Week 17: Oct 19 - 23

Oh the interest rates. Two weeks ago the interest rates were right around 5% if we were to commit to long-term financing within 60 days and 4.8% if we could finish in the next 30 days. Unfortunately, we were not quite within the 60 day time frame. Now that we are a little more confident in our expected completion date in early December, the interest rates have jumped up to 5.25%. It sure would make me happy if we could get back down to 5%, as every little bit helps.

Taping and texturing of the sheetrock is now complete. We went with a texture on the walls called Santa Fe. One of the main benefits of this texture is that if there is ever a need to patch a hole in the sheetrock in the future, it is an easy texture to match. The ceiling has a similar texture but the sheetrock mud has sand added to it to give it more body. It was fun to watch the guys put it on. They had an interesting system where three guys worked as a team. The first guy would put a layer of sheetrock mud on the sheetrock, then the next guy would come behind him and do the same thing but in different directions, and then the third guy would finish up by doing a swirling action with his trowel. I think that it has turned out nice and has definitely added character to the house.

Our poor siding guys keep moving ever so slowly forward one small section at a time. I am crossing my fingers that they will be finished early next week. They have started covering the front porch support poles with white trim.

I have been able to start turning on power in the house as the power company finally hooked the house up to permanent power. I can only complete outlets and fixtures in areas where they won't be painting which limits my work to the storage room and garage for now. Fortunately, all of the lights, switches, and outlets that I have connected have worked. I am depending on my electrician to do the 3 and 4 way switches as they are a bit challenging for me.

Our builder, Ray Ellis, has begun working on the trim work. This includes all of the closet shelving, base boards, and window highlights.

The yard was graded this week providing a better perspective of how the yard will eventually look.

Week 16: Oct 12 - 16

Sheetrock is now in place and the guys doing the taping have been busy making all of the walls look smooth. The gas meter was installed.
We are still waiting on the electric company to hook-up permanent power to the house. Our house seems to have landed in a dark hole on their radar. I have had to call several times to order the hook-up and have had to get the inspector involved to convince them that we are ready to have power. The glitch appears to be with the communication from the state that oversees all electrical work and the power company. The computer system linking the two groups is not working well right now.

Viki and I chose our cabinet maker, Mike O'connor, and have chosen the style and color of cabinets to be installed throughout the house. Viki also chose the paint colors and we have most of our flooring now picked out.

Week 15: Oct 5-9

Work effort on the home this week has been focused on putting up the sheetrock. They have completed the first floor of the home and part of the second. Everything just got smaller. At least, my perspective of the size of each room changed as I was no longer able to see from one end of the house to the other. But, I am liking the change as the house is beginning to feel more homey. Viki and I have been spending time choosing cabinets, lighting, and flooring colors and styles. This week was also special as Viki and I were able to bless Miles. Grandparents on both sides of the family gathered to celebrate the occasion.

Week 14: Sept 28 - Oct 2

After making a few minor corrections, the electrical inspector gave us the o.k. to move ahead with covering everything up. What a relief.

After passing the inspection, I took a couple of days off from the house and spent time at home doing chores around the home we are living in now. I needed a little break from the house. In retrospect, I am glad I have learned what I have about doing the electrical in our house. It has definately been a learning experience. I have tried to balance in my own mind whether or not the effort to do the electrical was really worth what was gained. For me, it has been worth it because I have learned a new skill, made a new friend in Kevin Layton, saved a little money, and have a custom electrical job that I think will serve us well. That said, I would be slow to volunteer to take on an electrical job again now knowing all of the effort that is required.

Insulators arrived and in 3 days had all of the exterior walls sprayed with poly-urethane to seal the house and then covered with regular insulation. The poly-urethane is rated R-7 per inch of depth. The insulator guy said that with the sealing value of the poly-urethane it can provide as much as R-14 per inch of depth. All of the exterior walls have been filled with 1 inch of the poly-urethane except for in the bonus room where the ceiling was filled with 5 inches. Hopefully, the home will prove to be efficient in heating and cooling around the wide range of temperatures here in Idaho.



The brick work is now complete and looks great.



Our siding guys are doing a good job but seem to have fallen into a tar pit. They do a small section a day, if that. I am glad that I am paying them for the completed job and not by the hour.