Tuesday, January 3, 2012

January 3, 2012 -- It's the New Year -- Recap

I humbly apologize for not updating the blog sooner.  With the holidays, my family getting sick, me stepping on a nail, etc. etc., I didn't update it as frequently as I would have liked.

Again, this doesn't mean that not much happened.  In fact, we are at punch list time now.  Eric Busa accomplished to get what my wife and I really wanted -- a working kitchen -- for Xmas.  My family was traveling up for xmas, and our only real wish/hope was that we could have a Christmas meal and have a heated home (complete, including the addition).  Eric came through!

For Xmas, we had a working first floor, including kitchen and 1/2 bath.  We had the double ovens going, the rangetop, the hood, the dishwasher.  We didn't eat out once all week between Xmas and New Years.  We had fun cooking and relaxing.  It was great not to eat out!  That gets tiring pretty quick.  We also had a fully heated upstairs.  The only real room left to tackle is the master bathroom (placing the jacuzzi tub and finishing the tile floor for the shower.)

Eric really had to push on his subcontractors (plumbing, electrical, hvac) to get this accomplished for us, and I have to thank them as well.  Paul and his team on the plumbing.  He was here fitting us in on Sundays.  Rick and his team for the electrical.  And the brother team of Franky and Dickie to get the heat on for us.  Thank you to all. 

Also, Eric's crew of Eric, Derrick and (more recently) David who has been tackling the carpentry and the details needed to "finish" the job.  We're close!  I think one more real trip out by the subs when we're close to finish will be all that's left after the carpentry is finished.

Anyway, here are some pics. These pics are not in order, but how things look now.  I'll try to add "color" with each picture.


A view from the street.  It doesn't look like an addition does it?  I think it looks like an originally built house!



A view of the front porch railing and stairs put in by David.  He is also putting in the stairs and railings are for the back deck today.



A view of the family room.  I put in the speakers myself!  I think even Eric would be proud of my amateur carpentry skills.  I need to just put one more in -- maybe that's a job for tonight.  I had the subwoofer going last night.  Definitely sounds good in an open room like that.  My wife got the sectional set (another piece coming sometime) from Macys and the coffee table is a hand-me-down from my brother.   Rug order has been placed.     
 

The final trim on the bottom has been put in my David.  That is the balcony that looks down into the family room.  We have to pick a stain...


The kitchen! Everything working except for the kitchen island pendant lights and the disposal for the island.  We didn't need that for xmas.  Stools are from Jordans.  I put them together with the kids' help before xmas.  


 Another view:


And another view:  As you may have noticed, the pulls/knobs are not in yet and the kitchen backsplash isn't in either.  We have the pulls/knobs picked out, but the backsplash that my wife picked out are still not in stock...


A view from the kitchen into the family room:


 The foyer/mud room area.  Through that door is the garage.  You also can see the 1/2 bath.  Fully functioning!



Another view.  Kohler toilet and pedestal sink.  Lights too I think.


 The boys at work cleaning the windows:



More pics to follow!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

November 28 to December 2, 2011 -- Hardwood Floors Stained and Sealed (1 Coat) and More Tiling

This week, the hardwood floors were sanded and then stained.  It left one bad smell but our family kept our current master bedroom safe from the fumes and we slept there.  The smell left pretty quickly and Eric Busa went with a water-based poly that was POV- (or POC or whatever the use for smell/toxicity) friendly.  The water based dried pretty quickly and we had amazing floors afterwards.  Eric Busa recommended we do the last coat(s) after the final work has been done in the interior.

Master Carpenter, Eric DaSilva and Derrick Hicks continued to work on the tiling (master bathroom and 1/2 bath) and the outside decks.  At the end of this week, the master shower tiling is close to being done and the master bath floor has been finished but for the grout.   The 1/2 bath is complete.

According to Eric Busa, next week will be the final mechanicals (plumber, electrical, etc.) ...  we are really close to being done!   Honestly, it's hard to stop thinking and looking back at this adventure and be amazed of what Eric and the gang have been able to accomplish.  Well, I'll do that when we are finally done.

Eric also had the gas fireplace installed in the family room too!

More steps to the eventual end....

Anyway, here are the pics below.

Kitchen/breakfast area:





View down hallway from current family room into kitchen:


New family room:








View from family room into kitchen:


Master bedroom:





The balcony:  



View from balcony down to family room:



View down hallway into master bedroom:




Back bedroom:




Tile for master bathroom:  Gazzini Summer.


Shower tile being installed:



More pictures of Erik DaSilva working on the shower tile.  Boy did he have an eventful week.  Topic for a while other blog.  





1/2 bath tiling done.  Foyer to go (next week, I hope).


Front decking being installed.  We are going with AZEK composite.  NO MAINTENANCE NECESSARY.  The color is Java or Mocha.  Some dark coffee color.  I think this color does well to emphasize the brown color of the siding.




Back deck being put together.  Same decking as front.

You know we are getting close to the end when THE LADDER that was there from the beginning is now OUTSIDE of the house...  Thanks to Derrick for making it.  We have to find a home for this when the project is complete!




 We're getting close to being able to buy a XMAS tree!




Thanksgiving Week -- Hardwood Floors and More!

Eric Busa had the project going full steam during Thanksgiving week.  We have moved on to the floor work.

The hardwood floors were put down.  Take a look!  It took a couple of days for them to put it down.  The following week will be the staining etc.

Also, take a look at some colors of the rooms.  Al and his team put on almost final coats.  They will be back at the end of the project to do the finishing and appropriate second coats where necessary.

Furthermore, Eric DaSilva and Derrick H did more carpentry and tile work.  See below for the pics.

Carrington Beige (Benjamin Moore) is the color for the family room/foyer:





Color of the 1/2 bath -- Cottage Red.  All colors are Benjamin Moore.  See also the wainscotting.





 Master Bedroom (Templeton Gray):



Master Bath -- November Rain:


Upstairs Bedroom (Carolina Gull):


Al and his team painting the portico and some trim:





The hardwood floors are being installed!








One of the many floor guys.  They put down the floor to the addition in 2 days.  The guy in the pic is a really nice guy.  Eric B works with some good subcontractors:






Eric DaSilva and Derrick Hicks working on the jacuzzi surround:





Also, Eric D started work on the floor tile in the master bathroom!



 Derrick grouted the laundry: