Our Own World Series: Framers on 3rd, Plumbers on 2nd, HVAC on 1st!

While I was gone, October 9-12

Pocket door frame installed in Scullery

They must of had 14 men working each day when I was away watching my youngest graduate and leave for Japan. They got an amazing amount of work done, in what I felt was such a short time. This included, installing all 6 pocket door frames, framing the firebox and fireplace in the Gathering Room and Screen Porch. 

Framed firebox in Gathering Room

Framed fireplace in Screen Porch

Last window installed

Installed the last window into the Master Shower.  It will be a fixed tempered glass window, just to let some light into the shower.

Backyard Pergola top is up.

The pergola went up, and built just as planned.  However, when I returned I was told the round columns that were specified to be used to support it would not work. So, they are still in the garage. The builder wanted to wait until I returned to discuss the options that might be available to work out the issues.  The issue was making sure that this did not have any side movement.  The winds can be very strong here on the lake and the builder wanted to build it more secure than designed.  This will take days in the upcoming week to resolve.  It is a work in progress.

Front Porch IPE floor completed!

The very difficult, harder, than hard, dense front porch was completed.  It's funny, as I wrote the previous sentence I was thinking that my parents sometimes referred to me that way, lol.  But it is beautiful, will age gracefully, hold up under a lot of wear and tear, and that is also true for me as well.  The columns were set too.  Not quite the way I had thought they would, but it's such a small detail.  In looking at architectural drawings and driving around looking at old residences, I noticed that the columns cap projected in front of the soffit, ever so slightly.  This allowed the column to be centered under the soffit equally.  But as my builder pointed out, it does make it subject to weather doing it that way, so it his standard to set it just behind the front trim board(see detail at right).  I can see his point, and not having a detail drawing included on the construction drawings it was a little late now to have this discussion.  Afterall, this is only something that I will notice, and perhaps any reader here that drops by for a visit.  And I, not being accustomed to the weather in these parts, I am not going to argue with my builder who is from around here, and DOES know the weather, the materials, and is no less detailed than I am.  I trust him on this one.

Tip: If a detail of your custom home is important to you, have it drawn up and go over it with your builder before you get to that part of the construction.  No one can be on the jobsite every minute, and all tradesmen have there "tried and true" ways of doing things.  Don't assume they are building your home the way you dreamed it up.  And DO be open to their suggestions, their way may just be better in the long run.  Talk about it.

Trim over the arch dormers completed

They were working on the trim over the dormers as I was leaving Wednesday.  This was not easy becasue I had specified "smooth" siding.  You typically see homes built with the textured siding.  So when it came to doing the trim around the arch, they had to fiquire out what lind of material could be used that would be smooth.  There is a rubber product available but it has to be fabricated and there is a wait time for it to be made and shipped.  The builder is anxious to get this house roofed so he wanted to find something to use more readily available. They went with a smooth plywood.  A special name to it, that I don't recall offhand.  Then it needed to be cut with a jigsaw, and maybe finished off with a sander.  Anyway, the results look great, and can't wait to see it painted up.

What I saw when I returned to the jobsite after being away for just 5 days!

Early Monday morning it started to rain.  It rained 6-8" in just one day.  The framers know first hand this is not a job site that you can get too in a hard rain, so they didn't get back onto the job until Wednesday.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Column centered

Column not centered

The footings for the columns came out just right on the center four columns, but there will be some adjustments made to each footing on each end of the front porch.  My builder said he had framers, and masons out working on the resolution.  They have it fiquired out now, and it will just take some man power and tools to make the corrections.  It sounds like a good remedy, I'll keep you posted.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Screen Porch Walls finished!

Trimming the windows on Screen Porch

I'm sure the framers are tired of the 4" exposure siding.  But instead of overlapping it horizontally, I suggested that we embrace the seams, and go vertical.  By using random widths of fiber cement board we created a paneled look.  This look is perfect for the period home I'm after.

Won't hit your head Brian, Peter and Kevin!

Foyer Arch

There is only one arched opening in the home, and it's in the foyer to mimic the front door.(pic. left) Yesterday I was asked if I wanted adjustments made to the stairwell or move an entire wall on the second floor. Since headroom was the issue we went with an angle change in the stairwell instead of moving walls.(pic.right)

Look no holes!

Let's make a hole.

We're in the home stretch now.  It's all the little stuff, but still all important. Like attic pull down ladders, and this attic lift, so that you don't have to use a pull down ladder.  We saw this installed at several homes that we visited while making a selection of which builder to use.

Almost big enough.

A peek at what it looks like tomorrow.

We were lucky. The builder, framer, and I selected the location while on the second floor. The builder made some quick calls to the garage contractor to make sure the garage appliances would clear the hole we just made.  It did!!!! Now that's a close call!.

Friday, October 17, 2014

What a busy day today!  The builder, the framers, the painters are here,  and the clean up crew for the very first time since we broke ground are all here!  Okay, not me, another crew, that can actually take this stuff away from here.

I worry about those bare fingers.

Before/After

The painters are working with a crew of three.  They will be applying 50 year caulking to everything that needs it.  Some weeks back I didn't think we needed to caulk under each siding board, but the painter showed me why it would look better.  Just like my builder, I am being introduced to yet another contractor that is focused on the details.  How can you complain about that?  So the painters try to find a side of the house that isn't covered with another trade.  They had hoped that the framers would be done and gone by now.  I think everyone was thing that, even the framers, but we keep finding more "little" things that need to be taken care of before they can leave.

There's a hole in our roof, dear Liza, dear Liza.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Framers, and painters working today!  And more holes being made in the framers work!  This time we need some chimney stacks.  So they are finally cutting holes in the roof decking to make way for the fireplace chimneys! Yay!

The clean up crew also returns today, since my precinct has trash drop off today.

Monday, October 20, 2014

This is just part of several steps that will be required to correct the offset of the end columns on the front porch.  This is only the second attempt.  It will go through a third revision before our builder is satisfied with the result.

The framers have finished the blocking for the fireplaces but now need to wait on more material to finish siding them. Also waiting on the material to resolve the pergola supports. So they will not come back to the job tomorrow, but be back on Wednesday.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

The builder schedules a walk through for the HVAC today. I have a dentist appointment 2 hours away, and then a tile showroom to visit 30 mins east of that before returning home.  I also neglected to refuel the gas tank in all the running around.  Thank you AAA for the gas on I635. I have updating of the plans to do back at the apartment in preparation for an onsite meeting tomorrow.  I'm up til 3AM to finish.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Today the builder has scheduled a walk through with the cabinet maker.  The framers and painters are on site, but I am not aware of what they are doing. A crew doing the last bit of flashing around the chimney stacks is also onsite. The cabinet meeting goes from 10:30 - 3:30PM.  A lot of things are discussed.  I finished updating all the building conditions, the appliance changes, and other items that will impact the cabinetmaker's efforts.  However, there is another mistake in the selection of appliances from the salesperson I was working with, as well as a change in wall locations after framing.  Although the framing change is only 4 1/2", it makes a big difference in plumbing fixture selections.  By the day's end we all know that more revisions will be needed.  The cabinet maker will go back to his office to draw up designs.  Since I am a kitchen designer, I'm determined to find a resolution myself as well.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

I slept in today just trying to catch up on the lost sleep from Wednesday morning.  So I miss the walk through with the plumbers and the builder today.  But the builder calls me to give me an update, and what I still need to give to the plumber.  I come by later with some materials and additional drawings and cut sheets to assist the plumber.  He let's me know of what he still needs in the tub room.  Fortunately I have an appointment at the showroom tomorrow.

Today at 2PM the framers say their goodbyes....they have finished everything on their list.  I have spent more time with the framers, than my builder, and my husband COMBINED!  It was like saying good bye to family.  I entrusted them to build this dream that was drawn on paper, and they gave it life. They gave it life, with thoughtfulness, care, and skill!  I thank my builder for making great choices even before I had to.  Thank you.  The foundation is extremely important, and that includes the slab AND the framing.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Laying out ductwork

Lot's of progress today as well.  But much of it off site.  A visit to the plumbing showroom to resolve the tub room issues, and another appointment with an entirely different company to resolve the appliances for the 3rd, and hopefully final time.  

I return to the job site in hopes to give the plumber the new and additional cut sheets for fixtures, but they have already left. To my surprise the HVAC people have come by  to start their work.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

The HVAC crew is back working  today. My husband and I water some trees we are trying to save through the building turmoil and then it's off to the Pepper Festival. Time to get away and get some R&R.

I'll be back on Monday!

Family and Framers

Monday, September 29

South side

Three framers return today to install siding, and siding, and more siding.  The joke on site is that they might want to wait awhile before taking on another custom home that includes a siding job. My thought, is that it will be remote to find someone who will specify the 4" exposure again. So they are probably safe from working on another job like this too soon.  I'm in love with it, it does have that uncommon look that is already getting positive compliments while I'm on the job site so that is really making me happy.  The south side of the main house was finally sided by lunch time.  After lunch they tackle the back south wing. 

Siding the back south wing

5:19 PM done!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Another delivery!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

The columns arrive today!  So excited!  The front porch floor still isn't finished. However, if the materials can be stored and protected, it's better to have materials on site early instead of waiting for materials to arrive when you need them.  

Tuesday, September 30   

Our new front door

I took some time off in the morning.  So many people tell me I don't have to be there every moment.  They are right, however, you never really know when it is that you might be able to answer a quick question from a contractor, or your builder when he's on site, and/or see something that needs to be changed. Being on top of it saves everyone time, labor, and helps the budget stay in line. So for the first time in a long while I take part of the morning off with a bit of hesitation. 

When I arrive, the front door has already been installed.  It looks great to me.  They are now working on installing the four front windows. 

The trim, then siding begin to be installed.

The windows and front door all have the same rough opening height.  It was important to me that all the openings be inline with each other. The framers set the windows and doors correctly, but later on, as I see the siding installed it will become an issue for me.   Two men stay on, siding the front porch wall, while the other goes off to work on siding the garage.

North Elevation

        

Another team is working on finishing the siding on the second story north elevation of the main house.  They'll finish this part today.  

Finishing up siding on garage wall

I was pleased when my builder suggested to the men that they hold up on siding around the front door elliptical with a skill saw. Tomorrow they will complete the siding in this area with a jigsaw.  A far better tool for this part of the job. The siding is a fiber cement board.  Cutting curves into it is not that easy.              

Siding around the front door

 Wednesday, October 1

They add the large James Hardie board siding to the soffits on the front porch today.  This has to be done before the columns can be installed.  Now I understand the bracing that was installed in this area.  It was installed so that the men had a place to nail these soffit boards to.  Despite doing all 15 pages of construction drawings myself, I did not go into detailed drawings of trim for the exterior and interior.  In fact, I stated in my construction drawings that the builder would have freedom to add his judgement here.

If you do purchase construction drawings from an architect, or through an architectural plan site online, one thing I would recommend is making sure there are details of trim for windows, as well as interior and exterior casings included. 

As a kitchen designer I drew up my own details for molding trim for upper cabinets. Once I had done the work for several looks, I merely included them in my customer's cabinet package. I did this because I wanted to have certain price packages available for my client to review BEFORE I made a presentation to them.  I neglected this step on my own construction drawings because I didn't know what the costs would be, and you must be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.  

Trim can range from simple to elaborate.  I was afraid that I would draw something too elaborate or unfamiliar to my builder.  Instead I went to look at his work and saw the trimwork that he did, and was confident that he would have a plan. That plan would be included in his overall budget proposal. When you want something specific you really have to ask for it, and draw it up so both you and your builder know what your expectations are.  

When dealing with a large House Plan company they most probably have details that your builder can use.  It would assist him a great deal if you had this information spelled out in the beginning.  My builder can't read my mind, and when I saw the trim around this home's exterior windows was "simple" he said that's the way it's done.  I spent the weekend road trip hanging out the car window looking at every cased window from here to Baton Rouge Louisiana.  He is right, on the majority of homes, but I did find a few with a bit more going on.  But since it's not on my drawings, how was he suppose to know.  Not his fault. Fortunately I know my builder excels in trim work, and we've discussed it and we will reach some decisions later on down the road.

Team 2 on Art Room Dormer

Finishing up interior of porch soffit

Porch Wall Trimmed and Sided at days end

 Thursday, October 2

The arched windows from Marvin are
going to be installed today.

Two men work on finishing up the soffit work on the
exterior of the front porch

The siding on the west elevation of the garage has been going on for sometime this morning.  They had to install the window first. It had been overlooked when all the other windows were installed weeks ago.  So the bracing had been taken down to work somewhere else, and today they had to rebuild the bracing to finish this side of the home.  If you look closely you can see they are just 2 - 3 boards from completing the whole wall.  But it's lunch time and they will be back in an hour to finish it.  They set their smart phone alarms to be sure of it!  It's funny to hear, once an hour goes by, all the "D>R>O>I>D" alarms start going off.

All 3 Dormer windows on the Main House installed.

 Friday, October 3

Garage Attic Dormer

Taping the window once it's installed

As the men worked on this one, I teased them about it not being the original 9 foot high wall they had once lifted, but remember I told them to take it down.  After doing all this siding throughout the whole house, I said, " Aren't you glad it's not that 9 foot wall you had up there before?"

Siding almost done on this one!

Checking before calling it finished

They all laughed, with some translation. The same is true for the art room dormer. Now that they are siding the whole house I think they like these much smaller shed dormers a whole lot better.

Okay, we have this one done!

Rough wiring for Screen Porch

Future Porch Lantern Exterior Screen Porch

                                                                                                                                                                

The men can't add siding to the exterior or the interior of the screen porch until some electrical wiring gets installed later in the afternoon.  Once the ceiling goes in it would not be possible to install the recessed lighting for the room.  I'm also adding some all weather electric receptacles so that if we wanted to put a small table lamp in the seating area we could do that.  Also have a ceiling fan selected for this room.

Today I have to leave the job site early so I can gather up my groceries for tomorrow's Oktoberfest in the neighborhood.  All the sons and their families are coming to join us. It will be our first get together with everyone present since May!  We will be so excited to do a walk through with them. The framers have been great to take down some of the interior bracing and cut some boards on the stairwell to make it safer for when the family walks through.  Did I tell you how great these contractors are......of course I have!

Monday, October 6

Rain day....no one at work.   But I still head out to the jobsite, because the pocket door frames (wood) are left outside and need to be brought in under cover.  Last Friday, when another delivery arrived I requested that the James Hardie siding be brought back to the back of the job site, near the screen porch where they needed it. The framers appreciated it.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see the whole process through because my banker showed up at the same time, and asked for a walk through. Who knew that the lumber delivery guy would deliver ALL the contents to the backyard, including the door frames, and pine beadboard ceiling.  Lesson learned!

Tuesday, October 7

The rain day wasn't all bad.  It gave me time to cook all day in preparation for today!

Our Thank you Luncheon

I've been wanting to throw the luncheon for these men soon after they started this job.  I have been so impressed with them.  The framing is so important, not just because of the obvious like getting the room size right, but everyone after them depends on their workmanship.  The sheet-rock, the trim, the flooring(upstairs), the roofers.  I  have one friend that is having problems installing window treatments after her new custom home was finished because the windows were not installed square.  No, these guys deserved lunch!

Susan Spicer's Jalapeno Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches
served with Spicy Creole Mustard, and Pickled Slaw on Ciabatta Rolls
Green Rice (Poblanos and Cilantro)
Mississippi Mud Cake
Soft Drinks

The house at the end of the day

Sound asleep

The dog catcher has been unable to catch these two. They showed up on our lot last Thursday. They were sunning themselves in the morning in front of the breakfast room.  As soon as lunch was over, they moved to the pavillion.  I had to put up the crock-pot of pulled pork and the remaining Mississippi Mud cake in a locked room on site and keep the crock-pot plugged in.  The dogs saw where I had gone with the food, needless to say they could follow the scent. When I returned 4 hours later to retrieve the food, they were there sound asleep, didn't hear me at all until I clicked the lock.  I got the dessert into the car with them barking, nipping and jumping at me.  I decided I couldn't get to the car safely with the meat unless I got some help.  Fortunately, one of the crew came to my aid and chased them away (continually) until I got the hot pot into the car.  These dogs were hungry and I was sure they would put up a fight for it.  It was tasty after all.

Wednesday, October 8

Siding the screen porch

Okay, today was crazy! 14 framers on site! Yesterday there were suppose to be 14 men on site, but there were 7. I haven't seen this many men on site in a long time so there were things going on everywhere! In the attic garage, a door frame and walls, floor decking. In the main house second floor, closet walls and decking, and ceilings going in over the stairwell. Decisions to be made on ceilings in the guest room and stairwell. Screen porch ceiling completed, but oops where is the framing for the fireplace? They'll fix that. Siding the exterior of the screen porch, and decisions on how to trim out the screen windows on the screen porch.

And then there was the front porch floor.  The head framer hadn't been back to tackle this since September 22.  He said he had nightmares at night just dreaming of how hard it was to deal with. More bits were breaking today.  They were going through boxes of screws and were running out. When my builder came by we walked through and discussed many things. But the one most helpful was for the head framer. My builder had an excellent recommendation of using 2 drill bits. It would take a bit more time, but it would most probably eliminate the broken bits, and slow down the stripping of screws.  We went on with our walk through and later checked on his progress. The head framer was making GREAT progress!  I suspect he will be able to sleep better tonight, but they do need another 12 boxes of screws, at $20 /box  ouch!

IPE also known as Ironwood from Brazil is a VERY strong wood. It's so dense that it will sink in water.  I chose it for several reasons, impervious to termites, doesn't shrink like other woods, and has a beautiful rich red tone when treated. You can't paint it, it will chip, you can't stain it, it's too dense of a wood to absorb it. However, it isn't maintenance free, because you do have to seal it with either an oil or a shellac.  But using a shellac will bring out more of it's natural green tones. The builder will do up some samples of different finishes with some of the scrapes to test before we decide on what product to use.

I headed out at 4:30 today.  I needed to get a head start on my travels to Oklahoma tomorrow.

Thursday, October 9

The framers are sure to be there today, but I'm not.  The first day I have ever not been on site, when anyone has been working there.  But today is a big day.  

My husband an I are up at 5AM and out the door by 6:06AM to travel to see my youngest son, 2nd Lt graduate with honors from BOLC (his officer learning course) this morning and I wanted to be there. There were a total of 44 classmates, and 11 made honors.  He was one of the 11! The class ranged in age from 22-33 years old.  It was an awesome day! A change of pace that I'm sure I needed.  Afterall, we are building this home to enjoy family and their families.  What good is it if you don't enjoy the "now".

Friday, October 10

Today I'm not on the job site either, but rather sitting in an airport saying good bye to my freshly graduated son.  He is heading to his deployment for 3 years!  He is off to Japan. Did you know that less then 1% of our country volunteers for service, some suggest that it is somewhere closer to  1/2%. I was unaware that it was such a small percentage.  

He won't see the house finished except through these posts.  Please pray for his safety and safe return when ever that might be.  We are so PROUD of you son.  Love, Mom

It has been a stressful week for me personally, but I know I have everyone working hard back at the job site and their support, so I have something to look forward to.

I'm looking forward to what the framers have done in my absence, aren't you?