Stairway to ... well, you know

It was the bane of our existence a couple weeks back, but it's been settled now and we're moving on ... but we have not forgotten. What am I babbling on about, you say? Well, we had to compromise our original stairway layout, and we're not very happy about it.

Somehow the way the drafter drew it in the plans did not fit in the allotted space in real life. (Apparently this is not an uncommon occurrence in home construction -- right, Mike and Michelle?) Basically, we needed room for two more stairs up to the second floor, to get the angle we needed to fit within code and to provide enough headroom for the basement door and basement steps.

There was supposed to be a landing on the main floor, with the stairway to one side, a wall across, and open on the other facing sides (see photo). The landing was supposed to serve as a walkway to get from the hallway outside our master bedroom to hallway servicing the dining area, laundry area and garage. Unfortunately, by the time the framers figured out it couldn't be built as it was drawn by our drafter, the wall facing the stairway could not be moved out to accommodate the extra needed space, because it is a load-bearing wall, holding up the main support beam down the middle of the house.

So we had to change our plans and move the landing up higher, add a step to one side, and we'll have to add a railing to the other side. We'll no longer be able to use it as a walkway, which is a bummer, because that was a neat, and unique, feature of the house. Believe me when I say we tried everything to avoid making the change! Now, nobody else would ever know that there's anything "wrong," but we will always know ....

We have windows!

That's what I squealed in Jason's ear yesterday afternoon when he answered his cell phone. What a difference the addition of color makes to the exterior of the house! I can't wait to see how the burgundy windows will pop against the green (Dried Thyme from Sherwin-Williams) siding. In case you are interested, the windows are from Semco, double-hung clad with simulated divided lights -- three over one -- in Vintage Burgundy. We just chose our exterior trim color today, which is Rockport Gray, one of the Pottery Barn colors from Benjamin Moore (Spring 2007) . Mark asked me for the trim color earlier in the week, which caught me off guard since we don't even have any trim up yet. He said we can go ahead and paint the rafter tails and the beadboard on the underside of the rafters. The siding is on order, and the brick for the skirt and chimney is supposed to be coming soon.

By the way, this is my first blog entry ever. Jason has been nagging me for a while to do one, but I told him I like his witty comments just fine. Finally the windows inspired me enough to do it. Be sure to leave me some comments so I'll be motivated to post again!

Ready for Prime-Time

With the vapor barrier on (mostly) and the steps going in, the next week or two should bring windows and brick to the construction site. The brick will only be used as a skirt to the house -- from the first level's floor down to the ground. From there up, we'll have fiber-cement siding (no maintenance! -- Hollie and Jason's best friend :) ). We're really excited about the color we have chosen for the outside.

It's weeks like last week and especially this coming week that remind me how fortunate I am to have a job indoors. The highs all week are slated to be 96-98 degrees. I really feel for the Amish crew, but they sure do a good job!

So...

...it actually looks a little bit like a house now. With rafter construction underway, the overall shape of the house is starting to become a little clearer.

Hollie and I have really been in a whirlwind of decision-making. The faucets are already in (thanks, Uncle Todd!) so that is one thing out of the way. Lately, we have been focusing a lot on the cabinets & countertops, both in the kitchen and the bathrooms. I'm afraid my brother may be sorry that Hollie and I are the first clients for his new business (Trinity Kitchen And Bath - coming soon!). I can't imagine how frustrating it will be to try to decide where to put all the electrical outlets - that is coming soon.

We did decide to add a (roughly) 12' x 25' deck to the back of the house. We will have to compromise on some of the finer finishing touches we were hoping for to get some of the practicality, but it will all be worth it come November (better be November, right Mark? :) ).

Mark told me they won't build the steps to the second floor until the roof is on. Personally, I think it's just his way of keeping me off the second floor and finding something to complain about. :)

Tragedy

Sorry for the lack of updates, but there is a good reason. We got a call from Mark (builder) on Monday morning to tell us that one of the young Amish workers who are so skillfully framing our house was killed over the weekend on his farm. He was only 14 years old.

Apparently, the family had recently obtained a new horse, and this young man was breaking him in. The horse threw him and dragged him; once he was able to free himself from the reins, the horse stepped on his chest. He was taken to (and actually released from) the hospital, but they did not realize the extent of his internal injuries, and he passed away the next morning.

Rest in peace!

Wood

Ah, it sure is nice to have some material on site that is not concrete or rock. With framing well under way, the structure should really start to take shape over the next week or so. What a convenient time for our local drought to end!

The picture is from the front porch looking down at the basement. The walkout is near the center of the picture in the back part of the basement.

Foundation

Well, it all feels really real now. In the past week, we have dumped I don't know how many tons of concrete in and around (and rising above) the hole in the ground. I was mesmerized by the machine that is used to pump the concrete into the foundation -- it's part truck, part spider -- like something out of "Blade Runner," only Harrison Ford was nowhere to be seen. As you can see, we now have a foundation (sans floor). Next up is the waterproofing and backfilling (I can almost see the anticipation on your face!).

Anybody got a few dozen tons of dirt they want to get rid of?!?!