Homebuilding Progress: It's A'Going

overall progress - April 15

I know that many of you are wondering how the homebuilding project is coming along. It’s a’going! There has been a LOT of activities since my last report, but many are not very photogenic. Do you really need to see the trenches for the electrical and water/sewer lines, as well as the new electrical box? Not really, LOL! And most of the last two weeks has been devoted to interior painting, keeping us outside and away from paint spray and sanding dust. The project has been in a phase where it seems like work is at a standstill, but it’s really not!

As you can see from the picture above, the initial yard leveling has been completed, and we now have a concrete driveway and walkway to the front porch. It’s a bit of a drop-off from the porch down to the walk, so another step will need to be constructed in the days ahead. Now, if Builder Mike would only get that 2x4 board off of the front porch roof, where it has been sitting since the first of February. It keeps ruining my pictures, LOL!

front walkway

During the past couple of weeks, the finish carpenters completed the construction of judges paneling and pillars in the dining room. It was really interesting to see how they were assembled in several layers. I don’t have a picture right now of them all painted up, so you’ll have to see the finished results later on.

judges paneling in the dining room

a freshly painted dining room column

We now have a back porch - hooray! All the work is not quite done out here. It’s missing the crown molding, trim painting, electrical outlets, and ceiling fan. But we’re cheered to see the structure in! We’re really looking forward to enjoying this outdoor room. Among several other “firsts”, this will be our first ever screened-in porch. We christened it already by tossing back a few beers and enjoying a gentle spring breeze.

screened-in back porch, ready for final detailing

The bubble glass is now in the lighted kitchen cabinet. Kitchen and bathroom countertops were also recently installed. We got New Venetian Gold granite for the kitchen and powder room. And, we picked out cultured marble for the master and guest baths, both in a swirly light mocha color called Sedona.

bubble glass in the kitchen

kitchen cabinets and countertop (pardon the construction dust)

I’m still not ready to do the “big reveal” on the kitchen yet. You’ll just have to wait until the whole shebang is finished. So have patience, everyone...

Next week is going to be a doozy. Electrical and plumbing fixtures are stacked up in the garage, waiting for the pros to work their magic. The hot water system is going in. The HVAC units arrive and get hooked up. Tile installation for the kitchen is on the checklist. Closet shelving will go in. More trim work will happen in the great room.  The exterior wood corbels and shutters have arrived.  Those will get coated with stain/finish, in addition to the porch columns, and then hung.  The initial stages of landscaping will also start. Will the place be humming with activity? Double-check.

It’s a’going, folks, and we’re headed for the home stretch. We figure that we’re now about a month away from hanging our sign at the new Grey Havens!