Today I decided to get a little ambitious and have a go at installing a privacy fence for our back yard. This is the first fence I have installed and I think it came out quite nice and PERFECTLY level! Here are the pictures.
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing a privacy fence with gate
Installing exterior window trim
Installing exterior window trim
Installing exterior window trim
Installing exterior window trim
Installing exterior window trim
Installing exterior window trim
Installing exterior window trim
We also decided to add sidewalks before we purchased sod. They came out very very nice. A concrete man and myself laid them down yesterday. Here are the photos.
installing curved sidewalks
installing curved sidewalks
installing curved sidewalks
installing curved sidewalks
installing curved sidewalks
installing curved sidewalks
installing curved sidewalks
installing curved sidewalks
installing curved sidewalks
installing curved sidewalks
Well, its been a while since the last post but I hope to keep up on the blog from now on for all of you. This week in memory of my grandfathers passing I painted the front door of our house red and added some fancy hardware. Here are some of the pictures. I still think it needs some more clear coat, but that will get done soon!
painting front door red
painting front door red
painting front door red
Its been a while since my last post… We’ve been BUSY! We purchased almost all of our great room / dining / common area furniture. We are about 90% done with the great room. We still have artwork, pictures, and all of the accessories left to hang and place.
The hardwood floors came out beautiful. This is because I laid about 80% of them my self. I utilized a floating method with a very expensive waterproof under-layment pad. It ensures a silent floor (no crackle when you step on it) I glued each groove of each board by hand and then laid the floor. We had a tiny bit of swelling at the tongue and groove from the small amount of glue applied. This will dissipate after some time goes by. All in all, the floor came out beautiful and compliments the house perfectly. More photos to come!
EKTORP: Chase Lounge ::: Purchased from IKEA
Sitting Area
EKTORP: Three Seater Couch ::: Purchased from IKEA
Sitting area... Chelsea absolutely LOVED this chair. I had to get it for her!
EKTORP: Three Seater Couch ::: Purchased from IKEA
Great Room
Great Room
Great Room
Great Room
My Main Man... Noah
Dining Nook (and, the computer I use to make the posts)
Stainless Steel kitchen appliances, black granite countertops, subway tile
Exterior of home
Stainless Steel kitchen appliances, black granite countertops, subway tile
Stainless Steel kitchen appliances, black granite countertops, subway tile
Stainless Steel kitchen appliances, black granite countertops, subway tile
Stainless Steel kitchen appliances, black granite countertops, subway tile
Stainless steel sink with American Standard faucet shown
Stainless steel sink with American Standard faucet shown
Stainless Steel whirlpool dishwasher shown
Wine / Coffee bar shown complete
Whirlpool side by side stainless steel 25 cu/ft refrigerator
Granite bar shown
Looking from rear of home to side yard
Carpet arrival
Carpet pad shown
Carpet installation begins
Carpet installation begins
Carpet installation begins
We started to clean the house to get ready for the move in. Our stainless steel appliances are finally installed. I will take better photos tomorrow. I am very tired and going to bed 
Stainless Steel Kitchen
Stainless Steel Kitchen
Stainless Steel Kitchen
Our driveway was formed and is ready for concrete pour. We must first get a pre-pour inspection before concrete can be added. This will most likely be on Monday.
Driveway formed and ready for pour
Driveway formed and ready for pour
Driveway formed and ready for pour
Driveway formed and ready for pour
Well, We had our final inspections for the trades yesterday and we passed our final mechanical (HVAC) inspection. We failed our final electrical inspection because the light that was in our master closet was a chandelier and the county requires the light to have a globe. Grrrr We also failed our final plumbing inspection because the water well did not have a check valve at the head of the pump. We are correcting these issues this week and we will re-apply for inspection on Monday morning. We also decided to add tile to the kitchen in lieu of wood floors. This was for 2 reasons. 1.) We cannot obtain a C/O without a finished floor in the kitchen. (We need a C/O to turn on the power to be able to lay the wood floors) 2.) The tile in the kitchen proves to be much more durable over time than a wood floor.
The damaged wood floors were removed from the great room and the mirrors, towel bars, and toilet paper holders were installed in the bathrooms. Soffits were built for the laundry room and the kitchen to hide exposed pipe.
Tile floor shown in kitchen
Tile floor shown in kitchen
Wood floor removed from great room
Mirrors hung in bathrooms
Mirrors hung in bathrooms
Towel bar and toilet paper holders installed
Outdoor A/C unit installed
New American Standard faucet installed
Soffit to cover exposed pipe in laundry room
Soffit to hide exhaust vent in kitchen
After talking with my General Contractor today. We determined the best plan of attack to get this house finished and how to get the floors down the RIGHT way. Apparently the floors are way beyond repair and must be removed.
Steps to complete the home:
- Trim the tree that is blocking the connection of the house to the power pole outside this weekend.
- Have air conditioning compressor set outside and have connected by electrician on Monday morning.
- Schedule all three trade inspections for Tuesday morning. Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) and Electrical Finals.
- Once the final electrical inspection is passed I will contact the chief building inspector and ask that he send a release to our electrical company. He will also have the county issue a temporary Certificate of Occupancy (C/O) provided all of the misc. fees are paid to date.
- Call electrical company and have them come to the house and connect the electricity to the house.
- Have the first start performed on the A/C by the HVAC company and begin running the A/C.
- Call health department and schedule a water test on the well and get that approved.
- Bring all wood product into the home and begin the acclimation period.
- In the mean time, schedule a FINAL BUILDING inspection on the home. (This is the last inspection needed where there will be a county official inside of the home. This means we can move our stuff in a little early and if the electricity is on, guess what, we will be living there permanently!!!
- After final building inspection is passes we can do our site grading and get the drainage work done with the tractor in 1 day. Cover up all holes in the ground, remove leftover construction debris, etc…
- Schedule final Land Alteration inspection (Site Inspection)
- We can begin the wood floors after 7 days of proper HVAC moisture removal and wood floor acclimation. The floor will take 3 days to install. After wood floors are installed we can have our carpet installed in the bedrooms.
- If all of this “STUFF” goes well, we can apply for an official Certificate of Occupancy and be done with this crazy crazy process!
