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We're Building our Dream House

Construction

Ah, the joys of building

GETTING STARTED

Work starts on the foundation. Eagle Excavating  came out and cleared all the brush and then dumped 17 loads of a clay/sand mixture for the building pad. They will come back and do the final grading after the house is almost complete.

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Dumping Dirt

After the clearing and building of the pad was done, it was time to get a building permit.

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Concrete forms

After the surveyor came and marked the corners of the house, Will Boozer and his crew from Cornerstone Concrete came out and set the forms for the concrete slab.

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The mud from the rain

It has rained for days and water is everywhere.

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Boy that seat is cold !!!!

We are now a real construction site. We have a POOPER

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Master Bath Rough-in

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Lots of MUD

January 25 2008

We are finally moving forward. A few days without rain and something can get accomplished.  We went to Wal-Mart (our least favorite store) and bought work boots.  Our tennis shoes just did not work with the mud.  I took a vacation day on Wednesday and pumped the water from the drenches. We got our under slab plumbing inspection on Thursday.   The plumbers came on Friday and covered the trenches.  Our concrete contactor Cornerstone will come on Saturday and finish the forms and be ready to put the rebar in the foundation on Monday. The pest control company will apply the termite treatment on Monday.   Then Cornerstone will complete the pad for inspection.  Helpfully we will have our slab inspection done on Tuesday and we can pour later that week.

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The Slab is poured

Will Boozer and his craftsman from Cornerstone Concrete did a wonderful job on the slab. They stayed late into the night to finish and it looks great. The framers from Sanders Builders started on Monday Feb 4th and have been busy putting sticks up in the air. Windows and doors arrived via Oswald Lumber on Friday Feb 8th . We are using Jen-Weld doors and Atrium Windows throughout the house.

 A crane will be here on Monday Feb 11th to hoist the trusses in the air to be placed on top of the walls.

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Framing almost done

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Windows and Doors arrived

February 19, 2008

 

The framers have been busy. Robbie Sanders from Sanders Builders sent his crew leader down from Greenville. Louis and his crew Alberto, Marcos, Moy and Macario have been doing a great job. The trusses went up and after some adjustments the roof took shape.  There was an issue with the trusses not working, but Robby took care of it and it looks great. Robby is the man. After the trusses, the roof was sheathed and tarpaper put in place. The windows and doors where installed and all the framing inside was finished. I installed locks on all the outside doors to secure the inside. Next will be the Plumbing. Electric and HVAC rough-ins. I will be doing the rough in for the smart house components. Then we will have the Insulation installed and then the rough in inspection. Then we will have the drywall installed. A lot will happen in the next couple of weeks. .    

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Then came the roof sheating

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Louis making sure it's done right

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Deb's new Front Door!!!!

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Sitting Room in Master

February 27, 2008

The plumbers have finished the rough in except the master bath. The roofer will start on Friday. Electricians will start on Friday or Monday. HVAC guy has ducts everywhere. The HVAC guys have been busy. More pictures later this week.

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Air Handler

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HVAC Rough-in

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300 Amp power center

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Lights and more lights

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Master Bath Rough-in

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Lets see, this wire goes here, I think!!!!!

March 29, 2008

 

Wow things are moving fast. Custom Exteriors came back and installed the siding, soffets and trim. They did a fantastic job. Santa Fe Construction, LLC came down from Simpsonville and hung the drywall and then came back on Wednesday and Friday to tape and sand. The second coat is drying. They will come back next week and do the finial coat and sanding. We failed our rough-in inspection because I did not leave the fireplace instructions and two small items. We had Josh from J and L Construction came over and fixed the exterior doors and the items for inspection. We passed. I will have interior pictures later this week. Deb is going to order the interior trim and doors on Monday. Will also be ordering the cabinets. After pain staking thought we have decided to use RTA (Ready To Assemble) Cabinets. We debated the cost and workmanship and after ordering a sample we decided to go with the RTA. I ordered a 9” base cabinets to check out the quality and was impressed. Solid cherry face frames and doors. The sides are 3/4-inch plywood. No particleboard anywhere. Even the drawers are dovetailed. We are ordering from http://www.rtacabinetstore.com. The style and color for the kitchen and pantry is Marquis Cinnamon. The bathrooms will be in Heritage Cherry.  We are in the process now of choosing the interior colors. More later.

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The siding goes up

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Fixing the doors

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Drywall Delivery

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Then comes the drywall

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Triming the soffets

May 31, 2008

 

Sorry I have not updated the site for so long. A lot has happen in the last month. Our current landlord has failed to make his mortgage payments and the house we live in now was sold at public auction on May 5th. We were contacted by the bank and were given two weeks to vacate. We told them our new house was not complete and we needed until June 14th. They have agreed to let us stay until then.

 

Now the good stuff. The land has been graded. The septic was installed. The well was drilled (200 feet and 8GPM).  Drywall is up and primed and final colors have been applied. The colors that you see are NOT the final colors. The Cabinets are up. The counters are complete. The vinyl is down and carpet will be installed on Tuesday the 3rd. The electricians started the top out today and will be back tomorrow and Monday. Our electricians, Dave and Steven are the best. The plumbers will do their top out on Monday. We are hoping for a CO (Certificate of Occupancy) on Friday or Monday. Hopefully we will be moving in on Friday the 13TH. I will add more pics on Sunday night.

 

When Deb and I started this project we had no idea how much work went into building a house. In the last month we have been at the house every waking moment. Deb is there every day from sunrise to sunset; I try to come each morning after work and all weekend. We have had many great friends helping us, including Bill, Caroline & Michael Balderman.  They gave up their entire Memorial Day weekend to help us get the house ready for the CO.  However, we would NEVER have gotten to the point we are without the help of one good friend, Carl Ruroede.  He has been up to help us several times (driving two hours each way), he’s even taken part of his vacation time to assist us.  He’s done a TON of work for us including installing all the trim, installing all the cabinets, helping me make the counters, making custom cabinets, installing the attic stairs, etc.  He’s also helped us make critical decisions and has been there for us with all of our stupid questions. Everyone should have a friend like Carl (but find your own, Carl’s taken!). THANK YOU CARL.    

CARL RUROEDE
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THE MASTER

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Kitchen Primed

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Master Sitting Room Primed

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Master Media Wall

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Media Room Front Wall

June 8, 2008

 

Here are the pictures I promised

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Driveway

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Rear View with new Patio

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10K Septic System A/C and Sidewalk

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Dinnig room

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Great Room

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Sitting room in Master

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Master Bath soaking tub

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Kitchen Sink

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Convection Oven and Microwave

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Media Room Carolina Crimson and Ravens Purple

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Media Room Video Wall

Double click the pictures to get a larger picture.

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The foundation pad

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 Lexington County  building permit

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The master suite

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Our MOAT!!!!!

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Building Inspector

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Hall bath and Kitchen

Piedmont Plumbers of Columbia came out and braved the mud and installed the under slab plumbing rough- in all in one day WOW. And of course it started to rain AGAIN. We had called for an inspection on Friday, but it was raining and all the trenches fill up with water and the inspector left. Hopefully it will be dry by Monday. Once the trenches are filled we will get the termite treatment. Cornerstone Concrte will then come back and finish the forms, lay the rebar, straps and the moister barrier. Then we will get that inspected, and then we pour the slab.

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Under slab plumbing covered

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Digging Footers

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Slab Close-up

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Setting the top plates

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Master sitting room

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The trusses

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The crane makes it so easy

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Up go the trusses

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More Trusses

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"OOPS" IT FALL DOWN AND GO BOOM, DAMM WIND

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Framing, Sheating and Roof Complete

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Front Entrance

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Front Door Close-Up

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Back Porch 32' X 10

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All duct work to be insulated

March 12, 2008

A lot has been happening. The fellows from Bouknight Heating and Air completed the HVAC rough-in and install gas lines for the fireplace, cook top , hot water heater and they put a stub out by the back porch for the grill. Dave and Stephen from Palmetto Electric finished the electrical rough-in. They made many suggestions to improve the lighting and they did a fantastic job.  Piedmont Plumbers completed the plumbing rough-in. Custom Exteriors came down from Mauldin, SC and installed 30 yr architectural roof shingles.  Dave and I installed the Cat5, Cat3, Speaker and Coaxial Cable on Sunday. Dave says he knows where each wire goes. The insulation has been put up on the outside walls (Pictures later). We are waiting for the plumber to correct a minor issue.  Hopefully we will be able to call for a rough-in inspection for Friday the 14th. If all goes to plan, we should be sheet rocking next week. More later!!!

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More lights and speaker rough-in

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Our Fireplace

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Structured Wiring Panel and lots of wire

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30 yr Architectural Shingles up close

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Roof Complete

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Siding goes up

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More Siding

Land is graded
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More grading

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Equipment everywhere

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The POOP tank (in back)

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We have water!!!!!!

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Getting ready to prime

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Great Room Primed

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Media Room Rear

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Parking Pad and Tankless Hot Water Heater

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Foyer

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Fireplace First time setting tiles!!!!!!

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Master Video Wall

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Master Bath Vanity

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Cooktop and Pot Filler

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The Fridge

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Freezer in Laundry Room