December 2012 - More Progress!

Someone once questioned why I spent so much time at the site and asked if I was swinging a hammer myself.  Doesn’t seem like people understand exactly how involved we are with this build.  To clarify, I am the General Contractor for the project.  Which means every decision and every individual trade I’m responsible for researching and hiring.  It’s far more involved than just picking out the maple or cherry cupboards from the builders standard selection for the predetermined kitchen layout.  Hiring trades – not just the major plumbing, electrical, and HVAC – but also insulation, drywall, painting, backframing, trim carpentry, even welders.  Working through scheduling.  Arranging for materials delivery and being there to receive it (and find a place for it!).  Picking out lighting, cabinets, flooring, tiles, baseboards, plumbing.  Getting the right folks to troubleshoot a leaky roof and cracked septic pipes.  Chief accountant and bill payer.  Not that we would have it any other way, but it’s much more involved than some seem to appreciate.  Many long days and late nights researching online, sending emails or making phone calls.  So thankful I am able to take time off work and make these personal decisions.  This is a full-time job, and then some! 

 

December was a real turn-around seeing walls go up and rooms taking shape.  We passed our inspection with Ken from the Township, who has been a huge help from Day 1. 

 

 

 

Chimney was installed for the woodstove, taking a sliver out of our bedroom closet but gaining a linen closet in the end.  

 

 

 

Insulation was blown in all the walls.  

 

 

 

Then finally we could have the heat turned on!  A few hiccups with the loaner furnace took about a week to sort out, but eventually all worked out.  The furnace is temporary until the drywall – and all associated dust! – is finished.  And with heat came plumbing and a flushing toilet! 

 

 

Woo-hoo!  BEST Christmas present EVER!

 

Pierre from Bill’s crew came and did the back-framing (which means framing that goes around all the ductwork).  

 

 

Drywall delivered (with a big crane!) and installed by Roger & Randy. 

 

 

 

 

Kitchen appliances were delivered and are stored in the basement, and we bought a cash & carry washer & dryer on sale at Home Depot – thank goodness for our 2 little SUV’s!  More lighting fixtures bought – found a great fixture for the closet at the Habitat ReStore.   And gallons and gallons of paint.  We needed 16 gallons of primer alone!

It was discovered that our little toilet room within the main bathroom is mighty tight.  Guess I just trusted that the toilet room was actually designed large enough for a toilet…  More online research to find an alternative.  Ibby had to return the toilet he bought and get another 2” shorter.  We’ll also likely modify the door to be swinging “saloon style” doors.  It truly is coming down to a matter of inches, and size matters! 

 

My man Tony came to look at the bathroom and tilework, and of course had a great idea for revising the shower entrance area.  Which meant in a perfect world, a different vanity would look better.  Thank goodness I must live in a perfect world, because production hadn’t yet started so we were able to revise that.  It was quite a scramble Christmas Eve Day and a few sheets of drywall had to be taken down to revise both the plumbing and lighting.  Tony also helped pick out tile for both the kitchen and bathroom – we laid them out on the back of his pick-up truck. 

 

 

 

Once the tile was picked out, we were then able to pick out our countertops for both kitchen and bath. 

 

On the home front, we had a quiet Christmas with Jaime.  We needed a break!  He was happy to receive the latest superhero action figures, and he loved Dad’s pancake brunch and turkey dinner.  Jaime’s house also hosted a nice family Christmas dinner for everyone earlier in the month.  On Boxing Day we were able to visit Ibby’s Uncle Lou & Aunt Fran who had moved into a retirement complex this summer.  Traditionally we have spent the past few New Year’s up at the cottage around a bonfire, but since we didn’t want to sleep on plywood floors and stumble down to the toilet in the basement we stayed at the condo.  Saw Les Miserables with Ibby’s Aunts Helen & Marion (it was excellent!) then back to Uncle Frank & Marion’s for good conversation.

 

Needless to say, Christmas cards just didn’t happen this year, so please consider this lengthy blog as our substitute Christmas letter!  May 2013 hold good things for everyone!