Week 13

Work is really moving along.  I had to stop by last Wednesday to discuss an issue with Mike and what was just stud walls on the previous Sunday at the week 12 post is now fully drywalled!  3 days!

The photos are from last Friday.  Holly and I took the day off and went down around mid-day before heading downtown for the NFL Experience and the beginning of the festivities for SUPERBOWL XLVI here in Indianapolis!!!!!!!

Brick work continues in earnest and there's a corner of the house with stone for us to verify that it is what we expected and wanted.  Yes it is.  The stone masons were at the home and they expressed some concern with the stone.  Apparently the drystack look is not common around these parts (primarily in the South according to him) and it will be a long and slow process to get it all done.  Since it won't show on the front, all of the mortar has to be at the back and the stones need to fit very well and be secure before going up a level.

The garage floor was poured and being worked on while we were there.  Gas and water are to be ran this week and garage doors also.  Drywall mudding won't start until the gas has been ran and the heat is on.

Some bad news.  The roof was added but apparently one corner was not fully flashed awaiting brick or stone.  With all of the rain last week, water came in on the 2nd floor front bedroom, down to the dining room and into the basement.

Holly said I needed photos with people in them so I present several with my lovely wife modeling different features.

Garage floor poured.

Ozark Brick stone on front corner of home.



Holly and the Jasper brick with cream mortar.



Vaulted ceiling in Den Room.  Mike added a plant shelf above the bookcase area to hold the 3 can lights.



Raised floor looking toward master bedroom.

Holly in master closet.



Looking at stairs to raised floor and beyond at stairs to downstairs.



Week 12

Holly and I took a look at the schedule we were given at the beginning of the build.  We were right on time up to Christmas but now it looks like we're about 2 weeks or so behind.  The winter of 2012 has generally been quite mild but rainy as well.  There have been many days lost thus far due to inclement weather.  But as I mentioned in last weeks update, that should hopefully change since we're now under roof.

I made the trip down today solo.  Some continued fit and finish work on the  plumbing and HVAC has taken place and most of the insulation has been blown into the exterior walls.  Insulation is a neat product being almost entirely recycled paper, water and a bonding agent blown extremely tightly between the studs.  (nuwool.com).  In the photos below you'll see where they blew from the inside of the house to the garage wall that was only studs.  In this case, they used what appeared to be LARGE sections of dryer sheets stapled to the studs to give the insulation something to stick to.  Brick has been delivered and surrounds 2 sides of the home.  I wouldn't be surprised if stone came this week.

The plan as I understand it is to finish off the insulation on Monday and stock all of the drywall board.  Drywall will begin this week and continue for 4 weeks. Once the drywall is hung (not mudded or sanded), the heat will be turned on.  I didn't look to see if there were trenches in the yard but if they weren't ran last week, I believe gas, water and sewer will be coming in from the easements this week.  Brick starts anytime I suppose.

Exciting!

Brampton Jasper is at da house!

Garage Mudroom entrance.  Note the whitish walls and ceiling.  That's the dryersheet material.  Wall insulation blown from other side.  The suds in the background on the exterior walls are not insulated though I thought they were to be.  The roof of the garage will be fully insulated since our master bed/bath/closet is directly above.

Looking up at the ceiling in the study and the "flower shelf" added to have a place to put the can lights.  Grey material is the sprayed in insulation.

 

Looking up at the dormer.  Not sure why they used a foam insulation here rather than the Nuwool cellulose.

 

I've tried several times to get a picture of the study but never have been able to do so.  This may be the best.  It's through two unfinished walls and taken from up on the second floor looking down.

Hot and Cold PEX lines and manifolds from the basement.

2nd floor HVAC system.

Week 11 - delayed

Things have been a bit hectic lately.  Holly and I spent between Christmas and NewYears painting and have been doing the same on our weekends. 

Current house update - Last weekend I repainted the trim in the hallway, master bath and play rooom.  We had our Real Estate agent (Sandi Finlinson  http://www.landhawkrealestate.com/) out to give it a once over and advise on salability.  We've decided that we're done with the painting!  Sandi said not to don't sweat the small stuff.  New carpet is going down on Wednesday/Thursday of next week and we'll have it on the market ASAP.

The new home is coming right along.  I took a few pictures last weekend but there were no great WOWs.  It's mostly been a continuation of roofing, plumbing, electrical and HVAC install. 

Mike met earlier on Wednesday with the Landscape Architect and a wall across the front was discussed.  It would start to the right side of the front door and travel across the front to near the driveway.  It's kind of needed to keep the walk up a bit and some of the trees at their lower elevation.  I met Mike later on Wednesday and got the plan on the wall as well as the rest of this week.  Spray Insulation should have started today (Thursday) and will finish on Saturday.  It's pretty cool stuff that my brother in law had on a home and said it kept the house tight and warm!  Garage slab is in the next couple of days and brick is probably early next week.

I may go down on Sunday by myself for a look around and can post after that.  Here's last week's photos.

Dormer added on front roof above library/study window

Looking up at same windows from inside

Pex water lines from basement running to second floor.  A box had to be made at the back of the garage to hold all of the water lines.

Week 10 Update

What a difference a week and a half makes!  After the electrical walk through the Wednesday after Christmas we made it back to our home on Sunday after attending mass at what will be our new parish: Sts Francis and Clare.  We've been blessed by mild weather and that will continue for another week or so.  (if it's global warming, we need MORE!)

The windows and doors are installed but not yet finished.  The roof was tar papered and the crew was taking shingles up when we visited.  It's likely finished as I type this post.  The electrical, plumbing and HVAC are all roughed in and there's even some of the siding on several sides.

Mike expects to pour the garage floor this week and finish off the "fire caulking" this week.  This is caulk added at any location that a power wire passes through wood.  It requires a county inspector review before proceeding.  Should have the insulation starting in a week or so. 

Mike is meeting the landscape architect this week and work out the details on a retention wall needed in front of the house.

Roof over 3rd bay and friends entrance is complete

Back view.  Roofing crew taking shingles to peak.  The girls were fascinated by a gas powered "elevator" that runs up the ladder and saves a trip with each pack of shingles.  Seen in the photo at the bottom of the ladder.

Front.  The painter is standing on the outside wall of the Master Closet (see below)

1/2 wall at kitchen.  sink and dishwasher will sit on opposite side of wall.  Taken from eating area.

Fireplace.  Will end up being 8' wide and uses same stone on front face of home.  cabinets on both sides of the stone.

Living Room window.

Unstained front door.  I'm loving the glass!

Rough in on the hall bathroom upstairs.  Note the red and blue tubes.  That's hot and cold Pex lines which have replaced copper in newer  homes.  Each faucet temp has a separate run from a manifold in the basement.  You can turn off the flow in two places for repairs and the time to get hot water is less since it's a straight run.

Master Bath tub.  Big enough for doing laps.

Master Closet.