The House That Built US Week 10- A Real House

It looks like a house...a real house.

Well for it to be a crummy weather week they still managed to get a lot accomplished. We even ran into an issue with the garage and roof trusses but they made it right quickly by lowering the garage walls just a bit. It was crazy to see SO MANY men working on the days it wasn't raining. 

This week has been such a whirlwind for us that when I looked back at the pictures on my phone I realized I don't have any from Monday. I guess that meant they didn't work...maybe it rained...I don't remember! I did go pick up a few samples of granite and quartz countertop. That decision is going to be even harder than I imagined! We haven't found one yet we both like and agree on. This could be our first real disagreement yet. :/

:(

We also put the FSBO sign in our yard. I had to hold back the tears. I didn't realize actually putting that sign in the yard would have such an affect on me. Praying that God sends us the right buyers at His exact perfect timing! 

Tuesday I took the kids by and they were there setting roof trusses. They enjoyed seeing the crane lift and set the trusses. When I stopped by after gymnastics they didn't have them finished which surprised me because they seemed to be moving so fast. Well I found out Wednesday that the garage roof trusses wouldn't fit because of the bonus room above the garage. Blah Blah Blah, words I don't understand, assured it will look fine once finished, etc. Basically they had to lower the garage walls a little to get the head height correct for the bonus room, which we will use as walk in attic space for now. 

Taking shape

Thursday was AWFUL weather and they didn't get anything done. They were all there yesterday and today though and the entire roof is ready for shingles! Hoping that comes early next week! The steps going to bonus room/attic are in and the floor is down. I have so much room for all my Christmas and Halloween stuff now! 

Attic/Bonus Room above garage

They also took all the support posts out of the house so we really got a feel for the size of all the rooms!  

Kitchen and Living  room

Kitchen with Pantry on right & dining room on left

Thursday evening we finished up the appliances shopping and I am happy to say they are ordered and ready! 

Oh and have I mentioned how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE my back deck??  It is seriously going to be my happy place! :)

Door from Master Bedroom to back deck

I stood in awe looking at the house today. Obviously it has taken shape and I am just amazed that it is mine. 

Nail by nail and board by board he has given life to my dream.

Til' next week,

~Mel

The House that Built US Week 9

Well a lot happened in a hurry this week. It seemed like everyday that we stopped more and more men were there and they were working super hard to get the framing done this week. Monday they spent the day putting the flooring on. When we went by that evening we were excited because most of the chalk lines for the rooms were down and we actually got to walk around on the main level! 

Each day more and more went up and today they finished up the framing (for the most part) and the guy told us today they are set to put on the roof trusses Monday. We are going to have a roof next week y'all....HOLY COW!! That happened so fast! I need to remember to take these guys donuts again for all their hard work. They are doing a SUPERIOR job and keeping the property cleaned up nice and neat too! 

Before we get to the rest of the house pictures a few other updates. We got our quote back on our cabinets and I am happy to report that even with the add-ons we picked we only went over a budget very very little! We also got to see the computerized drawings of our kitchen. IN L.O.V.E. already! We still have to decide on which colors but I have it narrowed down to 4 and we are going to do light on top and dark on bottom. My mom had that same style in her last home and I loved it. Just can't decide whether we are going to do white up top or a canvas color (a light ivory). 

We also finalized all of our appliances and Lowes is going to hold them for us until we need them. Apparently this time of year is the Spring Black Friday of Appliances and the prices we got on all our appliances were ridiculously cheap so we couldn't not get them. We decided to mix it up some though and are using both Samsung and GE appliances in our kitchen. 

"AGAIN!" 

Now on to the pictures. They finished up our back deck today and it has quickly become on of my most favorite places in our house. Half of it will be covered the other open and it is SO much bigger than I realized. I foresee many morning coffee dates snuggled up on the outdoor couch. 

Seriously HUGE deck and that part you see will be covered

Excited to be standing in his room, see his smile! :)

This girl LOVES her big window!

Staircase going downstairs is in

From front door looking into living room and fireplace

That's a big garage, I'm so excited to park in it!

They took out the posts holding the walls and it really opened it up down there.
That is the L shaped rec room


Still hard to believe we went from this....

Monday

To THIS in 6 days.....

Everything framed! 

:)

WOW I can't wait to see what happens next week!!!!

~Mel

The House that Built US - Weeks 7 & 8

Week 7

This week wasn't the best for building. There was a lot of rain and storms that came through our town but they did manage to get a few things accomplished. We were hoping they would get the slab in the downstairs poured but that didn't happen. They managed to get the plastic and rebar down and they filled the block walls with concrete as well. It was a beautiful day that Sunday and the hubs and I took our first front porch picture!

Front Porch Standing

Ready for the slab to be poured

Lots of concrete in those walls

Week 8 started out beautifully and we had a fantastic week progressing forward on the house! 

Monday a bunch of wood and floor trusses showed up so that was exciting to see and they also got the slab poured! 

Tuesday we stopped by and they had cut the concrete and the holes for the back deck posts poured

Wednesday I was blown away by what all they were doing. The back wall was up and they were framing the downstairs. It's a good thing we stopped by those because they had forgot to frame one of the doors leading to the back patio. They immediately started taking out posts and framing the door! The work they have done so far has been excellent and I am so pleased with how it is looking!

Walking into his Safe room and home brewery

Standing in the toy room/workout room, not decided which yet

Back wall is up and I am loving the BIG windows!! 

Thursday they had the entire downstairs framed and were putting the wood up top for the floor trusses to be put on. We also met with the cabinet company to pick out our cabinets. The bathroom cabinets were fairly easy to pick out but the kitchen was a little more difficult. I am doing dual color cabinets in the kitchen and the shades are where I am struggling. They only had two shades in to show my but he is trying to get doors of the other two, that I think are more along the lines of what I am looking for. Hoping he will have those in next week for me to see.

Back of the downstairs

Timberlake in the bathrooms and TRU in the kitchen

Friday they put all the floor trusses on! This was so exciting because this means in the next two weeks we will be walking through our bedrooms and kitchen, bathrooms, etc. :-) This is where I am praying for clear weather for the next month! 

I took the workers donuts that day too hoping the little sugar kick would give them a boost of energy to finish and it seems to work as when we went back that evening the trusses were completely finished. 

This morning we went and got a few quotes on Appliances. I thought that was going to be an easy choice because we pretty much knew what we wanted however it is becoming a little more difficult. The fridge we LOVE is in one brand and the only brand that makes that style but all the other appliances we like (and are within our budget) are in another brand. Do any of y'all have two different brands of stainless in your kitchen?? Can you tell a difference in the color?? 

I'll be back next week with more updates! 

~Mel

The House That Built US Week 6 - Downstairs prep

It seemed like they got a lot accomplished at the homestead this week. Theme returned on Monday and had the basement and garage block completed by Wednesday. This was including a half days lost on Tuesday due to the rain! They did an amazing job on the block and the foundation is looking nice and sturdy!

Monday

More gravel arrived on Thursday which they will use to doe some back full drainage with. 

I got to talk a bit with the contractor on Thursday and we are on track to be framing by end of March/beginning of April. I guess with life being so busy all the time it seems as though this process is flying by. I'm thankful though as I do not do so well with the waiting game.

Workout Room and Safe Room

The garage! 

We went by today and the plumber came to do the plumbing for the downstairs and then they spread out the gravel and are preparing to pour the slab. It was so fun to be able to see the pipes sticking up where the downstairs crapper will be! ;) 

Leveling out where the patio will be

Downstairs bath

Have a good weekend y'all! 

~Mel

The House That Built US - Week 5 - Basement

 While the week didn't go quite as well as I had hoped with 2 days worth of bad storms that moved through our area but I am still happy with the work the did manage to complete. 

We also met with two different real estate agents this week and have one more meeting scheduled for next week. We have never sold a house and had quite a few questions plus we had been told that we needed to interview and shop around to be sure we found the person best fit for us. We have been very please with what we have heard so far but still are unsure about the "timing" of putting our house on the market. This area is a HOT area which is great but it could also leave us moving twice, something we aren't crazy about doing.  Have you all had any experience with the POD's? We are thinking about going that route but don't know much about them. Any advice is welcome! 

Tuesday

My mom stopped on Monday and said no one was there and I had a super busy evening so I didn't stop by but I did swing by on Tuesday even though it rained that morning. It looked like someone had been there because the block was lined up all along the edge of the outline. That was the only thing that I noticed.

Lots of water! 

Wednesday the storms were really bad with lots and lots of rain! IT worried me that Thursday and Friday would be a wash since the storm left standing water down by the footers but they didn't let that stop them! 

Thursday

Thursday evening they were working when I stopped by and to my surprise already had what I considered a pretty good amount lay.

We went back today to see what all they got completed Friday and found one entire basement wall up long with half the other and the bottom layer along the bottom completed. 

That little indention you see there is a Closet downstairs! 

We talked with the contractor and pending no major weather issues he anticipates all the block walls to be completed by the end of next week! ::) YIKES!!! Even just one wall up made the realization that this is happening sink in! Not gonna lie, I'm still in partial disbelief y'all! :) 

Praying for no rain and sunny blue skies this week! I may have to take those men some Advocare Spark this week to get them pumped up and ready to go! LOL

Till next week,
~Mel