10/29 - Electricity

After 3 weeks of work (mostly weekends and nights) we finally have electric in the house. It will be nice to not have to use the generator anymore. Although, we are eternally grateful to Charlie and Lori for lending us their generator for 2 months.

We used a rented Ditch-Witch to trench 400ft from the house to the road, then put 3 inches of sand in the ditch, the electric wire and telephone wire were next, and then another 4-5 inches of sand all topped off with dirt. I was much relieved to pass the electrical inspection and once that was complete NYSEG 'energized' the lines. Now we just have to wire the rest of the house.

Kind of looks like a state job
Apparently the trencher takes some practice.

Laying the cable........thanks Andy!!

8/13 - Long over due update

Its been a slow month. We have been on vacation alot. Kristin's brother was in town several weeks ago and helped us with a bunch of projects. Most noteably are the stairs be built.

Front Steps:

Front Steps:

Porch Steps:

I also put in the breaker panel. We hope to have the electric service in by the first week in September

7/10 - What happened to all the action??

Sorry for the lack of post, but honestly not much has happened since the carpenters finished. Why you ask? Well our rental house was recently vacated and we have been focused on getting it ready for the new tenants. That should be complete in the next couple weeks.

We have done some layout for the electrical, but we still have not power yet. We have also done some rock moving. The excavators left us with a pile of nice big rocks. So when my Dad visited with his truck we fashioned a sled and moved them around. Below are some recent pictures.

Moving rock on a plywood sled

Eli and his buddy Max with the fire they built

6/24 - A few more pics

Now its time for us to get to work. First step is getting electrical service to the house. Then plumbing and electrical rough in. Fortunately, in Danby, the homeowner can do that themselves as long as its inspected.

View from porch through french doors into the living room

Asa on the deck

Eli in his future room.

6/24 - Carpenters are Done!!!

Again, sorry for the late update. I was traveling. The carpenters finished up this past week. As you can see the most noticeable part is the completed porch without screening. They also completed the cellar entrance.

Grey sitting on the front entry deck. Cellar entrance, to the left, is open.

Completed porch

6/14 - Porch, Windows, and Cellar Entrance

Sorry for the long delay in updating the blog. I was traveling for work again :(. The carpenters should be finishing up this week. A few windows need to be installed, deck flooring needs to be laid, and a couple punch list items remain. The excavator should be back to fix a couple things and then its all up to us.

Northwest side with cellar entrance in view
Northeast side

Soon to be screened in porch

Inside the porch

South facing windows

6/2 - Roofing

The metal roof installation is complete. It took 2 days due to some exacting requirements for flashing around the 3 sky lights and the stove chimney. We are hoping that means no leaks. :). Kent is saying he should be done in two weeks. Two major items are still outstanding: The windows, and the porch framing.

Eli and Asa (Memorial day hike)
House with roof!

5/28 - A few more Pictures

Looking out the basement windows.

View from loft balcony.
Eli, Asa, and Daddy checking out the loft landing.

5/28 - Video Post

Panoramic from roof

5/28 - Deck Framing & Entry way

Sorry for not posting in several days. I was traveling. I hope the extra pictures and the video make up for it.

Progress now is not as aparent as it was in the first weeks. Exterior sheeting is complete, the roof is decked,and sky lights are installed. The windows and doors should be here any day now. Framing of the deck is complete and the screened porch framing material (locally milled larch) has arrived. The flooring for the porch also be local Larch, but that has to be kiln dried to reduce shrinkage, so it is about 3 weeks out.

Looking east at entry way (w/o roof).

Looking NorthWest

5/21 - Grading and roof framing

The excavators finished the septic system and the site grading today. They also repaired the damage to the driveway caused by the heavy equipment. It is smooth once again. Framing continued with completion of wall sheathing and roof framing. We were hoping the roof would get decked today, but that will have to wait until next week.

Eli, Asa, and I (grey) are planning on spending the night at the tree house on Saturday.

Looking up from the living room to the second floor.

5/18 - Backfill

Not much has changed on the carpentry end. A couple new interior walls went up along with the floating balcony. Big news yesterday was back fill. Although the site still looks like a dirt pile, at least that dirt pile is neat. :) Septic tank was going in today but we did not make it to the site to see. Tomorrow the carpenters are back on the job.
All graded!!

Balcony.

Second floor

5/16 - Roof Rafters

The roof rafters went up on Friday. Most of the interior walls on the first floor are framed. Hoping to have a decked roof this week. Also the excavators are returning this week for back fill and grading.

5/12 Second Floor Work

View up into loft, Kristin and Grey's bedroom below with adjacent bathroom.
View out french doors (not installed) onto screened in porch (not built) :)

Despite the rain and cold the second floor loft is taking shape. Some sheathing is going on and the carpenters are talking about possibly having a roof by Friday. Seems optimistic to me. :)

5/10 - Quick update

We were up at the house all day on Saturday. Kristin was able to get an actual feel for the space which has led her to make several changes in the first floor layout. This will give us more room in the kitchen and some better trim options for the kitchen window. hThe carpenters will be implementing the changes today.

More pictures and updates on Wednesday since I am traveling this week.

5/6 First Floor walls complete

Kent and Trevor finished framing the first floor walls today. They are off tomorow, and will be back on Monday to continue. King Bros concrete will be back tomorrow morning to pour the basement floor and footers for the porch posts, then their work is done. Our first big check is being written to them......ouch!!

We are really excited since its actually starting to look like a house.

5/5 More Framing and basement work

Today the framers decked the first floor and stood up the north and south walls. The walls are not pictured since I left the job site before that happened. I took the day off from work and spent the day prepping the basement for Friday's pour. I placed a vapor barrier, 2 inches of rigid foam, steel re enforcing mesh, and PEX tubing (the red stuff). The PEX will be used to heat the concrete floor with water heated by the wood stove, sort of like a large heat sink.

5/4 Framing begins

Today the first lumber deliverly arrived and Garrision construction started the framing. Flooring framing was completed and it will be decked tomorrow. First mistake, I am sure there will be more, was noticed. Grey should not have insulated the concrete cellar entrance as we plan to use some of this area as a root cellar. Grey (I) will be fixing this tomorrow.

5/2 - Foundation Insulation

We did not go to the site at all on Saturday. The boys school had a May Faire and we had friends over for dinner. Today, however, we worked at the site most of the day. After King Bros stripped the forms on friday they applied a waterproofing, aka tar, to the outside of the foundation. We spent the day putting 2 inch rigid foam insulation over the tar. Not only does it protect the waterproofing, but it adds substantial insulation and a thermal break to the concrete walls. This makes the interior dry and warm. Our other scheduled job, prep the floor with insulation and a vapor barrier before pouring concrete over it, is postponed until later this week due to the possibility of rain

Our friend Andy and his son Mateo spent the day helping. All three boys assisted with bringing over sheets of foam and fresh tubes of glue when they weren't playing on the digger left by the excavators.