.....some days it just seems further away!

The 18,000 pound septic tank has been placed in the yard. As you can see by the picture, the hole is open. We are waiting for a state inspection.

This week has been filled with very long days & a lot of decisions. Decisions we had made on a high level several months ago. Now it's time for us to commit to them.

The trim carpenters have continued their work this week. They should finish up today.

The painters have started caulking & sealing the exterior of the house. They will move to the inside next week.

We have had analysis paralysis over the red we want to use on the trim. We think we have a decision. Now to figure out the gray for the siding....

We met with the tile layers yesterday. They walked the house with us & will start ordering supplies. I believe they are up after the painters finish.

Cabinets!!!!

I will just let the pictures speak for themselves.....we have cabinets!!

The desk in the study being put in place (left)

Entertainment center in the living room (above)


Kitchen (below)

Living room from the kitchen

Kitchen desk (left)

Kitchen cabinets (above)

Master bedroom (left)

Master bath cabinets (above & left)

Laundry room

Trim starts tomorrow!

So Much to See!!

A few days out of town & I felt like a kid in a candy store when we visited our house yesterday.

The extra stone has been taken away & trash has been picked up -the yards looks like.....yards!

The brick for the fireplace was delivered & is waiting for the mason.

The outside trim work & infamous water tables are finished.

The glass block was installed above the tub in the master bath.

The garage doors were installed.

The cement floor in the game room has been stained, scored & polished. It was wet yesterday so we could only peak at it. They are still working on it today so it may be a few days before we can get in there to walk on it. At first 'peak' it looks amazing!

The wood floors were being installed yesterday. Should be complete today.

One of the most exciting things we heard yesterday is that cabinets should arrive today. The trim man will be on site Friday to 'set up shop'.

Glass block window (left)

Stained cement floor (below)

Another week......a Little Closer!

October 16, 2008

Back of the house

Living room

Guest room with window seat

I feel like we've turned a corner this week. Probably just in my mind but maybe not. The details on the house seem to be coming together.
The water table is complete, the stone is complete, the walls have been textured. We met with the man who will do the treatment for the cement floor. He will begin working on that tomorrow.
On Saturday the glass block will be installed in the master bathroom.
The wood floors will be started either tomorrow or early next week (we both thought we heard something different).

Out of town for a few days, hope to be able to report on big progress when we return.

A Three Ring Circus

This week we had workers everywhere, including a 'stilt walker'....our very own circus!

The siding continued & the dry wall was put up.

Work on the stone took place throughout the week and is almost complete. It was a little disconcerting yesterday to see workers taking stone OFF of the columns. Not sure what that is about. Due to the language barrier, we did not try to ask. We suspect the water table (a cast stone trim that is placed below the siding & above the stone to deflect water) was wider than anticipated when delivered.

Garage wall

The back patio

Coming soon, a driveway, septic tank and wood floors!

Sticks and Stones

Front of the house - looking like a house!

The south side of the house with stone!

Only Tuesday & too much progress to wait until the end of the week before sharing again.

We met with the trim man today to discuss all of his great trim ideas and the interior doors.

We have dry wall going up today. The siding is continuing to progress.

The stone is being mortared into place and just looks awesome.

Had to share pictures!

Going Green.......

We are trying to build a house that is more energy efficient and GREEN than our last house.

In addition to two tank less water heaters & the well we are putting in the back yard for watering, we are using Icynene foam rather than conventional insulation. http://www.icynene.com/ . It was sprayed last week.

The goal is to envelope the walls & seal it from outside air, heat and cold. Sounds a little scary because it is so well sealed. There is also an air handler installed for fresh air recirculation.

In theory we should have a cooler house requires smaller air conditioning units in the Texas heat. We should have a fairly dust free environment and hopefully fewer critters that can invade from the outside.

The foam was the big story last week.

Other progress includes the completion of the patio & porch soffits. The siding has continued to progress, the chimney has been 'dressed'. We have approved the cabinet designs & chosen glass block for above the master bath tub.

The 40 tons of stone was delivered & depending on the weather installation should begin this week. The stone is a mixture of 2/3 creek rock and 1/3 moss rock. Supposedly the moss on the moss rock will come to life when (or if, since this is Texas) it rains. Drywall will also begin this week.

In other news - a 'for sale' sign went up yesterday in the front yard of the house we are renting!