So close, yet so far away....

So close, yet so far away....

March 23 - 27 --  We are into the last phases of this project where the end is so close, yet the number of "little things to do" makes the completion of this project also seem so far away.

The contractor and I have started the "budget reconciliation" process, and even though we have a few things to sort out, it is looking like this project is very close to coming in on budget or just a bit over.  There are no photos of that process!!! 

The electricians were here for the final inspection of the electrical work done in the garage, and that inspection passed.  We discussed adding two circuits to the greenhouse and they will also install some outlets on the pergola, but that will happen after the rest of the greenhouse is completed.

On Tuesday, the final inspection for the plumbing took place, and that one also passed.  The final inspection for the HVAC system and the fireplaces was also on Tuesday and again, we passed with flying colors.

Today the roofers came to work on the greenhouse and determined that the flashing kits that were delivered for the two roof skylights will not work and instead they ordered a new kit that will work better.  Those two flashing kits will be returned by the contractor.  Once the new flashing kit arrives, then the roofers will return and shingle the roof around the skylights, but today that laid down the roofing paper.

Tomorrow the tile setter will return to put in the tile floor in the second upper-level bathroom.  The painter has already told me that he intends to work this weekend on the walls so that he can texture them before we select a paint color.

Also, tomorrow morning the crew should come to finish the decking for the porch off the master bedroom and to install trim there,around the decks off the dining room, the rear entry, and the greenhouse.

In the meantime, the electricians installed the light fixture for the dining room which was back-ordered and finally arrived.  The fixture is in the center of the room, and it hangs from a chain.  Once the antique walnut dining room table gets moved back into the dining room, the chandelier will be lowered and positioned over the table with a ceiling hook. 

On Tuesday all the materials around the yard that were deemed "trash" was carted off and what is left of my backyard was "raked."  Any building materials that were deemed "usable" were neatly stacked, including boards that I will use to build raised beds for future vegetable and flower gardens.

The raked yard now looks like this:

But, it used to look like this:

I can only hope that when this area of the yard is landscaped I will grow veggies once again, but in raised beds with NO LAWN.  I have decided that growing lawn is such a waste of water that I will have a hardscape with native grasses and other water-wise shrubs.

Now the back of the house looks like this:

I only have photos in my mind now as to what the back of the house will eventually look like.

The windows will be washed early next week.  As soon as the second bathroom is done and the finish carpenters have made one last pass, the house will underdo a thorough cleaning to remove as much of the construction dust as possible -- this is called "house detailing".  Then, whatever is in the "old" rooms of the house will be moved so that the floors in those rooms can be refinished and the walls painted.

Finally, the refrigerator debacle has taken some interesting turns and is currently in deliberations among the architect, kitchen designer (and the owner of his company) and the contractor.  Once that situation is resolved, I'll share the outcome.