Week 22 - Week of 11/05/07

This week was mostly touch up, clean up, and final inspections.

The window screens were installed.

The final "all house" inspection was completed by the Building Inspector.

The Certificate of Occupancy was requested.

I spent time on Saturday and Sunday going through the house on my own, checking various items and building my own punch list.

Week 21 - Week of 10/29/2007

This week the following major things happened:

- The exterior front doors and garage doors were painted
- Carpeting was installed
- The final appliances (refrigerator and trash compactor) were installed
- Some final inspections were obtained
- Minor finishing work was done, although there is still more to do.

Week 20 - Week of 10/22/2007

The major progress this week was installation of 98% of the landscaping.

Here's what happened during the 20th week of construction:

- Trees were planted
- Shrubs, color items, and ground covers were planted, including some upgrades
- Sod was laid
- Pine bark nugget mulch was laid (this was an upgrade over the standard)
- HVAC controls were connected and system started
- the incorrect kitchen island was uninstalled
- the correct kitchen island was temporarily set in place
- the kitchen island countertop was installed and adjusted
- the kitchen island was plumbed and then unplumbed (location off by 1")
- insulation of the exterior water heater lines was added (in case we get a hard freeze in Mount Dora)
- More work was done on the structured wiring system
- the painter did more caulking
- some minor issues were addressed.

Now it's time to push for inspections and finishing up all the open items. Our pre-closing walkthrough is only eleven working days away. I expect a flurry of activity during the next ten days.

Week 19 - Week of 10/15/2007

There was not much real progress this week. Here's what happened:

- the final grade of the yard was done,
- the irrigation system was installed,
- the temporary water spigot was capped just below grade,
- the cover was installed on the main water shutoff,
- part of the low voltage wiring (cable, phone, internet, speakers drops) was done, but there were many incorrect items,
- baseboard tops were caulked.

Week 18 - Week of 10/08/2007

Progress this week was:

- Drywall touchup
- Electrical trim completed
- Round-up applied to weeds in the yard
- Final grade started
- Gas line shutoff valves installed
- Baseboard caulked at the wall (but not the floor) side
- Lots of discussion on correcting the cabinet errors.

Overall, slow progress this last week.

Week 17 - Week of 10/01/2007

Here's what happened during the 17th week of construction:

- countertops were installed
- water heater was hung and plumbed
- sink faucets and drains were installed
- whole house water filter was installed
- toilets were set
- screen cage was installed
- electrical outlets, switches, and trim plates were installed
- interior and exterior light fixtures were installed,
- smoke detectors were installed,
- water heater control was installed (but in wrong location)
- cooktop and oven were delivered and set temporarily in place
- acrylic knockdown base for the lanai and porch was put down
- closet and pantry shelving was installed
- mirrors were installed

Week 16 - Week of 9/24/207

We were away for week 16, but here's what it appears happened:

- Dirt was brought in and dumped around the rear of the concrete floor for the cage.

- HVAC compressor, coil, and furnace were set in place.
- Door hardware was installed.

Week 15 - Week of 9/17/2007

Here's what happened during the 15th week of construction:

• The floor and bathroom tile installation was completed
• The cabinets arrived and were installed, less a few problems
• The concrete flatwork was done (walks, driveway, patio, pads)
• The garage doors and door openers were installed
• The window labels were removed and a first wash was done
• The installation of the decorative accent stone was completed
• We met with our builder to discuss solutions to a few issues, including a door location and the kitchen island cabinets. Pringle is very accommodating on problem resolution.
  

Week 14 - Week of 9/10/2007

Here's what happened during week 14:

- Interior ceiling and wall painting was done,
- The driveway, sidewalks, cage foundation, and pads were formed and inspected,
- Tile was delivered and tile work started.

Week 13 - Week of 9/03/2007

Here's what happened during Week 13 of construction:

- On Labor Day, the crew worked on drywall mudding and taping. All the drywall work got finished this week,
- Some minor electrical punch list items got fixed,
- The exterior painting was done,
- Interior doors and trim were delivered,
- Interior doors were hung, trim around doors was installed,
- Baseboard was installed in the rooms that will have carpet,
- Corian windowsills were installed,
- The interior paint was delivered,
- My outside inspector did a pre-painting inspection and found only one minor issue.

Good progress for the week.

Week 12 - Week of 8/27/2007

Here is what happened during Week 12. I'm back from my Michigan trip, so have more information. However, my builder was on vacation until Thursday.

- the drywall was stocked in the garage,

- my builder came back from vacation and was not happy that his co-workers saved his work, and problems for him. He called Thursday morning and said that he had both my inspector's list and my punch list and was going to meet with the trades to fix the items so the drywall could get hung.

- most of the open inspection items were fixed and the drywall crew hung the drywall and started the tape and mudding.

- stucco work was completed.

Week 11 - Week of 8/20/2007

Here's what happened during Week 11:

- the metal / plastic edge guides for the stucco banding were installed,

- the radiant barrier and any needed exterior wood wall and interior sound insulation were installed,

- the Pest Defense tubes were installed in the walls,

- the exterior stucco crew started the first coat,

- my private outside inspector did an inspection and found 18 items that need to be corrected before drywall is hung. None are major, but there are items such as missing wood to attach the ceiling drywall to, punch list items not yet corrected, etc.

Week 10 - Week of 8/13/2007

What happened in Week 10?

- we had our pre-drywall walk through with our Builder. There are some items that need to be fixed, but generally we are in good shape.

- we had an initial landscape meeting with the Landscape sub-contractor. This was good and bad. Good, because there are many more choices than people previously had. Bad for two reasons - first, there a lots of decisions to be made and we need time research the various choices and develop a plan, and - second, bad because the contractor told me that I couldn't landscape the back 20' of my yard, within my property lines due to "Mount Dora City requirements". I've got a meeting with the City scheduled to discuss.

- The guest bath tub finally arrived and was installed,

- the rough-in inspections for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical passed.

Week 9 - Week of 8/06/2007

This week the following happened:
- The house voltage electrical rough-in was completed,
- The low voltage (telephone, cable, internet, door bell, house number) electrical rough-in was completed,
- The master bath tub was installed,
- The tailored foam was injected in the block walls,
- Framing punch (do overs) was done,
- Truss inspection was done,
- The electric service was pulled and a meter set, so we now have power at one 110V box on the side of the house.

We're still waiting for the correct guest bath tub, so the plumbing rough-in can be completed and then the rest of the inspections done.

Week 8 - Week of 7/30 2007

Here is what was accomplished this week:

- framers did some added work, put the wood bucks around the doors and windows, and did some rework,
- windows were installed,
- rear sliders were installed,
- HVAC duct work was installed, along with the plenum, zone dampers, and wiring,
- moisture proof board was installed at knee walls in the garage and above the guest bath,
- vents / chimney holes were cut in the roof and the exterior vents installed,
- bath fan boxes were installed,
- roofers finished the shingles
- tyvek paper was installed on wood portions of the exterior,
- HV electrical was about 75% roughed in.

I think it was good progress for this week.

Week 7 - Week of 7/23/2007

Progress seemed slow this week. The gas lines were about 80% roughed in. Some plumbing repair work was done and about 80% of the plumbing rough-in was done. The front door was installed. HVAC ductwork installation started. Roof shingles are about 90% completed. Truss inspection was completed and approved.

Also, several "do-overs" were completed. The master bath shower valve plumbing was fixed. The refrigerator ice maker line was fixed. The "buck" for the Nook slider was removed and the block shaved to the correct size.

There are still some framing "do-overs", along with some remaining block / concrete "chip outs" to be done. Also, the gas stub-out for the generator needs to be done correctly.

Hopefully next week will bring greater progress.

Week 6 - Week of 7/16/2007

Lots of progress was made this week. Here's what happened:

- Trusses were set
- Roof was sheathed and roofing paper applied
- Interior was framed
- Frame for furnace and HVAC components was constructed in the garage
- Floor for garage "attic storage" was placed and opening for the drop down stairs cut
- Window and exterior door openings were framed.

Week 5 - Week of 7/09/2007

A lot of work got accomplished this week.

- Concrete block work was completed.
- Concrete lintels and windowsills were installed.
- Interior masonry insulation was installed.
- The wood that goes around the windows and doors was installed.
- The furring strips for the drywall were put up.
- The truss pack arrived.
- Concrete was pumped into the block around all the steel and at the top of the block.
- The load bearing walls (between the garage and the house, and a small one in the house) were installed.
- The laminated beam at the rear top of the lanai was set.
- Knee walls at the top of the front porch were built and installed.
- The truss assemblies for the left and right sides of the house were pre-assembled on site.
- The gables for the front of the house and garage were pre-assembled on site.

Week 4 - Week of 7/02/2007

This was a short week, as the U.S. July 4th Holiday fell on Wednesday. Here's what progress was made on our home construction this week:

- Concrete block was delivered to the site
- Masonry sand and concrete for mortar were deliverd
- Iron rebar was delivered
- The lintels for the windows and above the doors were delivered
- The mason crew started putting up the blocks. They are about 65% done.

Week 3 - Week of June 25, 2007

Here's what happened during the third week of construction:

- The pipes were covered with dirt,
- Reinforcement rebar was put in the footer / pier area,
- The vapor barrier under the slab was put down / sealed,
- Electrical conduit was put down for floor outlet, etc.,
- The city inspections were done,
- My private inspection was done and problems corrected,
- The slab was poured,
- The forms were removed,
- The slab was saw cut for controlled cracking.

Week 2 - Week of June 18, 2007

This week the following construction events were completed:

1 The under slab sewer and plumbing lines were installed. Pressure testing commenced.

2 The water meter was installed.

3 A connection was made to the public sewer system.

4 We had our initial "Builder" meeting to review the home plans and options.

5 Added fill dirt was placed inside the forms.

6 The area for some of the footers was dug out.

7 Rebar to reinforce part of the footings and tie to the concrete block walls was delivered to the site.

8 A Porta-Potty was placed on the site.

9 A "form board survey" was completed and sent to the city for review.

10 Pringle sent me a Notice of Commencement to sign, have notarized, and return. This is for the screen cage, which is outside the house perimeter and apparently requires a separate document. We returned this.

11 Cliff, our Builder, notified the inspectors that an inspection would be needed next Tuesday before the slab could be poured.

Week 1 - Week of June 11, 2007

This is one of a series of blogs about our experience in designing / building a house and making it our home in a new development in Mount Dora, Florida during the 2004 - 2007 time period.

This section provides weekly summaries of what was completed during construction. For more information, see http://lakesofmountdora.org .

Our Construction Start Date was to be June 18, 2007. However, construction started a few days early, on June 12, 2007.

This week the following construction events happened:
1 Permit box posted, with Building Permit and plan set.

2 lot staked for the lot corners and the house footprint.

3 Three dumpsters were delivered to the front of the lot.

4 The forms for the slab were set.

5 The density of the dirt within the forms was inspected.