More stuff

Electric Switches/Outlets/Etc

So the electricians started putting the switches and outlet covers up. There are still a few that need to be finished up (mostly up high, etc) and outside. The kitchen is all there stacked up in the living room waiting for Builder Dad (and possibly Papa?) to start putting together either Friday or Saturday.

HVAC can come out once Builder has taken out the sheetrock from the utility closet, puts some batting insulation up, and then puts the sheetrock back up. Unfortunately, they forgot to insulate that closet in the first place and Builder Dad is not happy. We do NOT want to hear the HVAC coming on every day/night through the thin walls... and unfortunately, it hits right up where the boys' bed will be, and near the master bedroom as well. Not the best for sleeping at night!!

The tons of switches you see here are in our hallway... they control almost everything!!

Today's News

Builder Dad talked to Builder today. We are "on the list" for the HVAC guy. He should be there by tomorrow or Wednesday to do his thing. Also, Builder will pick up the barn door hardware from Grainger for us (since he has a truck). We can get the fans now or in a week or two if we want as the electricians will install them for us. As for the baths, we need to come up with some "tile" and are thinking we want something not so permanent until we decide what we really want. Therefore, we don't want to stick tile to the wall only to find we have to hammer it down. So, I think we'll go with some roofing material (galvalum) and seal it... make it easy to take down later when we decide what we really want.

Wall painting has happened- Kitchen delivered

Still need the base boards painted, but the rest seems done. Builder Dad and Papa picked up all the Ikea kitchen and bathroom stuff today and delivered it in a big box truck.

Pics of base boards

So we took some pics of the great baseboards that are going in yesterday. Today when I went by, the windows were taped up again so my hopes for paint are very high!! Come on electricians, plumbers, and driveway stuff!!

Base Boards Going In!!

I did my daily drive by this morning and noticed a minivan parked outside. I could see through the front windows that there was a man with a saw in the hallway... assuming he's cutting baseboards to put up. Woo hoo!!

Pics from last night- electricians/lights

So we noticed that the electricians left off the can lights in the first bathroom. We weren't sure if the sheet rockers just covered them up or if they weren't there in the first place. Builder Dad went in last night to take pics.. looks like the electricians were out to install those lights as well as the second set that were missing in the master bedroom. Also, if you notice, the switch plate in the master bedroom was also covered over. You can see the before and after pics.

Oh yeah- I meant to mention that we were told the base boards and painting would have been done by Wednesday, but as of 5:30pm when we went by, it hadn't been done. The kitchen will be there by Saturday... would be nice to have the painting done by then!!

Ikea rang...

Our kitchen is in- Ikea called today... we must go before Saturday morning to pick it up. Unfortunately, this is a bad weekend for me to go because I have a conference to attend. Hopefully Builder Dad can order the second half of the kitchen as well as both bathrooms (yikes--- will he pick out the right sinks and vanities!?! I'm afraid if I leave it up to him, we'll have two bachelor bathrooms again!! I need my vanities!!!). Okay... Ikea has a return policy, right? Tee hee hee!!

Pics of the Texture, etc

A few pictures of the texture and the rooms/hallway. Also, I've added a picture of the moisture that got onto/into the drywall from the window condensation. This happened to about 3-4 windows. Finally, I've added a picture of the solid core door price from McCoy's. The price is right, we asked them how long it would be to order them and they should be getting back to us today.

Happy MLK Day! There will be a parade going through our neighborhood (right down 11th street and to Huston-Tillotson College) after it started at the MLK statue at UT Campus and then to the capital. Too bad it's rainy out there today. I would have loved to take the boys to the event!!

Texture- Fogging...

Or is it Flogging? Not really sure. The texture guys came out to fog (or flog) and we decided we liked that texture more than any fancy stuff (like orange peel, etc). We went by today to look at it in the light and noticed that some of the condensation from the windows (which were covered in plastic for the texturing) was dripping down the dry wall and into the walls. Apparently, it should dry out before too long and not cause any long term damage. Paint should happen soon! Ikea still hasn't called us with our kitchen yet. Hopefully pretty soon!!

Oh yeah- we went to McCoy's today off of E. Ben White and asked them to see about special ordering the barn door hardware for our doors. It's possible they might be able to get it in the lengths we want, but we may have to cut them. We need to get on Ebay and start ordering the hardware to go with the tracks and doors now. We found some solid doors for $49.99 there too. Pretty good price compared to the $120 we were quoted!

78702 Post Office

I called today to get the specs on mailboxes. We want one to match our house (not some farm house or fish or anything). The 78702 PO said that the box must be a curbside one, 3 feet off the ground, and no more than 6 inches from the curb.

Hopefully we can get one of these cool ones shipped from New Zealand!!

http://www.letterboxes.co.nz/modern.html

I kind of like the one pictured here, but maybe a different color to match our box house.

The Dishwasher and Fridge we purchased

We got two for the price of one on Craigslist! Poor Builder Dad spent a good part of his weekend cleaning the entire fridge. It wasn't really dirty, it was just that there are a million pieces that come out of that thing and he wanted to disinfect it like crazy. Pretty good combo if you ask me! Thanks dad and mom!!

100% Wind Powered Energy House

Today, Builder Dad has signed up with Austin Energy to have this house 100% Wind Powered. We're locked in at this energy rate until 2023. Apparently, this means we can get out of it if we decide to start producing our own solar energy, however, if we decide not to, our rates won't go up for at least 15 years. Pretty cool. I know I'm Dutch, but never thought I'd be powered by wind mills again!! This program was offered by Austin Energy's Austin Green Choice program.

Pics from today

More taping and floating. Also, if you notice, we have an electric box!! I met the man who owns all three properties around us too. He didn't seem too happy to meet me, but I could be wrong.

Taping and floating

When I drove by today, I noticed the guys out there... and I also noticed that inside there were spackle lines, so I'm assuming it's taping and floating time!! We got the dishwasher today, rented a truck, and picked it up. The boys loved playing in the truck all afternoon, and the dishwasher is really really cool!! Now if we could think of anything else we needed to do with that truck before it goes back tomorrow morning!!

Next step must be texturing (which we'll have to approve after they do a test wall) and then painting!! I hope our Ikea kitchen gets here soon!! We'll install after the paint goes up!!

LG appliances

We got lucky with craigslist and are getting two LG appliances (dishwasher and fridge) for the price of one. We already had the fridge delivered and are going to get the dishwasher today. They have both been used... the fridge for a year (and it seems perfect) and the dishwasher only twice (they decided the color wasn't right for them). I hope it's right for us!! We're driving down to Circle C (or thereabouts) today to pick it up.

Better Sheet Rock Pics

Here are some more pics of the house. Here is the news of the day from Builder Dad: Builder called, they're taping and floating like crazy right now, electricians headed out there to meet with Builder, and HVAC is out there working on ventilating the utility closet.

Sheet Rock Is Going In!!!

Take a look at my stalker photo. If you look carefully, you can see there are actually walls now! Tomorrow it gets inspected, if it passes, the next day (or maybe later tomorrow) they tape and float. Once that's all dry, they get to paint all the walls the awesome color of --- get this--- are you ready for it?--- WHITE!

Measurements today

Builder Dad and Little Builder #1 went to measure the bathrooms today so we could figure out our bathroom plans now. Luckily, they met with Builder and got to discuss a few things. There was a lot more sheet rock there. The sheetrock contractors had been there but didn't want to start until all the sheetrock showed up. It all got there while Builder Dad was there, so Builder called sheetrockers and told them to come back. So, they may have started the process this afternoon, maybe tomorrow. Either way, we should be ready for paint in a week or so!!

Awesome!!

Ordered 1/2 the kitchen today

So, we ordered 1/2 the Ikea kitchen today. It isn't in stock, so it takes 2-3 weeks for delivery. We also have all the other parts itemized so that when we go pick up our ordered stuff, we can order the other 1/2 (that's in stock) then. We'll definitely rent a big box truck!!

Our virtual kitchen

Thanks Ikea!

Insulation - See for yourself!!

More sound proof... probably warmer... much cooler (in the summer).