Concrete Pouring!

The concrete footings have been poured, the roof shingles removed, and the west wall prepared for demolition. David got home Friday late so we didn't get over there until Saturday but wow wow wow! It's cool too that our neighbor Steve is working on the project....have I said yet how small a world this is up here in Columbia County? Our Fowler Lake Road neighbors say the guys were there early all week which is how so much is getting accomplished of course. So far so good on tracking to estimated timings. Plans signed and approved when Jim said they would be, excavation begun right on time, concrete poured on the day they planned. With any luck this is indicative of how the whole project will go! Cold weather moves back in this weekend so we'll see what that does to the progress but I've got great confidence in the guys! I'm furiously reading up on kitchens, bathrooms, applicances, renovating tips, because it won't be long until the myriad of decisions will have to be made on all of that stuff. What a year this is going to be!

Major excavation today!

Well I got over there just before sunset today and continue to be amazed at how much they're getting done! Can't you just see that walk out guest suite/office basement back there?! And how about that view?! They've dug out the huge septic tank which will be moved and reburied and put some sort of house-wrap up. (How they did that on this windy windy day - now THOSE might have been some good photos!) It's so exciting to see this all unfold before our very eyes - and with the weather cooperating things are moving quickly. There was a glitch with the lumber they ordered for framing so concrete might not get poured tomorrow but at least the excavator isn't hitting any big patches of rock they can't handle yet. I'm off to Chicago tomorrow and David's in Boston so no more pictures until the weekend. At this pace, it might be ready for us to move back in by then! :-)

The Digging Has Begun!

Oh my gosh!! This is only the second week of the project and so much has been done already! The whole house is cleared out inside - floor boards, bathroom fixtures, doors and insulation preserved for use in the new part - decking, siding and sheet rock removed - and best of all the digging has begun! Right around Christmas we had a couple big storms that dumped lots of snow but rather than that hurting our project, it helped protect the ground from freezing making excavation possible. This week we are having a winter heat wave - 60 degrees and counting - so that has made things even easier. Our excavator thinks we'll be ready to pour concrete starting Thursday. The guys are great - very respectful and dedicated - most of them local to Ghent - and our GC, Jim, calls in almost every day with an update. As frustrating as the delays have been, all of this was of course meant to be and Jim thinks we'll be back in by July. Soon we'll have to start making all the endless decisions - counters and tiles and floors and cabinets and appliances and lighting and and and. .... but for now we're revelling in the fact that it has all started and there's an end in sight.