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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 1/4/2009 2:57:25 PM
Since I am waiting for the new stair treads, I decided to start tiling the upstairs porch. It wasn't as hard as I thought. After working with the travertine, anything is easier! I spent the better part of the morning measuring and mapping out where to lay the tile since the porch wraps around the house. My poor knees are taking a beating, though. I got my husband to mix the mortar, which helped a bunch. I can only lay 100 sf a day before I give out, and the porch is 600 sf. I figure three more weekends and I should be done. I will be eating Ibuprofen for dinner tonight.
'til next time,
Whitney
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| Before the fun begins |
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| My first two rows. Took about five hours! |
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| Day two |
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| I'm calling it quits for now! |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 1/1/2009 6:24:09 AM
OK. So I must admit I hate my new stair treads. The hard rock maple would not take a deep stain, so I ended up using an air paint sprayer for a car to put a last final mist on them to darken them up. Although it looks OK, it now looks like they were painted:( I will remove these and start over.
I have ordered Brazilian Cherry treads that I will just put a few coats of polyurethane on. I should have done this from the beginning!
Hard lesson learned.
I have moved on to the upstairs porch. 700 sf of tiling to do this weekend. I am not looking forward to this... my knees are ready to fire me. On a lighter note, my husband built the garage shelves, and we are finally getting organized out there. It was beginning to get dangerous to walk out there.
A recap of what is left to do:
Fireplace mantel and surround, upstairs wraparound porch tiling,
downstairs back porch tiling,
downstairs front porch tiling,
courtyard pavers,
caulk and paint remaining trim,
shoe mold on kitchen cabinet toe kicks,
stair treads, newel post, railing (again),
laundry room cabinets and table,
laundry room tub sink installation,
kitchen tile backsplash,
porch ceiling crown molding and fans,
windowsills and trim, and
television bracket over fireplace.
We have many more projects after that, however, that should keep us busy for the next 6 months since we are doing it all ourselves.
Happy New Year!
Whitney
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 12/21/2008 6:33:09 AM
Today is my birthday, so I thought I would start it by resuming my blog. It's funny how time flies when you are doing a bunch of finish work. I have spent the last two months actually getting my house in order. Living in your home while also trying to work on it is brutal. My organizational skills took a hiatus for a while, and my cleaning skills... well let's just say construction dust is now a piece of furniture here... Unfortunately, we are having 16 guests for Christmas, so we needed to actually decorate!! It is the running joke that we are "on the home stretch." I have come to believe there is no such thing.
One thing I have been working on is my stairs. I have been avoiding this because I wasn't sure I should be doing this. Staining hard rock maple is impossible! I used travertine for the riser. I built a stair jig with the advice of a fellow blogger, which worked GREAT! I used a table saw to rip the back, and a circular saw for the sides. Steady hand folks, is all I can say.
I still have to clean them up. My husband is putting several coats of poly on as we speak. We are going to put satin as the final coat. I am working on the trim to add to the skirt board, and I am in the process of doing the landing. I have to borrow a biscuit joiner from my neighbor to put the treads together, then I guess I will use a piece of cardboard to trace out the two landing steps. they are triangle in shape.
I am also still staining the final handrails and newel post. The kneewall was the hardest to figure out for me. I will continue to stick to my day job for now!
Merry Christmas folks!
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| Our First Tree |
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| Riser and front of tread |
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| still needs to be cleaned up and final poly coat (Satin) |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 9/12/2008 6:38:26 PM
We are sooo behind schedule, that I took my husband's advice and hired someone to mud the upstairs porches prior to my tiling. There wasn't enough of a slope, so we felt better having it graded properly to avoid water damage in the future. We have seal-a-flex already down, but this will help with water runoff. I thought I could do this myself, but I think I would probably avoid this until next year! It wasn't the money so much as a little feeling of defeat. I am sure my hubby was thinking "get over yourself" but he didn't actually come out and say it.
As the finish work comes to an end, the excitement wears off... not to mention the energy level. So, after planning out the pavers in the courtyard, it was an easy decision to bail out of the mudding process for the porches.
Off to Home Depot for a few items for the weekend. My pavers did not come in, so I have to switch gears and find another project. I guess I will work on the dreaded baseboards. Hate them. Absolutely the worst part so far for me, outside of the travertine shower, since we started. I think it is the monotony. Besides, I can't say I have cut a board right on the first try yet. I always have to go back and take off just a bit. Frustrating... and probably why I am a nurse and not a carpenter!
Whit
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 9/7/2008 2:37:33 PM
Absolutely exhausted. The heat index is 96 degrees. I had to quit for the day. I have a new apreciation for those who work in this heat all day doing manual labor. Unbelievable how quickly I petered out. Time to work on something inside! I think I will finish caulking the beadboard.
Is is beer-thirty yet?
Whitney
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| still need to finish edges with concrete. |
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| Dirk at the wheel |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 9/6/2008 10:17:26 PM
Small amounts of progress, as most of it involves finish details. Especially hard to get anything done during football season. It seems every weekend brings a new guest... including unwelcome guests such as tropical storm Fay. We lost power for a day, and all off our palm trees bit the dust. All of my mulch disappeared, and we learned we needed to trim many a tree.
I have chosen to change my pattern of work to finish one room at a time instead of one trade at a time. My brain needs to see at least one room fully completed or I am going to scream!
I focused on the outside this weekend to include shoveling two tons of dirt and three tons of crushed limestone for the courtyard pavers. My hubby was better suited to run the tamper, so he compacted the stone. The heat was brutal today. I began laying the pavers, but I don't have enough to complete the project this weekend.
I installed the beadboard in one of the bathrooms, and built the picture mirror. Someday I will install it. I still have to work on the molding.
Dirk has been working on finishing the soffit details, and caulking.
I finally bought the glass for my cabinet inserts. Lee and Cates has some seeded glass lying around, so I had them cut it to size for $70.
I will continue for the next week (after work) to finish the pavers. I will then move on to the stair treads, as I still have not stained them. I finished the newel post and railing.
So glad the Gators won!! We haven't beat Miami since 1985!!
Going to bed, will send better pics tomorrow night.
Whit
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| Almost done trimming the pesky range hood. I ran out of trim! Someday I will tile the backsplash. |
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| Seeded glass finally installed. |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 7/19/2008 7:30:25 PM
Our first post was a little over a year ago. It's hard to believe it has been that long. It has been 8 months since we broke ground.
We were forced to move in last week since we sold our home, and the owners of the vacation home came back, too! We feel like we are camping; however, it is nice to be finally HOME! We are focusing on baseboards, and unpacking. We still have to tackle the fireplace mantle/hearth, baseboards, interior window casings, paint the interior doors, install carpet in the office and spare bedrooms, install the stair treads/risers, tile the upstairs porch, and the list goes on... so does the dust.
It has been raining for a few weeks, so spraying the baseboards wasn't optional. We had a bit of a mishap with our cabinets being installed level, so we just got countertops last week. We connected the kitchen sink today, so as of an hour ago, I have indoor plumbing.
Still living out of the half-finished guest bathroom. I will finish tiling the master when I darn well feel like it. We are behind schedule on everything else, so why not that as well?
We installed some landscape, and are now able to cook in our kitchen. We will be sanding and edging the butcher block tomorrow on the island.
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| pavers at night |
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| dusk at Casa de Suenos |
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| Hi Sweetie! |
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| Starting to unpack |
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| Our first official meal. By the way, we had fajitas. |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 6/27/2008 8:54:40 PM
Well it is hard to believe it has been a month since I last posted. Time flies when you are having fun. We plan on getting our CO next week provided we finish a few projects this weekend. We have to be out of our house by the first for the new owners on Monday, so no pressure!! I am tired of packing and cleaning. Unfortunately we can't move anything into the house until it is official, so the garage it is. We will stay at a friend's vacation home until we have the certificate of occupancy. The "kids" will just have to adjust...
Since our last post: We have cabinets, irrigation, pavers, outdoor ceilings, some plumbing, bathroom counters, partial range hood, doors, and a few appliances. What is so frustrating is that no matter how many projects we are able to check off of our list, it still looks soooo unfinished. The countertops and baseboards will definitely give it a more finished look. We will have at least three months worth of finish projects once we are in such as tiling the outdoor spaces, outdoor kitchen, courtyard, final landscaping, and lighting.
I designed my own range hood (in my spare time) because I couldn't find one I liked, and to have one custom made was out of the question. I found one I liked in a magazine and well.... we made it! I drew out the template, and my husband helped me put it together. I put a finish stucco coat on, and sprayed it with a satin polyurethane for easy cleaning. I purchased trim with my cabinets that will finish it off. It was tricky mitering the corners, but after several wasted pieces, I figured it out :) I never said I was a carpenter. Now I just have to find time to install.
Sod began this week. I officially have more dirt outside than in. It should be done by Saturday.
I have to seriously clean tomorrow. That is a luxury I haven't been afforded. We have some great friends that have really pulled through for us and helped with projects and picking up. Never underestimate the value of friendship!
My husband really rocks. He has kept me motivated the last month, as I am running out of steam, and my job has been busy.
I need a manicure, pedicure, spa treatment, and a hair appointment. We have sacrificed a lot, but would not change our minds about building ourselves even for a moment.
Stay motivated... you CAN do it.
Whit
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| My hubby trenched and ran all of the irrigation. I helped for about... an hour :) |
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| I am glad I had no part of this |
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| The "kids" |
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| My sweetie graciously stopping his project to install the range hood with a friend. |
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| Not bad for $50 worth of supplies! |
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| Omega cabinets. I love every bit of the design. Super high quality. |
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| Last minute change to paver sidewalk instead of concrete. |
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| On the homestretch! |
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| Partial sod. I guess we need a riding mower. |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 5/21/2008 7:48:08 PM
We spent three days laying our wood flooring. I think we need to trade our knees in for some new ones. We learned a few lessons along the way like how to manage the glue without wearing all of it; where to start when you have multiple rooms; and how to manage thresholds. All in all it looks great. We still have to place the bullnose and thresholds since they didn't get shipped until yesterday.
Our cabinets will be delivered Friday. Finally! We are putting in doors and hardware this week. Our next job is to work on the irrigation.
I have more dirt on the inside of my house than outside!!! We are taking a much needed break this weekend and spending it at the beach. I can't wait to sleep late.
Photos
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 5/17/2008 9:02:43 PM
We officially have electricity today! Wow, what a difference. I can now see all of the imperfections in the drywall, and will now have to go back and touch up. Not too bad.
We are putting in the last of the wood floors this weekend. Should be easier since we have air conditioning!
We are way behind in cabinetry, but what can you do? Irrigation, pavers, and landscape on the exterior... cabinets, baseboards, stair parts on the inside. We are on the homestretch, but MAN it feels like there is soooooo much more to finish.
Photos
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 4/22/2008 9:45:52 PM
We are making steady but slow progress, as we are doing a lot of the finish work ourselves. More light fixtures and outlets going in, upstairs railings complete, more tiling, and touchup painting complete. We have moved on to working on the stairs. Skirtboards in. We will be tiling the risers with travertine, and use maple treads. I hope it looks good. The A/C compressor concrete pad has been built and poured. It still needs stucco to finish. I am patiently awaiting our cabinets, which is holding everything else up.
We will be moving on to the finish grade and sprinkler system soon. I have to paint all of the doors before they are installed this weekend. I am sick of painting.
I installed the in-wall coffee maker in our bedroom. I will post more once there appears to be more progress. There is sooo much left to do. Lots of loose ends to tie up.
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| Dining Room |
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| Guest Room |
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| Master BR Coffeemaker |
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| Railings... still need to fill and stain the screw holes on the posts |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 3/31/2008 8:44:44 PM
Dirk had a great friend come to town this weekend, and they worked on installing the handrails. We stained the wood for weeks. Once again, we underestimated how this would be. Drilled the holes, and inserted the balusters. Over 200 linear feet of railings. We went with Dekorator powder coated aluminum due to the proximity to the ocean. We didn't want the look of vinyl even though it would hold up the best.
I was only able to work on the master bath tile on Friday before I succumbed to a severe cold. I was able to do light duty and install electrical outlets and some lighting fixtures before my fever kicked in. We have been burning the candle at both ends, so it was only a matter of time...
Culvert was delivered Friday, and the lift station should be ready this week. We are working on the irrigation plans now. At this stage, we anticipate our overall project to be over budget by 2%. The unexpected area we ran into problems in the very beginning was underestimating our lumber costs. We went over by 25% due to a poor takeoff. We had to get creative over the course of the project to bring other areas into reach. With some areas coming in way under budget, it all seems to be working out. I will let you know once we get our CO, so I won't hold my breath!
No time to take a lot of pics...
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| One section of the railing |
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| Guest bath |
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| Hallway wall sconce |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 3/23/2008 7:12:34 PM
Our stucco guy completed the house on Friday. They did an outstanding job. Super smooth, and minimal expansion joints. I like the color, but was expecting it to be more ivory. It turned out to have a yellowish pink tone, but I still love it.
I got tired of painting, so the touch up will have to wait a while. I began tiling the guest bath, and then moved on to my shower.
I am an amateur tiler, so the travertine gave me a run for my money. It is not forgiving at all. My fingertips have no feeling left, and I barely escaped decapitation... I will spare you the details. I used a tumbled stone in the guest bath, with sea glass accents. I still have to fill in the cracks, but I don't have a glass cutter. I used 1/4" HardiBacker on the guest floor. It is soooo much easier than cement board.
I will be grouting once I finish all three bathrooms. I ran out of tumbled stone (three short), and the store I bought it from is an hour away.
Instead of buying expensive bullnose travertine for the master shower, I cut the edges on a 45-degree angle to make a bevel. It looks great. Just lightly buff the edges to give it a finished look.
Tiling tip: Flexbond mortar does not seem to wash off. I wore gloves, but I got it on my elbows and forearms. I guess it will be long sleeve shirts for the next week. And ladies... it doesn't help the whole smooth skin thing!
I am not looking forward to tiling the rest of the house.
Dirk painted the handrails all weekend, and began working on the gutters. We put up the garage light fixtures just so we could see what they would look like. They look so small! I may have to buy bigger ones, but this is the least of my problems right now.
Happy Easter!
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| Apparently my tiling skills are better than my math! |
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| Back Porch |
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| Chimney |
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| West side of house
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| Northwest corner
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| Guest bath travertine floor
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| Master shower begins
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| Hilarious!! You can barely see them:) |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 3/11/2008 8:21:37 PM
Although we are making progress, it sure feels slow! The drywall is complete, and we have begun priming and painting. I underestimated the time needed to do the painting, so it will probably take a full week and a half to paint the inside. I am finished with the priming, ceiling paint, and a couple of rooms. I am spraying most of the house, with my husband backrolling to give it a more finished look. My sprayer finally kicked the bucket after a few years, so we invested in another one. I love that darn thing! I am a renegade when it comes to color. My family is not always keen on my vibrant choices, but is suits me just fine. My husband could care less if I paint it neon green. So much for feedback!
The stucco is progressing as well. The scratch coat is almost finished. We ran into a major setback when the rain hit, and it was evident we didn't have the slope on the upstairs porches we needed. A few calls, a couple hundred bucks, and a week later, we are back in business. We halted the stucco work until we could come up with a solution that didn't break the bank, but satiated my need to not dream about water infiltration. Thank goodness we had extra Seal-a-Flex put down. It should be fine now.
Cabinets are going to be about another 8 weeks to complete and be delivered. Garage door is in, but the door opener couldn't support the weight of our oversized door. I couldn't even lift it without leaning into it! Home Depot came through again with their clearance appliances. I got a front loader dryer by LG for $297. Originally $800. This completes our appliance package.
I am out of town next weekend on business, so my husband will have to go it alone with the painting of the trim. I think he will survive.
If only it would stop raining!!!!!
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| Taped and ready |
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| Primer complete |
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| Ok, so not my most attractive moment! |
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| Living Room Started |
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| Our Green Office |
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| Garage Door Arrives |
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| Stucco Resumes |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 2/21/2008 9:02:43 PM
We passed our MEP rough, and finished the insulation. We chose closed cell foam for the roof, and spray-in cellulose for the exterior upper walls/soundproofing. Wow, what a difference in the sound level already. It left quite a mess everywhere, so I just finished vacuuming to get ready for drywall.
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| I stained 22 boards for our porch ceiling. Now I have to polyurethane them. |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 1/30/2008 7:06:22 PM
Not much progress since our last post. Having full time jobs makes it difficult to complete projects during the week.
Dirk started firring out the garage (manually), I think his head is still ringing. I completed priming the doors. We also spent a day cleaning up the site. It is hard to believe it can get so messy!
I found our wood floors last weekend. Yippee! What a great find. It was a close-out from a company going out of business. $3.80sf. Was $9.75. Carpet $3sy.
I purchased our tankless water heater from wamhomecenter.com. I got a Takagi for a fraction of the cost.
The stucco goes on this week. HVAC on Saturday. The windows and doors are almost complete as well.
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| Windows and Doors |
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| First layer Stucco Mesh |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 1/21/2008 8:46:52 PM
Wow! It has been three weeks since my last post!
Subtle progress, however, the roof is finally on, which makes a huge difference. They still have the finishing touches to the ridges, and of course the flat roof to the garage. They are using Seal-a-Flex on the porch decks and garage to prevent leaking. The house wrap went on last week without event. Minor detail...my roofer called me at my office today to tell me the sub for the housewrap used a straight blade to cut the wrap, and severed all of the work they had done to seal the decking!! He was really stand up when I called him. I hated to complain, but he cost us about $400. Unfortunately, that was about all of his profit on the job. The roofers are repairing the damage today. We hope to have that done by Friday.
I was worried the roofers were going to be difficult from all of the horror stories I have heard ( post hurricane season, all roofers in Florida are considered questionable). They rock! Super timely, fast work, and really nice outcome. They even upgraded my shingles to 50 year for no extra cost ( Im sure I had aleady paid for these...ha, ha).
I spent the weekend sanding doors, and painting Hardie fascha and soffit boards with my airless spray gun (too many to count). Dirk studded the garage for electrical and drywall.
Home Depot had a sale on Behr paint this weekend, so amidst the chaos, I had to pick colors for all of the rooms. $20 off five gallons, $5 off one gallon. In additional I used my 10% off competitors coupon for the rest.
Electrical phase two completed this weekend. This is a family job, so it is taking a little longer. No problem! It is a mutually beneficial relationship. Discount cost, and friends make money on the side. I was most concerned this would cause stress, but so far no hassles, and I am super pleased with the work. We have gotten all of the little caveats I have requested.
Plumbing... I have been told by many that I have the best in the business. My senses don't agree, however, I am a reasonable gal. Always late. Don't listen to a darn thing I stay, and very 'spensive!!! We shall see about this costly venture. I will let you know if it was worth the hassle. By the way, NEVER request work after the fact... no matter how small. Plumbers love change orders.
Here are a few pics to date.
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| Fireplace installed |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 12/26/2007 6:18:53 PM
We spent the weekend in Michigan (Burrrrrr!!!) and returned last night to a second floor. The framers worked all weekend including Christmas. They had to stop because a neighbor complained about the noise....rightly so! Anyway, We were nervous about being gone for such a critical phase. I only found two areas that need addressing so far (more support under the upstairs landing and a window opening that we changed never made it to the framer. It pays to not make many change orders or you are asking for trouble when you break ground.
It is starting to look like a house. Staying mostly on budget. We learned how to make our own closet built-ins from Dirk's Sister and Brother-in-law that have this killer woodworking shop while we were in Michigan. I wish they lived closer.
Here are some pics of the progress. We have some cleaning up to do....
Whit
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| Northwest Corner |
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| My Closet! |
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| A view of our current home from the balcony. See why we needed more space?!!! |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 12/22/2007 6:55:02 AM
The framer showed up the very next day after our concrete sub was complete. The floor trusses and lumber package was delivered, and the workers had part of the trusses up within an hour. These guys work super fast. They plan on working thru the weekend, and taking off on Monday and Tuesday.
We purchased our trusses from Manning Building Supply, but we ended up getting our lumber from Home Depot. Manning, or anyone for that matter, couldn't touch thier price (20% difference). The downside was we had to have the entire package delivered at one time to get that price. My framer wanted the downstairs first, then upper. He balked a little, but was in agreement that the savings was worth it. HD didn't have many of the fasteners, so we got those from Manning. He also warned us that HD often doesn't deliver fast, and has many backorders. We solved that by OKing him to order anything from Manning that didn't show up from HD, but call us first.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! We wish everyone good health and happiness for the new year.
Whitney
Photos
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 12/11/2007 5:28:00 PM
The foundation is complete, and now the first floor block is going up. It is going faster than I had anticipated. I looks more spacious now. I was worried before the foundation was poured that it looked cramped. I won't be thinking that when I tile!
Our mason is awesome. He has been more than professional, and very timely. He was patient during the unexpected road paving by the county, and inspector mishaps.
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| Courtyard and Garage |
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| Garage view |
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| Front porch |
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| Front porch Northeast corner, closeup |
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| Inspector Kitty again! |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 12/8/2007 6:34:12 AM
We had an inspection for the foundation to be poured, and we didn't pass! Unfortunately, there was some miscommuncation (no way!) with the inspector. We had the Eupher box for the ground rod, he just didn't see it. We also didn't have a copy of the truss plans in our box (oops), so no dice. Minor detail, but it goes to show, it helps to be there when your inspector comes, which would have avoided the one day delay because everything was there. No major problem. We will press on.
Here are some pics of our progress so far. We haven't decided what we are going to do for the courtyard flooring, but we are thinking pavers at this time.
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| Northeast Corner Closeup |
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| Northeast corner |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 12/5/2007 6:28:48 PM
We passed our initial plumbing inspection. All of the trenches filled and dirt compacted. Exciting stuff, I know!
Pest control in the morning to spray prior to the foundation. Foundation should be done by the end of the week, then block begins! Minor adjustments to the piping due to miscommunication (again), but we are back on track. I picked out paint colors last night, and decided on a finish for the bathroom cabinets. Received a few more items from my favorite place... eBay. Built-in coffeemaker and speaker selector for the audio system arrived. Super deal on the built in. Dirk purchased the AC unit from an online company out of Baltimore called hvac-webdirect.com for $2,965. We found a local AC company willing to install our unit and ductwork (and warranty his work) for a fabulous price. We decided on a 14 Seer variable-speed Rheem. Total cost for unit and install was $6,500 for a 2 1/2 ton unit.
I ordered the floor and roof trusses today. They are running ahead of schedule, so I waited to ordered until this week.
The front door is the next item to pick out. I just can't decide. Oh, well. That can wait. My next order of business is to design my closet system before I am too swamped to think about it. I decided I could build it more solid and for a much better price than California Closets and the like, as I found out they are particle board! This just means it will have to be solid white instead of a natural wood, as I will only have time to use my paint sprayer versus stain. Now, to find the time.....!!!
Whit
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 11/27/2007 7:16:38 PM
Stemwall Dirt Delivered and graded on Monday. Hubby dug the trench for the main electrical conduit. I got lucky and dug the mini-trench for my wall fountain in the courtyard. I had my first injury...fell in one of the trenches and landed on my duff after bouncing off the bricks. Missed impailing myself on the rebar. It wasn't my most attractive moment! Minor scrapes, but I think I should live.
Temporary power connected today. Water turned on last week. Dirk purchased fireplace equipment, speaker cable today. I finished making the guest bathroom mirror and frame. I am not a big fan of painting, but I had better get used to it. My recessed medicine cabinets for the master were delivered today. Nice! I have an appointment with the kitchen desinger tomorrow to look at bathroom vanities.
Went to Home Depot Sunday to pick up the final travertine (sadly, they were sold out) but I stumbled upon a Silestone promotion that was ending today. $37 sf installed. I was able to also get the bathrooms at that price. Super!
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| 20 trips later... |
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| Ginger lounging on the couch |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 11/21/2007 5:40:27 PM
November 21
We had our stemwall started today. All went well. We are going to have a pretty steep grade for the driveway. Due to Thanksgiving, fill dirt won't be here until Monday. We will need lots of it! Plumber and electrician will be here Tuesday, then we can button up the remaining stemwall. Sure does look smaller in person:)
Purchased our Travertine tile for the bathrooms. Framed the Guest bathroom mirror. Purchased the speakers for the audio system. Shopped for counters. Bought some interior doors. Dirk spec'd out the fireplace parts and garage door. Went to bed!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to all . I am on call, so I will be working but will get to spend time with my family this weekend. Wishing everyone a safe holiday.
Whitney
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| Inspector Kitty! (Oscar) |
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| Blocks Delivered |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 11/15/2007 5:21:57 PM
Although not a big inspection, it was exciting to pass our inspection for our footers. We had a setback at the beginning of the week. Our final foundation plan had omited the fireplace footers...minor detail!!!
My smart husband noticed it as soon as the trenches for the footers were dug. We now have our fireplace "squeezed" in. It was a close call due to our footprint being so close to the setback. It was a reality check for me to never be too cautious, and inspect everyone's work no matter how professional and nice they are. I am glad that is behind us.
We set up accounts with the local suppliers. Getting a credit line was a laborious as our mortgage loan!
til next week!
Whitney
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 11/8/2007 8:15:09 PM
After our insurance debacle, we finally have broken ground. Yeah! Rebar placed. Footers on Friday. 4K worth of dirt later, we will be 9 feet above sea level. We are overbudget in dirt, but not by much. I got our temporary electrical permit today, and all of the essential pre-construction things such as roll-offs and Port-a-let.
Finalized the cabinets and counter design for both kitchen and bath. That was more complicated than I anticipated.
Disappointingly found out we do not qualify for the contractor's energy rebate ( you have to sell the house to get the rebate), just the homeownersrebates etc. BUMMER!
We have purchased and cataloged all appliances, hardware, and plumbing fixtures, except for the bathtubs due to space. I did this to avoid the stress of purchasing along the way.
Found an awesome drywall sub. Should save some money in the process, also.
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 10/17/2007 8:06:48 PM
Well, it has been several weeks since our last posting. We were on hold for several weeks awaiting the rains to cease in order to complete the lot grading (although the sub wasn't very efficient, either). We are finally at the stage of bringing in 20 truckloads of dirt on Friday to bring the lot up two feet. We will have a stemwall that will bring it up an additional two feet for a total of four feet. Darn FEMA! I had no idea dirt was so expensive!! Anyway, things are rolling along smoothly. The only hitch is the bank wants us to get additional hurricane, wind, and flood insurance in addition to our builder's risk (Cha-Ching!) I wasn't expecting that, so we are in this area (Hopefully not foreshadowing of the remainder of the project). We have finalized almost all of our subs, and rewritten our budget only four times in the last two months:) The money stays the same, the funds just shift from column to column. Funny how the fantasy items dwindle as reality sets in (bye bye plasma TV in the kitchen)
Ebay and Direct Buy have been awesome for deals, as has perusing the clearance aisles at the local Home Depots (yes, we go to ALL four of them).
Our fridge and other plumbing items arrived today. So big I had to call for backup trucking the darn thing into the garage (700lbs) This was intimidating.
I am very excited as things come together. As I told my husband, the interior items such as fixtures and appliances are the easy part. Managing the project schedule is what scares me. I am up for the challenge to the best of my knowledge. No fights so far. I think we are both mutually humbled by the whole experience. We met some Ob's down the street last month which has rekindled my faith that we CAN do this!!
We received our energy efficiency rating today by an independent company that will create a $2000 tax break. Yippee!! Our proposed electric bill on a 2700sf house should be less than $105 a month (it was based on four occupants, and there will just be the two of us). What a relief.
Now...if I can only finish cataloging everything this week.
Good Night!
Whitney
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 9/17/2007 8:38:50 PM
with my email....seems I can't reply to all of the OB emails. Or at least some are filtered as spam for some reason. If you want to get a hold of me, don't go thru the OB website if you can help it. I will reply from a different account. Or, don't assume I haven't responded. I have replied to all emails that have been sent to me.
Thanks,
northbeachbuilders.com
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 9/17/2007 8:35:31 PM
about saying the hardest part is all of the work leading up to breaking ground. I have spent almost every spare minute planning and shopping. The hardest part has been getting bids and comparing them apples to apples. Do not assume every bid is the same. One framer may omit installing the windows and doors, while the plumber may not include all of the fixtures/trim. I wouldn't commit to a loan amount with the bank until I had solid figures.
I won't fool you...it is a sick addiction to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. Ironically, I hate shopping. I am not one of those girls who spends every weekend at the mall (I go to the outlet mall and buy just about 10 suits at Ann Taylor for the year, and then I am done..oh and then there was ebay for everything else)
My best deal so far is my solid core doors. I was walking thru Home Depot looking for railing material, when I spotted the returned doors. They were the same brand and style I had already picked for the hollow core. I got all of them for 50% off because they were mismarked and the guy was too lazy to fix it! Needless to say, I had to call for backup in hauling them home. I am sure those funds will be used elsewhere in the project.
I got all of the Tommy Bahama fans for the outdoor areas, hinges, doorknobs, cabinet hardware, and deadbolt on Ebay this week for less ...all in all it was a great bargain weekend. (see the Florida foundation forum for the links to other great Ebay auctions).
Glad we aren't breaking ground for another 30 days. So much rain the interstates are closed. I put the fill dirt on hold for two weeks hoping for a break. I suppose it wouldn't matter, but we are having to bring in sooo much fill, I want to take it easy. It will still be hurricane season when we do finally start, but most of it should be over.
Someday there will be time for sleep! Until then....
Whitney
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 8/28/2007
Ok, so step one is complete. We have received approval to clear the lot of the trees we cannot save. We have to bring the lot up 4.5 feet due to the new hurricane code (thanks Katrina). This means lots and lots of dirt we didn't anticipate. We will bring in 18" of fill and then do the rest in stemwall with backfill. Hopefully the yard will not look like Mt. Everest!
It's coming around faster than I thought...no sleep for the weary. I am off on a business trip this week, so hope to have a break ground date when I return. Still plan on Oct. 1 if we are lucky. Wow! I just realized we have been married six months! Amazing....still married. I am confident I can say that AFTER the house is built also:)
Hope to have pics of the layout with the next post.
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 8/23/2007
I spent several hours compiling the data necessary to get our loan today. It was an enlightening process. I must admit, I enjoyed it! Challenges get me motivated, as the 24-page document the bank provided me to complete revealed. At first, I was anxious. But after reviewing it, I knew we had all of this information in some format or another. I think I might have overwhelmed her with the proposal I submitted today. I think I gave her my blood type, too! Just kidding.
I think it is important to realize that if you come prepared (and serious) the bank has no other alternative but to consider you as a serious borrower. If you are unaware of all of the aspects of the building process, get educated, and know what your resources are. I am a nurse, and am in no way an expert. I do know I have done extensive research and spent countless hours learning about lift stations, footings, hurricane code, and design pressures!!!! With that said, it was humbling to learn what I DIDN'T know.
After all of the planning I did to submit my proposal, the most important thing I can say I did is that I was able to substantiate my budget with real data. All of the fluff I squeezed in certainly helped, but did not get the loan. It was all of the supporting details that sealed the deal.
Thanks to all of you out there that have silently provided the support to those of us who were unsure this was the right thing to do.
Going to bed... proud to know I can save a life, AND build my own home:) (I hope!).
Til Next Time!
Whit
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 7/27/2007
We are having the brush cleared this week in order to see what trees can be saved. Unfortunately, several beautiful oaks must go. We rotated the house several times and finally came up with what would save the most trees. We are in the process of completing our site plans for the county, and finishing up obtaining bids. We are really struggling with ICF versus block.
The flooring, appliances, lighting, plumbing fixtures, and cabinets have been finalized. It has been a lesson in patience awaiting return phone calls and accurate information from subs. I am pleased to say that so far, my GC consultant has really come thru. Very professional, and prompt. Not to mention nice! How unusual. He has even recommended some instrumental changes to our plans. Don't forget... change=money!
As the sun set over the water last night, I sure am glad we chose to stay on this street. There is something about crossing the intracoastal bridge that makes you forget your troubles for the day...
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 7/15/2007
We returned yesterday from the Builder's Show in Orlando. We were only able to go Saturday, so we had very little time to walk thru a very large exhibit hall. I gained a wealth of information, and I think I came back with more questions than answers. We learned a lot more about ICF, clay tile roofing, and tankless hot water heaters. We have already done our plans, so going with ICF is going to mean a change in the footer. We would use a 6" form instead of 4", so we have to take into consideration the 2" difference from CMU construction. I am submitting requests for bids tomorrow to several ICF companies (there are several out there now), so we will see.
I chose the Noritz tankless gas hot water heater because I've heard it is the best gas one out there. Now I have to decide if I want the outdoor model. I think the weather is too harsh here to risk that. The salt may corrode it.
Also, I found my refrigerator/freezer today. I had a bottom mount Viking in my last house, and I hated the design. It was beautiful, but the bottom mount wasted too much space. I have all of my Viking appliances already, but no refrigerator. I chose Northland because of their warranty and reputation, and I was able to get for below MSRP. I went with an oversized side-by-side this time.
Back to work..lots of bids still to get to complete my ever expanding budget. At the rate I'm going, I may need to get a second job:)
Whitney
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 7/11/2007
We are very excited about the opportunity to build our own home. It didn't start out this way, but after the aggravation of realizing there were no contractors willing to build our house the way we envisioned, we decided we would go it alone.
We purchased our lot on the opposite corner directly across from our current house. We hated to leave the area just to build a larger home, and an addition was out of the question due to Hurricane Andrew code changes. When the lot went on the market, we couldn't resist. We love our neighbors and didn't want to part, but I bought my home when I was sans husband (married in February), dog, and two cats. Time for an upgrade...
St. John's County has more codes and hurricane restrictions than we anticipated, so it is of much debate the actual date we will break ground. Hoping to see some action in October. We are clearing the lot this week to get a better look at the trees we will keep.
Cross your fingers... it's hurricane season!
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