If there is a bunch of building going on in the area and everyone is getting burlarized, perhaps you and several other neighbors who are building could go in together to hire a single private security guard to patrol all of your building sites. Also, find out whether your builder seems to be particularly "unlucky" with regard to having his building sites burglarized. Sad to say but I've heard that sometimes the thief turns out to be the builder himself who is stealing materials from one client in order to increase his profit margins on another build! For example, a builder who low-balled his bids can purchase a single entry door, install it in client A's house and then when client A isn't watching, go "steal" that door and install it in client B's house. Client A's insurance company pays to purchase another door while the builder pockets the money he would have had to spend to purchase a door for Client B. A builder who is building several homes at the same time can circulate the same materials thru a whole bunch of homes and wind up getting the various homeowners' insurance companies to foot the bill for a big portion of his materials' costs.

We waited last year due to higher costs and seasonal weather. I will be checking again next month. It's looking like we will have to compromise some sqfootage. Dbrad- we will grab a paddle too as many of us are in this boat together. I scour the market in my spare time and even have been to a few showings but I have realized nothing will check all our boxes either. I am beginning to think it's like comparing apples to oranges since it's so hard to compete with this idea of the "fictitious" home that is conceived in our heads;). I'm sure reality, for us will consist of a work of compromise and more DIY landscaping and yard work left than we hoped to tackle. To the OP even though we are in SC our local contractor said OSB went double after hurricane Sandy so we waited in hopes...on a side note it's nice to worry about luxuries like space and level of finish in contrast to the cost of storm devastation.

Really appreciate all the good feedback! I love Gardenweb! When DH and I went out to the site last evening, sure enough, a small wire enclosure had been put up and there were a few, "token" items inside. DH and I had four plastic trash sacks, so we proceeded to fill each one of those with what I would term "personal trash"--cans, bottles, cigarette packs, fast food containers, etc. etc. We policed the entire site, inside the house and outside, as well as the vacant lot adjacent to ours, which will be built on by good friends. Then we pulled all the plastic wrapping materials, soggy cardboard, etc. etc., from the various piles of scrap/discarded wood, and this junk we put in the wire enclosure. After 2 1/2 hrs., the sacks were full to the brim, as was the small enclosure. We were filthy and hot--this is Texas I'm talking about. When I got home and got cleaned up, I sat down and emailed our builder, thanking him for having the enclosure erected but telling him that it was already full with what we had picked up and suggesting that he will either need to have this enclosure emptied soon and often or erect more. I told him that I could live with the various and numerous piles of scrap wood, though of course I actually feel that all of this ought to be contained in a dumpster. I've not heard back from him. Nephew advises not to bring up fact that among soda cans and plastic water bottles I also found beer cans and bottles. "If the guys want to drink a beer at the end of a hot work day, so be it,"says nephew. DH says same. I am a fuddy-duddy and think they should wait to drink their beer after going home and worry that they're drinking while working with power tools, and besides, alcohol is not a good or effective way to hydrate in 105 degree weather..... DH and nephew scoff at me. BUT, anyway, I do appreciate all the great input. I feel slightly better; it's helped to "vent" here and, again, great feedback from all of you! In six mos. or so I'll send pix of our beautiful new home! The three framers ARE doing a super job on the framing and so the "important" things are getting done.

A lot depends on the look you want. We're also doing a screen porch and will use a composite (not sure which yet) but the type that is interlocking and looks like T&G after install. You can't stain a PT deck immediately so it will have to weather as is for a while - how long I believe depends on how much weather/sun exposure it will get but I believe a year is recommended. Will you be screening underneath the PT flooring to keep bugs out? How will it be fastened? Will they do a blind system so you don't have to see nails in the boards?