Shit Happens!

It finally stopped raining but one "widow maker" did not survive the high winds and fell smack dead on the portable toilet.  Luckily no one was inside at the time.  A new toilet was delivered today so we are back on schedule in the portable waste department.

Several days of rain created a sea of mud and the few subs that did show up to try to get some work done left soon after.  The newly graded and back filled areas around the house are now rutted up and will have to be graded again when things dry up.

On the positive side, Hugo, the siding contractor showed up on Friday and got a good start trimming out the windows.   Luis also showed up and got the two awning roofs framed up over the south facing windows.  Jose' is scheduled to start the metal roofing on Monday so with the good weather forecast and lots of people on the job this should be a big week for progress.  If the plumber comes back and finishes and the electrician comes to rough in his work, the exterior will be complete and ready for insulation.

I am working on making the handrail panels for the deck by using galvanized hog panels from Tractor Supply.  My initial attempt at making a double framed panel with mitered corners proved to be too difficult and time consuming so I am going to plan B which should look great and be a lot faster and easier.  Photos to follow.

Progressing

While there is not much to see in photos, work is actually being done.  It's mostly small stuff like handrails, a little painting and priming, taping joints in the foam board and this Friday, grading was done.  This week is scheduled to be a big one though, with siding being installed, plumbing being roughed in, roofing materials being delivered and possibly installed with the electrical rough in close behind.  There should be some facebook and blog worthy photos by the end of next week that really shows some progress.

I am slowly shifting from my supervisory position, or should I say babysitting position, to more hands on activities.  I installed all the brackets on the porch and kitchen, and ripped lumber for the siding guys and for the hog panel handrails.  That's right hog panels.  What is that you ask?

I got a price on stainless steel cables and fittings to fit between my deck posts as a railing.  The price: $1165.00 for materials.  I was to provide the labor.  Over a thousand dollars for some 1/4" cable and fittings.  That seems a bit much to me.  I had the brilliant and what I thought to be original idea to make frames of wood and sandwich galvanized hog panels between them to use as a substitute for the stainless cables.  Price of wood and hog panels?  About $150.  Hog panels are the type of galvanized steel mesh panels used in fencing in farm animals and I suppose usually hogs.  They sell for about $21 at Tractor Supply and look very techno industrial, just like the expensive stainless steel wires.  I'll have photos soon I hope.  Turns out that it was not an original idea as I found photos of it being done on the internet and it looks way cool.

Exposed kitchen beams and brackets

Porch brackets

The bridge to the upper parking area is done

Catching up in the garden

Had time to think

Appalachian Gothic?

...and to drive my tractor.

The sweet potatoes are looking good

I took a break from working on the house this weekend to catch up in the garden.  With invaluable help from Devon, we managed to dig the rest of the potatoes and sweet potatoes and clear out all the old tomato, corn and bean plants for composting.  I tilled the soil in preparation for planting garlic and winter cover crops of Austrian Peas and Rye grass.  We had gorgeous weather and even had time for a visit to Hooker Falls in Dupont State Forest and dinner in Brevard.

It was a good weekend to recharge the batteries.

Seis Mexicanos con pistolas de clavos

 It means "Six Mexicans with nail guns".  The army of Mexican carpenters returned this week in all their glory.  With David at the helm calling out instructions and measurements in Spanish, the team worked like a well oiled machine, nail guns a poppin'.  As you can see, windows are installed and the screen porch has been framed and roof decked out.  Things are shaping up and I am getting close to completing my contract with the incompetent contractor.  After a week's absence he showed up today to tell me about the difficult week he had and to bark a few incomprehensible orders to the crew.  He spent the rest of his time on the job site on his cell phone while I worked with the carpenters on getting the right cuts on the screen porch and helped install the sliding glass door.

I have abandoned the idea of putting steps leading down from the screen porch in lieu of a bridge coming off of the deck reaching out to the upper parking area.  This new idea came out of the difficulty I was having in coming up with a good plan for the steps.  Sometimes a problem can be the impetus for a better and more creative design. 

Next will be siding and roofing and all that is now in the works, finding contractors and materials.

We are having beautiful sunny weather, perfect for construction.

Two steps forward, one back

Progress is being made but it has been two steps forward and one step back.  The absence of supervision and carpentry skill has lead to some details coming out wrong which then have to be accommodated for or redone.  I had to relearn a lesson that I learned the hard way years ago.  Don't take the low bidder.  There is a reason that he is low.  In this case it is lack of a knowledgeable supervisor, or one who at least speaks English.  The carpenters are hard working and have great attitudes but lack blueprint reading skills.

Communication with them has been challenging.  Next time, and I hope there is no next time, I'd pay the extra money and go with the proven and competent builder.  If you are reading this, please make a note and learn from my expensive mistake.

The roof sheathing is now up, so soon, once windows are installed the structure will be dried in.   That will be nice to have the rain kept out and the dryness in.  I am now thinking about siding (Hardi-board or SmartSiding?), exterior trim, painting schemes, getting roofing installed and prematurely, I know, landscaping.
Tim Posey, my consulting architect will be starting a new job on Monday so will be available on a very limited basis, so now I take the helm in guiding this misguide ship through the stormy waters of construction. 

Building this house has been challenging but fun and exciting. This week has only been challenging.  I am looking forward to completing my contract with this incompetent contractor and moving on to more reputable and skillful subs.  I will be happy to give out the name of the contractor to anyone interested and more than happy to recommend a couple of others that I know, like Mark Catoe or David Bennert.

Cosmo admiring the view of the garden

The south west corner

The back of the house looking south

The stairs will be torn out and redone