Timber Frame Hybrid Home - Owner Builder

[jk96]

Well we had our first major hiccup and it was a big one. The granite was delivered today and I knew we had a problem as soon as they set the first piece down for the perimeter. The granite we picked out for the perimeter is a dark granite and has two different sides instead of both sides being polished like most. One side is polished which is what was showing in the slab yard and what was specified. The other side is a dull, slightly textured side. Almost has a leathery look to it. It also has two different descriptions, one for each side. The yard sent the description for the non polished side to our cabinet company as well as the fabricator. I thought my wife was going to cry. Now we are waiting to find out who is going to pick up the cost on the new slabs. Our cabinet installer has promised it will not be us. Total cost for the miscue was about $4500.

On a positive note the granite for the island turned out great. This part was installed today. We still have some decorative doors to go on the face of the island. Cabinets should finally be wrapped up tomorrow. Here's a few pics of the island along with a better pic of the fireplace now that its all cleaned up.

 

[dave1949]

Looks nice!

 

[EddieWalker]

Very Nice. I love all the small details, like how the posts go through the granite and the lights match the cabinets. I didn't realize until just now that the fireplace is for both inside and outside. Is that right? How do you control the outside air from getting into the house? Are they done with the rock on the outside fireplace?

Eddie

 

[tkappeler]

jk,

Simply stunning. There are no favorites as it is all beautiful.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Absolutely beautiful :thumbsup:

I love this type of home.

 

[jk96]

Thanks everyone.

Eddy - yes the fireplace is a see thru fireplace that we can enjoy indoor and outdoor. It has doors on the back side so we can load and clean from outside. We had the vents on the back side removed so that the only heating vents are on the inside of the house. The glass doors are sealed really well, however there is some slight air movement that you can feel around the vents probably coming from the flue since its not in use but not much. This will be eliminated when in use but we will probably loose a little bit of cool air in the summer. Since we've got the house so tight and have not installed an air exchanger at this point we are considering this our exchanger. I don't think there is enough movement to justify any concern. Rock on the outside has not started yet as we are waiting for the temps to stay above freezing.

 

[BitChin1]

Wow! looking great - that stone wall over the fireplace is awesome :drink:

One item to discuss with your installer is finishing the granite edge at the timber - the timber will shrink over the next year (maybe even after that?)
In one area our installer used a caulk that has good stretch characteristics and in another they did not (two different suppliers) - in the 2nd case the gap has opened and we will now need to remove and replace to fill the gap - not a big deal but a step you may be able to avoid if thinking about it now.

 

[jk96]

Thanks. I asked them not to fill the gap for that reason. We will fill it along with any other trim issues in a year or so.

 

[cartod]

Very nice indeed!

 

[jk96]

Just received an email that the granite mix up was confirmed by the slab yard. They are sending a new slab to the fabricator next week at no cost.