Wow, time is certainly flying by. Life has been crazy busy this past week and it seems as though this house has gone up overnight. It has been a week since we have had the chance to post updates yet it seems as though a month's worth of progress has been made. It was just a week ago that the foundation had been laid and the wood was being brought in to initiate framing. In just 8 short days, the house has been framed, trussed, the exterior plywood walls are up, and the plywood layer of the roof is down.
Before the trusses went on, the exterior and interior walls were framed. We then met with our builder and the framing sub contractor to walk through the home and discuss any changes. We decided to remove 2 mini side walls (one in the kitchen before the pantry door opening, and one just before the door to our bedroom). We also removed the arches between the dining room and great room as well as the dining room and foyer. We did choose to leave the arch separating the kitchen and great room as well as at the entryways between the kitchen and back hallway and great room and front hallway. This will allow for a more cohesive appearance with the varying ceiling heights and makes for uniformed sight lines. When standing in the dining room looking out, all entryway framing will be squared off. When standing at the opposite end of the house (the back hallway) the sight line will include arches at all transitions between rooms/hallways. We also officially expanded the kitchen window to add two 16in windows on either side of the already planned 3040 (3ft x 4ft) window. We think this will really open up the view and bring in some additional, always welcomed, natural light. During this meeting we were also given our next several homework tasks (these are seeming to come more quickly and in larger quantities lately....no denying this is real anymore). We need to select our roof shingle color, pick out our indoor and outdoor fireplace boxes, as well as the fixtures for the tub/shower, master shower, and pot filler so that the plumber can rough in the valves before the drywall goes up. (Stay tuned for updates on what we decide).
With the framing complete, all questions clarified, and homework assigned, the framing team moved to installing the trusses. The framing team worked like a professional dance team moving as though they were dancing choreographed steps; each with a defined role and type of grace as they balanced precariously on the trusses and coordinated the securing of each 2x6 and pre built truss. Adam and I watched in awe as the large crane lifted the truss, swung it around the side of the house, lifted it to the roof, and lowered it down to the men to secure it to the home structure. Not only did they function like a well oiled machine, but it literally seemed to take them less than 24 hours to complete before they were on to placing the plywood layer for all the outside walls and the roof. This is when another decision needed to be made.... On the plan, there was what is referred to as "eyebrows" at the roof line over the entryway. These were quickly removed by yours truly. Our builder then asked us if we wanted to keep the "mustache" over the garage. At this point I wasn't sure if we were talking about someone's face or our house so Adam and I spent the afternoon driving around looking at rooflines for inspiration. We decided to lose the eyebrows and keep the mustache (not something I would recommend for any of your faces but I think it will work beautifully on our home). We also decided to top the mustache with a metal roof instead of shingles to add a little visual interest and texture. We may also do this for the gable roof over the entry. If you know me or have ever looked in my closet, you will know that I absolutely love mixed mediums!
So that pretty much brings me to present day. Framing is complete, plywood walls and roof layer are up, and felt and peel and stick materials have been brought in. The next step will involve laying the roof, running the rough in for the electrical and plumbing, installing the air conditioning ducts, and installing windows. Hopefully we can keep up with all the progress as things are really coming along now. It won't be long before this house becomes a home!
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| Framing: standing in the great room looking into the kitchen |
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| Framing from the front |
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| Just sittin' on the back porch |
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| Lifting the truss |
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| Large crane and the operator. He was like the conductor of the operation |
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| Securing the truss |
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| Swinging the truss around |
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| Plywood layer placed. Almost there... |
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| Putting up the mustache. Shake shingles will go on the gable face and a metal roof will top the mustache |
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| Arched entry...shake shingles will go on the face of the entry. Love the sightline from the front door straight back through the french doors |
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| Front porch with two large windows and set back entry between them |
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| Arch in kitchen and walkway between kitchen and back hallway (view from great room looking into kitchen with large kitchen window to the left) |
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| It's a house and almost a home...ready for the roof, plumbing, electrical, AC, and windows! |
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