Siding & Soffit

Sidling up to Hardie Siding
Siding is going up with a little break for the snow.  You can see the difference with the larger boards on the lower section.  We are so glad it is looking good, we had really wanted stucco.  I think we'll be pleased with our choice, doesn't look at all like a second choice.

A look from the driveway side of the house.

Soffit!

The soffit is up and looking sharp!  Yet another thing that we are very glad looks good since it wasn't our first choice.  Our biggest worry was that it would look too busy with the siding - I think we're safe.

A peek out a window and up at the soffit.

Inspections and Insulation

Tomorrow, we have the framing, electrical and plumbing inspections.  With that complete, insulation will be able to to begin.  We are doing a kind of insulation called fiberglass bib or blown-in-batts.  This was a good middle ground between fiberglass (known for gapping and voids, but cheap) and foam (good seal, but expensive).  

Clues into the Future 

A few glimpses into the future work ahead.

• Sheet rock should begin next week Tuesday and last about 3 weeks
• Wood flooring is being measured this week, and will go in after the sheet rock
• Choices to make:  Front door, tile, paint colors

Dream-Inducing Progress

A lot has happened over the last week, it's getting hard to keep up.  Last night I had a dream that the floors were installed overnight - they weren't.

Windows Installed
Our windows were installed though out the house, except one in the basement.  My guess on that one is to allow for delivery of big stuff to the basement.

A view up the stairwell.  I realize we won't be using those high double-hungs, we didn't have another option that we liked.

The back door is actually a  Marvin brand, so it was installed along with the windows. The door's window being the only window in the mudroom, we went as big on the glass as possible.

A line of basement windows along the driveway side of the house.

Shingles Installed

I was visiting the site this week and saw the shingles peeking out of the snow.  While we had picked out the color of shingles, we didn't realize they were going on so soon!

Cables Installed
Andy has been working with a low-voltage wiring specialist to get the house wired for sound, TV, phone and computer.  Most of the setup is pretty standard, but a couple of aspects are a little fun.  We put speakers in the ceiling in the living room and the kitchen/dining area.  They can be used along with  the TVs (one on the kitchen wall and one in the living room)  independently or together.  They can also be used to play music throughout the space.  All of this is run from components that will be in the hall closet.  Just when the parental units figured out how to control the TV...

Kid's Tub Install
The kid's tub was installed, the first piece of finishing!  Now that the framing is complete and the plumbing and electrical are roughed in, the house is like a giant fill-in-the-blank.

Ta da!  We chose the Kohler Bellwether.  The Kohler Villager just didn't cut it, why does it have to have a giant check-mark on the side???

Siding Underway
The Hardie siding has begun to be installed.  The boards are primer colored, not what we are choosing. The top section will have narrower boards that the lower section.

A peek out of the window midday on Friday.

A view from the backyard (the port-potty in the background is only temporary, not part of our plan).

A Quick Tour

Lucy had the opportunity to give her cousins (and uncle) a tour of the house yesterday.  Many discoveries were made:

The girls discovered that the island is just the right size to sit for a snack. 

The girls discovered that the Master shower is pretty awesome (they are showering, if you can't tell).

Andy discovered that there is a fish house in the basement!  Without stairs to the basement, we haven't been down there yet.  We wondered how the guys didn't turn into popsicles.