Big Changes!

It has been a week since the last blog update and a lot has been done to the house in this time!  All of the framing has been completed and the structure of the house is completed.  The house has been sheathed completely in plywood sheets and covered in a moisture barrier as shown.

The framers added the structure for the column and beam separating out the dining room.  The column and beam will be completely wrapped in wood trim.  You can also see the termite treatment that was applied to the entire base of the house.

In this photo, you can see where a portion of the bar has been framed in inside of the kitchen and if you look straight to the back, the newly framed stairs are visible going up to the landing and making the turn to the left.

This is a view of the other side of the stairs from inside of the garage.  A small door has been added in order to have access under the stairs for storage.

This is a photo of the bonus room upstairs.  This will be used mostly as a media room.  The wall to the right is where I plan to put the screen and the seating will be to the left.  The dormer area is off of the frame to the right.

This is the dormer that goes out over the garage.  I am thinking about making this a seating area with a built-in bench and cushion with some possible storage underneath.

The plumbers arrived last Friday, October 7th, and completed all the plumbing and all the lines for the natural gas service for the house in one day.  there are now pipes running all through the walls and ceiling.

Here you can see the water heater with the many pvc lines running out to the rest of the house.

The electricians arrived on Monday the 10th and they are still working on wiring the house.  I added a bunch of extra outlets to the plan for power and cable.  I also added a panel to the right side of the house for hook ups for the pool installers once we have that put in next year.  There are now wires going everywhere!  We can no longer walk through our walls.

This is a view in the media room upstairs looking back towards the stairs.  You can see into the separate room where the water heater and air handler are installed.

Here you can see one of the many air ducts going through the ceiling space.  This one is servicing the living room area.

There are many of these boxes on the walls throughout the house.  This one sits by the front doors and controls the outside lights and the recessed lighting in the living room

The brick was delivered to the house today.  We are hoping to see it begin tomorrow.  I took a look at the mortar bags that were delivered and I think that they ordered ivory mortar instead of gray.  I informed the builder of this and he said he would double-check it before turning the masons loose.  If it is indeed the wrong mortar, it could set us back a day or so.

The shingles were also delivered today and placed on the roof of the house, ready for the roofers to begin tomorrow.  This should look like a real house by the end of the week!

 Here you can see were the recessed lighting will be in the peak of each one of the eaves on the front of the house.  There will be two additional recessed lights over the big window in front of the dining room as well.

Framing Complete!

It has been several days since the last blog update and a lot has transpired with the construction during that time!  As of today at 6:30pm, all framing has been completed.  The decking is all in place on the roof and covered with felt, ready for the shingles.  The exterior walls are all sheathed with plywood and covered with a housewrap moisture barrier, ready for the bricks. 

I took this photo this evening after work, just before my phone died, preventing me from taking any more photos.  The kids and I picked up some dinner after I got them from school and we sat on the tailgate of my truck and watched the framers put the finishing touches on the house before they left.

It really amazes me when I step inside and see just how tall the ceilings are in the living, dining, and kitchen.  This is a view into the living room. 

A view from a rear corner of the house.  A couple of the windows are still covered with the plastic house wrap at this point.  The master bedroom is the room on the left with the two windows.  The breakfast nook is the window to the right of that. 

Here you can see where the plumbers ran the sewer line from the house to the main.