I wish I had time to read every post that was ever made on this site. Lots of stuff to dig up. Grant in Jacksonville, AL

Tanya's Forum Posts: 0
Journal Entries: 14




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What A Ride...

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 7/12/2007

After that much needed tropical vacation, we get home and all heck breaks loose. We had told our landlord, we would be done by 6/15. Well we weren't. So they were showing the house while we were on vacation, we come home and they have it rented and we need to be out by the 15th. We get a POD - a storage container and put stuff at both parents' houses and proceed to stay in a hotel for two weeks. What a life... But on 6/26 - we got our c.o. and started to move in with no power or running water. We hooked up the generator to the power box outside so in the evenings we could shower and run the ceiling fans to sleep.

Also during this time, I had an uncle pass away and I have to leave town and our son is in Australia on a 19-year-old adventure. But after all this and now that we are in the house, it makes the past two years seem not sooooooooo bad. It has been quite a ride, not sure one I want to take again any time soon, but we did stay within our budget and the house is wonderful!!! Good luck to any of you brave owner-builders... Housewarming party to follow pool completion - stay tuned...

Posted by Anonymous on 7/16/2007 7/16/2007

Congratulations!

WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 4/24/2007

Photos

Inside painting has begun.

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 4/10/2007

After weeks of trying to decide on paint colors, the interior walls have some paint on them. Still not sure if I made the correct choices - but they are at least something I can live with. Painter still has some touch-up, but it is really starting to look like a house.

Tile work began yesterday in JJ's bathroom. So far it looks great. I'm not sure if buying all the tile as we went along was such a good idea. My back is killing me. The back porch of the rental house looked more like a tile warehouse then a porch, and now it is all gone. We had to take the master bath tile out last night. Master bath tile was originally for the foyer and kitchen, so finding a bullnose trim to match was a little tricky. I think what we decided on will look "okay". It's hard to really tell until it's up and then it's too late.

Photos

Drywall is up.

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 3/27/2007

The house is drywalled and should be textured by week's end. We put a deposit on the cabinets last night (ouch). We are spending a little more on the kitchen than originally planned, but in the end, I think it will look great. At least I hope so; I keep second-guessing every decision that I make.

I am trying to make paint selections; keep changing my mind on that too. We hope to at least have the walls primered by the weekend.

We have someone lined up to start the install on the glass block in the master shower, which we also hope will begin later this week. We would really like to be in the house in 7 weeks – not really sure if it’s possible – we still have so much “stuff” that needs to be done. Hopefully Jeff will be done working so much this week and he can do some of the “little” stuff. I am basically useless, I’m not handy at all around any kind of tool, so my job is clean up and watch the next crew mess it all up again.

We did buy the cabinets for the other two bathrooms this past weekend, the rental house along with Mimi’s house is starting to look like a storage shed – oh well, it will be over soon.

Long overdue update

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 3/14/2007

The house is painted and the stone is installed. We passed our electrical inspection on the second try. Framing inspection also passed on the second try, and we are now having the insulation installed (that's what you see hanging down in the picture). We should ideally pass that inspection by Friday. Drywall has been ordered, and hopefully install to start Saturday or Monday of next week.

We have put a deposit down on the granite countertops and are making the final selection on the cabinets. Once drywall is complete, we will have the tile installed, interior doors hung and interior painting done. The painter was to come out yesterday and finish painting the garage doors and the stucco that need a little correcting - he didn't show, so his chances of doing the inside are starting to look slim. The budget is looking pretty good so far and as long as things go “according to plans” we should be in good shape.

Photos

Posted by Jeff in Provo, UT on 3/14/2007 Editor Jeff's Forum Posts: 145 Interview Answers: 206 Average Forum Rating: 3.85 Jeff's Selected Image 3/14/2007	It's great to see that you're making progress.
Posted by Emilie in Norwalk, CA on 3/20/2007 Emilie's Forum Posts: 0 Randomly Selected Image 3/20/2007	Well Tanya, it is really starting to look like a home.
Posted by kim in carrollton, OH on 3/21/2007 kim's Forum Posts: 0 Randomly Selected Image 3/21/2007	Looks good Jeff and Tanya. Has JJ picked out what he wants his room done in? Hope to see you guys in Oct. I will let you know the dates when I  get them. Love Aunt Kim

A little progress

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 1/30/2007

The house is stucco and we are waiting for the stone to come so they can finish. We have a painter lined up once the stone is done. Wiring is coming along. Jeff seems to think they may be done with all electrical wiring this weekend. We will still need to do phone, cable and the alarm system - but we are moving ahead. That's about it for now - just a little update since it's been awhile.

Photos

Posted by kim in carrollton, OH on 2/20/2007 kim's Forum Posts: 0 Randomly Selected Image 2/20/2007

THE HOUSE LOOKS GREAT. MAYBE I CAN SEE IT WHEN I COME DOWN IN OCTOBER.LOVE AUNT KIM

Photo update

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 12/18/2006

Not much new to report. I finally have an updated photo of the house with all the windows and exterior doors on. Jeff is working on the electrical stuff now, so it may be a while before I have anything to report. As the title says, I am attaching two new photos of the house.

Photos

A Quick Update

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 11/21/2006

We now have a roofed house with windows. We still are looking for someone to do the glass block windows. Hopefully today we will have someone. They say things are settling down in the building industry, but people sure don't seem to be in any hurry to call you back. This weekend we will try and do a little cleaning up around the property. It's pretty amazing how much waste they have after framing the inside and along with every Tom, Dick and Harry dumping their trash on our lot. The plumbing for the showers is also installed. Things are still moving along, but will slow down since Jeff and the electrician at his job will be doing our electrical wiring.

WOW!!

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 11/6/2006

What a difference!! We went out Sunday to check on the house, and wow!!! They were there working. Jeff was out on Thursday and they were still working on putting the plywood down on the roof. So I thought I was just going out to see the roof. But they had almost the entire house framed. It felt so good to finally see some “real” progress. I could actually see the rooms and picture where things would go. Some things I had even forgotten I asked for… I don’t want to get to ahead of myself, but maybe by the end of the week we will be putting a roof on – maybe!! Well as usual, I will attach a couple of pictures.

Photos

Posted by Emilie in Norwalk, CA on 11/12/2006 Emilie's Forum Posts: 0 Randomly Selected Image 11/12/2006

Yes, Tanya and Jeff, it is starting to look like a house! Can't wait to see the home you guys make it. Love, Aunt Emilie

THE WALLS ARE UP

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 10/24/2006

The walls went up in a day and a half. Things seemed to be moving right along, then the inspection. Seems the inspector got up on the wrong side of the bed and he didn't like the "wording" on the plans vs. the way the job was done. So now we have to wait on our engineer to write a letter addressing the "wording" and send it to us to have the walls re-inspected. This could take weeks. Our engineer does not seem to be in any hurry.

The good news is it is now starting to look like a house. I was sure they had done something wrong when I saw the slab. It looked really small, but with the walls up, I am starting to see the light. The house still doesn't look bigger than our last - but it is.

J.J., Mimi, and I worked our butts off this past weekend cleaning up all the boards, blocks and trash left over from the workers. We took three loads to the dump - yes, I went to the dump :-) Jeff had to work all weekend – lucky him. I am attaching a picture of our walls and the nice clean lot.

Photos

Posted by Emilie in Norwalk, CA on 10/26/2006 Emilie's Forum Posts: 0 Randomly Selected Image 10/26/2006

Yes, sure it's bigger. Would love to see floor plans and I hope the engineer gets his act together soon. Love, Aunt Emilie

THE SLAB IS DONE

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 10/15/2006

It has been forever since I last posted an update. We had a few issues... They took more time than we would have liked. Yet again we failed the compaction test that we had to have done on the stem wall. That took about an extra week to get that corrected and then re-tested.

The plumbing seemed like it was going to be a piece of cake and then they put the second shower head for the master bath in the wrong place and then that had to be corrected. Finally on Friday they poured the slab. We are hoping by next Friday we will have some walls. The trusses are to be delivered Friday 10/20, but we are going to try and change that to Monday 10/23.

If I do not have more patience after this little adventure, then I guess I just was not meant to have them. Jeff has to listen to me complain how things are not moving fast enough; he seems to think things are going along just fine. I hope to have an update next weekend with a photo of some walls. Patience – patience I keep telling myself!!

Photos

Posted by Emilie in Norwalk, CA on 10/18/2006 Emilie's Forum Posts: 0 Randomly Selected Image 10/18/2006

Tanya, it should go quickly now. It is nice to be able to watch this house go up through your eyes even though I am in Cal. I can't wait to see it done and know that you guys are home. Love, Aunt Emilie

WE HAVE A STEM WALL

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 9/24/2006

Somewhat of a productive week! The stem wall was completed Sat. We got our electrical and plumbing permits, and today Jeff put in the temporary power pole. Tuesday the people are coming to fill in the stem wall and compact the dirt and if everything goes okay with that, we should have our rough plumbing started Friday. The house did seem a little more “REAL” once I saw the footer was completed on Friday. They had the blocks all spread out  and ready for the stem wall install on Saturday. Well, just a quick update…

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FINALLY

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 9/18/2006

I was beginning to think this day would never come. They cut the footer today; we are finally on our way to building a new house. Ran into another bump today. I called for the county to come do an inspection. They do not seem to have a copy of our notice of commencement, so until we take them a copy, they will not come do the inspection. Jeff is taking off early to take it downtown so they can do an inspection on Wednesday and then they can finish the stem wall, hopefully by Friday.

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Posted by Cara in Orlando, FL on 9/19/2006 Cara's Forum Posts: 38 Journal Entries: 136 Interview Answers: 59 Average Forum Rating: 4.04 My Construction Website Image from Cara's blog 9/19/2006

Congrats! We stopped by your site last week, looks like a great piece of property. You guys have gotten past the slooooow part, now everything should speed up - for a while at least. Cara (QuarterlyHouse)

LET THE CONSTRUCTION BEGIN

Posted to 19225-ROBERTSON-ST by Tanya in Orlando, FL on 9/17/2006

I think we finally see a beginning in sight. Today is almost 13 months after we began the permitting process; we are ready to begin building. We received our building permit and just like all the hurdles before, our compaction test did not pass and our concrete guy quit returning our phone calls. Just when we thought we had all our ducks in a row, they start falling out of line FAST.

New compaction test - done by a professional and we PASSED. Just faxed the bid back with an okay signature to our new concrete guy, who tells us by next week our stem wall should be done and the rough plumbing can begin. I was trying to wait until we had some good news to write about and I think we may be on our way. Hopefully by next weekend, I will be able to post some pics of the stem wall.

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Posted by Emilie in Norwalk, CA on 9/17/2006 Emilie's Forum Posts: 0 Randomly Selected Image 9/17/2006

So J.J., this is where your new home will be. Can't wait to see it being built. Love you guys. Auntie Em