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.

Dried Slab

Checked out the concrete slab this weekend. First pic is from the front of the house and second one is from the back of the house. Hopefully things will start progressing a little faster now. Lumber is due to be dropped this Monday, July 12.

Pour Me A Slab!

Since the visit on the 26th of June, the inspector has snubbed the builder for almost two weeks without appearing to inspect the radiant floor heating system causing quite a delay in getting the slab poured. What's a builder to do, when there's only one inspector for two counties in this rural part of Virginia? But alas, he came and the slab was poured on July 7th. You'll notice the boards placed over the radiant floor system in places to keep bolts in place for the walls and if you look closely you will see the two outlets we added in the living room so that lamps can be floated away from the walls beside the planned matching sofas facing each other. Things should get much more exciting with lumber being ordered for the start of the framing that will hopefully get underway in the next couple of weeks. Going up this weekend to check it all out. (Today's photos courtesy of Builder Mike.)

Radiant Floor System In Place

Today, we visited the site and discovered the radiant floor tubing for the heated floors had been set in place. There will be two zones on the first floor so if you want the living room warmer than the kitchen and dining room, you can make it happen. The system will be heated with gas but future plans are to switch to solar.