more construction progress

I'm happy to report that the builders have achieved their first milestone and have hit 'dry in' by Feb 1st.  Hurrah!

   

This was an important milestone because:

1. The 'trades' (plumbers, electricians etc) can't start their part of the project in earnest until dry-in, and

2. if they didn't hit this milestone there's likely no way we'd be able to finish by May 1st, which is when we need to move out of the house we're renting for the next 3 months

It is a tight timeline for sure, and it will only really work if nothing goes seriously awry in the next 3 months.  I'm told they're putting more people on our project beginning this week so that is an encouraging sign.  There's a large pile of lumber stacked inside the house right now for framing so they're teeing up to do the interior framing in a big way.

Of course we need doors and windows in order to be really dried-in.  Those are parked at the window retailer right now, waiting to be delivered.  If things go according to plan we'll have doors and windows installed by the end of this week.  They could cover openings with plastic in order for the plumber to start but they won't get paid for the doors and windows until they're actually installed.  Good windows and doors aren't cheap, so it is a lot of money for the builder to float until the bank pays for them, so they're motivated to get them in quickly.

The stucco subcontractor is setting up scaffolding now, you can see their hydraulic lifts in front of the house in the pictures.  It's a long cry from the rough sapling trunks and 2x10 boards that my dad would cobble together for painting or roofing when we were kids. The builders will use their scaffolding to install the windows.

Comments

[Aida]

Wow..congratulations, Looks like a real house now:-) very tall house, is it in three floors? the balcony looks very interesting, it reminds me of houses in Mazandaran, the province in north of Iran by Caspian sea, normally they have this sort of balcony with arched top window.

[misha]

Thanks for kind words Aida! Interesting comment about houses in Mazandaran, would love a picture for comparision if you have one...

Hope you guys and that adorable baby are well!

Regards - Michael

[Alan]

Thanks for posting the views from inside. I stopped by last week, but couldn't get to the upper floors. I seem to be stuck on what you see looking out.

Congratulations on the great progress.

-- Alan