First Snow

After getting Christmas trees and shopping downtown Sparta, we headed up to the building site where the snow was more abundant. There was at least 2-3 inches on the ground and the roads were rather treacherous. We encountered a Fedex truck stuck in a ditch being pulled out and at the turnoff to our road, a small SUV had ran off the side of the road taking with it the street sign. This was going to be our first try driving up the mountain in the snow. Switching into 4 wheel drive, the mountain was no match for the Nissan Frontier. It was a beautiful site to behold when we got to the top.

Roofing Begins

Its Saturday, Nov. 20, and the the roofers have started. They expect to finish on Sunday. We chose a galvanized metal roof - officially referred to as "galvalume." Should last a lifetime and be incredibly energy efficient. The light color will reflect the sun's heat away from the house and keep it cool in the summer without the use of air conditioning.

Parting Shot 11-14-10

This week we had high hopes that a lot would be accomplished. After all, it was to be completed Nov. 1 and it was Nov. 14 and the metal roof wasn't even on. This week we were looking for the metal siding to be put on, the roof to be completed, the fireplace to be built, the utility room and screen porch to be completed, and the wiring and plumbing to be started, if not, completed. We didn't really hear much from the builder this week other then an email stating that the electrician/plumber did not come on the day he said he was going to. Needless to say, the only thing that happened was that the electrician/plumber did get started on Friday, and, well, that's about it. Our builder has missed his stated completion date, and now, we are pushing him to give us another date. Progress is slow and frustration has set in.

Windows Finally In

When the windows were delivered, the three windows in the living room were sent as three doubles, rather than three singles. Its quite amazing that the sales rep for Jeld Wen was given the plans to the house which detailed the windows explicitly, and they still came in wrong. The builder worked with the building supply company to get the rep out to the building site to work with him to separate these windows and be able to use them. The sales rep did not want to take responsibility for the error and get new windows, but this solution seems to have worked out for all even though the builder got charged for bigger windows than were really needed. This was not the only problem with the window order, more info to follow....

Utility Room Comes To Life

We visited the site on October 28 and the builder was working with a brick mason building the foundation for the utility room. After the main foundation was poured, it was determined that the architect had not really left any room for the equipment that was going to be necessary to heat the water for the radiant floor heat. So, an additional room was added to the side of the house for the gas heated water that would be circulating through the floors. Over the past two weeks, the builder framed the room, but for some reason didn't quite finish it. It still needs a roof.

Fall in the Mountains

It was peak leaf season in the mountains this weekend and the trees were in full color. My pics don't do it justice as these were just what I snapped inbetween snapping photos of the house progress. Still, I was wishing the house was completed so that I could sit on the patio and take in the view.

Door Delight

The French Doors to the Patio and the Screen Porch were also installed this past week. The look of these doors with their panel at the bottom and single horizontal divided light were integral to the design of the house. The final product filled the bill nicely.

Screen Porch Framing

The builder started framing the screen porch this week on the east side of the house. It is going to have a metal shed roof with the same architectural details as the main house. When inside the porch, the ceiling will be over 12 ft at its highest point and the structure of the roof will be exposed with the metal roofing material showing through.

Cedar Siding

The Board and Batten cedar siding on the top half of the house was completed this week. This is the view from the back of the house with the newly installed back door that leads out to the outdoor shower. The bottom half of the house will be galvanized corrugated siding giving the house its industrial feel. This should be installed in the next 2-3 weeks.

Doors Arrive

It was a windy Saturday at the worksite. The doors and roofing material arrived this week and the builder and his crew were there busily installing the doors and starting to work on the screen porch. The roof was going to have to wait until the wind died down. (Hopefully, that will get installed this week.) In addition to those materials arriving at the job site this week, the footers for the utility room were dug and the lines to the sewer and the water were dug.

Pumpkin Patch

Started a new tradition this year - roaming the pumpkin patch for the perfect pumpkin! Of course, I couldn't just pick the one closest to the parking lot, I had to survey all the pumpkins to find the two very best ones. I think they are the biggest and best pumpkins ever! I love the mountains!

Siding Starts

The windows have been lowered and the Cedar siding has started being put into place. In addition, the eave supports were placed along the sides of the house.

Windows Arrive

We knew the windows were to be delivered on Friday, but did not know they would be installed by the time we got there on Saturday. It was a nice surprise. The not so nice surprise, was that the outswing windows on the second floor hit the cedar beam on the eaves before opening fully. The fix, all the second floor windows have to be taken out and lowered about 2 inches. Oh well, things happen beyond our control. While Norm says "Measure Twice, Cut Once", maybe our builder should have "Installed One, Checked For Fit, " before installing all 16 windows that now have to be lowered.

Water

While visiting the site on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, we got to see the well being drilled by the guys at Sharp's Well Drilling. Turns out they hit water at 450 feet. (Our builder had estimated 600 feet on his quote and we really didn't know whether they would even find water.) Happy to have this completed!

Up and Out on the Roof

Happy Labor Day Weekend! Over the past two weeks, the work on the house has progressed nicely and has really helped add some style to the "box". The plywood sheeting was laid on the roof making it feel much more like a house; more interestingly, the eaves and overhang were added which give the house a distinct feel of a modern farmhouse dwelling. They are constructed of western red cedar which will also be the wood of choice for the board and batten siding that will be on the upper half of the house. In addition to the 4ft overhang with the distinct angle change, there will be a 4x6 beam running the length of the house and 4x4 supports from the eave to the side of the house every 4 ft.

Framing Continues

Framing continues at a slow pace due to rain almost on a daily basis. It was exciting to see the second floor almost all framed out and to have stairs in place to actually walk up to it. The master bedroom is going to be awesome(see view photo) as it is going to be encased in a wall of trees having windows on all three sides. Looking at the front of the house you can imagine the fireplace flanked by two sets of french doors and the two galvanized flues rising all the way above the roofline. Looking forward to both indoor and outdoor fires later this year.

Framing Begins

Last week, the first floor was framed up almost completely. These pictures show the four sides of the house and the approaching view from the driveway. Once the house is completed, it is going to have quite the presence at the top of the hill. The second floor is anticipated to be framed up by the end of this week. More pictures then.

Choices - Ceiling Fans

Now that framing is beginning, there are going to be a lot of things to choose! Why not start with ceiling fans - there's going to be 4 total in the house - 1 in each bedroom, 1 in the living area, and 1 on the screened porch. The inspiration fan was found while on vacation in St. Bart's and seems to be readily available on the web at http://www.barnlightelectric.com/. Its galvanized and is an old vintage style. It comes with options for the blade colors and I'm not sure yet which one to choose. Check it out and let me know what you think. I have a feeling several of the house's lighting fixtures will be coming from this same resource.

Lumber Arrives

This week the lumber arrived on the hilltop. (I know, not very exciting.) Framing was set to begin yesterday and, according to the builder, we should be able to walk upstairs by this Saturday (and that is the most exciting news yet!) Can't wait to see it! Notice how neatly covered and protected from the weather the lumber is. The builder is doing a very neat job.

Neighbors

Just about a mile from the building site, shot this pic of a long horn steer beside the road in one of the neighbor's fields. Just one of many cows and goats that can be seen along the drive in.

Welcome to Elk Creek, VA

Elk Creek is the small township in which our modern mountain home is being built. It is a beautiful valley in southwestern Virginia between Independence and Whytheville that will remind you of the Napa Valley as you are driving through. While grapes do grow in Virginia, the Elk Creek Valley is more known for the hills of fraser fir trees growing everywhere. Oh, there will be the occasional pumpkin patch or corn field, but mostly its Christmas trees. The Valley Diner is the neighborhood meeting place, or so we gather, as their parking lot is packed with cars most of the time. It also serves as gas station(tractors welcome), beauty shop, and real estate office.