After signing our original contract for build in March of 2018, things are finally starting to move along (they poured the footers in August and didn't put down block until mid October due to rain and scheduling). We just found out that electrical, rough-in, and framing inspections passed yesterday. Hoping that the scheduled insulation actually happens this coming week!

Doh... we are officially moved to the Feb thread....

Left to do - stain/seal hardwood floors, switches fans and electrical, plumbing fixtures, sheet rock fix + touch up paint, and final punchlist time!

Hoping all goes smoothly Sam!

Kitchen backsplash finally completed. Two pics, our original design rendering and then the real thing followed by other pics.

A few closeups

And lastly damp views out of the kitchen and family room today; it may brighten up later

So fun looking at everyone's pictures and reading about the progress! We walked through our home today for the first time in about three weeks. We can see a lot of electrical and HVAC work has been done. Drywall should start soon. In the meantime, I busy myself binge watching HGTV and shopping for finishes. Most of the exterior siding is installed and we LOVE the color! Very excited to see what the exterior stone will look like once it is added. Hope the freezing spell that is coming this week doesn't slow things down too much.

Back home this week. What an amazing view to wake up to.

kennady - I can see the difference, but I think it looks fine. Maybe the steeper pitch is because there are no columns to hold it up?

We have had our building permit for an entire month now and the only thing that has been accomplished is the construction entrance (temporary driveway) and the footers dug. The footers have filled with water, so the builder has a sump pump in them, but now the temperatures are too cold to pour concrete. The temps don't look good for the rest of the week either. We are going up to Virginia on Thursday, but I would almost rather not because it's kind of painful to know that out of the past month there has only been about 3 days of work. We lost the rest due to soggy ground problems. I keep getting my hopes up and keep being disappointed. Maybe the only good thing to come of this delay is that we will be able to get the trail camera installed before the construction begins. Rebecca, this is complete torture. HOW DID YOU SURVIVE???

Brad - love the coffered ceiling. If ours ever gets built it has 2 ft deep coffers in the great room.

Kriii what did you get for exterior siding and what color?

Pinebaron love that sunrise, just beautiful. Your house looks great. Very exciting.

Kennady they look different but not necessarily a bad thing. If you or SO are really unhappy about it is there anything they can do?

Kathy hope this weather dissipates soon so your builder can get the ball rolling. Very frustrating. Maybe in a few days this weather will move out and warmer temps will prevail.

Our builder is taking days off waiting for trusses to be delivered. The worst part of building-waiting.

Kayce03 - Congrats!!! Exciting progress.

kennady12, It's hard to tell how the brow will look when it's all finished, but you are going to be kicking yourselves if you let them leave it there and it bugs you for the rest of the time you live there. If it was me and I thought it looked odd, I'd have them take it down now before it's too late.

wysmama, you are right. I need to take a chill pill. It will get built...eventually.... Also your lighting choices are really nice. I like your sconce option #1. I'm not sure why that armpit needs to be censored though....

Pinebaron, your kitchen is absolutely amazing. You're ready to do some SERIOUS cooking now.

We passed rough in inspections for electrical, plumbing and HVAC on the first try this week (and later part of last). The professionals are done for awhile (except spray foam tomorrow) and now we get busy.

Finally got the ok from the truss company on how to fortify the trusses - now we can build the cantilevered landing for the stairs. My husband is out of town this week, so I will be tiling a shower. Bath is a rush since FEMA is in a hurry for their trailer back and it's too cold to shower outside, even in Texas! We will likely have to boil water and take baths because the gas company is SLOW and so completely disorganized. Electric installed a brand new pole and should have the meter installed and temp service on in the next 3-5 days!

i am thankful every day that I live in a small community where the inspector is available, helpful, and thorough. He is ok with us using the shower and running the water to the yard. Septic guy is waiting for the yard to dry out. I jokingly told him I would see him in June. REALLY hope that isn't the case!!!

Kathy - it has been frustrating. We had water in our footers for about two months. This weather has been so very irritating - to build during the rainiest year on record is definitely frustrating. I hope things start speeding up for you soon!!

Holy moly Pinebarron...those windows!! Awesome.

And the rest of you all need to post more pics so I can get my building fix. We finished our build several months ago but I still love looking at all the new construction.

@nidnay, the window pics don’t do justice to the stunning panaromIc view in combination with two east facing windows. It is a dramatic 3D experience as one walks towards the kitchen from the foyer and we simply love it. It all came together exactly as deslgned. Perhaps I can create a short video clip.

Pinebarron...I totally get it (the panaroma). We had a snowstorm a bit ago and it felt like I was in a snow globe (with east, south, and west facing windows we were surrounded by snow). I can only imagine yours...I fully understand that pics just don’t do it justice.

Ha....I actually made a video (set quality to high) of the snowfall back during Christmas (pardon the Christmas decorations and the old decor....still a work in progress :) )

@nidnay: Looks amazing!

Pinebaron I imagine it is such a stunning view with all those windows. Id never want to leave and sitting out on the deck all day would be my thing. Love it.

Nidnay your house is gorgeous and that video is so peaceful looking out the windows with the beautiful snow falling.

Mrswaves your house is so pretty.

Kathy so glad they are able to move forward on the house. Prayers the good weather stays for awhile.

mrswaves - what color is your siding? It's beautiful!

nidnay - Thanks for sharing your awesome video! Our expanse of windows isn't quite as amazing, but still will be beautiful to us (and give us great views)

Pinebaron - A video would be so cool!

Kathy - So glad things are moving for you!!

Plumbers and electricians done. Gas lines done. Awaiting HVAC.

One interesting update. We lost a massive oak tree in Hurricane Michael and I haven't had time to deal with it until last week. Turns out there was zero rot in the tree, it just fell over. I had it delivered to the mill this week and we'll get ~1500 of hard wood floor out of it. Can't get more locally sourced then that!

nidnay, love the video, so. many. windows! You and pinebaron seem to have cornered the market on those! I feel like you've got more windows in one room than we'll have in our entire house!

I do agree with you though, more PHOTOS!!!

All I can do here is post floor plans that keep changing, (have to do something while waiting for spring) but I'm not sure I need the anxiety attack as they're picked apart! lol ;-)

Buzz.....we have 165 windows :) :) I wasn’t kidding when I told my architect I wanted a window house.

omg....you take your life in your hands when you post floorplans here. Not for the faint of heart!

Adam Thomas looking good, lol love the dog picture.

Thanks

NewEnglandgal, 270 degrees view and several other factors led us (me lol) to splurge on this land, 50 ASL. We love gazIng out in any weather and looking forward to spring and summer, sitting on the deck. With so much glass, it was extemely hard getting required energy credits for a home this size.

Rebecca, I’ll work on a video although interior wall tile work is outstanding, once completed, will compliment exterior views.

Got out to our lot today...looks pretty much exactly how I thought it would. Not thrilling to look at, but I'm happy to see progress. This is looking at the back.

nidnay - omg 165 windows? I can count mine in my head, give me a minute.... 13 and that includes the 2 in the garage. I'd like at least 2-3 more but at this time DH will not budge. I'm hoping I can at least get him to put in headers in case after we're done he says "damn, this is too dark!" I'd also like to get a 4th door to the outside, this one in the mechanical/freezer room to the backyard. But as we already have one door to the backyard in the living room I am sure he'll say no. He's a stubborn old coot.

omg....you take your life in your hands when you post floorplans here. Not for the faint of heart!

I know, lol. When I was brand new to this site back in June of last year I posted a very, very preliminary kitchen plan over in the kitchen forum which was promptly reamed by none other than Sophie. Most other kitchen posts I have made after that have essentially been ignored so I gave up.

My whole house plan at around that time wasn't reamed quite as badly but I don't really remember having too many good things said about it either. At this point though I am pretty pleased with it, having learned a lot of good things here on Houzz. Heck, while my front door still doesn't really have its own vestibule that architect Mark B. suggested, it at least now it sort of has its own space and a coat closet!

So I think I'll play it safe for now and not show it off. ;-)

If you're going to post it, do it in this thread, it's mostly safe :) lol

There is sooo much to learn by reading the threads that break down the best of plans! Good luck Buzz!!

We have just encountered the frustration of finding out that the siding that we chose isn't what was ordered. Evidently the "supplier stopped carrying the other brands." This is understandable, but we found out by visiting our house site and seeing the boxes of a different brand of siding. We would not have known otherwise. I am getting tired of having such things changed without at least making us aware and ensuring that the changes made by the builder are still ok with us.

We go out every other day at least. This isn't the first instance of this. Ridiculous.

Rebecca C that is frustrating! I have caught a few mistakes and been able to answer questions by living on site - but I know most people aren't able to do that. In this day/time of email, text and cell phones - there is no excuse not to contact homeowners with changes!

Lot of progress in the last week. Typical whirlwind days. My wife spent 5-6 hours on the road the last two days sourcing smart switches and lighting fixtures and bulbs. Missed delivery window so I helped the super unload our Bluestar Platinum range. Holy !#% that thing is heavy.

It's beginning to look like Feb's our thread! :)

Im sorry you are dealing with that Claudia. People are really rude, especially after you offered them food and drinks. I have seen the landscape littered with food wrappers too. Really lazy and inconsiderate. They need to be respectful. I am glad you said something.

Everyone's build looks fantastic!

I am starting the February thread so move on over there!