So a quick post thanksgiving visit to the house, showed us how the grass looks in the daylight... Updated Inside pictures - Central Vac included!
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Crude title aside we're getting landscaped up! All the sod is going in today since if it's done at different times it will all look weird - we need to make sure we get the full landscape package we were offered so 25' around the house and an extra 10' seed and straw at the back since we had the extra clearance. They had just started to rake up the garden, preparing for the sod - and when we went back it was way too dark for a decent shot so will post update before 1 week to go...!
![]() The meter has been installed, but I still can't figure out a few things... why is there three boxes - the mains goes into the middle cabinet, which contains the meter, but the two boxes either side I'm really confused! Our main breaker panels are down in the basement, so no idea what's going on. And what is that white wire poking out!? You can also see the guys in the backyard getting it ready for the sod... Some updated pictures of the house... Things (visible to me at least) left to do:
1. Columns in Master Sitting Room 2. Fit Cooker Hood/Range 3. Tile Kitchen (Finish) 4. Carpets 5. Wood Floor 6. Stain Stairs/Front Door 7. Electricity and Gas Hook Up 8. Exterior Paint 9. Landscaping 10. Re-fix Pot Filler 11. Stonework on Driveway
Inside we finally have the dining room trim being finished, the turret now is finally finished with wood floor and all trim. Carpet has been installed and the kitchen window trim is almost complete. We had one issue where we had requested the stairs to be wood on the rear stair case, but it turns out due to an administrative error they installed carpet, but looks to be unavoidable. Jason offered to install upgraded pad as a compromise, which we gladly accepted and are very grateful! The columns have also gone in for the master sitting room, the master bath window trim has been installed etc. There are still plenty of patches where Jason has been identifying flaws for the punch list, but mostly that has been completed as they go - when all of them have been addressed the painters will come in and re-paint. Things (visible to me at least) left to do:
1. Columns in Master Sitting Room 2. Fit Cooker Hood/Range 3. Tile Kitchen (Finish) 4. Carpets 5. Wood Floor 6. Stain Stairs/Door 7. Electricity and Gas Hook Up 8. Exterior Paint So the kitchen has actually been installed for a few days now, but for one reason or another I haven't taken any pictures yet. The first also shows our back stair case banister in! Other trim includes the wood surrounds on most of the windows, and all the doors appear to be in the right place to be installed very shortly. As soon as the trim is installed primer will be put on the walls ready for painting - but since it's a fairly large size house there is going to be a fair amount of trim... Next up and very exciting for me is the beginning of my curved balcony overlooking the family room - trim installed and curving in progress!!
![]() But not installed - since the drywall went up only about half the siding has been completed but the inside is pretty much done, all the mud/sanding etc. It has been great seeing the rooms getting slowly finished, but the reality is we've been waiting for the kitchen to arrive for a few reasons. The biggest reason is time; right from the start our PM always told us that after cabinets it's a straight 60 day count down to closing, and we've been itching to see them arrive/installed since the dry wall started. Since ALL the cabinets have arrived (imagine getting this as a flat pack assembly!) including kitchen and all 6 bathrooms (sounds crazy when you say out loud) - we're hoping that all of them are the best quality with no issues so no delays. Another reason to see them go in - we didn't upgrade the bathrooms much, but spent a fair amount of the kitchen so really looking forward to seeing it go in! If cabinets are installed/finished next week, 8 weeks takes us to 11th December, we've been given a best case scenario of 6 weeks - 27th November - the day after thanksgiving - not thinking this is very likely but would be amazing! ![]() Another nice surprise was our driveway getting prepared for concrete/pouring - no more parking in the ditch or rocks - now just proper concrete! Given that the last week has been VERY wet - raining almost non stop we're amazed that we actually have dry walls... (see what I did there?). We also have had our siding start - in a very amusing yellow primer base color - Becky asked "Oh, is that our house color? I'm not letting anyone I know come round if it is..." Jason also said cabinets are arriving next week - we were told way back in April - once cabinets are started - pretty much 60 days. To me that's start of December - so not looking like Thanksgiving unfortunately but should definitely be Christmas! Here are a couple of pictures for the siding. So far looks like they completed this side of the house and the additional garage. And now pictures you've been waiting for - rooms with WALLS!
![]() or "Master Bedroom with Insulation" is probably more appropriate. After our pre drywall meeting turns out they didn't waste any time getting insulation in to the exterior walls - by end of Sunday most of the house was done with the exception of the attic, so inspections should be quick and dry wall going up! I hate being "that guy" who adds stuff and holds things up, but I realized that I NEED another cable outlet. Dry wall is getting close (obviously) so any changes done now will likely result in a change charge, but after dry wall will just be a mess with a BIG charge. We already had electrics modified slightly in the bedroom so a cable outlet would be either side of the bed, and also the central vac moved downstairs so it's not visible in the foyer, so adding an extra cable outlet now is just "another" thing which I hate to add but honestly, if we don't have it, will cause the end of the universe. Or me having to walk into the basement to reset the modem. One or the other. If I have the choice, which I do, I'd rather lean over to reset my modem than have to walk into the basement. Wouldn't you??? Today we had another good meeting with Jason for our Pre Drywall meeting. Like many people we hate to nag, but he agreed that when building a home you have opportunities to make it yours - so little things like moving switches and central vac were all discussed and will be done. Our biggest concern was in the additional garage, the frame above the footing by the door was cracked. Jason immediately asked "did we want it replaced?" rather than dodge the question - in the end we're leaving it there as there is a seal in place between the frame and footing. Other things to note were where mains water is coming in - how dry wall will proceed and 60 days after cabinets are installed will be closing on the house. We had a previous update that they thought we might be in by Thanksgiving, but Jason now thinks it will be mid December. Here are final pre-siding/stone pictures of the outside with all windows and doors in place. We also added an extra "Pad" of concrete to the driveway, so we have additional parking for guests/boat. The area directly under the deck is an enormous space which we don't want to waste by screening it off and potentially having a spa. Jason also confirmed that the door leading out of the basement will have a railing with steps leading down. We could extend this to be part of the deck/spa we put under the decking - let's see! Here are some photos pre drywall of foyer and living room: Dining room, family room, breakfast area Kitchen and main electrical line in additional garage: Guest Suite Basement 2nd floor
As promised on our Monday call, the roof is indeed going up this week, absolutely amazing how fast the framing is going - it will be an almost finished outside fully wrapped with shingled roof by next week, maybe even the end of this week given two full days left!! I'll start with a bunch of photos of the outside - all the way around. The final few we climbed over the back "fence" and into the undergrowth to get the scale of the entire back of the house. Next up, some inside shots - basement. Next up, inside shots of the first floor. And last but not least, our first look at the second floor because yours truly braved the rickety ladder left kindly by the workmen - bit of a gamble but paid off!
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