It's starting to look like a house!

Much progress this week and it's starting to look like a house.

This picture is taken from the woods behind the house and is looking at the back of the house.

Hopefully, by this time next week it will have all of its roof and exterior walls.

We have liftoff!

As mentioned in the earlier post, here is a picture of the framing as of today.

The basement is framed and the floor system in place. Tomorrow the framers will lay out the walls for the main level and start putting them up.

Most know the house is on the side of a hill. The old house had views to the north, east and west, but only limited views south. This house is planned to have views to the south, east and west. While the view to the north is pretty, we've seen it a bunch and it also brings some cold winds.

The second picture is looking south, out the end of the great room. You can see the bump out for the fireplace at the edge of the floor.

More updates to come as events and time allows.

More Concrete! And we go shopping for a kitchen!

Much to say about this week.

Last week this time, we had the rough plumbing set under the slab with some stone spread on top. On Monday, the slab guys came and finished getting ready to pour the concrete. On Tuesday, they poured the slab. It took 44 cubic yards (that is, about four and a half trucks). And on Wednesday, the framers showed up and started at it.

So that is where we are at. It’s starting to look like a house. (Due to some technical issue that will require more explaining than I am able to do, I will post those pictures separately).

We also had the pleasure of visiting a kitchen showroom this week.

This was not a Home Depot or Lowes setup. This was a “to the trade only” sort of place, filled with sample kitchens of all kinds, from basic to quite extravagant. We were there to look at a particular brand of cabinets along with some appliances.

While I don’t think either of us are big shoppers, the few times we have shopped for big items it has always been one of our particular strengths to find something we both like in a matter of mere minutes, only to discover we have picked out the most expensive stuff in the store. (This was most clearly illustrated the time we visited a carpet showroom, only to discover we picked out the most expensive carpet in the entire store in less than two minutes. Two minutes!) This trip was certainly no exception, as we both agreed the quarter sawn white oak cabinets with hand hammered hardware that we saw were rather attractive. But after seeing built-in stainless steel refrigerators larger than closets in our first house and granite counter tops that cost more than the first new car we ever bought it dawned on us we were way out of our league, and knew better than to even ask what those cabinets cost.

Oh well, progress continues. Hopefully, by next week this time, the house will be fully framed and possibly dried in (that is, windows and exterior doors in place and felt on the roof).

More progress! And your input needed!

Well, a couple of things happened this week. First, the waterproofing crew came and waterproofed the outside of the basement walls with some kind of rubbery grey green stuff. Then the plumbers came and set the sewer lines under the slab and tied them into the old sewer line that goes out to the street. And finally, the slab crew came and started getting ready to pour the basement floor. So that is good.

Once the sewer lines get inspected the slab guys can finish forming up the slab and pour the basement floor. And then framing can start. So hopefully, by this time next week we will have some pictures that look a little like a house!

We also met with a good friend from long ago who is a kitchen designer. This led to all kinds of issues, one of which was counter tops. I had suggested earlier we consider going with a laminate counter top with an aluminum edge banding. Obviously, in today's world of granite this and marble that, this is probably somewhat unusual, but I think it would have a lot of character and could work well. The question becomes what color.

I'm leaning toward "Red Hot Allusion" (which you can see here; use your "back" button to get back to this page when done) although the primary user of the kitchen is not there with me just yet. (After all, "Red Hot Allusion" is "a sizzling red with Latin and Cuban influence"; who would not want that?) So, if you have any suggestions, let's hear them before it's too late. (And yes, I have already considered and dismissed "Viva! Allusion" (which is New) so no need suggesting that one).

Basement walls poured!

More progress!

Well, despite cold cold temperatures (where is global warming when you need it?), the basement walls got both formed and poured. And basement walls we got, pretty good size ones at that.

This picture is taken from the end of the old driveway looking toward the mailbox. The big walls off in the distance are for the front porch, which will have a fieldstone & concrete floor, hence the need for concrete walls.

Unfortunately, the porch walls are pretty tall. As most are aware, we are on the side of a hill. I estimate there is a change of elevation of about 40 feet from the front of the lot to the back. Forty feet is a good amount (about four stories), which explains why I have grown to hate the garbage can as much as I do (even though it does have wheels). So, with the top of the back basement wall set to grade, the top of the front basement wall is more than 9 feet in the air. Tricky, but hills can do that. Perhaps the real trick will be to somehow disguise the fact the front porch will be 9 feet in the air.

And believe it or not, we actually lowered the house about five feet from where it was before.

Oh well, all in a week’s work. The forms were stripped off yesterday and the plumber is coming on Monday to put the sewer lines in place so the basement floor can be poured next. And then framing can start.

we've got footers!

This was a productive week. After the grading from last week, a footer crew came and formed up the foundation footers and by weeks' end we had footers! Next up are poured concrete foundation walls; then rough plumbing and the basement floor. (This view is taken from the end of the old driveway looking toward the mailbox at the street.)

Got dirt!

So, we got a permit and had the ashes hauled off and have started grading. (For those in the know, the horizontal line of sand in the bank at the back of the picture is where the courtyard used to be).