DaysToCompletion

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Drywall taking almost as long as Framing

Our PM is on vacation this week and things are again plodding along.  The following miscellaneous items have been completed: 
White roof on bay window was removed and the black roof is in place
Outside trim work is complete
Electric has been run to the house and hooked up to the circuit breaker boxes
Verizon wiring tube was installed in the trench with the electric and the trench is now backfilled
Gas line was trenched under the street and is ready to be run from there to the house
Sidewalk was poured
Front porch, steps and walk have been poured
Shutters have been installed and will be painted black later
Rough grading has started
Inside trim, doors, and cabinets have arrived
Refrigerator is back ordered - RH will provide loaner if it doesn't arrive in time
We decided to change our door color from Red to White

We had a ton of rain over the weekend and after seeing the post from NestNewbies about the water in the basement I was very worried.  Left work early and headed over expecting to find water in the basement, but much to our surprise the basement was bone dry.  The only water we had was two wet spots where the wallboard crew had left windows open and the rain came in...fortunately that was just Monday and not all weekend so it wasn't that bad.  We had a ton of erosion on the lot from the massive amount of water pouring off the house.  The newly poured sidewalk looks like a California mudslide.

Drywall installation is taking forever.  On Thursday all drywall was installed except for the Master Bath(failed inspection had to get re-inspected) and the Garage...these are both now done.  They were supposed to start taping and mudding on Friday and we know they were there on Saturday, but when we stopped by Monday afternoon they had not even finished the taping and first coat of mud....so much for being totally finished with all three coats early this week.  Our PM was expecting to have the painting done this week and the cabinets installed....NOT...hopefully they at least get the 3 coats completed this week.  I know...I know...I know....it is a big house and the taping and first coat always take longer, but 3 whole days...not to mention they were across the street wall boarding our neighbor's house too.  I think our settlement date will slip another week.

We meet with an irrigation installer and have a very rough idea on what to budget.  Once we firm up landscape design we can get a firm quote.  We also discussed landscape lighting...will keep the details for later.  On Saturday, we met with a local nursery, and discussed ideas for shrub beds, types of shrubs and trees to install.  It has definitely been a while since we have been to a nursery...there were plants and trees there that I had never seen before nor even heard of.  We have to get some detailed measurements of the house perimeter and then can take that back with pictures and the nursery will do a detailed landscape layout...no charge...awesome service.  RH does provide a basic landscape package and we contacted our sales rep about eliminating it and getting a credit so we can do our own...this way we can get the shrubs we really like, the layout of the shrub beds the way we want them and a couple of trees as well(RH doesn't include any), plus some hardscape additions, landscape lighting, and irrigation system...all of which need the installation coordinated together.  Our sales rep talked with his production manager and they said it would be fine as long as we signed a document stating that we would be doing this soon after settlement. RH will go to the Community Management company to get approval.

Here are just a couple of pictures:
Starting to look like picture at top of blog
 Foyer with Drywall
 Master Bedroom with Tray ceiling
 Solarium
 Morning Room looking over Breakfast Bar
 WetBar - PM did a great job customizing the design to incorporate the column.

Once we get thru the drywall installation and our PM returns from vacation we will get a firm date for settlement and I will update our countdown timer.

10 comments:

  1. Attention Ryan Homes blogging community - this is where we'll all meet up and party for our "Meet Your Blogging eNeighbor"! Looks great BD!

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  2. LOL Amy!!

    BD, everything looks great!! (and HUGE!!!) Your home is beautiful! Can't wait to hear about all the landscaping!

    I'm glad your basement was all good. =) Hoping they surprise you and get all the paint done this week!

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  3. Thanks ladies!!! ThriftyAmy...can you believe how your little eFamily has grown!!!

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  4. Wow, everything is coming along so nicely! Your foyer looks so grand! Love it! The outside looks great too! I think the white door, would be nice.

    Things are finally moving along, once they finsh drywall which it seems they are almost done, they will begin the trades and I know that time is going to fly by.

    I can't wait to see what you guys pick out at the nursery. I can pull weeds and plant a few basic things, but my green thumb is not as green as I would like! GL and have fun!

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  5. It all looks good!!! We are sure that the delays are frustrating; however, it has to make you feel good that they are doing it right vs. finding problems later. Before you know it, you will be moving in and having parties around the bar area.

    We asked for a credit for the landscaping and were told that they had to do the basic landscaping for the mortgage approval. Hmmmm....we are happy to hear that it worked out for you guys, but disappointed at RH.

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  6. House is gorgeous! Won't be long now!!

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  7. Thanks Everyone...

    @HW - it continues to surprise us how the rules/decisions are different from location to location. The only thing they will have to do is the soil stabilization.

    UPDATE - We are dead in the water with the drywall...NOTHING has been done at all since Monday...the rough grading of the lot has been completed. I don't think our PM is going to be very happy when he gets back...there is no way the drywall will be finished by then and he was expecting it to be done along with the painting.

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  8. I live in an Avalon as well, and have really enjoyed seeing your progress!

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  9. BD - your house is CAVERNOUS!! Thrifty has a great idea - you are centrally located and have the biggest, emptiest house of all of us. Blogger Party at BD's!!! :)

    But I guess we can't party at your house until you get your drywall finished! I'll bet the town is holding you up. Wasn't there an inspection problem earlier last week?

    I'm not surprised that you don't get trees. Its not RH, its local codes. I;m getting like 7 trees, and dozens of shrubs. I've asked our PM to work with me on the selections where there is wiggle room, so I can get native, wildlife friendly plants. You should work those into your landscaping plan too - let me know if you need some suggestions!

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  10. Thanks Ranter and yes you are right...before we could party they would have to get the drywall finished. I would love to get your landscaping plan or at least a list of your plants. We went to Rony's in Smyrna...they were showing us plants I have never even heard of before...for the first time in our life we are excited to do our landscaping.

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