New House --- Week 4

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We have Walls!!!!Framing kicked off this week and in just a few days we had floors, exterior walls and windows,   It was killing me to see what was going on so mid week I left work early enough to be there when the walls were being raised and I was able to video tape it.So exciting!  I remember thinking wow what we drew on paper is coming to life and it was such a near feeling.  Words don't really tell this weeks story like pictures do and since I have so many I will just share those here.[envira-gallery id="13899"]

New House... Week 3

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We started and ended week #3 in the same place, standing in the middle of the lot trying to figure out where to put the pole barn that would give Guy the space he has envisioned yet make the most sense.  Two locations that we could use because they are already cleared fit the barn but the backyard location if on the complete opposite side of the driveway making it not idea to drive vehicles and "toys" over the grass and the second location will be our backup.  It's on the front side of the house and fits the pole-barn fine but takes away from a  great parking area and puts it very close to the house.  Plan C was devised, and while it may cost a few thousand more will work perfectly if the county lets us take down about a very small amount of trees . Guy will be heading to the courthouse to plea our case with the building commissioners office and we hope we can make this happen.  Meanwhile our foundation was completed this week and you can now see the size and layout of the house.  It is real now :)Front of the houseP8190086-2Late Friday we got word that the framing would start on Wednesday so hopefully next week's update will include flooring and walls!!![envira-gallery id="13902"]

New House Week 2

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Rain came in by the buckets on Monday and Tuesday so we didn't actually think much work would be done this week so we were happily surprised when George called Wednesday morning to let us know that they were going to start digging the footers that same day, forms and concrete completed by Friday and foundation started next week.Since Guy was tied up with things in NVA I headed out to the property after work to take some pictures to show Guy.  Once I arrived we realized we could Face Time so we were able to "see" the first signs of our house together.  For a 2300 square foot house it seems so small but Guy assured me that often that happens with footers and once framing starts we will get a real feel for it.1502082_origBesides that is was relatively quiet.  We had the appliances quoted somewhere else to ensure we were getting the deal we thought we were (and yes we are) and I started looking at tile again for the master bath and while I didn't find tile I did stop into Ikea since I was next door and checked out a few pieces of furniture we liked online.  Love both of these beds for the "grandkids" guestroom,  not 100% sure  but since there is a large price difference between the two probably the one on the left will be what we end up with.1081707_orig     1205402_origThat's it, as we said a slow week but that is all about to change as now each time we go out to the property we will see more and more progress.

Staking Out The House

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So we've decide to recap the events each week of the new house build so we have a diary of where we were and how far we've come.This week was all about location. We had to decide where exactly we wanted the house so that the survey company would know where to stake the house so Sunday we met Mom, Chris, Mallory and Avery for breakfast and then we took them out to see the property for the first time and to help us lay-out the house location.  I was so happy that they seemed to love it as much as we do.  We spent about an hour showing them around and discussing different scenarios before settling on a general area.  After they left (it was over 95 degrees, too hot for mom)  we spend about another hour laying out different scenarios until we finally came to the perfect location.We sent George (our Project Manager) a text we had marked the lot and he sent the surveyors out to put the final stakes in the ground. With Guy out of town (off to Radford to see Shelby) I swung by after work to make sure all was where we wanted it (The pink ribbons and orange marks were ours so we were very close on the measurements).4087146_orig   7622341_origSince the surveyors also marked the exact location of the front door I was able to see the view for the first time "live" without guessing.  Very happy with te view (ignore the gravel, that will all be grass).8782576_origNext on the agenda was starting the appliance selections so Thursday night I spent a few hours at a local HH Gregg, found what we wanted and then sent the information off the the builders rep to see if I managed to stay on budget.  Lastly we signed off on all the plumbing fixtures.  We are getting a brown kitchen sink.  Love it!7779099_origNext week should be a big week for the house as the footers are starting to go in and we will finally see the layout of the house we have been designing for a year.