Going to Miss That Ditch Witch

Well Bryan will be sad to see the construction equipment go, but I think those tears will be short lived as his park opens up.  They have been working a feverish pace, and they look like they are on schedule for Saturday completion.

Trail and Shubbery

Park and Community "Christmas" Tree

Exterior almost finished

We had our Pre Delivery Inspection on Friday, and everything is almost done.  We forgot the camera, and when we came back around later the door was locked, so I still can't show you the counter, but everything inside is pretty much perfect.  A few minor things, but they are being taken care of.  So here are the pictures I did get:

Exterior finally fully sided.

Railings added (deck still missing.)

Shower installed

So this images are a little bit 'steamy' not because the shower was running, but because I left my camera in the car over night and there was condensation on the optics (i know I know I'm a terrible person for doing that to a camera.)

Mmmmm showerlicious

The long awaited dryer vent

Its mate

The missing piece of drywall, and your monies worth on drywall screws.

Floors and Fixtures

Lots and lots has changed just in one day, starting on the outside they did some work over the garage, so hopefully that means the rest of the exterior is coming soon (it just stalled a few weeks ago and I would like to see it done.)  Inside they installed the hardwood... all of it... one day... POW!  They also have wired all the fixtures (okay I didn't check the valiance lighting under the cabs, but the rest, done, one day POW!  They also did all the plumbing fixtures except the kitchen, one day, POW.  So interesting notes, compact florescent in all the fixtures, the bathroom lighting fixtures are all  much nicer then the light bars we currently have, and there is saw dust every where :)

Above the garage

Living Room

Upstairs Hall

Dinning Room

Greatroom

Bryan's Bathroom with fixtures

Light in Bryan's Bathroom (note CF Bulbs in all fixtures.)

Our bathroom with Fixtures

His/Her Lights

Soaker tub fixtures

Water heater added

Just dumping some photos and running to bed

Stairs from the garage door up

Starting to install the kitchen cabinets

This is the water proofing that goes down under the deck

Counter top in B's bathroom

Can almost see the colour of our bathroom cabinets

Stain and Posts

Some nice finishing touches started to take shape at the house today, I had a second conversation with the same contractor from the day before, today he was staining the railings and stairs and he wanted to know what I thought.  I told him earnestly how happy I was with it all, I have to admit I was having reservation about the stain.  I have to remember three critical things, first the stain was wet when applied so will appears darker; second, the stain is unvarnished so it tends to absorb more light then reflect; and last, the stairs will match the floor, and so they will look stunning even if they are a shade deeper then I anticipated.

This was the best shot it really picks up the grain,
love the way you get varied stain in the nooks and crannies on the spindles

Outside the decorative post were installed, they really give the front elevation character.  We are missing the railings on the porch and walkout, but I suspect, as I mused yesterday the walkout won't get finished until they finish the waterproofing.                  

As Om Nom Nom's go this one is looking more sophisticated.

For the geeks out there, here is a the HVAC system.  The notable beige box dangling from the ceiling is the heat recovery ventilation system.  It is what allows the house to be more thoroughly sealed against air leaks as it is explicitly designed to perform air exchange, extracting heat from the out bound air, and warming the in bound air.

This picture shows something really really important, and isn't immediately obvious, if one cranes their peepers to the ceiling you will see the extensive duct work is now in place.  What is important is that the lowest point in the ceiling remains the two steel beams, and that all the ducting could be accommodated in the joist spaces or above the plane of the beam.  Since that beam is ~7-8 feet, it means when the basement is finished the ceiling can be hung without risk of most people bumping their heads.  I'm super happy with how that worked out.

In other house related news, we now have some serious colours selected for the dinning room, kitchen, main bathroom, and Bryan's room, and a maybe on the trim colour.  We really need a decision on laundry room, en-suite, and powder room, as my initial goals are to paint any room with water ASAP followed by rooms we live in.  I have 4 weeks off at the time of move in, so we will start with the critical rooms and move out from there.

Anyways thats the news, closing date in T-minus 30 days.

Finishing touches on the bay windows

Our bathroom now grouted

The doors and trim has arrived

Looking more and more like a house

Siding going up

First Finished Side

Now primed (and cleaned) Family Room

I keep coming back to the hall picture, but I think it is a good hall, and shows the progress

*Grunt* *Grunt* *Grunt* Wires

The finished edge of the basement

Drywall complete

I didn't even notice right away but our "official" lot sign is now up.

Looking down from the great room to the foyer

Family Room, now with debris

Dinning Room, with overlook to great room, and long shadows of evening sun.

Kitchen...

Master bathroom with shamancy tub