Stone Complete

The masons laid the last wall stone on March 28th 2018. The first had been laid on February 7th 2016. So it was over two years. It didn’t need to take so long but we had supplier problems and changed crews a couple times and had small crews generally. But the exterior stone is now done. Now we move to cleaning and landscaping. Spreading top soil, moving dirt, pouring the driveway. There is a splayed base that comes up the front that is going to be made of packed earth and rubble that needs to be done, but I include that in with the landscaping. So the home stretch. Of course still waiting on the pool to be finalized.

Below is a picture I took the day the last stone was applied. For those curious it was around the rectangular window to the left of the round window on the front right tower.

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Then there are some pictures I took one day when we had excellent lighting.

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2nd Floor Walls and Garden Fence Done

The 2nd floor walls were poured last Friday, Saturday they were knocking bracing off, and now we’re waiting on the heavy steel to start. The crane is up there today but they didn’t get started. In the meantime the pool steel is pretty much all formed and so one of these days that will be done, and my garden fence was finished today.

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I had the hardest time trying to find someone to build my fence. It isn’t a complex thing, and people build these all the time, it is a deer proof garden fence, or people often use it for chickens as well, in my case I’m using it for both. But all it is is an 8 foot wire fence with wood posts. Simple right? But I couldn’t get a fence company to bid it, and it isn’t a small fence, over 400 linear feet. Decent size job I figured, but I couldn’t get people to return my calls, or give me bids, or give me bids what I wanted (like I would tell them what I wanted, then they would quote me something else).

Then I found Jesse from Generation Fence and he had my fence up in, I think, less than 10 days after I called him at a good price.

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Now I have over 5000 sq/ft of gardening space, and an over 1000 sq/ft chicken run. The house may not be done, nor is it likely to be until another summer passes, but I will be planting in here in a couple weeks and gardening all summer.

We’re into February now, so we didn’t quite get the 2nd floor done in 30 days (I consider it done when the subfloor above is on), but I’m keeping my finger’s crossed it will be done by the end of next week which will put us somewhere around 40 days, cutting in half the 1st floor’s 80 days. Though I do hate it when we have day’s like today, where we catch a break and don’t have forecasted rain, and we don’t make much progress down the critical path.

2nd Floor Views

After rain and delays our 2nd floor subfloor is finally complete. This is just about 80 days since the 1st floor subfloor was complete. To put this in perspective, up the road from where I live now about 80 days ago there was a wooded lot, and today there is a completely framed, wrapped, and roofed house on it, they’re now on siding and windows. In that time I got 1 floor of framing. The ICF contractor cannot start back until Monday so, now that it finally stopped raining and we have nice weather, we’re not making upward progress. I feel that weather has been so unkind that every day with good weather should be seized with a vengeance.

But the 2nd floor subfloor is done and today was finally sunny and I was able to get some nice pictures. The house already looks so tall and the view already seems so elevated it is hard to remember this is only the 2nd floor. There will be 2 more floors in the towers, and then you can go on the tower roofs to get even more height if you wanted a truly spectacular view.

Master Bedroom View

Southeastern view from the master bathroom

Southeastern view from the master bathroom

The view to the north off the front of the house

The view to the north off the front of the house

The great hall as seen from the central staircase. The balconies to the left and right are permanent, the great hall has a double story ceiling, 24 feet total. The three windows in the background will eventually be 14 feet tall.

The great hall as seen from the central staircase. The balconies to the left and right are permanent, the great hall has a double story ceiling, 24 feet total. The three windows in the background will eventually be 14 feet tall.

Master Bedroom View

View from 2nd floor front balcony (directly above the front door) looking down the driveway. Here is where you would stand when negotiating with the goblin horde trying to get in.

View from 2nd floor front balcony (directly above the front door) looking down the driveway. Here is where you would stand when negotiating with the goblin horde trying to get in.

Master Bedroom View

I have also had dirt delivered for my vegetable garden, a really sort of high end soil. I need to still till it down and mix it with the forest soil that is underneath, and then put in a deer proof fence. But I will be able to grow a whole bunch of veggies with this garden (5000 sq/ft for veggies, 1000 sq/ft for chickens). I’ve dreamed of having a garden this big for years. I am currently seeking to hire a fencing contractor to put in the fence for me, should anyone have a referral.

The plot for my backyard vegetable garden.

The plot for my backyard vegetable garden.