New House Progress Report #4

Here are some pictures from this week. They've made some good progress, and I'm guessing by next week there should be some walls up. Hopefully they'll be able to accommodate my latest change request... I noticed on the plan this week that there is only one window on the front facing garage wall, which seemed a little odd. I drove around for a while on Saturday looking at houses, and I couldn't find one house with only one window on the garage wall. I sent a note to the builder to see if we can add another window, but I'll be surprised if it happens. 

March 16, 2013 - Deer all over the place. We see them almost every time we are out there. 

March 15, 2013 - Since the last update, they've filled in the areas around the footings and flattened out the dirt in the front and back yard.

March 15, 2013 - They also poured the garage floor. 

March 16, 2013 - They framed the floor joists on Saturday morning. I didn't get out there until lunch time and they had already finished. I guess I'll have to start getting out there earlier on the weekends. 

March 16, 2013 - Somebody left a jacket.

New House Progress Report #3

So it seems things are moving fast enough that posting monthly will leave a lot of stuff out, so I'll just post whenever I have some new pictures. They finished the foundation wall in a day or so, and I'm guessing they'll start framing by the end of the week.

March 11, 2013 - Lindsay supervising the crew. We went out there around lunch time and about 10 guys were sitting around talking. As soon as we got out of the car with camera in hand they all got up and started working again... interesting. 

March 12, 2013 - I was walking around the woods and found this... Someone's been hunting deer on our land! Maybe I'll use it to do some undercover supervision of the crew. 

March 12, 2013 - It rained all morning, so I don't think they did anything today, but I got to see where they left off Monday. I think they are finished with all the walls. There is supposed to be stone around all the columns for the porch, but I think the cinder blocks look great, so maybe I'll tell them not to worry about it, save a few bucks... ;)~

March 12, 2013 - What are they thinking parking that monstrosity in front of my lamp post shot?!? It's bad enough I have to stand next to the port-a-potty to take this picture.

New House Progress Report #2

Well, nothing else happened in February, but it looks like things are about to take off. This past week the weather finally cooperated so they could dig and pour the foundation. They still have to do the posts and foundation walls, but the footings have been poured. Framing could potentially start next week! Here are a few pictures:

February 7, 2013 - This is where we left off last time, and it stayed this way for a good month. I probably made 8+ trips out there during this time hoping for some progress but there was none.

March 7, 2013 - After a few rainy weeks, it finally calmed down enough to dig the footings. I didn't get any action shots, but since they had already finished for the day I got to walk around and do some inspection. In this picture you can see the footings that will hold the columns for the side porch.

March 9, 2013 - Me and Linz went out to the site on the 8th, but they had not poured the concrete yet. There was a crew there waiting for the truck to show, but I had to get back to work. I drove out this morning and got to see the results of the pour. In this picture, the breakfast room is to the left, the master is front center, and the outline of the garage to the right.

March 9, 2013 - Lamp post shot. One day there will be a house back there, and maybe a wardrobe to  Narnia.

New House Progress Report #1

As most of you know by now, Linz and I are building a new house. We knew we wanted to build, but we had a hard time finding available land in Raleigh that was in a neighborhood. Most new land around here is either right off a busy road, or just a one street cul-de-sac off a busy road with a few houses. We finally stumbled across George's Grant, which is a new development that ties into an established neighborhood. We've decided on building a pretty traditional house, with some neat touches like a wrap-around porch and stone chimney.  Here is the basic idea:

We've had plenty of meetings where we've discussed room layout and design ideas, but none of that seemed like we had really started. This week they began clearing the land, so now it seems like we are really moving forward. I figure that's a good time to start posting some pictures on the blog.

Jan 24, 2013 - Here is the "before" shot. We've gotten used to this view over the past few months, but I guess it's the last time we'll see it. There are only two lots in our cul-de-sac. The other family is pretty much on the same timeline as we are, so neither of us will have to deal with construction once we move in. The next closest house is a couple 100 yards away, so we'll be pretty secluded.

Jan 29, 2013 - This wound up being the last day before they started knocking down trees. Mom and Dad were in town doing some of their own house hunting, and we stopped by the lot.

Jan 30, 2013 - Day one of tree removal. Not a very exciting process to document, but I was excited to see progress. I watched the "action" for about 15 minutes on my lunch break.

Jan 31, 2013 - Day two of tree removal. I think it only took them 2 days, because the next day they were working on the neighbors yard. 

Feb 1, 2013 - By the time I got there, they had roughed out the driveway and started working on clearing the trees on the neighbors lot. It takes me 15 minutes to get to the lot from work, so I'm guessing my lunch breaks from here on out are gonna be a little longer...

Blowing Rock 2012

Location:Blowing Rock, NC

Southern Living Idea House 2012

We ventured out to see the Southern Living Idea house today... turned out to not be such a great idea. It was closed, but we got to peek in a few windows. Here are a few teaser shots before the magazine hits the shelves:

















Before we turned the corner and saw the "closed" sign.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Senoia, GA

Back yard flowers

Hydrangeas, day lilies, blueberries and impatiens --