We are closing in on four months since ground-breaking, already, and looking forward to about another four months ahead as we target our June completion. We'll see...
We've been visiting our construction site more often lately; several times this week. Seeing the progress (or lack of) on any given day makes it more difficult to see the steady progression, but looking back at this week in summary it was another productive one, again helped by some fantastic dry winter weather!
We started this week with a Sunday crab-trapping excursion on our community dock, which reaches out into the Intracoastal Waterway. Using a couple of different techniques we caught about a dozen blue crabs, six keepers, and enjoyed a delicious steamed treat for dinner!
On the construction front, our wooden doors were installed and today work resumed on the siding.
Our "low-voltage" wiring was installed this week after careful planning and considerable related heartburn. It may be overkill, but we should have enough Internet, WiFi, and cable TV capacity to support a small shopping center! We'll be installing in-ceiling wireless routers to ensure consistent coverage throughout. We're trying to anticipate needs for network-based security, sound, entertainment and automation, even if it's sometime in the future, while the walls are open.
We also had the gas lines installed for things like the rangetop, a grill outlet, fireplaces, the front porch gas lamps, and potentially a whole-house generator. Still thinking about that last item, but it would sure make life comfortable when power is out for an extended period during times of sweltering heat!
As the work day closed today, the crew was working on construction of the exterior staircases. They need to do some on-site engineering to accommodate reality versus what the designer put on paper, which would have the whole rear staircase floating on air, apparently!
Last, but definitely not least, we spent the day on Monday running around to review the tile, stone, plumbing, flooring, and lighting options that Bonnie has been working on with our designer. Tile and stone selection - we're +80% there. Plumbing - 95%. Lighting - 70%. Flooring, however, falls into the "still confused" category. We definitely want a casual, maybe more rustic feel, so wide oak planks in a matte or oiled finish is where we're leaning, but color choice is another matter.
Speaking of color choices, the interior paint palette is something we need to get busy on. Our designer is working on a recommendation or options for us to consider, a couple weeks out, so maybe the flooring will fall into place once we have this as part of the equation!
That's it for our update this week!
Ron & Bonnie
We've been visiting our construction site more often lately; several times this week. Seeing the progress (or lack of) on any given day makes it more difficult to see the steady progression, but looking back at this week in summary it was another productive one, again helped by some fantastic dry winter weather!
We started this week with a Sunday crab-trapping excursion on our community dock, which reaches out into the Intracoastal Waterway. Using a couple of different techniques we caught about a dozen blue crabs, six keepers, and enjoyed a delicious steamed treat for dinner!
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| First catch of the day! It takes one to catch one, maybe? |
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| "You go first" |
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| The reward for our efforts -- steamed, and seasoned with Old Bay, of course! |
On the construction front, our wooden doors were installed and today work resumed on the siding.
Our "low-voltage" wiring was installed this week after careful planning and considerable related heartburn. It may be overkill, but we should have enough Internet, WiFi, and cable TV capacity to support a small shopping center! We'll be installing in-ceiling wireless routers to ensure consistent coverage throughout. We're trying to anticipate needs for network-based security, sound, entertainment and automation, even if it's sometime in the future, while the walls are open.
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| Cat 6e network cabling reliably provides full 10-Gigabit Ethernet speeds over 100 meters. In other words, a lot of data, moving very fast! |
We also had the gas lines installed for things like the rangetop, a grill outlet, fireplaces, the front porch gas lamps, and potentially a whole-house generator. Still thinking about that last item, but it would sure make life comfortable when power is out for an extended period during times of sweltering heat!
 |
| The days of hard iron piping for gas runs are long gone. Flexible tubing enclosed with a tough rubber insulating sheathing is the modern solution for enclosed spaces |
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| Pressure testing at the site of the future gas meter looks promising! |
As the work day closed today, the crew was working on construction of the exterior staircases. They need to do some on-site engineering to accommodate reality versus what the designer put on paper, which would have the whole rear staircase floating on air, apparently!
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| Platforms for the multi-level rear staircase are in place and supported with temporary bracing |
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| Front staircase stringers and treads can be seen here, tucked up under the front porch. You can also see the installed front door and portion of new siding completed today |
Last, but definitely not least, we spent the day on Monday running around to review the tile, stone, plumbing, flooring, and lighting options that Bonnie has been working on with our designer. Tile and stone selection - we're +80% there. Plumbing - 95%. Lighting - 70%. Flooring, however, falls into the "still confused" category. We definitely want a casual, maybe more rustic feel, so wide oak planks in a matte or oiled finish is where we're leaning, but color choice is another matter.
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| This "dog bone" woven-looking tile will serve as the pattern for a small "rug" that we'll have installed in the center of our master bathroom |
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| The kitchen island, at minimum, will be covered in this "Fantasy Brown" granite. We think the "fantasy" part of the name stems from the fact that it's gray, not brown! |
Speaking of color choices, the interior paint palette is something we need to get busy on. Our designer is working on a recommendation or options for us to consider, a couple weeks out, so maybe the flooring will fall into place once we have this as part of the equation!
That's it for our update this week!
Ron & Bonnie
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