We failed our electric and plumbing final inspections.

Our success rate with inspections continues.

We failed the electrical inspection due to the lack of a GFI outlet for the washing machine. This is needed because of the machines distance to the utility wash tub. It will be corrected today and hopefully re-inspected tomorrow.

On the plumbing it was the master bath tub. Because it is free standing the supply lines need to be "lifted". I believe that this means they need to be flexible, but I am not sure yet. It was also mentioned that the country of origin had something to do with the requirement. The tub is from Portugal.

Randy passed away.

Those of you who are weekly readers of this blog will remember when I wrote about Randy Dugger suffering a stroke during the Summer.

Two weeks ago today Randy passed away as a result of that stroke. He was 44 years old. Randy left behind a family of three; Ilene, Brooklyn and Grant. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.

I did not know Randy very well, having only talked to him maybe half a dozen times. Randy though, through his work as a builder, has left a lasting impact on the Autumn Creek Community.

In the little I knew of Randy, I know of one item we had in common, our favorite beer.

So here is to the lifting of a cold Fat Tire, in your memory Randy.

Its Done..kinda.

Last week turned out to be the push week to finish the house with different people in and out of it everyday.

We now have only three items left; the lower bathroom vanity, the baseboard on the upper level and the plate to cover the three holes in the granite couter top where there was only suppose to be one. All of these items will be done this week.

We though did have Thanksgiving Dinner in the new house.

The kitchen has turned out real nice.

All of the lights and electrical work is done.

The Sat TV is in and working.

The carpet has been laid.

It looks great, and once we are done with folks walking through it, I think it will be more like home.

All of the leftovers of construction have now been cleaned out with the porta potty and rolloff removed just before Thanksgiving. Derek piled the leftover lumber that we are keeping in back out of sight, and the Marlys has washed the floors to the point that it doesn't seem as if she is just re-arranging the dirt anymore.

The swinging bookshelf door was quite the hit with the DTV and carpet installers.

Here are some quick shots of the rest of the house.

The lower level media room (or will be if I get a big screen sometime in the future).

The stairway.

The master bedroom looking toward the bathroom.

By the way the bath tub fit.

The fireplace put out enough heat on Thursday to heat the house to a "Marlys temperature", which is beyond that endurable by normal humans.

Next weekend the XMAS tree goes up...and the finishing work continues. I think we could spend a whole day walking around with touch-up paint to cover the nicks and marks of the final construction work.

Herding Kittens

This is "Push Week", meaning lets get it finished up for inspections next week. I tied to schedule each sub into the house so that there wouldn't be more then two at a time. That way they wouldn't be falling over each other.

So much for that idea.

Today when I showed up the tile setting and grouting was not done and even though I called the company twice and was assured that they were on their way, by 2:30 I still had not seen them.

All of their tools were still in the kitchen (as you can see) so I have to imagine they will be back. They don't have much left to finish.

The backsplash is looking good, but still needs to be grouted.

The refrig and dishwasher now have their wood trim. The D/W will need to be raised to align with the cabinet line.

The hall bath has a free standing basin on frame. This was a piece of work getting into the house at the top is a single chiseled piece of marble. There is a shelf that goes below, but it won't be added until the hook-ups have been made.

Mac from Johnny's showed up to start the finish plumbing and worked around the one are that will hold him up the hall bath. The plumbing fixtures showed up mid-morning and we were short a few things that Mac will pick-up in the morning.

Jessee the Trim Carpenter arrived about 2PM after a morning appointment so we could go over the closet layouts, special trim items and doors. He will be starting up tomorrow AM.

Conceivably we could have four trades in the house tomorrow, plumbing, trim, tile and possibly Scott and Norma, from Bright Light. Scott was thinking about holding off until Friday which would be good, because Mac will finish tomorrow and Paul (tile setter) I hope will too.

By the time we get back up there on Sunday everyone should have cleared out and we can start cleaning up in prep for the carpet layers next Monday.

Marlys finishing of the glulams turned out real nice. They looked great when wet, but they kept their look now that they are dry.

Until next week...sometime.

Getting Ready for Push Week

The snow moved in this morning and by the time we headed out at 12N we had about 3 inches of snow. Lucky for us everything going on this weekend was inside.

This was our last opportunity to get things ready before the final work starts tomorrow. We had to have everything the plumbers, electricians and trim carpenters would need on site and ready.

I concentrated on the handrail and electrical items, Marlys sealed glulams and the bookcase door.

Oh yah we had a couple of beers at the end of the day on Saturday. We tried out some chairs to see if this is the direction we want to go with the decorating. I don't think these are going to make the cut.

We also had to go through and place the electrical fixtures in their locations and draw out the closet layouts on the floors for Jessee.

The kitchen is looking real nice.

Except for the three holes drilled in the granite for the sink faucet fixture.

Why is that a problem you ask...we only needed one.

The hood over the stove went in on Saturday with minimal scratching, on my part, in fitting it.

You can see the difference in the two greens we are using upstairs in this picture in the rear corner. This is by far better then the original mustard yellow and lipstick red. Our first paint color mistake.

The built-in ironing board also went in the laundry room on Sunday.

This and the hood had to be put in so that Scott and Norma could wire them the end of the week.

We also have a slight problem with the mirrors in the master bath. Looks like we will need to put in oval mirrors to clear the switch box.

I can't wait for the plumbing to be completed as we have an active septic tank, in that we have been using it for a number of year with the trailer, and the smell is coming back up the stub piping put in during the rough-in. It is especially bad in the lower bath.

The hand rail (your picture Maureen) is turning out real nice. I would have finished it except the plans called for a 5" separation between the balusters and I ordered the needed number accordingly.

I later switched the separation to 4", to be in IRC compliance, and ended up two short.

I had planned on cutting the balusters on Saturday using an angle grinder with a cutting wheel. I say I was planning on it, but as with all plans it hit the wall once reality intervened. I had 4 cutting wheels and went through one cutting three balusters. I needed to cut 62. I was going to come up 50 short.

I called Mike, one of our neighbors and asked if I could borrow a metal cutting bandsaw. When I got to his shop, and explained what I was doing, he recommended a chopsaw (isn't experience amazing). He even put a new blade on it. What was going to be a all day ordeal with the angle grinder turned into a 90 minute job. The chopsaw was the ticket. Thanks Mike!

The railing will be capped in Maple or Cherry, so it will be darker then the Cedar. The middle post has been sealed, so that is pretty close to the final color.

BTW the shoes for the top of the balusters have not been seated and locked in place, that is why they are sitting just above the twists.

Well the place was pretty clean by the time we left today.

I will probably go up on Wednesday to check the progress this week.

Its looking like Turkey Day may happen in the new place...keep your fingers crossed.

The Coundown (actually one of the countdowns) Begins!

Less then two weeks.

By Thanksgiving we should be done with one of the three finish dates:

1. Certificate of Occupancy Finish Date.
2. Mortgage Finish Date.
3. Our Completely Finished Date.

Each has its own escalating level of completeness.

Here is the punch list broken down by applicable finish date:

• Done - Fireplace-Heat n glo Pier & Built in vacuum
• Done - Countertops Install
• Done - Kitchen install
• Done - Buy garage lights, utility room and Bath Temp Lights
• Done - Buy Stair Hand Rail, Quarter Round, Shelving/Cleats, 1X Trim Boards
• Done - Check for Floor/Door Transition & Entry Door Tile
• Rear Door Rail
• Stair Rail
• Backsplash & Grout Tile
• Finish Plumbing
• Finish Electric
• Trim Carpentry: Hang Interior Doors, Install Base/Case, Closet Shelving
• Water Filter Install By Rick's
• Finish Inspections - Electric & Plumbing
• Final Grade
• Check Inspection Punch List
• Certificate of Occupancy Inspection
  

• Remove Plastic from Windows
• Fireplace seat and cap
• Plate install on glulam
• Carpet Install
• Master Bath Mirror
• Order Shower Doors
• Install Shower Doors
• Sauna - Install
• Re-Trim Garage Doors
• Caulk DTV Cable Entrance
• Remove Roll Off
• Return Porta Potty
• Clean up site
• Restack Lumber to back of house
• Insurance
• Mortgage

• Re-Paint Fasca
• Road Work
• Lessons Learned
• Done

Marlys and I spent a couple of hours last night picking up the miscellaneous items for the finish work scheduled for next week. These are the items listed in the two completed "Buy" lines on the list. Things that seem small (e.g. closet shelving, light bulbs, etc.), but in fact when you do the plan tear-off's for materials it ends up being quite a load.

By the time we left Home Depot we had two material carts and a shopping cart in tow and were +$1000 lighter in the wallet.

Interior Protective Coatings are Complete

Wish I could say that a lot has happened in the last week. Today the interior painting was completed. Doing away with the hideous yellow downstairs color and replacing it with "beige'.

I set the bookshelf door in the office. It is going to work out nicely. Marlys stained the interior of the exterior doors, ridding them of the basic tan look.

The stone work is now complete also.

I guess as we near completion there will be less and less to tell you all about.

Next week only two items will happen. The fireplace and vacuum install will be completed and the countertops will go in.

This has been the slowest two weeks in the whole build.

Week after next the house will be jumping as the grouting is completed, and the finish electrical, plumbing and carpentry takes place. Then on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving Week the carpeting will be installed.

I hope to also get the finish Inspections done Thanksgiving week.

Soon we will be wrapping up the Camp and selling the trailer.

The Jayco has been a good home away from home for the last 9 years, but it will soon be time to move into the new digs. We are even starting to plan what furniture we will move from Parker to Pinon Rock.