It's February, how is you build coming along?

15 years ago

I know no one hear thought they would ever hear me utter these words, but my house is finished. All the interior is with the exception of having the final AC/heat installation completed and still waiting for those top doors for the kithen cabinets.

We still have to go outside to finish the inside of the garage, finish the cement work, put up a fence, add shutters to the front of the house and complete the uderside brick work etc. So move in won't be until May or so.

I don't have any photos of the last room to be finished, the great room, becasuse it's still home to buildng supplies DH is still using.

Heck, it only took 6 years and how time does fly. LOL

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Comments (54)

rhome410
15 years ago
Brutuses, the storage makes up for for a 'master suite' that is 10 1/2 x 13! :-) That is our dressers, linen storage, etc. and what a great improvement to have it in. No more cluttery stacks of things.

ajpl, Yay and Good job! Love the nice, big island.
armomto3boys
15 years ago
We're almost finished! We went ahead and moved in a couple of weeks ago. Still need all the trim work done and the master bath is not complete, but at least we're in! No more rent to pay, yay!

I don't have any new pics uploaded, but here are some of the cabs when they went in.

The "hutch" area for dishes and a baking center. Also the microwave is in the left flipper door and the coffee maker and toaster are in the right. I love being able to close them and hide appliance clutter.

The beadboard behind the open shelving is stained to match the other cabs. The off white color is SW Roman Column. I'm thinking about glazing a little but wanted to live with it to make sure.

The stained cabs are maple with SW Bronze Walnut stain.
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crazyhouse6
15 years ago
Congrats Brutuses!

Ajpl - Love those exposed beams.

We are hitting all the finishes right now. I didn't post last month because we had so much going on that it was hard to get pictures without everything being covered or too much equipment in the way.

Plumbing and lighting just went in. The tile is in too, but much of it is covered.

My vanity:

His vanity:

Powder room chand:

Jill & Jill bath - The colors really are this bright. They love it. One has the pink in her room and the other has the green, then the ba between them combines them.
brutuses
Original Author
15 years ago
crazy, that's one gorgeous chandi. Everything looks so nice I love the bright bath. So pretty. Can't wait to see photo's next month.
User
15 years ago
I found this forum recently, but haven't posted too much. Everyone has such good input!

Our status...the masonry is almost done, but the weather has not been cooperating.
gary1227
15 years ago
The snow has been our biggest problem here. With 2.5 feet of snow on the ground it has been a challange keeping the drives and walks clear for the subs to get inside to do the interior work. We're in month 8 of our build and hoping to be moved in by the end of March. Here are a few recent photos of our new "old farm house"
megradek
15 years ago
Everyone's making such great progress!! I love it!

I don't really have any updated pics - I've been banned for the week while the floors are being finished :) Not much else has happened while I've been agonizing over these final decisions. I'll post pics next week after they should be done painting!
vineyard
15 years ago
brutuses...you won! ;) Everyone's houses look so beautiful, it's great to see progress! Ours is coming along...slowly, and with a few stumbles along the way...but we're hanging in there. :)

Here's a link to my web page:

Here is a link that might be useful: vineyard's page
brutuses
Original Author
15 years ago
L, I hung for 6 years, believe me you'll make it a lot sooner than that. LOL
rhome410
15 years ago
Vineyard...What happened to your kitchen pictures? Was hoping to snoop in on your progress in there. ;-) That shower will be hard to leave!
arch123
15 years ago
Everyones houses look great! Gary1227 what a great stairway and fireplace. It's perfect for your home - I'm really impressed.
vanmicnatlog
15 years ago
I am new the new house forum although we have been building for a year now. We are self contracting and a pay as we go so this will be a long process for us. Windows in so that was our excitment for the month. Almost ready for the rough in inspection which will be very exciting. Got a great bid on the spray foam insulation and can't wait to have that completed, but will likely be a few month. Love this forum and all the beautiful homes, have learned alot and changed alot in our plans. There are some things i wish i would have know before I started the build, but maybe i can talk my DH into another build some day....NOT LIKELY!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1412620}}
twogirlsbigtrouble
15 years ago
We started the week after Christmas, so I can finally join you here! These are some pics of our progress. This week plumbing is going in and soon my DH will start the siding. This is our first build, very exciting and overwhelming at the same time. We ran into our first major issue with the builder yesterday when we saw he had put in a gas fireplace insert instead of the woodburning unit we had asked for since the beginning. He got a little loud and argumentative, but finally agreed change it. He made sure to let us know it was going to cost him $1000 out of his pocket. Cant wait to see what else arises....
sierraeast
15 years ago
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!! Some of these pics sure make you cold, but everyones projects are lookin' good! I remember the days when we had to scrape ice and snow off the foundation, tops of wall plates and lumber piles before we got to work.
rhome410
15 years ago
Twogirlsbigtrouble, good to see your house underway! You disappeared off the kitchen forum, so I've been dying to know what you decided about your kitchen plans. If you care to share, you can email me through 'my page' so we don't hijack.
coffeehaus
15 years ago
Brutuses...really, now...is anyone's house EVER finished? I'm glad to see that our 1 and a half years of progress and still counting is not so unusual.
Speaking of progress, we've had lots of interior work in the past month (no surprise, judging from the snow photos on this thread). The WIC is mostly done, window and baseboard trim is underway, interior doors are being hung, and our cabinetry is installed, including the cabinet doors. We've had the kitchen counter templating done for the soapstone, and I wait with baited breath for the installation!
{{gwi:1412718}}From WIC, pantry, storage

Here's the black walnut kitchen cabinets:
{{gwi:1412720}}From Wood, cabinets

And one of the bath vanities made from the reclaimed barn oak:
{{gwi:1412723}}From Wood, cabinets

And a general view of the kitchen:
{{gwi:1412789}}From Wood, cabinets
brutuses
Original Author
15 years ago
No coffee, I guess not, but after 6 years it felt good to say those words. LOL
Flowerchild
15 years ago
I haven't posted in a long time .... brutus is probably the only one that will remember me, since we have been at this for about the same amount of time. We are going into our 6th year (not til Dec.) As coffee said 'is it ever finished'... I strongly doubt it, but we can at least enjoy the areas we have almost finished, which are the Powder Room, Kitchen and MA bdrm.
Right now we are concentrating on getting the FP done in the GR. That's holding us up with putting down that floor and the permanent stairs. It's hard bc DH has a second job in the winter as a ski instructor so he has zero time to work on the house....until March.

brutus - Congrats it's been a long haul hasn't it? Please tell me it's worth the wait.

rhome- I really like your stained wood trim

ajpl - I can't wait to see your DIY kitchen..what a brave undertaking that is...

crazyhouse = I really like your backsplash, I'm thinking of something similar

van - from one DIY'er to another, hang in there, you will find many pluses and minuses to self-contracting/DIY, take it one step at a time and know that in the end it's yours no strings attached..

coffee - I love your black walnut cabs, if we hadn't had so much pine in our house frame we would have used that, instead we used light maple so it wouldn't fight with the pine

A few pics of the almost finished areas:
From Our Timber Frame

MA Bdrm
From Our Timber Frame
From Our Timber Frame
sierraeast
15 years ago
Flowerchild, If i remember correctly from the past, that is a napoleon fireplace in the bedroom. Is that a factory finish on the face frame or did you finish it that color. Our faceframe is similar only flat black as we have a napoleon gd70. How is the napoleon working out? Thanks!
brutuses
Original Author
15 years ago
flowerchild, nice to see your updates. Looking good!! Yes, it's worth the wait. I'm still holding my breath wondering if I will really actually live in it though. LOL It's almost like a dream now.
Flowerchild
15 years ago
sierra - Yes, that is a Napoleon and it is a factory finish in pewter. Now that we have the furniture in I want to darken the white surround, it stands out too much. I want to get something closer to the marble. It is working out beautifully for us. We use it way more than we anticipated. It is more powerful than we need in that space, but the others we looked at had such a wimpy flame we decided to go with the bigger one. The wood FP we are in the process of having installed in the GR is also a Napoleon, High Country NZ6000. It is huge!! Takes 30" logs... I won't be totin' those!! We are going to put Corning cement based stone on the frame of this one.

Do you have yours installed? How do you like it?
sierraeast
15 years ago
Hi Flowerchild, it's installed all but the venting, so not in use yet. Our faceframe doesn't have the doors or keystone, but is arched. My wife will see yours in pewter and want to swap it out no doubt. Looks great! Your wood burner sounds awesome. Totin' 30" logs is what husbands are for, at least it's my job here with our current woodburner. 16" totin' is wearing this old man out! Thanks for the performance report. We are banking on it heating our small build until we do a small addition where we once again will rely on wood burning as the primary heating source. Thanks again, you have an awesome timber frame home!
allison0704
15 years ago
For Brutuses!!!!
User
15 years ago
We are seeing some real progress finally. Weather has really not been good to us. However, I do think they will get all the trusses up today!

{{gwi:1412793}}
brutuses
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh Allison, thanks so much for that celebration. When I physically move in I think I'll have a huge one for sure. LOL
cursivesailor
15 years ago
I dont have pictures from the last two weeks because my fiance's band has been in the recording studio. And they stole my camera! But updates are- Everything is sheetrocked, textured and paint is started. Trim carpenter is in this week doing baseboards, doors, and molding. Second tub finally got delivered. The front columns have been bricked and now all the porch railings are going in. The floors should start next week and the garage doors should be installed Monday. It doesnt seem like there will be much more. But ya never know what bumps in the road could pop up.

Pictures to come as soon as I get my camera back from the band. I am ready to kill them, they just booked a quick tour through a few neighboring states right as the house will be wrapping up. Talk about bad timing!
igsmith
15 years ago
It is coming along...

Here is a view from across the bay:

Here is one from the front of the house. You can see the ice and snow shield going on over the entire roof. They haven't yet cut out all of the windows in the sheathing.

And here is one from the water side. They haven't done the roof decks or finished the screened-in porch yet.
bto24
15 years ago
Flowerchild,
I really like your ceiling. What is that material?
Ron Natalie
15 years ago
We're racing to completion:

They're in the middle of installing the finish plumbing and electric.

Here is a link that might be useful: PICTURES
sallen2008
15 years ago
We finally have sheet rock and we are painting today (pictures this week). My favorite thing at the moment is my chandlier. I still have not ordered cabinets which will certainly hold us up...I am trying. Thank you for sharing your suggestions and all the pictures!

Here is a link that might be useful: sallen2008 New Home!
ajpl
15 years ago
Flower child, we constructed the pine counter top for the island this weekend. It looks awesome but no photos yet (and it's not installed.) I still haven't gotten around to installing permanent lighting but I'm still plannin gto use the cross "beams" like you did. It's the best solution I've seen for our type of floor.
Flowerchild
15 years ago
Yes, that was the only way we could do the ceiling lights in this type construction. DH won't hook up the lights yet since we technically aren't 'permanently' moved in. The only lights we can have at this stage are ones on GFI circuits.

Hope you can post pics soon. That is going to be soooo nice.
Flowerchild
15 years ago
bto24 - The ceiling in the kitchen and MA bdrm. are T&G pine boards with a pickling stain. I did that so the natural knots and cracks (checks) in the wood would show through. We really like it and get many compliments on it.
kateskouros
15 years ago
wow! everyone is really coming along. the guys are still framing but we've got all our gables now. i wanted to show a rear view, but our snow is melting and it's all mud around the site, so can't get to the rear of the property. ...well, i could if i had boots to wear. i did buy a pair specifically for this purpose, but they're all nice and new and i don't want to get them dirty. yes, i know. i'm ridiculous.

taken facing the north. there's a lot of fill dirt and retaining walls we'll have to pay for. our master suite is upstairs ...and it is sweet!
{{gwi:1412800}}

facing south. the garage is in the foreground with playroom/kid sanctuary up top.
{{gwi:1412802}}

looking up into the gallery from the great room.
{{gwi:1412804}}

2nd floor gallery with gr8 room below.
{{gwi:1412806}}

a better view of the "hole". gr8 room below, gallery for art/bookshelves (if there's any money left) and sun room beyond. stone fireplace will come up through the center; there's a covered patio outside so we'll have the fireplace open inside and out.
{{gwi:1412808}}

i was happy to find this written on the framing of one of our windows. i don't think we need anymore arguments about building in this economy.
{{gwi:1412810}}
cursivesailor
15 years ago
I finally got my camera back from my fiance's band who was borrowing it while they were in the recording studio.

Heres the front pics of the progress and a picture of the back of the house which I dont think I have ever posted a pic of the back. I couldnt get any interior pics because the trim guy's in there and the saw dust made my allergies go haywire! Once that settles, I'll get some pics.

The builder says about 60 more days!!!! I cant wait!
Flowerchild
15 years ago
cursivesailor - that was quick. Good Luck!
cursivesailor
15 years ago
Flower, thanks! It seems like everything is going quick. We started the project at the begining of November.
sylace
15 years ago
Everyone's homes look awesome!! WOW!

Lots going on this week for us. Siding, tiling, trim and doors, lighting etc.
Here are our pics as of today

Kitchen

Dining Area

Living/Family Room

Hallway to the bedrooms
brutuses
Original Author
15 years ago
cursiv, wow, from little sticks to bricks, overnight. I'm of course referring to your deocrative columns. Looks so nice.

kate, I can't wait to see that "hole in 8" room finished.

Everyone's projects are so beautiful. I so do enjoy this thread every month.
dawn_t
15 years ago
Glad to see we're not the only ones building in the snow :)

Don't think I've updated since last September, but it's slowly coming together. DH and I are painting right now - what a challenge choosing colors! We have the flooring ordered and should be installing it by the end of next week. Then hopefully I can start assembling the kitchen cabinets - woohoo!

A couple of pics:

{{gwi:1412830}}

From dining area looking towards the front entrance:

{{gwi:1412833}}

Dining room windows:

{{gwi:1412835}}
arleneb
15 years ago
Dry-wall finishing happened this week, and painting begins next week. The painters are going to do specific areas first to accomodate the tile guys and the fireplace masons so they can get started.

Appliances are on order. I'VE FINALLY CHOSEN PAINT COLORS -- which to me is the most intimidating decision of all. Well -- all but the main neutral -- but sample boards are drying as I speak and tomorrow we'll put all the elements together with them at the house and make the final choice.

Some aspects of this building saga could be a soap opera, but the end seems to be in sight. Knock on wood.

Arlene
alicia58801
15 years ago
Wow, I love seeing the progress on all of your beautiful homes. Brutuses, congratulations on crossing the finish line!

The progress on our house has been slow this winter. The subzero temperatures and several feet of snow have not exactly been helping anything along. We were out there yesterday, after the latest snowstorm which piled up 3 ft. drifts IN the house. Needless to say, the guys were shoveling for a couple of days!
Front of the house

View of the loft above the kitchen

View of the back of the house. There will be a screened porch between the great room bump-out and the garage walk-out door.

The view from the great room. Notice all of the snow!

I posted a thread awhile back about super-insulation, and just wanted to let you know that we did decide to go ahead with the double wall construction. I'll keep you posted on how that turns out. There is such a long way to go yet, but I get excited everytime we go out to the house. Seeing the progress on the beautiful houses on this forum keeps me hopeful that we will get there one day!

Happy Valentines Day! :)
mamabirrd
15 years ago
Congrats Brutuses! I hope you get to move in soon.

kateskouros, your house looks amazing! I love the design. Can't wait to watch it come alive!
Wanted to add that I have a pair of Chukka rain boots that I got on sale at Piperlime.com that I keep in my truck for stops at the new house. Ours is always a mud pit and I hate not being able to walk around because of it. Having a pair of "mudders" in the truck comes in very handy.

alicia.......My goodness that is an amazing location and view. My DH would be drooling.

Sorry I didn't comment on all the posts but there sure are a lot of gorgeous homes here.

We just had two of our 5 garage doors installed. I posted here a while back about what kind to choose and I ended up going with Garaga's North Hatley Carriage House door. I chose standard hardware. It looked best with the house. They offer some fancier options as well.

I can't wait to put my flowerpots near the doors and plant them up with colorful annuals. I think the blooms will really *Pop* against the neutral colors of our house.

I'm very happy with the Garaga doors. They are made in Canada and are made very well. Quiet as can be too!

My DH finished all the ductwork for our Geothermal Heating and A/C system last week.

He is over there now doing our electric rough-in. Supposed to be mostly done today. Wow! We have an electrician friend coming to help speed up the process.

Working on my kitchen design. Leaning towards Omega cabinetry.

After 3 years of DIY home building.....i'm starting to see a little light. I know we have a long way to go, but things are getting exciting!
booboo60
15 years ago
Congratulations to Brutuses!!! Everyone's builds are looking great! We were hoping to be in by the end of this month but it looks like it will be the first week of March. That's ok, the hardwood install is the delay; the builder would like the house to "sit" a few days before the guys come in to hang doors, do trim, carpet, etc. so that puts us out another week.
arewethereyet
15 years ago
February ROCKS! After what has been so slow and frustrating several months, we started insulation on Monday! Whooohooo! We started electric/plumbing in September, and finally passed open wall last week. Third inspection's a charm, right? The first inspector we got is the one that DH got in trouble last summer with the guy's supervisor. 3 pages and 26 corrections later.... The second inspector we had approved all those corrections, but issued 13 of his own. Oh well, it's all done now. Drywall next week. I've finally chosen cabinets, and have a box full of SW samples to try. So exciting! To brutuses: Congratulations! You are a ray of hope for DIYers everywhere! Everyone's pics are beautfiul. Maybe someday I can figure out my camera....
brutuses
Original Author
15 years ago
You better figure out how to use that camera. Our imaginations can only take us so far. LOL
mmblz
15 years ago
Funny how interesting a bunch of 2x6's become when they are your own framing, isn't it?
Our is hopefully a bit past the "skeleton" phase now...
megradek
15 years ago
Everyone's pictures are inspiring - whether it is just the framing (such an exciting time) to completion (way to go Brutuses!). I admire so much of everyone's homes and continue to learn from each of you.

So you think I'd just wait a couple weeks and post in March, but i'm too excited! Finally got inside the house (the floors were being done). Granite is in (mostly) and much of the interior has been painted. Next week is lighting and appliances.

kitchen

wrong color stain on front door - ugh! and we will be adding brick tiles to the front porch peak area
brutuses
Original Author
15 years ago
mairin, I was looking at your entire photo file, hope you don't mind. I love your beautiful selections in flooring, paint colors, tile, etc. I can't wait to see more. Congratulations on a beautiful home.
tdog_1973
15 years ago
I hope I'm not too late...we are at 5 months. Plastering has finally finished...painting next week. Then, floors, trim, fireplace stone, etc. Builder says end of March! We'll see....We are building Donald Gardner's "Irby" with a few modifications...

Living room, ceiling will be pine t&g

View into living room from dining/kitchen area

Stain matching. Looks pretty close to our hardwood which is white oak! This is the arched trim that goes above our front door.