December 3:
We passed our final inspection! Even got the windows washed last week.
November 20:
I think we're finished! Well, note quite, the solar array
is next. Guess we should wash the windows..
June 16:
The deck is under construction. The plumbers are putting in the sinks,
tubs, & fixtures. The forms are in for the driveways and walkways.
Our list of excuses is ready. We are
starting our cast of characters.
June 6:
Tile work is almost done except for backordered backsplash tile. Some
granny in Montreal has to make them. (Sigh...)
It's really hard to get quality work done around here. There are so many
new homes under construction, many subs just want to do as many as they can.
I have great respect for some of our subs, like Chuck, our tile guy. Bruce
Shaver, our finish carpenter is soooo talented and fair. We'd be sunk
without him. Bruce is doing our stair treads and risers. (Eucalyptus)
The plumbers (we like them, the Plumbing Connection) are coming June 13-15 to
finish up. I can't wait to see them install the 485 pound master tub.
Chas, the other finish carpenter, will be finishing up the curved windows and
staircase banister the week of June 13.
Hopefully the concrete guys will be finishing up the driveway and walkways soon.
We'll be compiling a list of the good, the bad, & the ugly soon. Boy, do we have some stories to tell.
April 12:
We've had some great weather!
Work has picked up!
April 8:
Brick is complete except for the entry.
Driveway, pads, porches, & french drain work has started.
Heat pump is operational, seems very efficient. Some noise is coupling to
the wall, so some flexible tubing will have to be inserted.
Most importantly, we have a finish carpenter. Actually two! We have
two tile guys, one is doing the downstairs, the other is doing the upstairs
bathroom. Wait, we have three, I forgot Randy, who did the floor tile.
Where we don't have brick, we have Hardi-shingle. This work was
started last week.
Interior doors are at the finish shop.
We were broken in to a few weeks ago. They stole some sanders, a skill saw and tore up the garage door jamb. Now the house is wired with multiple cameras and motion detectors. There is no way to get in to this house without me knowing about it in seconds. If they kill the power, I'll know. If my communication link is interrupted, I'll know.
Construction theft is rampant here. Everybody I talk to has had a construction theft. The cause: Meth. This community doesn't realize how bad the meth problem is here. So, the outdoor camera is now indoors, along with two others. You can see two of them here, but they're pretty boring.
April 7:
Bruce, the finish carpenter, said "where's the vent for the downdraft stove?"
Crap! I should have noticed this sooner. I wish someone else had
thought of this, like our builder, the heat guy, ...
Now we have to figure out how to vent it, through the floor tile, through the
radiant floor heating, missing the floor joist, plumbing, & wiring.
April 2:
BettyLou has ordered all of the light fixtures, ceiling fans, and tile. I
don't know how she does it. In addition, she has picked out all of the
paint colors, flooring, doors, finishes, and trim.
She also designed our deck, planters, paths, driveway, entry / steps,
flagstone..., really the entire outdoor area.
Judy and Cathy from Blakes have been incredibly helpful, providing assistance
with colors and tile, coming to
the house many times.
March 18:
Finally Bliemeisters gave us a date, May 15 to deliver the cabinets. This
really hurts as we started our talks with them two years ago. Counter top
tile and plumbing can't start until the cabinets are completed, so this is a
real setback.
March 12:
Brick is 75% complete
Radiant floor heating is finished
Floor tile is finished
Front door latch installed (I did this myself, which was a huge effort for
me)
Upstairs flooring is being installed
We are still waiting for a cabinet date from Bliemeisters! This is turning
out to be a serious bottleneck for us.
Ordered finished wood trim for doors, windows, & baseboards
Ordered interior doors
February 22:
Brick is progressing, 50% complete
Interior paint is finished. Class Act did a great job!
Radiant floor is being installed (Absolute Air)
Floor tile ordered (porcelain)
Lyptus and Marmoleum on order
Cabinets drawings complete
January 1:
Insulation is complete, except for under the floor. Sheetrock hanging
is complete, taping, etc. is ongoing.
Last window arrived December 23rd. (Finally!) Brick began
December 28th.
Added a user joystick to the
webcam. Made the image smaller.
Added a page describing the HRV (Heat Recovering Ventilator)
December 9:
Today was interesting:
Yesterday the sheetrocker was supposed to stock, but 9 guys showed up and wanted
to start rocking as well.
Problem is we don't have a final inspection for framing, insulation, or
electrical!
I called for it, but apparently the request was lost. So, they stocked and left.
Today they showed up again, shortly after the inspector showed up. I asked him
if he could do the insulation too. It went like this:
Him: "you shouldn't have insulated".
Me: "But you told me I could during your last inspection".
Him: "Got that in writing?"
Me: "Sigh...."
Bottom line is that we got signed off on framing & insulation and got half the
house rocked on the same day!
There were 14 people on the site at one time.
The electrical inspector is coming tomorrow for the final. He might be
annoyed that he can't actually see any of the wiring since all of the internal
walls are insulated and mostly rocked. The only "to do" left was stapling
low voltage wiring, so I hope he will sign me off.
Still waiting for that last #$%^& window!
December 4:
Milgard tells us that the last window will be delivered on December 15th.
If it does, it will be 60 days late. Think twice before you order
wood-clad windows.
The mason said he'd start on Dec 1. Now he says Dec 15.
November 17:
The saga continues, we were told the balance of the windows were to be delivered
Monday. Nov. 15. Now we find that not only will they not be delivered, but
the large 9' arched window over the entry way WAS NEVER ORDERED. Milgard
says it's a glitch, ho hum. These windows were to be here by October 15, then
October 28. Of course we can't get a framing inspection until they're in,
can't insulate, can't sheet rock. Milgard says Dec 9, but they've always
been late. Then it has to go to the finishing shop, possibly another 10
days.
October 12:
Still waiting for the rest of the windows, another broken one, others
back-ordered. Fire doors weren't ordered / ordered incorrectly.
Mason starts Dec 1. Passed electrical inspection. Plumbing is
finished.
Front Door arrived October 7th and is at the finishing shop.
Electrical almost completed, October 12th.
Last three windows are scheduled to arrive October 28th.
The windows arrived on site October 8th. Some of them, anyway.
The roof was completed September 22.
1st window order is due Sept 15th, then goes to the finishing shop for 10
days.
Remaining three window order is ~ October 15th.
Door is scheduled to arrive on October 15th, but they normally run about 2 weeks late. Then it will go to the finishing shop for ~10 days.