Sweat Equity

So, last week wasn't all too productive at the Bramwell home. Fred agreed to ask the bank to release some money. We're expecting a check any day now. Fingers are crossed that the bank won't want to hold the check for 10 days!

The guys were off the job last week on other jobs to make some money, which was fine. We did meet with the electrician to talk about the placement of lights, switches and outlets. The meeting went really well and we're waiting to hear how much the price changed due to the "upgrades" we wanted. Upgrades included additional cans, dimmers, under cabinet lights and outlets and MAYBE a surround sound pre-wire...

In an effort to save some labor dollars, we offered to help around the house this weekend while it was empty. Kevin asked if we would start tearing up the existing hardwood floors. We agreed and were pretty exciting to contribute to the cause. We didn't have the foggiest idea what we had just agreed to. The first hour or so we were doing it incorrectly. Who knew there was a "right" way. Luckily, a couple of the carpenters came by to pick up some tools and got us going int he right direction. I would say we spent about 10-12 hours at the house between Saturday and Sunday. It was in the upper 90s both days. To say we were sweaty would be a gross understatement. So, over the hours, blood, and sweat (luckily no tears) we removed the hardwood floors in half of the house and tore up the floor in the kitchen.

I wonder what sort of homework we'll have this coming weekend.

No pics for now, but this week we might get shingles on the roof and doors installed. The HVAC and plumbing rough ins will also be going in and framing should be completed.

Money talks...

Despite the heat, we've had a large week. Our first draw inspection is tomorrow at 2pm. The draw inspection is done by a representative from the bank, so it's not an inspection of the quality of workmanship or code compliance. It basically is a guy, Fred, who comes in and says, yep it's been done, we'll give you some money. This visit was scheduled on Monday, so everyone really got after it this week because this will be the first time they've gotten a chance to get paid since the work started.

Despite all of the great work, Matt and I made a few goofs. We forgot to order a window and we ordered an interior door in the wrong size. Luckily, we met an awesome guy in millwork at Lowes and he's helping us figure it all out.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so here they are...

1) This is one of my favorites of the following... a ROOF!!

2) This one is harder to see change, but they added the front porch.


3) Today they were really busy.... House wrap is almost complete, felt paper on roof and WINDOWS!!!


4) This one also taken today, view from the back. See the missing windows?

Dog Days of Summer...

So this past week wasn't as productive as we had hoped. We had a wave of sickness and illness take the crew down. We had one hospitalized, another w. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and another w. Sinusitis. Luckily, they're on the up and up now, but nothing happened Tuesday through Thursday. They were back Friday and half days Saturday and Sunday. In addition to illness, we had an extremely hot and humid weekend.

Matt was out of town, so I was monitoring progress. Nothing bad happened. I did realize that there are 2 windows that need to be moved, but nothing that can't be fixed.

In other exciting news, we're going to get our first draw to pay the guys and pay down our credit card on Friday. We're working on the paper work so that goes as smoothly as possible. It's amazing how money motivates everyone. Spirits are high around the job site right now, which is pleasant. I'm afraid that since the guys haven't been paid yet, they're going to be M.I.A. once they get a some money in their pockets. Time will tell.

The photos don't show what we were expecting to see by now, but progress is still being made and everyone is feeling better!

Tomorrow will be fun. We're supposed to meet with the electrician to go over placement of all electrical as it relates to lights, fans, outlets, switches, etc..



1. This is a view from inside the large dormer on the front of the house.


2. Another view from inside the gable. It's really neat in there. So far it's my favorite room!

3. This is the view from the back. They've started the house wrap. They haven't cut out all of the windows yet.

4. Street view. It's amazing how it's grown. More house wrap and the dormer is completely framed. Sheathing the roof is supposed to start tomorrow. Hopefully the thunderstorms will hold off until late afternoon.

Starting to Look Like a House

The past few weeks in the Queen City have been RAINY. This isn't atypical around here this time around here. The humidity level is almost unbearable and it's been hot and relatively strong thunderstorms in the evenings. The weather patterns aren't good for the anxiety as it continues to rain in the house. We really have made some pretty decent progress in the past few weeks. We've had our fair share of hurdles too...

1. Lumber doubled in price after the earth quake in Haiti. We priced the job before Haiti. We had our second and final large lumber delivery.

2. Weather, as mentioned above.

3. In the initial plan we hoped to keep the existing hardwood floors. After demo and rain we realized this wouldn't be the best plan, so we've started shopping for floors.

4. One day last week, one guy almost had a heat stroke and another shot a nail through his hand. Glad to say that they're doing fine.

Framing is starting to wrap up. In my very unprofessional opinion, we should be "dried-in" by the end of the week. This is very exciting. Dried-in means that there is sheathing and tar paper on the roof (ready for shingles), house is wrapped in tyvek (covers the sheathing to keep water away) and windows and installed. This will be a much welcome milestone! Framing is where the largest chunk of the money is spent, so as it wraps up pressure will be relieved for us and for the crew! Once the house gets to that point, the HVAC guy, electrician and plumber will start doing their rough-ins and the carpenters will continues studding up interior walls, shingle the roof and apply the siding... Big changes coming, but for now this is where we are...

Beginnings of a second floor. Exterior walls are all up. We can see the dormer on the left sticking up a little bit...

Sheathing applied to most of second story and windows are getting cut out. Also, the beginnings of a ROOF!!! YAY!

Back of house. Can see a little work on the roof here. The part that sticks out in the back is where the stairs are

Looks like a roof to me!!

Hopefully next post will show dramatic improvement. Fingers are crossed for dry days!