September 29, 2004

First of all, Happy Birthday Janis!!!

Multi-tasking contractors again today! The windows are all in, the soffits being covered, furnace, water heater, water softener, too. Siding soon...can't wait to see what the color will be!
I got to spend much of the day visiting with utility providers, the cable company is still iffy.

What you see is the back corner of the house. The sliding glass door and the arch window are in the dining room. Yes, the arch window sits low to the floor. Lots more dog nose prints, but they'll love the view of the wetland and its critters.

Lynn-thanks for the help moving!!

windows everywhere

September 26, 2004
Its nice to know that I have at least one place to shower. This picture is taken from the dining room looking through the great room, into a bath, and beyond that is bedroom #2. Much was accomplished last week while I was away (hmmm...is that a hint??). Plumbing, furnace, two showers, and a weekend full of electrical. Several windows were also installed.

Any hints on satellite tv? Just found out that cable isn't there yet. How they missed that area I'll never know. You can see their broadcast facility from the back windows!! Oh well, let me know which satellite providers are best.


great room/bath

September 23, 2004

The last two days are a blur, things are happening quickly! The basment framing was completed and the hvac system started. First floor plumbing is well underway which meant the kitchen counter framing was required. This picture was taken from the great room looking into the kitchen. Hopefully the lumber-guy will have the cabinet layout and price this week. Oh and more decisions. Carpet price increase coming 10/1...so Wednesday I got to pick out the carpet (and look at hard wood flooring). While I was in a floor mood, I checked out a tile store. The only word that comes to mind is OVERWHELMING. I think I selected the master bath tiles, but I need carpet samples to decide on the other baths and laundry/mud room.

Today its back to work (so I can pay for this). I hope they are installing windows today and maybe starting the siding on Friday. Wonder what that color looks like??? I'd better stay here and pack with closing in two weeks.

kitchen framing

September 21, 2004

No picture today, the camera stayed in the truck due to the rain. Plumbers, roofer, and builders...a very active site. The stairs were built, the basement framing was completed. And 5 plumbers worked on the main floor. I got into the act, too. I dug the post hole for the mailbox! Yikes, there's a difference between Richfield sand and St Peter clay. I think I'll hire the fence out...otherwise I'd have to dig about 40 more holes by hand. Not gonna happen!

September 20, 2004

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Sometime this week I have to decide on the phone, cable, and internet providers and make the arrangements. They need to "get trenching" soon. Will have to see how that fits into packing and hauling.

The basement framing was in progress today. I stopped by about 5:15pm and they were still working. They'd also cut the window openings. In order to seal up the house from this week's monsoon they put up the tyvek wrap too. Plumbers and electricians are due this week, windows should go in on Thursday.

Hey, did you know that Menard's has ceiling fans on sale this week? 30% off...so far I only bought one, but its still early.

Basement framing

September 18, 2004

Well, first things first...I SOLD my Richfield house today! And I have no excuse for sitting at the computer rather than packing right now. The new owner wants to close on 10/8...less than three weeks from now.
I did manage a trip south today to check out the progress. The shingles are completed on the main portion of the house and garage. All that's left is the front porch roof. Oh, the realty sign in the picture is actually for the lot next door. Hey, anyone silly enough to wanna be my next door neighbor? I know some great builders!!

shingles!

September 16, 2004

A good old-fashioned amish barn raising! Not quite, but that's what it looked like when I drove up this morning. The front porch roof had to be stick-built. Thank goodness these guys are engineers as well as builders. And the roofer arrived today!! He works quickly...hopefully the weather will last until he's finished. I was wrong, it was 5 inches of rain earlier this week.
porch roof

September 15, 2004

I guess three inches of rain is bound to have a slowing effect on the project! My extra boots weren't in my truck, so exploring was limited to areas that were dried out or covered with rock. But I did get a good look at the new basement stairway. I guess I specified an "open stairway" but its a good thing I'm in the right occupation to make use of this one! It may be a little limiting for guests, and the dogs!

the new stairway

September 13, 2004

Framing of the front porch is underway today. With a stiff 25 mile per hour wind, squaring those cedar 6x6's was hard work. Brad, Paul and Corey made it look easy! The porch will be about 22 feet wide, which is only a couple feet narrower than my existing house. Also underway, the garage floor was poured, looks like I have another place to rollerblade in the winter. I'm still waiting to see the roofer in person...hopefully it was a wind-delay today and he'll be on site soon!
With an early morning visit to the job site, today's treats were coffee and rolls.

front porch framing

September 10, 2004

You guessed it, this is the basement! Today the concrete floor was poured, along with footings for the front porch and back deck. Corey and Brad said there was "an army of cement guys working this morning." The left side of center wall will be a bedroom, bath, utility room, and storage (which could in the future be used for a home theatre or whatever). The far side of the center will be the family room (aka bowling alley) and another bedroom (probably Carl's!). Work continued on the soffits too. The shingles are up on the roof, with another at least 15 squares sitting on the ground, somebody over estimated a little.
Basement cement

September 9, 2004

Sorry, no picture today! My truck is in the shop and with a house on the market, it was time to stay home, clean and do yard work.

Kirsten, Joe and Liz drove past today while en route to "the cities." They said the shingles were stacked on the roof, roofing is to start tomorrow. I believe the electricians and plumbers were working today too. New pix tomorrow, I promise.

September 7, 2004

Its really starting to look like a house now. This is taken from the garage looking into the house. The rooms you see from left to right are dining room, kitchen, and laundry room/mud room. The builders were completing the exterior and roof sheathing today in preparation for the roofers. Peanut butter cookies were the treat de jour (hmmm been a while since high school French, is that spelled right??).

From garage

September 1, 2004
So when did the neighbor house get so close? Actually its nearly 200' away, just a deceptive view. With all the trusses up they spent a couple very hot, humid days putting the sheathing on the house. Yes, it was another dilly bar day. The plan is to have the roof sheathed before they knock off for a well deserved Labor Day weekend. This week the plumbers worked on rough in items and installed the garage floor drains as well.
From side street