November 2011

When I first saw the back steps, I thought they were way too big.  I joked with my family that all five of us could get lounge chairs and lay out on the landing of the steps.  As it turns out, once the banisters were added, they are just right.  If you go out to the marsh and look back at the house (as my daughter is doing), they fit it very well.  Once again, they were on the plans but I had a hard time visualizing what they would look like.

It will be a brick house!

We have always loved the look of Savannah Grey bricks, but they have become extremely costly (up to $5 per brick).  So we went with the next best thing which is a copy called Ole Savannah for a fraction of the cost.  Since we ordered over 30,000 bricks, that is a good thing. There are a lot just on the front steps.  I LOVE the brick!  What a great choice we made.  Keep helping us make these choices, Lord.  We're counting on you!
Remain,
SEW blessed

Elevator

This is the newly insulated elevator shaft from the top floor down.  Looking forward to having one to carry clothes up and down to the laundry room for me!

October still

Well, our two large brand new water heaters were installed, as well as a recirculation pump to distribute hot water rapidly throughout the house.  This was a big decision and there were lots of disagreements over the advantages of tankless water heaters versus the traditional tanked.  Our builders wanted tankless, but our plumber and plumbing fixture dealer recommended against them.  The tankless are about $1500 each versus $400 or so for the traditional ones, so cost was a factor.  The final decision was made by a good friend and just-retired plumber who told us that he had been installing tankless for years and they were always needing maintenance.  He said the mother boards go out frequently and they don't last because it is the same principle as computers - though we were told they would be more economical over their life span, he said that was not the case because they never actually "lived" long.

Windows!

Now we have windows!  When I asked my builder why all the houses I go look at that are in the same stage of construction as ours have windows, he told me we were late getting the windows but they should go in.  They are all in and there was only one calamity.  When I walked into the master bathroom, the window "hole" was short and way above the tub.  I was not happy.  I pictured the windows going all the way down to the bathtub, and after thought and prayer, we decided to change it.  (In all fairness to the architect and builder, that was the way they were drawn on the plans, but I am not good at visualizing what things will actually look like when in place, and the plans only showed the window from the outside.) Unfortunately, the window folks said they couldn't trade them in (although they are a standard size window), so we are stuck with two very nice windows in the garage.  My friend said to just sell them on Craigslist!

Insulation and plumbing

Now the spray foam insulation is in all over the house.  It only took 2 days!  It seems to be going quickly.  Also, the plumbing and electricity is going in before the sheetrock goes up.  We had to do a walk-through with the electrician, builder, decorator, my husband, and me to decide where to have the outlets and switches placed.  Because of flood restrictions, we have to have the switches in the garage almost 6 feet off the floor.  I have always been vertically challenged so I hope I can reach them!

Walking through the rooms! (Sept. 2011)

OK, this is still in the midst of framing, but the roof is on (not shingles yet) and I love it.  We come out all the time and bring family and friends to wander through our walls!  I am so glad I have been documenting it all along because it changes all the time.  Next, the roof and insulation, then sheetrock.  Now we will really be able to see what the rooms look like.