LAND TO HOME

Front Door installation was done after a couple of late nights...it was a HUGE DIY project! Normally this time of year we are working as a family to secure a Christmas tree into a tree stand and make sure that it all lines up and is straight.  This year, we had a different project....we got… Continue reading Essentials: Front door & Cabinets

WOW! Our paint color turned out better than we anticipated! We are so thankful!  We are so thankful for so very many things!!! This was a great week of having this construction project look more like a home every day.  We paused to enjoy Thanksgiving with family and talk about our blessings this year, with… Continue reading A week of thankfulness…

With our ability to schedule the subs, we are keeping things moving.... Saturday & Sunday: Craig continued working on boys' bathroom tile and continued through late evenings this week Tuesday: Drywall was textured Wednesday: Garage doors installed & Septic system install began Thursday:  Craig measured all of the windows to order hurricane shutters Friday:  Painter began… Continue reading Owner Builder Schedule

A HUGE step to make this house come together was the mudding and texture so that we're ready for paint.... In addition to our action packed week at our new home, it was eventful at our rental house...pressure washing, painting (good-bye yellow paint)  and A/C repair...     Kids are so impressionable!  We all know… Continue reading Mudding and more…

Now that's a lot of buckets of mud! We are two days into the walls getting taped and mudded! Texture of the walls and ceiling will happen next week! We will quickly move on to priming the ceilings with paint and getting ready for the cabinets to be delivered... The hardie board....No it is not… Continue reading Drywall mudding & Hardie board siding

With this post, let's go with...."a picture is worth a thousand words".....

Monday & Tuesday - Insulation finished by Green Star Panels Wednesday - Drywall delivered Thursday - Bonus room window upstairs reversed to be installed normally (the window had been installed reversed intentionally so that the drywall could be delivered through the window) AND Craig finished the insulation final touches around wiring, windows and doors as… Continue reading A busy week…

We are so excited about our R-38 insulation on the roof.  It is noticeably cooler inside the house than outside. The weekend was busy with Craig and helpers adding the R-13.  Our inspector from the county gave us very positive feedback regarding the Green Star Panels.  He shared that he has personally seen the molded spray… Continue reading Insulation 101

We know what it feels like to have to walk away from a dream home.  Eleven years ago, we built our dream house and picked out our lot even before the roads were paved in the neighborhood.  That dream home turned nightmare as it had chinese drywall & sinkhole!  After two years and two months… Continue reading Our house is a gift!

An eventful week of inspections.... Gas inspection passed, Electric inspection passed, HVAC inspection passed AND low voltage wiring passed! WAY TO GO CRAIG!!! He is solely responsible for the low voltage inspection passing on Friday!  I respect him so much as he has not only taken on this role of Owner-Builder but then took on… Continue reading A week of inspections…

With the increase of technology, the reality is that you can choose to build a home without any hardwire.  Your 'Smart TV' doesn't need a cable, your cell phone can replace your land line, and your computers can all be Wifi.  "We could, but should we?" became our question.  Our answer was NO, because we… Continue reading Old fashioned hard wire…

With our awareness of dirty electricity and how our bodies can benefit from a calm environment, we attempted to find a way to install shielded wiring.  It was not a budget friendly option.  So, the best option for us was to have a "kill switch" installed per bedroom.  The kill switch is an additional switch… Continue reading 1 Kill Switch per bedroom please!

We ordered our appliances this weekend!  Over the past couple of months, we had been shopping around and cost comparing.  Crazy how one store may have a cheaper price but then their warranty plan is more than double.  Comparing the bottom line amount was the key for our appliance purchase! There were a lot of… Continue reading Opting for ‘dumb’ appliances

Sometimes you just have to scratch your head and wonder what someone was thinking when they completed the job!  This was the case with the installation of the HVAC.   The 2x6 board encasing a tube!  In our minds, it had to go as it blocks the storage area upstairs.  The HVAC company's supervisor confirmed… Continue reading HVAC blunders are like a set of dominoes!

Craig and Braden's first of several barn doors....   A video our 7 year old did from his perspective...    EMFs and bees As I read online about how honeybees are impacted by cell phones, it makes me more convinced that the EMF’s affect us as well.  Go ahead and google ‘bees and EMFs’ online. … Continue reading Beckett’s Video Tour & EMFs and Bees

Monday - Thursday: Plumbing Tuesday - Thursday:  HVAC Wednesday:  Windows and back doors   There were about 10 workers in our house at one time on Wednesday.  It can happen! More anticipation....framing finalities, electricity and looking forward to the big framing inspection.... Below is a video our 7 year old did from his perspective... Just… Continue reading 3 Trades in 1 Day & EMFs

Week of August 5th... The shingles were installed on the roof this week! The framing lumber mold remediation was finished! Bath tubs were delivered! Three big accomplishments and now looking forward to a productive week next week with plumbing, HVAC, electric and the remaining windows to be installed....we have a lot of anticipation about the… Continue reading Anticipation & Saying NOPE to Spray Foam

Blessings come in small forms....Craig was standing at a big box store and looking at saw horses. Ugh - $60.  Then a sales associate passes by and said, "I've got these over on the other aisle for half price."  Looks like they were returned but still new. Perfect! $30 and makes cutting boards so much… Continue reading Blessings come in small forms & construction mold – part 2

A busy week.... Dry in on the roof Can lights and electrical boxes installed Fireplace installed - still to be lifted onto cinder blocks Downstairs windows installed Shingles delivered Master bath wall was moved into the appropriate position - plumbing is no longer in the master closet A lot done but not without error....one of… Continue reading A busy week & construction mold – part 1

Rain, rain, go away so that we can have our roof installed.  With the middle of the summer rainy season, we are patiently waiting for a dry day for the roofer to install the dry in on the roof and shingles. In the meantime, the next step of towards electricity happened.  Can light fixtures and… Continue reading Rain, rain, go away & Don’t fill your bucket too full…