So Many Parts and Pieces

Monday, September 22

North exterior team

What an amazing day!  Everyone was out today, working at a pace that left me unable to count how many were actually on site.  There were at least 10, maybe 14 men.  The progress today was extraordinary.  One team was on the north exterior elevation.  Another team was in the garage working on the staircase that leads to the attic storage.  The staircase was crucial now, since the team doing the siding last week had to stop, because the 2nd story window still had to be installed on the west wall elevation.  But the window installation was waiting on the staircase to be built for proper placement.  Stopping the siding installation, meant the scaffolding was taken down ( to be used elsewhere), and will now have to be rebuilt when the stairs are complete so that the siding can be finished.

Staircase Team of 2

Scaffolding on the front porch

On the front porch there was another team working.  By the time I had arrived in the morning they had added additional scaffolding.  The bead-board ceiling was now finished and they were just finishing up the blocking and beefing up the underside of the area where the columns now on order will be installed.

Details for the area above the future front porch columns.  I did the design of the home and with all the detail I provided, I still have left all the trim details to my builder.  He is very familiar with the style of home I am looking for.  I'm excited to see how this progresses. Right now he is driving the details for this area.

Windows on the south wing.

Scaffolding removed just before lunch

3:09 PM

After lunch the framers were planning on starting to lay the front porch.  I was searching on the internet for how to finish the floor when I came across some information I wanted to review with my builder.  We put the installation of the floor on hold for a few hours, but ultimately gave the framers the go ahead to start laying the floor.  The first board went down at 3:09 PM.  At the end of the work day, 5 PM, just 5 boards went down.  The story behind this front porch floor boards is probably a blog all by itself.  So let's revisit this aspect of the home separately.  More information to follow.                                                                         

5:00 PM

North Elevation at days end.

Staircase at days end.

By the end of the day, the staircase and attic window are framed, the siding on the north elevation is further along, and the back west wall is now decked, Tyveked, and 3 more windows installed on the second floor. Bead board on every ceiling porch is now installed. That includes, the pantry porch, the side porch, and the front porch.

West elevation at days end.

Pantry Porch ceiling

Tuesday, September 23

Tuesday morning

Tuesday brings a stark contrast to the activities from the day before....SILENCE.   But unlike some other days before this one, I've been sent a text from my builder letting me know that the framing crew is needed elsewhere today.  Today is a good day.  This works out fine for me personally.  Over the weekend Sherwin Williams had a 40% off paint sale so I took advantage and purchased over 20 containers of "Color To Go".  I spent the entire day before lunch painting samples of poster board with a cabinet foam roller.  The results were exciting.  Some colors were perfect to my vision, others surprisingly didn't work for where I thought they would, but did find a "home" in another area of the project.  Only 4 or 5 were total rejects.  It's really early to select paint colors in some respects, but for me it helps me support some of my other decisions down the road.  Decisions for brick selection, fireplace stone selection, etc.....not to mention at some point interior fabrics for draperies and furniture pieces.  I've been told by many, including my builder that most people don't plan this far ahead.  But for me, I want to enjoy the journey.  This would not be "fun" in my opinion if I received a 2 week "warning" to make a selection, which is for me "permanent".    Okay, nothing is "permanent", but it will cost time and money for a "do over".  So I like the time to focus when there isn't a deadline...yet. By addressing these issues "early" I am able to live with them for awhile before making a commitment.  It's amazing how you can look at the same picture in a magazine. At first look,  one focuses on the style, then you begin looking at lighting. Then you look at the lighting in the picture, then you're looking at paint, and you notice the baseboard(for example).  Then you are working on plumbing fixtures and you see chromes vs. antique bronze and the paint drops that best support these fixtures.  It's a lot of input.   Starting early is allowing me to enjoy the process.

After lunch, I drive out to the property and start to clean up the area.  Right now, it's safer to do this when the men are NOT working.  I like to do it, so that they have a clean space to work in, take lunch, and re stack material that might possibly be lost in a pile of debris.  Perhaps we'll save a dollar or two. Not to mention it is easier for the delivery of new materials.  I've been visiting other jobs sites all over the county and I'm amazed that the delivery men can find any "free" space to drop a huge pallet of new lumber at other sites.  The delivery men are happy when they see that you are keeping up with the "mess".  It makes there job easier, and if you can get the deliveries close to the building area it's easier on your subcontractors.

Let's talk windows.  The Marvin Integrity windows are what I specified for this job.  We have been installing them as we side the home.  So far, we have a few more left to install.  Left to install are: Attic garage, art room dormer, 3 arched dormers, and all the windows on the front porch.  I didn't realize that they would arrive at the job site boxed and shrink wrapped.  The packaging allows them to be a bit more protected than without the packaging, but it's still a job site.  My builder didn't want to wait on these windows long, but he also didn't want them "sitting around".  Marvin Integrity windows presently have a 2 week fabrication time frame and then allow for a week to work out the delivery.  I was able to request that Marvin's warehouse hold onto the screens until we are at the end of the house build. That is helpful. Really happy with the product.  We did save money by having some of the windows "mulled" together. It works in some applications, but not in all applications. I love the mill-work detail on the interior of a mulled window, and less impressed on the exterior look.

Windows left to install.  Protected in boxes

Close-up of packaging

Wednesday, September 24

Today was a quiet day, but very important.  The framers did not come by today.  But in reflection, I can see why.  The photo to the right shows another tradesmen installing the flashing today.  This has to be installed before the rest of the siding can be installed.  I was pleased to hear from them directly, that they liked the roof lines.  They thought all the roof lines were straight forward, easy to flash.  My interest was to find out if there were any areas that might pose future problems for water damage...of course much further down the road as the home ages.  But it was their professional opinion that it should not be an issue since the design of the roofs was so well done.  I can't take credit for the roof design.  I had it on the plans, but I gave my builder and his team full discretion on any redesign.  They did recommend changes, and I love all of their experience showing up on the home. Very very happy!

Brick arrives today.

The brick arrived today.  It won't be installed right away, but it's here.  It will be used for the piers under the front porch, the front porch stairs, the 1st floor exterior wall on the west elevation, and flooring for 3 of the porches. In keeping with the "period" home theme.  We chose  Used Old Chicago Antiques - Pinks. They are packaged from the Windy City of Chicago.  We can say we did our part to help Chicago by sending the order their way.  There are so many brick choices, After travelling the countryside there was no comparison to an legitimate old brick.  Because they are solid, they will also be suitable for exterior patio pavers.

Thursday, September 25

Siding goes up on the second floor.

The framers return today to get back to siding the home now that the flashing is installed.   It will take all day just to work on the area shown on the right. The 1st floor will be covered with the brick that arrived yesterday..........but later.

What struck me is that they measure each piece of siding.  I assumed that because the windows are a particular distance apart they would just cut a handful of boards at the same length and put them up.  But this crew measure, level, and fasten one piece at a time.  It does take longer, but think of it, the boards will be tighter, and less caulking will need to be applied for every piece that would have had some variance.

Level and square

Here they are marking the Tyvek so that the nailing is applied precisely over the one under it.  This was impressive to me.

Snapping a chalk line.

At the end of the day.

Friday, September 26

In the morning

The framers work on the south wall elevation.  It's a lot of cuts.  The soffits need to be done first before the siding can begin to run up to the top.  They will be at this all day, and still not finish until next week.

At the end of the day

Til next week.....