House II

[MDNY]

Re: House II, Grading

Robert,

I posted the floor plans under the original thread RobS started called "House". But I will be glad to post them on this thread. We found plans we liked on the web and then went about modifying the plans with an architect to make them "unique to us". We took out a porch, added a sun room dropped a bay window and put 2FT on the back of the house and lowered the roof pitches. They were 12/12, but we found 8/12 was more for us (cost and looks).

Okay, I can't find them. But I will see what I can locate and repost them.

 

[ScottAR]

Re: House II, Grading

Dozer! (drool.......)

 

[MDNY]

Re: House II, Grading

The siding guys started on Monday, but due to a death in the family they have been off all week. So they may resume tomorrow or Monday.

Other than that the plumbers and heating crews have been working since mid week. The builder has the garage cleaned out so they can pour the floor, they built out some walls in the master bath for the shower and tub unit.

Just got more money from the bank (next interest payment will be big) so the builder is happy. New pics next week, when more siding goes up.

Anyone else building or got any updates on their house projects.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House II, Grading

Well everyone is back at it this week. The siding crew is in full swing, and they are a great group of guys to talk to as well.

The electricians are at it and they will be done with their rough in work this week. Plumber is going at it and has the waste pipes just about done, but has the hot/cold water lines to install next. So by the end of next week (I hope) all of them and my ADT & premise wiring (Voice, Video, Data & Speaker) wire will be done as well. Buddgets are getting tight.

I will post pics this weekend of the finished siding, since its hard to get good shots in the evening due to lack of sunlight.

 

[RobS]

Re: House II, Grading

Sounds like you're in full swing Michael! We've just finished a major homeowner contribution blitz. We did our own ceramic tile and it looks great. Worked straight through from last Wednesday to Tuesday of this week. 600 square feet of rescrewing the subfloors, laying underlayment, tiling and grouting. Not sure we'll ever do that again, but it was fun and as I said, it looks fantastic.

Now the cabinets are almost all in, hardwood floors are down, interior doors are hung and the finish trim should start today. Only about four more weeks to go /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Yesterday was the first day of school so we both drove our oldest up to the new house to catch the bus. My wife will handle that duty on her own starting today and I'm sure she'll be plenty tired of it all after four weeks. We also change time at the new place (Michigan is on daylight, Indiana is not) so they've got to be up that much earlier. Yes, life is a tad stressful lately.

I did actually see my tractor last night as I put a bucket of tools in the garage. Maybe I'll have a chance to do some mowing or grading this weekend /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MDNY]

Re: House II, Grading

RobS,

Lets see som pics of the tile. Well the siding guys will finish tomorrow and I will take pics on Saturday of the finished siding. the porch still has to be "finished" with railing, posts, decking etc.

The electrician is done with his rough in tomorrow, the heating guys are done with theirs and the plumber is about done I think as well. I have alarm and in house voice, video, data, and audio being done next week.

So right after the holiday they should be sheet rocking & insulating the walls. The the fun begins.

We expect to move in about 7 weeks so they better get moving or someone is in trouble. The builder is great and he is pressing to finish the other job up as well. But he is very on top of things.

Now for a co-worker who is building. Well her and her boyfriend(?) are building a nice custom home in a nice neighborhood. Well the builder is really ripping them off. I guess he got served with his papers and told them good luck. Not a good attitude. Too bad as he is a big custom home builder.

Oh well it sucks when you are trying to build your dream home and it don't go so well. So far the subs have been great. The siding guys are neat freaks, they clean, clean clean before they leave and they are really nice too.

Lets get some pics.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House II, Grading

Just when you think things are moving along you get the real view. The siding crew is just about done, but the electricians didn't finish the lighting so they can't finish their work on the porch.

ADT & our VVAD (voice, video, audio, data) guy starts on Tuesday so they my subs are done earlier than planned. But we must wait on the electricians and plumber to get finished. Supposed to move in 7 weeks and I don't see it, but then again who can see the forest for the trees when you are in the middle of it all.

 

[RobS]

Re: House II, Grading

We're less than 4 weeks out now. Can't wait but still a lot to do. I put some fascia boards (cedar) on the porch so the siding guys can finish the soffits there. We ran through 5 gallons of oil based primer and still have over half of the porch boards to prime /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif The mason should be back this week to build the piers, then I can go full steam ahead on finishing the porch.

I've got to pick up my VVAD trimouts and work on that soon. Trim guy is hard at work and the electricians have started their trimouts. I stained some wood flooring scraps to finalize our color selection and my wife has the carpet colors all set.

I have some more pictures but couldn't maintain a connection last night. Maybe tonight /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: House II, Grading

I have read this entire post and I have got to say you have done a hell of a job. We are within a week of closing on our new house, but we had a custom builder do almost all of the work. I can't imagine doing all of the projects you have done and still staying married /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. Take a look at the web site in my signature to see how our house went up.

Good luck finishing it up!

 

[RobS]

Re: House II, Grading

Wow Brian, your house looks great! Nice web-site. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with all these digital pics of ours when it's all done. I like the way your building project is organized.

Thanks for the compliments. We do have a GC, but have done some things ourselves to add the personal touch. Right now, we're pretty much looking forward to moving in.

Hey, I see you are a fellow Hoosier (at least for now, for me). I also noticed a mention of Boy Scout camp on your web-site. Camp Ransberg by any chance? I spent many a summer there myself with fond memories.

Thanks again for the compliments. Let us know how your move-in goes /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Re: House II, Recent Photos

Here are some more up to date pictures of our semi-tractor related project. If I recall, this first one is the overall site showing all of our toys. We moved our camper out there fully intending on staying in it during our ceramic tiling blitz, but our backs hurt so much at the end of each day we went on home to our comfortable bed /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Re: House II, Recent Photos

Here's a rare interior shot showing some of the tile we laid. This is a small powder room which will have a very traditional pedestal sink and such. Most of the other tile has been carefully covered with cardboard so not much else to show. Also, I've learned that this camera has no flash power and lighting is pretty poor in the evenings /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Re: House II, Recent Photos

I just couldn't resist taking a picture of power tools. I was just finishing up the porch frieze boards and loaded all the tools in the truck. I then unloaded the tractor, hooked up my brush cutter and spent a while mowing. Just as I was finishing a quick summer rain shower decided to grace me, my tractor and my truck bed full of tools. This did not make my day, though in the end after a wipe down all was well. Have I mentioned that we can't wait to move /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MDNY]

Re: House II, Recent Photos

RobS,

I just about fell off my chair when I saw the shots. Your house is just awesome.

Nimo showed up today and put our new pole in. The excavators are shooting for next week to dig the power/phone and entry light trench line, water line for the well water lines, septic system, some more stone in the garage, and maybe final grading and such.

Plumber is a few days to go, insulation/rockers are ready for next week. Maybe we will make that 7 week out estimated move date.

Heres the front. The siding guys finished (and cleaned up very well) all but the under porch area as the electrician hasn't put in the recessed lights so the builders crew will have to do it.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House II, Grading

Hoosier,

I really liked your website. I will have to figure out who to do that and do something similar, but after we move, no free time right now.

 

[MikePA]

Re: House II, Recent Photos

Rob,

With that set up (tractor, trailer, pickup, etc.) you could be a contractor! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[RobS]

Re: House II, Recent Photos

Wow, your house seems to be moving a lot faster than ours. We had some words with the builder about the siding crew and she must have come down on them. They got a lot done yesterday and had all their scraps picked up. Then she let us know our move in will probably slip out another week or two.

I really like your front porch entry gable. We've been struggling with what to do on ours and you've provided some inspiration. We have some fishscales left so maybe we'll do as you have /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Re: House II, Recent Photos

<font color=blue>With that set up you could be a contractor</font color=blue>

Thanks Mike... I think. Maybe a retirement career for me /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MikePA]

Re: House II, Recent Photos

I particularly like the 4 door pickup with the roof rack. All you need is one of the racks that fits in the stake pockets and extends over the cab and you're all set. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Re: House II, Recent Photos

<font color=blue>All you need is one of the racks that fits in the stake pockets and extends over the cab and you're all set</font color=blue>

The bed rack won't work with the fifth wheel camper. The roof rack is actually for bicycles, not ladders. It's quite the sight when we head out on a vacation trip. Hmmm, haven't done much of that this year /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif