Two Hands Are Better Than One

When it comes to house building, I’ve learned that two hands are better than one…but twenty hands are certainly better than two! After a lull in progress due to rain complications, the building process has definitely picked up this week. This burst of progress is due in part to the sheer number of workers who can be found at the lot on any given day. Here’s the run down of crews we’ve seen (or noticed work from) thus far this week:

1. Roofers - The roof is almost completely covered…FINALLY! After several weeks of staring at tar paper…its exciting to see shingles!
2. Painters - Exterior paint on the trim has been completed.
3. Framers - Small framing additions have occurred throughout the interior of the house including the corner fireplace, stair wall, and storage nook under the stairs. Also the windows have been installed everywhere except for the large living room window at the back of the house…its taking a bit longer to be delivered.
4. Mason - Brick!!! The brick is beginning to crop up all over the house…as of now…the right side of the house is mostly done with smatterings of brick completed on the back, left side, and front of the house as well.
5. AC Crew- Air conditioning installation has begun…vents, return vents, and ducts are being placed throughout the house. Since we are having two AC units, one for downstairs and one for upstairs, there is an amazing configuration of AC equipment in the attic complete with suspension wires. You gotta see it!
6. Plumber - The tankless water heater has been installed as well as the manabloc for the PEX system that will run throughout the house. There’s red tubes, blue tubes, copper tubes, white tubes…who knew there were so many colors lurking behind the walls. Also, the guest bathroom tub has been installed!
7. Cleaning Crew - Oh wait…maybe in my dreams! The piles of equipment, tools, materials, sand, and trash seem to have doubled this week…I hope these guys are as good at cleaning as they are at making a mess!

With the way progress has been going lately, check back soon for more pictures and updates! November (our anticipated move-in month) is just around the corner!

Going Up…

We now, officially, have a two story home complete with upstairs bonus room! Once again, I’m in awe of the house that Chris and I designed. I will be the first to admit that I had my doubts…especially with regard to the second story gable. I have been anxiously waiting for the framers to complete this part of the house, for it was the only section I couldn’t semi-visualize based on the floor plan. My wonderful husband, however, with his uncanny ability to transform lines on a paper into a three-dimensional home in his mind has assured me countless times that the house including the second story gable would be perfect. Why did I ever doubt him?

So, the second story bonus room is even bigger than we originally planned.  The room is 27 feet long by 14 feet near the gable and 19 feet near the back of the room. We plan to use the space near the gable as an office for Chris…I just hope the amazing view of Abilene doesn’t hinder his creative genius. The remaining space will make a cozy theater room…we are even thinking of adding a bar area for close proximity of sodas and movie snacks. (Note: these are our dreams at this point…perhaps one day they will be reality.)

The framers have also begun to create the forms for the stairs leading to the bonus room. Enjoy the pictures of Chris and I climbing the stair frames…16 steps took me 5 minutes to climb….I’m such a scaredy cat!

We also have tech shield installed on the interior of the roof to reduce attic heat and lower home energy costs.

Yesterday, Chris and I met with the builder to make final window and roof selections. Informally, our builder mentioned that the brick layer may begin bricking the house in 3 weeks! Today is Monday, August 25…let’s see if that prediction comes true.

Beautiful

Beauty like this deserves its own post!

Progress Despite the Rain

Seven days of rain: farmers get excited (I love you Daddy!) …builders get worried…and future home owners…well, let’s just say the framing crew is amazing! Even with 4 inches of rain over the past week, the building process has not stopped. Chris and I have been pleasantly surprised with the progress that has taken place.

I have compiled this list of framing developments that have occurred since my last post:

1. Front porch archway and rock columns
2. Twelve foot ceiling in entryway
3. Additional one foot frames on top of the living room and hallway walls to create ten foot ceilings
4. Tyvek covering for exterior of house
5.  Preliminary framing for breakfast bar in the kitchen
6. Delivery of ceiling beams and floor trusses
7. Second story floor trusses over master bedroom and kitchen
8. Framing for roof gables on the front of the home
9. Beginnings of roof over second story bonus room

The Beginnings of a Roof

With no more walls to construct, the framing crew decided to go up rather than out. We have the beginnings of a roof over the master closet, master bath, and patio. Check out the ladder in the second picture…the framing crew constructed it and have since been using it around the house. Quite creative if you ask me!

When Chris and I decided to build, high ceilings were on my “Can’t Live Without” list. With a little extra effort, that wish became a reality. Our house will have a 12 foot entryway and 10 foot living room with 9 foot ceilings in all other areas.

Maybe I’m trying to compensate for my short stature.