Trim has been installed. The walls have been primed with their paint colors and our cabinets have been installed throughout the house. The tile floors have been started. All of the tile materials arrived yesterday and crew began installation. Also, if all goes well, we will be moving in sometime next month! We are excited about that…
Earlier this week, we marked the three month mark for our home build. I spent much of the day sitting on the new screened porch – just enjoying the breeze. The day before, I attended my Granny’s funeral. The past month has been extremely emotional and trying as she has struggled and ultimately passed on. I have been fortunate in my life not to have lost many of my family members during my (soon to be) 30 years. So, while I was surrounded by an amazing new home that has moved from a dream, to paper, to being built, the time has been bittersweet.
It is very amazing how much has happened with the house in just three short months. The lot was cleared in early July and then footings were dug and poured on July 13 and 15. Since that time, we have an actual house on site. At the last draw (a couple weeks ago), we were an estimated 60% completed on the house. Today, I would personally estimate that we are closer to 70% complete.
Inside the house, we have finish carpentry going in – crown molding, baseboard, interior doors and door trim throughout in preparation for the painters to come in next week. Our cabinets have arrived from the factory and should be installed in the coming week. Outside, our front door has arrived and been installed. The siding around the front door (the very last section) has been completed and our shutters have been installed. On the outside, the only things I see left are finish electrical, steps and painting some of the trim around the porches.
A lot of progress on the house – will just be a brief post (see why here) – but siding is done; insulation was installed; drywall is installed and has been finished – ceiling were sprayed and finished; the screen porch was installed; doors are all in, except for the front door.
Its been a difficult couple of weeks personally and this is a very difficult post to write, but I know many of Jen’s extended family catch up with us here, so I wanted to let everyone know what is going on.
A little over two weeks ago, my Granny was put into the hospital due to nausea and vomiting. She was diagnosed with a blockage in her small intestines and she stayed in the hospital for almost two weeks while they pumped her stomach and gave her IV fluids in hopes that the blockage would correct itself. Late last week, they decided that the blockage was not going to reverse itself on its own and so that only left surgery as the last resort. Unfortunately, she was not strong enough for surgery.
The family made the decision to bring in Hospice care and bring her home to live her last days. While she’s still with us, she is not herself at this point and she had deteriorated fast over the past 5 days. She is not receiving any nourishment at this time. She has been constantly surrounded by her children and their spouses, grandchildren, extended-family and friends during this time. Everyone has tried to make her comfortable and say goodbye. This is an incredibly difficult time for me and all the family. Please keep us in your prayers.
This week in updates, we have had a lot of progress not only outside but inside, too. On the outside, the roofers have completed our roof. It looks great and we can now imagine how it will look next to the green siding. Also, the foundation got its finish this week and it looks great (picture below).
Inside, there is a lot of progress. The electricians began their rough-in and completed it this week. HVAC rough-in was started and almost complete. We expect the air handler to be installed in the ceiling today. All of the duct work was installed and some of the returns were installed last week.
I had a good conversation with the builder last Thursday. They are expecting structured wiring, security and HVAC rough-ins to be complete and an inspection to occur on Wednesday. After that — drywall. We are also expecting vinyl siding to be installed this week. The roofing crew was getting preliminary measurements as they finished up the roof on Wednesday. So we expect the job site to be “stocked” with new materials mid-week and alot more progress after that. Sometime next week, drywall may be complete. I expect that will take us well over the 50% completed threshold! So, it is exciting and everything continues to move much faster than expected.
Unfortunately, updates on the site have slowed. I have been a little under the weather, but I have a batch of photos and a quick update of the progress from this week.
Early in the week, the house was wrapped with vapor barrier and the roof was completed and felt was laid on the roof. The windows were delivered and put into the openings on the house on Tuesday. Later in the week, they fully installed the windows. Shingles were delivered on Thursday and are sitting on the top of the roof. It has been raining today, so guessing that shingles will be laid next week after everything dries out. Also, the main support posts were installed for the porches this week.
On the inside, the plumbing rough-in was completed this week. Electrical boxes and the main power panel in the house have been put into place. The reset of the electrical rough-in will be completed this week, too. Some areas (like behind the fireplace and behind the tub/shower inserts) were insulated.
This week has proved to be another exciting and progress-filled week with our house. Thursday marks the beginning of five weeks of our build and the progress made is nothing short of amazing. We know that things will begin to slow down and visible changes won’t make the kind of “wow” impact that the past five weeks have had, so we are certainly enjoying the “wow” as it comes…
As I blogged earlier, Tuesday began the process of putting the trusses onto the house. Thursday continued that work and as of today, we have most of the sheeting installed and the framers are working on the last piece of framing — the front dormer. I spoke with the on-site guy today while I was there and he estimates that 95% of our roof will be completed by the end of the day.
And, as a side note, its extremely hot right now in South Carolina. The crew was not working on top of the house when I went by around 1pm — they were working inside instead — but even not in direct sunlight, it was really hot outside. Even standing by and not really working, you just pour sweat. But, the good news is the humidity isn’t awful, like it can be sometimes here. Fortunately, everyone is trying to be safe about the progress.
The felt will be laid and the roof will be prepped for shingles next week. Shortly after that, I expect the house to be fully dried in… So, lots of progress for us.
