This is my attempt to chronicle the building of our home. We started this journey in the Spring of 2007, moving in the very end of January 2008 and what a journey it was. My husband and I work very well together so we didn't have too many problems in that regards but the process and time commitment really took it's toll in other ways (on me anyhow, hubby was in his element most of the time, he really is quite amazing!).
I was an emotional mess by the end, physically exhausted and completely drained (yet amazingly enough I volunteered to do it again a couple years later for a spec house down the street, I must be crazy).
Anyhow, this is where I left you in Part 1, the basement is poured and the beams are in, time for framing to begin.
We did not do any of the framing work, we hired that all out. However, we spent lots of time at the house trenching in the water and gas lines (getting them to the house and shed), putting in the drainage tile that surrounds the entirety of the home (at basement floor level) and eventually doing all the backfill around the house. I'm sure there was plenty more but those are the major things I remember working on.
Here's the majority of the first floor framed out. The next picture is the house plan to give you an idea of what you're looking at. The central area with no framing is the entry, this entire area is one large open space with a stairwell and lots of windows. They frame it out and put the house wrap on it on the floor before tilting it up. It really was an interesting process to watch. They did a great job (of course there were a few minor problems, but aren't there always).
Another view with the second story started. Upstairs is the boys area. There's two bedrooms, a bathroom and a loft area all located on the garage side of the house.
This concrete retaining wall was poured with the basement and is one of my future artsy-fartsy projects that I love so much. You can see landscaping fabric sticking up and some rock off to the right. We have buried drainage tile in rock and landscaping fabric around the entirety of the house at basement level for drainage and the backfill is now done (I got to do that, a little scary being so close to the house with the bobcat but no accidents, whew!)
Here you can see the backwall framed out on the floor waiting to be tilted up and attached.
This is the view from upstairs in one of the boy's rooms looking across the living room into the master suite on the other end.
The Kitchen.
The wood is stacked in the dining room with the laundry room and mud room behind it while the kitchen is on the right and the garage is the area with the radiant heat pipes down. Coming along nicely.
The view from across the lake. Looks humongous doesn't it? It's really not as big as it looks.
Brought in a crane to finish off the framing. It is always so exciting to see it all coming together (even now just looking back).
These guys are nuts. I say I'm not afraid of heights but this does not look fun at all!
Another view from across the lake now that they've got the walls all up.
Again, these guys are fearless!
The basement digging began on 3/29/2007, it's now 6/13/2007.
I am painting like a mad woman out in the shed getting all the trimwork (outside and inside) painted and ready for installation. Lots of shopping as well to choose tile, lighting and plumbing fixtures. I am a cheapskate so I'm checking out all the area shops looking for deals.
Next time the beams grandpa made go in and all the wiring (joy, joy) and piping is underway. You won't believe the "data closet" we have, that hubby of mine is prepared for just about anything!
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