July 01: Kitchen gutted - cabinets, sink removed
July 12: Roof covered - plywood only.
July 15: Got roofing color samples and gutter samples.
Need skylights in family room - not enough light.
July 19: Determined where TV outlets go.
Chose rounded wall corners versus square corners.
July 22: Chose gutter style.
July 27: Chose shower system for master bath and kids bath.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Showers!
To pass the rough plumbing inspection, our GC needed us to pick out the shower system we wanted to use in the master and kids bathrooms. Apparently each brand has their own rough valves so you *have* to know which one you want. If you change your mind later, they'll have to rip out the previous valve and put a new one in (i.e., more cost and more delay).
We went to see Todd at Saratoga Plumbing Supply as recommended by our GC. He was very helpful. When you want thermostatic temperature and volume control on the same trim, there's only one option: Hansgrohe.
In the master, we are getting both a rainshower head and a handheld showerhead. For the kids bathroom, we're getting a tub/shower system where the showerhead is a handheld on a sliding bar.
Shower Notes:
• Thermostatic valve for better temperature control than pressure-balanced valve.
• Thermostatic valves allow for separate volume and temperature control whereas there is no volume control for pressure-balanced valves.
• Rainshower heads work best when mounted level (as intended), not on a tilt.
• Valve body = brass colored metal piece in the wall
• Trim kit = exterior parts that you use (e.g., the knobs)
• A/B diverter for using one showerhead at a time
• A/B/AB diverter for A/B and use of both showerheads simultaneously
We went to see Todd at Saratoga Plumbing Supply as recommended by our GC. He was very helpful. When you want thermostatic temperature and volume control on the same trim, there's only one option: Hansgrohe.
In the master, we are getting both a rainshower head and a handheld showerhead. For the kids bathroom, we're getting a tub/shower system where the showerhead is a handheld on a sliding bar.
Shower Notes:
• Thermostatic valve for better temperature control than pressure-balanced valve.
• Thermostatic valves allow for separate volume and temperature control whereas there is no volume control for pressure-balanced valves.
• Rainshower heads work best when mounted level (as intended), not on a tilt.
• Valve body = brass colored metal piece in the wall
• Trim kit = exterior parts that you use (e.g., the knobs)
• A/B diverter for using one showerhead at a time
• A/B/AB diverter for A/B and use of both showerheads simultaneously
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Downspouts
Before our contractor headed out to pick up the roofing material, he asked me to come over to the job site to confirm the roof color. The 25-year roofing has the exact same color as our existing roof but the 50-year roofing had a few darker slats. Decided on the more durable 50-year roof. Figured that nobody would actually notice the difference in roof color.
While I was there, the roof guy asked me to go around the house with him to pick downspout locations(!). So unexpected! Thankfully I just had to figure out which sides of the windows I wanted certain downspouts. Other locations, he just pointed out where they would be located and just asked for approval. Because we have a different roof now, the downspouts are not necessarily in the corners of the house anymore. In the back of the house, we have one in the middle. Hopefully it won't be too ugly when they finish! :p
While I was there, the roof guy asked me to go around the house with him to pick downspout locations(!). So unexpected! Thankfully I just had to figure out which sides of the windows I wanted certain downspouts. Other locations, he just pointed out where they would be located and just asked for approval. Because we have a different roof now, the downspouts are not necessarily in the corners of the house anymore. In the back of the house, we have one in the middle. Hopefully it won't be too ugly when they finish! :p
Friday, July 22, 2011
More decisions
As of today, we have
The contractor is definitely very happy with the progress of the house considering the rough beginning. He thinks we might be able to finish by October. The only thing that would hold us back would probably be my decision making. Since lovely husband has given me full license to all house aesthetics decisions, I'm the only one to blame for slow decision making.
Our contractor called me today to remind me that I needed to make a gutter decision by today. The reason? Prices for roofing and gutters go up by 10% on Aug 1 so he needed a decision to get his supplier to place the order asap.
Cute contractor story:
In early summer, our contractor's wife wanted him to redo all 4 bathrooms in their house as a wedding anniversary gift. So he sets out to do it. We're going to check out the 3 out of 4 finished bathrooms. He designed each one differently and is very excited about the one he put together for his little girl. He told me that if I liked what he did, he wants to design our kid's bathroom. haha!
(Today, he told me that his men really liked his daughter's bathroom.)
As for our kitchen, we're waiting on structural engineering to complete their calculations before submitting to the city.
- picked and ordered skylights - the blackout shade cost more than the actual skylight *sigh*
- picked rounded wall corners (versus square corners)
- definitely spending $2700 extra for central A/C
- picked out ogee curved gutters (never thought we had to make this decision!)
- determined where all the TV outlets go
The contractor is definitely very happy with the progress of the house considering the rough beginning. He thinks we might be able to finish by October. The only thing that would hold us back would probably be my decision making. Since lovely husband has given me full license to all house aesthetics decisions, I'm the only one to blame for slow decision making.
Our contractor called me today to remind me that I needed to make a gutter decision by today. The reason? Prices for roofing and gutters go up by 10% on Aug 1 so he needed a decision to get his supplier to place the order asap.
Cute contractor story:
In early summer, our contractor's wife wanted him to redo all 4 bathrooms in their house as a wedding anniversary gift. So he sets out to do it. We're going to check out the 3 out of 4 finished bathrooms. He designed each one differently and is very excited about the one he put together for his little girl. He told me that if I liked what he did, he wants to design our kid's bathroom. haha!
(Today, he told me that his men really liked his daughter's bathroom.)
As for our kitchen, we're waiting on structural engineering to complete their calculations before submitting to the city.
Roof decisions
July 15
With the new roofing going up, we needed to decide whether to fix the old roof. You can see from the pictures below that under the eaves of the old roof is missing (what I think is called) fascia board which prevents the wood from behind exposed to the elements.
Adding the fascia boards would also mean replacing the old gutters.
Our GC looked at our old gutters and shook his head - they clog easily and he could tell by the design. :p
I also got two boards of roofing color samples and gutter samples. Yay, more decisions!
July 22
Replacing the entire roof would be quite pricey and since the old roof has another 10 years on it, we decided to just add the fascia board to the original part of the house. This way it would look the same as the new part - with new gutters too.
Old roof
New roof
With the new roofing going up, we needed to decide whether to fix the old roof. You can see from the pictures below that under the eaves of the old roof is missing (what I think is called) fascia board which prevents the wood from behind exposed to the elements.
Adding the fascia boards would also mean replacing the old gutters.
Our GC looked at our old gutters and shook his head - they clog easily and he could tell by the design. :p
I also got two boards of roofing color samples and gutter samples. Yay, more decisions!
July 22
Replacing the entire roof would be quite pricey and since the old roof has another 10 years on it, we decided to just add the fascia board to the original part of the house. This way it would look the same as the new part - with new gutters too.
Old roof
New roof
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Family room has a roof!
With the roof on, the entire house seems to be more complete. :)
Looking into the new family room from the old part of the house
View from the patio
Looking into the new family room from the old part of the house
View from the patio
Friday, July 1, 2011
Kitchen gutted
You can see the complete gutting of our kitchen. All that's left is the wall-mounted faucet!
What's left of the kitchen
Lone faucet
Garden window
All of our windows left to install
What's left of the kitchen
Lone faucet
Garden window
All of our windows left to install
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