Wrapping up the year

It's hard to believe that we'll be in the house in 30 days - potentially less. The last 15 days have been spent finishing the floor, tiling the sinks, grouting, and misc. projects.

The electrical plates are installed and they should be doing the low voltage (speakers, TV, etc) outlets in the next week. Joe and my dad installed the outside lights and will be working on the bathroom vanities over the next week or so. We opted to do a little sweat labor to keep costs down and my non-labor intensive husband is actually enjoying the work. :)

We met with the landscaper last week and expect the new plan in the coming days. We're debating on real vs. fake grass - many pros and cons to both. We're also trying to decide on rain vs. clear glass for the showers - clear would be nice to show the beautiful tile, yet rain is more practical for cleaning and privacy.

We did the research on a custom closet system for the master - so if you are in the market, I've got the details. Long story short, L and B Closets has great quality and worked with us on the pricing. We have a full closet system going in for $3,400 including two hampers, hutch with 8 drawers and more. Best of all, it's a floor based system and much better than the wall hung style.

Over the next few days, we need to finalize our carpet selection and a few other items. As of now, the granite and plumbing will go in the second week of January. Can't wait!

Here is a shot of one of the secondary bathrooms. The flooring is similar to a small/medium size river rock.


Here is a picture of the kitchen tile. The chair on top of the island is a nice touch.

45 Days...but who is counting???

We are getting SO close! The house has progressed a ton the past two weeks. The floor tile is complete with the exception of grouting and final touches on the baseboards. The cabinets are installed and the wood door casings and base boards are in the midst of installation. And...I drove up tonight to find the roof tile going into place - very exciting.

We've been agonizing over light fixtures for the past several weeks and think we've finally got it under control. Same goes for granite - we've been going back in forth on what to do in the kitchen (all other areas are covered). Our favorite granite (Cosmos Gold) has been on back order for several weeks and we're now down to the wire. We have a back up plan, but really like the Cosmos Gold so hope the truck arrives by Tuesday.

What else...inside and outside painting is done, the stone work is complete on the front of the house and patio pillars. More will be added to the outside breakfast nook and likely other areas as we really like the look...just wish it was free. Our columns were installed in the entry and are awaiting faux painting. Also, the pool edging is complete - once we have our CO, the pebbletech will be applied and be ready for filling. That should do it - here are some random pictures:

Roof tile going into place:
Columns (2 of 4 - they are in the foyer/entry of the house - this hallway is looking toward the master):
Stone work going on the patio pillars and house being primed for paint:

Our second granite option - our first is very similar but I forgot to snap a photo.

Rocking

Stone
They started to apply the stone yesterday - love it and wish we could have it all over the house. For now on the outside, the entry, a side wall on the north and south, the pillars on the patio and the breakfast nook area will have stone. We plan to add stone to the two fireplaces, bar area and niches.









Cabinets
The cabinets are about 80% installed and the floor tile is pretty much done. With the exception of the kitchen island, the cabinets and all doors are an alder wood stained with a black glaze (to give them a dark brown appearance). We went with an oatmeal color on the kitchen island.




Pool
They added the tile around the spa and pool. This picture does not do the color justice - here it looks gray, but it's actually glazed with a deep blue hue.

Margarita Deck

Here is the view from our upper deck which sits right above the game room. A metal fence will be installed in the open areas along with a spiral staircase to get up and down. We've added a TV outlet and plan to include some sort of bar....if nothing else, a blender for margs!

Tile Stuff

We had our first break-in this past Friday. Some meathead took tools that were being used for laying tile (tile cutter, generator, lights, etc.) which put us behind two days. The police were able to lift prints and we have a strong lead that will hopefully pan out.

In the meantime, I got a smokin' deal on medallions for the rotundas. They are normally 1K each, but after the sale and and extra bargain, we purchased three for $600. Can't beat that! A picture of the medallion is below.

We met with the pool guy yesterday and finalized the tile and pebbletech color. His crew will start their work in the coming week, however, the pool cannot be filled until we have our CO.

Long Overdue Update

I've been a bit consumed lately and have not had a chance to update the house blog. A bunch of things have happened since my last post including:

Drywall and Texture
Completed the first week of November. I'm not overly impressed with the texture - our GC said it is called 80/20 and common in custom homes. We're going to check out a few homes in the area to compare.

Painting
The painters started about a week ago and are almost done with the inside. Below is a picture of the family room/rotunda going into the game room.

Windows Replaced
We changed out the windows in the entry to be solid glass versus those that open. It was an architecture mistake that cost us money, but will be worth it in the end as the solid glass magnifies the view.

Doors
The outside entry doors were installed the first week of November, but they are stained the wrong color...ugh. The mistake is on the manufacturer so they will be out to stain the wood darker in the coming weeks.

The garage doors were installed last week. They will be painted to match the color of the house.

Shower Tile
Joe's brother and a tile guy from our GC have been hard at work on the showers. I've posted a few pictures below which show the appearance prior to being grouted and sealed which will give them a darker/shiner look.

Floor Tile
The floor tile arrived yesterday and the guys will begin laying today. We went with a versailles pattern in walnut color. I'm looking into medallions today for the rotundas.

Granite
We have the casita, master bath and bar granite selected, but are on hold for the kitchen. The color we like (Cosmos Gold) is on back order until mid December.

Lighting
We started picking out lighting this past weekend. I guess I should say, attempted to pick out lighting. It is far more difficult than I thought. I'm good with the bathroom lighting, but the chandeliers in the entry, kitchen, rotundas has me perplexed!

I can't believe we less that 75 days from move in...seems like we have been working on this forever - WAIT - we have been working on this forever!!

Drywall Complete

We passed the drywall inspection on Monday so the crew is taping the seams. Here is the schedule for the next week:

Stucco - Oct 29th
Exterior doors - Nov 3rd
Garage Doors - Nov 4th
Shelving in closets- Nov 5th
Texture and sanded drywall date - Nov 5th
Painting - Nov 6th

It occurred to us yesterday that we did not have any wall sconces in the hallways so we're paying out the nose to have four installed. It will be worth it in the end as they'll add character to the walls and I've convinced Joe it will keep us from needing to buy art for the hallway (wink wink).

Insulation, Drywall and More

Big news to share - the insulation is in, the front door is installed and drywall has begun! Best yet, my folks arrive from Wisconsin tomorrow (they are snowbirds here in AZ) and will be able to see the final stages of construction.

I met the GC today and selected the tile for the bathroom showers...now we're waiting to see if the numbers fit in the budget. Fingers crossed!

Ceiling insulation in the family room and kitchen:

Front door - rain glass to be installed near completion:

Ceiling in formal dining room:

Guys hanging drywall in family room:
Shower tile layout for master and casita:

Windows and Crown Molding

The windows are in...that's the good news. The bad news, the windows in the entry open so there is a bar blocking the views. On the other hand, the window in the Guest Casita does not open. Ugh! While it won't delay the project, we'll be out of pocket if we decide to change things around. The GC is working with the window company to see if we can get a credit.

The crown molding has also been installed on the roof and columns. The framers, low-voltage and electricians were at the house today finishing up their stuff and we're scheduled for an inspection tomorrow. If we pass, insulation will begin on Monday and dry wall should follow a week from tomorrow.

Good news on the paint front, we're saving $8,000 by using one of Joe's contacts.

View From Above

Not much has happened the past few days. The low-voltage guy has been wrapping up the wiring and our good friend, Mark, is coming out today to inspect the house. He's been in construction for years and will give the house a good once over to make sure all is in order.

Yesterday we searched for Granite Slabs and found a ton of cool pieces at the Stone Quarry in Tempe. We should have 3 more bids coming in tomorrow to compare to the pricing from the GC. We want to do something a bit funky in the game room and are debating on the edging throughout the house. Times a ticking so we'll wrap up our decision mid week.

Here is a picture taken from the mountain behind our house (click on the image to blow it up). We are the white styrofoam house in the middle/left. It's a bit deceiving as the cul-de-sac shown appears to be at the same level as our house, but it's actually several feet above us. The slope runs with the highest point in the bottom right hand corner to the lowest point in the upper left hand corner.

Pool Boulders

Here is a picture of the pool with the boulders set in place. I learned something new - boulders darken over time and there is a mineral spray (eonite) which can be applied to speed up the process. The cost is $450 and includes the boulders around the pool and the big pile in the front yard that will be used for decor.

We are debating on the pebbletec and pool tile colors. Hmmmmm decisions, decisions.

Status Update, Plumbing Fixtures and Pocket Door

We met with the GC tonight for our standard progress meeting and were joined by the solar water heater guy from the home show. We will likely install an 80 gallon solar tank and a 50 gallon electric tank. Our net cost for the solar water heater will be $500 to $700 plus we'll save in monthly utilities. Can't beat that!

We also discussed the status of construction and as of now, it plays out like this:
10/13 - Windows installed
10/14 and 10/15 - Lathe completed
10/16 - Drywall begins (expected to take 12 working days)
TBD - Stucco applied to outside
10/30 or 11/2 - Inside Painting begins
11/4 - Flooring begins

Great news on the budget front, we found a number of plumbing features at the Great Indoors and saved big time with their Friends and Family sale. We saved $80 per toilet for the exact same model found at the GC's store. That saved us $480 (we have way too many bathrooms). We also found a roman tub for the master saving $1,200! I'm running a spreadsheet to find out our exact savings, but estimate it to be around $3,000.

This past week the large pocket door was installed. Here is a pic with it closed followed by a shot with Bailey enjoying the breeze when the door is pushed open.

Our Styro-Chicken House

I did it again! Every time I do a post I swear to update more often - especially as so many things with the house are changing. This time I promise...I think.

In the past 10 days we have selected our low voltage company and I'll be meeting him this morning to go over the placement of TVs, phones etc. The lathe was also started and now on hold waiting for the windows to arrive. Typically, the lathe begins when the windows are in, but due to our time line, it was started early. The lathe is a styrofoam wrap that goes on the outside walls of the house followed by wire (similar to chicken wire). The stucco is then added.

I've spent the past week researching flooring, granite, plumbing, etc. as the prices we have from the GC are not coming in as low as we would like. As time consuming (and frustrating) as it can be, the research will pay off in the end - like the $1000 we saved on fireplaces.

Next up - the windows will be installed October 12th followed by the finishing touches of the lathe. In the meantime, electric and low voltage will finish up there work.

Several Trades at Work

A slew of things transpired at the house this past week:

Roof - The tar paper was put in place and the tiles were stacked on roof (see video and pic).

Electric - Most of the wiring was pulled. We decided to add canned lights to the laundry room at $55 a pop and several niche lights were added for $60 each.....that stuff adds up!

Sprinklers - because of our location and limited access for the firetrucks, we had to include sprinklers in our house plans. They were installed this week.

Windows - we finally received approval from the HOA on the window changes (eliminated the grids and modified the size of five windows).

Lathe - the scaffolding is up so I'm thinking they will start the Lathe this week (see picture looking through breakfast nook windows).

Pool - boulders were added to the pool and we're in the process of picking on the tile color.

Low Voltage - we're getting a few quotes for Cat5e cabling

Pool Taking Form

The pool shotcrete is complete, giving us a good feeling for the size and flow of the pool. The far left side (by the house) is the spa which will spill into the shallow 'pond' with bubble features. The actual pool is a bit lower and all the blue marks represent where the boulders will be placed. The three yellow cylinders inside the pool will be stools and the actual entrance to the pool is at the bottom of the photo (unless, of course, you are doing a cannon bomb).

Pool on the move

Wow - I can't believe it's been a week since my last post. My how time flies. We met with the GC last night for an electrical walk. Wouldn't it be nice if everything was wireless?? I hope we picked the right spots for TV, phone and data jacks.

I was amazed to see the pool moving along. They have most of the rebar in and will be doing the shotcrete in the next day or so. The pool will then sit empty until the house is closer to completion. I want to go swimming now!

Multiple Trades at Work

The framing is complete - wahoo! We now have several trades working at the same time in an effort to catch up on construction. We remain hopeful to be in the house by the end of January.

Joe and I met with the GC on Wednesday to pick out flooring, counter tops and bath/shower tile. We found an awesome granite design for the kitchen and master. We also found a funky piece of granite for the game room - hoping to mix it up a bit. The kitchen, hall, bath and family room flooring will be travertine tile in brownish tones. The den will have wood and the rest of the house will have a medium to dark brown carpet. The GC will meet us at the house next week with samples so we can finalize our selections.

Yesterday, the GC and I worked out kitchen island details. We decided to go with one big island vs a medium and small size. I signed off on the cabinets today so the manufacturer will get to work on constructing. The cabinets throughout the house will be knotty alder pine (med/dark brown with black glaze). The glaze shows up in the seams. The kitchen island will be an oatmeal color with the glaze as well for the seams.

Next up - the roof tile should be place on top of the house for weight balance next week. For those not from AZ, the tile is set on the roof prior to drywall. Once drywall is complete, the roof tiles will be put in place. The GC said we should be drywalling by the end of the month. Can't wait!

The plumber was at the house and had the plans open to the elevation page. Click on the picture for a larger view.

Framing Wraps Up and Electric Begins

I made a quick stop by the construction site today and was surprised at the progress.

The house is one story and laid out with rotundas (round areas) as the turning points for the hallways. Here is the dome area of one of the rotundas. We'll eventually add character to each dome with either faux paint or stone work.

The electricians were on-site today as well installing the plugs and overhead lights. Gotta love it!

Meeting with the GC

We met with the GC last night to finalize windows, cabinets and the front door. Next on our plate - flooring and interior lighting. They hope to have framing completed this week and drywall started by the end of February. The electricians, plumbers and HVAC guys come in next.

We've also agreed on the pool and BBQ location. This picture is a bit dark, but gives and idea of what you'll see when entering the front door. I took this looking out the 3 lg picture windows in the formal dining room. The covered patio framing is showing along with the big hole where the pool will go. The black wall in the background is where the BBQ pit/swim up bar will be located. It's a bit of a haul from the kitchen, but lord knows we can always use the exercise!

The roof, the roof, the roof is ON

It's so great to see the house at this phase where we can somewhat feel the rooms and envision the placement of furniture, etc.

The framing is about 2 weeks behind schedule and we're hoping the GC can schedule the next set of trades at the same time to get us back on track.

Click on the picture for a close up view. The front entry (round structure) is to the left of the saguaro cactus in the center of the picture. The master bedroom and den are to the left of the entry. The guest casita is on the far right and our back yard faces the opposite side of the entry.

More Wood

Wow - I can't believe a week has gone by since my last post. The framers are rocking and have about 10 days left of work. Here is a shot of the front entry along with the view looking into the family room/kitchen from the covered patio.

We made a few minor changes last week to enlarge the laundry room by 2.5 feet and added a window to the master bedroom. I can't decide on one kitchen island versus two...would love to save the cash and stick with one, but worry we may regret it later. Where is that crystal ball??

Framing...

The crew continues to move forward with framing. The entire process should take about 3 1/2 weeks with this Friday being the 3 week mark. We are meeting the GC on Wednesday for an update and expect marching orders to start selecting...tile, appliances, paint, etc. Fun stuff!

Click on the below picture to enlarge for a better view of the framing.

Framing Continues

We're impressed with the framing progress this week. With the exception of a few walls, the major skeleton is staged. The roof and sheering (plywood around the house) will follow. We walked the house with our friends Kamie and Dana last night. We're going to see about adding windows and AC to the storage room off of the garage (a 14x8 room to house my Christmas obsession supplies). By doing so, we can easily convert the storage to a Hobby Room....you never know, I may take up pottery.

Here is a picture of Joe standing inside the front door. The outside entry will be rounded/Tuscan style with a courtyard to the right. The plywood on the ground marks the undercover entry and the curved cement base to the right is part of the rounded wall. So hard to explain!!

Framing Shot

The framing crew is moving! Here is a picture looking east. The master bedroom is on the far right with the family room and game room on the left. They expect to have all walls up by Friday and framing complete within 3 weeks.

We met with the GC this past Monday regarding the pool location. They've agreed to move the dirt to accommodate a larger patio. We also addressed the landscaping and location of the pool equipment.

I met with the cabinet guy today to finalize our layout and design. We selected knotty alder pine with a medium to dark glaze and mitered corners. There is so much to choose from it can be a bit overwhelming. The cost of some upgrades are killer - for example - it's $250 for a wood medicine cabinet compared to $50 for the glass style from Home Depot. Decisions - Decisions!

The framing has begun!!

I must be quick, but we’ve officially go sticks! Here is a snapshot that Joe took with his camera phone. More photos to come when I return from the Wisconsin Boonies.

Pool Dig

Oh the ups and downs of building a home. We went from a super high on Friday with the slab to a "what the @#$%*" yesterday. The pool was dug before we signed off on it and is in the wrong location! UGH! The position gives us very little decking and 10 feet of area to landscape on the other side...wouldn't it make sense to have 3 feet of landscaping and 7 more feet of decking?? We're meeting the pool guy and GC at the lot when I return from Chicago next week, but I'm sure they won't like what we have to say...."Move the Pool".

As far as I know, the rest of the construction will continue as the framers were to start today.

The slab is in!

The contractors were out this morning to pour the slab. Framing starts on Monday!

Preparing for the slab

Can you feel the excitement in my typing??? Our slab will be poured on Friday - tomorrow - July 17th - TOMORROW! The only bummer is that I am out of town in Chicago for 10 days so will miss the chance to put my hand print in the cement. Oh well, I'll get over it knowing we are on our way to having a home.

We met with the GC last night and he believes the framing will start on Monday. I've asked him to send pics so I can keep the blog updated as this is when the fun begins. The retaining walls were a pain - a 3 month pain. Now, we are able to see things come to life and begin picking out stuff - like garage doors, tile, paint, cabinets, roof tile, ceiling fans - even toilets. I wonder if its normal to analize every toilet I use in our friend's homes or in posh hotels??? For my pals, please don't ask questions if I show up at your house and request to use the bathroom.

Here is a shot of the pad - nice and pretty and just waiting to be covered in cement. Did I mention that the slab gets poured TOMORROW????

Underground Plumbing

We are cruising. It's been a busy week at the lot. They dug a bunch of tunnels, laid the PVC pipes for the plumping and hope to pass inspection today.

We also decided to change our floor plan a little bit - yes, the perfectionist in me doesn't know when to quit. In a nutshell, we moved the wet bar to the game room and enlarged the guest casita. Although it would have been cool looking, we decided to eliminate the wine cellar/room. I'm so excited about the new design. The casita will now have a kitchenette and area to put a cafe table. The wet bar can be accessed from the game room as well as the rotunda (round area of the hallway) which is right off the kitchen and family room. This change may have set us back a day or two with construction - but so worth it. We're hoping to see the slab next Friday.

Stem wall, Pool and Cabinet Update

We're moving along - the stem walls were poured on Thursday and the molds are now removed. Next up - the electrician and plumber to do their underground work.

In other news, we met with the cabinet guy and have picked out our color and style. We are also progressing with the pool design - here is the latest rendering.

Ready for the Stem Walls

Wow - a bunch has happened since my last post - a bunch of good things. The retaining walls are complete and the big pile of dirt is gone. Last Saturday (June 20th) we were able to see the outline of the house (painted in pink) on the dirt. Kinda cool. Since then, the crews have been digging the stem walls and placing the molds/rebar around the perimeter of the house. Tomorrow the cement will be poured. The plumbers and electricians will then be out to do their thing. We're getting closer to the framing and looking forward to the smell of lumber - ahhhhh - sweet lumber.

Not sure that I can do this picture justice, but I'll give it a shot. The far bottom left corner of the pic is the driveway/garage. The orange bucket is in the garage - about where the driver's side rear bumper would be. The entrance of the house is in the center of the pic where the rounded wall moldings are located. Joe is walking in the game room in the upper right hand area. I'll stop there as it's likely hard to picture the layout without the plans and I'm surely rambling at this point....nothing new. BTW - isn't our pink dumpster pretty?? We also have a purple Porta-John!

Moving along - snails pace

Got a call from the GC today. He said the big pile of dirt would be gone on Monday (June 15th) and the surveyors would be out on Tuesday to stake the house. We're meeting the GC and landscaper at the lot on Wednesday to figure out where trees, plants, etc will be placed.

After the staking, the crews will get the stem walls built - then the plumbers and electricians will each do their underground work. Scott is estimating the plumbing and electric will start in about 1.5 weeks.

We just stopped by the lot with the pups - above is a shot of Joe with the camera facing East. The walls to Joe's right are hopefully (fingers crossed) the end of the retaining wall work!

More Retaining Walls...

We were hoping to see major progress on the lot upon returning from vacation...no such luck. Another set of retaining walls are being built on the north side of the lot. From the sounds of it, we will have another few weeks of wall work before the foundation can be started. As of now, they are giving a mid March completion date.

Garage Walls

Here is a sneak peak at our north-facing garage walls. Overall, we're still moving at a snails pace and leave Thursday morning for a 12 day trip to Peru. It will be interesting to see how things progress while we are gone.

West Facing Retaining Wall

Here is a shot of Joe standing in the retaining wall area. Eventually, the dirt will be filled in where Joe is located (level to the top of the wall). The black paint is a sealer to help with water leaks.