House Project Update

I've been slacking off and not updating my blog as much as I'd like to. Life is funny like that, keeping me busy with all kinds of shit that I don't really want to do. Well, here goes.

The front entrance has been completed, the new columns are in place and the new front door has been installed. We shit-canned the planned arches on the front porch because, in the words of Jerry - the lead carpenter on the job - "they looked gay". Well, I don't know if they were gay or not - not that there's anything wrong with that mind you - we just didn't like the way they looked. So, we killed 'em. The front porch and steps have been put in place by the mason, so no more moat!

We've also gotten the inspections for electrical, plumbing and framing - so that means it's on to insulation. The insulation was installed and inspected and we then raced on to sheetrocking. And since I'm a lazy ass I didn't take any pictures since the insulation was put in place, you'll just have to use your imagination. It looks like this, only there's sheetrock on the walls.

If you squint a little you can see the sheetrock.

Well today (9/11) I stopped by the house to check on the progress and all the sheetrock is up and taped and spackled. Lot's of progress. The next major milestone is the install of the hardwood floors and the stair hand rails. We thought we were going to be able to just patch the stair rails, but wouldn't you know it, since we've change so much of the house we now have to follow the "new" code standard for rail height. Our existing stair rails were two inches too short so they all had to be ripped out and will need to be replaced by new ones. Of course.

We finally picked out granite for the kitchen and we decided on silestone for the bathrooms and Julie has finalized the tiles for the kitchens and baths.

Up next is the delivery and install of the kitchen cabinets. Somewhere along the line we have to paint the interior and exterior of the house. Oh, did I mention that they've started to install the cedar shingles? Well, they have. I love the look of the plain unpainted cedar shingles, I'm half tempted to strip the whole house down and have them put up fresh shingles. Mind you, I'm only half tempted and that half of me is an idiot.

Meanwhile, the bank account is looking a tad spartan these days, so any and all contributions to the Billings Foundation will be graciously accepted (and immediately forwarded on to Ethan my contractor, aka: The guy that has all my money).

Betcha can't wait 'till you do your own house project! It's so much fun!