Friday, August 1, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Garage and other stuff
So work has begun on our garage. Thankfully, it's work being done by someone other than me this time. We are having some contractors do the garage foundation. Below is what it looks like right now.
Also, my garden did pretty well below are the plants that are already bearing some fruit.
Peas
Yellow squash
Chop'n Broccoli
Finally some current and past Roland cuteness. In that order:
Catching some zzz's on the fouton (only piece of furniture he is allowed on)
Sometimes we just can't help ourselves...
Also, my garden did pretty well below are the plants that are already bearing some fruit.
Peas
Yellow squash
Chop'n Broccoli
Finally some current and past Roland cuteness. In that order:
Catching some zzz's on the fouton (only piece of furniture he is allowed on)
Sometimes we just can't help ourselves...
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Final steps done, just a few days till closing
We now have everything required for closing done! The last of which was the as-built survey which was just completed. That's the last of the stress for me! Now we know the house is officially recognized as occupancy-ready, recognized as built to the highest standards and energy efficiency, and no parts of it encroach on any property lines. We only have to wait one more week for the notice of completion, then we can close!
Then, on to a much more fun project: the garage...
update: Closing time set: Monday July 21st at 3:30pm!
update: Closing went great! Funds dispersed on the 24th, which is Marcy's birthday.
Then, on to a much more fun project: the garage...
update: Closing time set: Monday July 21st at 3:30pm!
update: Closing went great! Funds dispersed on the 24th, which is Marcy's birthday.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Fun!
Last Friday Andrew and I actually had some good old quality time together. We went on a short hike and took some candid pictures of our puppy.
Roland looks more heroic then Rin Tin Tin
Nothing like a 40 after a 3 mile hike.
Sad Andrew hugging sleeping Roland. Too much cute for one picture!
Where did our puppy go?
Roland looks more heroic then Rin Tin Tin
Nothing like a 40 after a 3 mile hike.
Sad Andrew hugging sleeping Roland. Too much cute for one picture!
Where did our puppy go?
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Inspection done
Inspection done, passed with flying colors! Blower door tester guy said it was the most air-tight house he's tested. Hurray!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
All coming together
Tonight we finish (we MUST finish) the final details to "complete" the house. This is gates on the deck, a tiny section of custom railing inside,and two outlet covers. I hope.
Tomorrow is final inspection day! We also get our energy rating done. If we're 5 star plus, we should get a $7500 rebate from Alaska Housing Finance Corp. This was unexpected, and as you can imagine, a very pleasant surprise!
We have been dealing with getting our mortgage so we can pay everyone back and have one simple monthly payment. First we got the house appraised. I had been very nervous about that for a few months. It would tell us if we made money building this house.
We got appraised for $224,000, which is quite good! It's the upper end of what I thought were my optimistic hopes! It also lets us get the best loan available with only 70% loan-to-value ratio, and we'll still have enough to build a garage this summer.
There are a lot of other little details required. We needed to file a notice of completion with the borough so anyone can see it and put a lien on our house if we owe them money. We got a water test done, even though we don't even have a well. They need to be sure our holding tank isn't tainted. We ordered an as-built survey to be sure we don't encroach on any property lines. We got our septic system DEC stamped paperwork. We also had to compile all our receipts for the loan.
It's lots of work getting a loan on a house! At the end of this week we should be done and we just need to wait 15 days for the notice of completion to set in. Then, we should get our check! Hurray!
Tomorrow is final inspection day! We also get our energy rating done. If we're 5 star plus, we should get a $7500 rebate from Alaska Housing Finance Corp. This was unexpected, and as you can imagine, a very pleasant surprise!
We have been dealing with getting our mortgage so we can pay everyone back and have one simple monthly payment. First we got the house appraised. I had been very nervous about that for a few months. It would tell us if we made money building this house.
We got appraised for $224,000, which is quite good! It's the upper end of what I thought were my optimistic hopes! It also lets us get the best loan available with only 70% loan-to-value ratio, and we'll still have enough to build a garage this summer.
There are a lot of other little details required. We needed to file a notice of completion with the borough so anyone can see it and put a lien on our house if we owe them money. We got a water test done, even though we don't even have a well. They need to be sure our holding tank isn't tainted. We ordered an as-built survey to be sure we don't encroach on any property lines. We got our septic system DEC stamped paperwork. We also had to compile all our receipts for the loan.
It's lots of work getting a loan on a house! At the end of this week we should be done and we just need to wait 15 days for the notice of completion to set in. Then, we should get our check! Hurray!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
the whole cow
You know the saying don't bite off more than you can chew? Yeah.
Instead of finishing the few things remaining required to get a mortgage, we undertook a major landscaping project. This is partially because I really wanted to make a retaining wall to avoid erosion on a steep slope near the foundation that had me worried. Since this virtually required renting a mini excavator, I figured why not use it for other projects.
So, we decided to make the retaining wall, and go ahead and make the 60 foot long raised garden bed we had planned for the future, and also dig the utility trench to later connect the house to the garage.
Not a huge amount of work? 16 posts, 1000 pounds of concrete, 55 50 pound blocks, lots of hand digging, 13 hours of machine time, 32000 pounds of gravel and 20000 pounds of topsoil later, we beg to differ.
In the end, we prevailed, though I was up until 2 am and then back at it at 7am to maximize machine rental time and finish so we wouldn't need to rent again. On Monday, I could hardly move.
Here's the story in pictures:
One of 16 posts, set in concrete in a sonotube
all 16 posts set, earth torn up.
first three rows of treated 2x12s attached, me in the background hauling gravel. The gravel goes under the topsoil so the soils drain well.
backfilled with gravel, reinforcement structure to be compacted under silty gravel.
topsoil in place, tops of posts will be cut flush
This is the parcially backfilled utility trench which will go to the garage. A PVC conduit for electricity goes in next. These are pex tubes for heating glycol to heat the floor of the garage via the houses boiler.
Roland helps by sleeping sprawled on his back
Me digging out any silt that may disturb the first course of stones for the stone wall. Gravel goes in the trench and then gets compacted and leveled. These machines are fun. Just like playing with Tonka trucks!
Bringing in gravel after a couple courses layed. The gravel gets compacted with a vibratory plate compactor after every 6" course of block. The machine I'm on is a Boxer brand track loader. I got this because it has retractable tracks so it's just small enough to squeeze between the deck and garden wall. You stand on it and hold on as it whips you around.
five courses of block layed
all 6 courses (at the lowest point) and topsoil layed in place. A staircase from the deck will step down to the flat area created by this wall.
Here's another project we've been working on: Deck railing. The space between will be cable rails.
Instead of finishing the few things remaining required to get a mortgage, we undertook a major landscaping project. This is partially because I really wanted to make a retaining wall to avoid erosion on a steep slope near the foundation that had me worried. Since this virtually required renting a mini excavator, I figured why not use it for other projects.
So, we decided to make the retaining wall, and go ahead and make the 60 foot long raised garden bed we had planned for the future, and also dig the utility trench to later connect the house to the garage.
Not a huge amount of work? 16 posts, 1000 pounds of concrete, 55 50 pound blocks, lots of hand digging, 13 hours of machine time, 32000 pounds of gravel and 20000 pounds of topsoil later, we beg to differ.
In the end, we prevailed, though I was up until 2 am and then back at it at 7am to maximize machine rental time and finish so we wouldn't need to rent again. On Monday, I could hardly move.
Here's the story in pictures:
One of 16 posts, set in concrete in a sonotube
all 16 posts set, earth torn up.
first three rows of treated 2x12s attached, me in the background hauling gravel. The gravel goes under the topsoil so the soils drain well.
backfilled with gravel, reinforcement structure to be compacted under silty gravel.
topsoil in place, tops of posts will be cut flush
This is the parcially backfilled utility trench which will go to the garage. A PVC conduit for electricity goes in next. These are pex tubes for heating glycol to heat the floor of the garage via the houses boiler.
Roland helps by sleeping sprawled on his back
Me digging out any silt that may disturb the first course of stones for the stone wall. Gravel goes in the trench and then gets compacted and leveled. These machines are fun. Just like playing with Tonka trucks!
Bringing in gravel after a couple courses layed. The gravel gets compacted with a vibratory plate compactor after every 6" course of block. The machine I'm on is a Boxer brand track loader. I got this because it has retractable tracks so it's just small enough to squeeze between the deck and garden wall. You stand on it and hold on as it whips you around.
five courses of block layed
all 6 courses (at the lowest point) and topsoil layed in place. A staircase from the deck will step down to the flat area created by this wall.
Here's another project we've been working on: Deck railing. The space between will be cable rails.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Sided and Painted
Last weekend Andrew and I had some amazing help from my Mom and Dad. They came up to paint and ended up doing numerous other tasks. Like helping us finish the last bit of siding and dog sitting our puppy. Together they painted 2 sides of the house on their own! It really was just the extra push we needed. So thank you Mom and Dad for your help!
Dad Painting, I didn't happen to get a picture of Mom painting but she was working really hard too!
Dad on one side Andrew on the other.
I don't know if you can see this very well but the color difference between the primer on the house and the color we painted the house are very similar. The new color was just the slightest bit more chocolaty. Kudos to Mom and Dad again because the house really was tough to paint. When the house paint went on wet it matched the primer color, so you had to wait a few minutes for it to dry before you could tell if you made any mistakes.
Below are pictures of each side newly painted and sided. All we have to do now is put up the last of the roofing material around the soffets and the deck railings and the house will be finished enough for our mortgage!
Below are the dormer sides.
And because I can, more Roland!
Here is a picture of the new family together!
The above picture is courtesy of Andrews camera going wonky. However, I thought it was kind of cool and artsy. So I put it on the site.
Last but certainly not least I got this super cute picture of Roland today. He sits when I ask him too most of the time. He has gained 3 lbs in a week and has already lost his infant puppy wrinkly nose. Sigh...he's so adorable!
Dad Painting, I didn't happen to get a picture of Mom painting but she was working really hard too!
Dad on one side Andrew on the other.
I don't know if you can see this very well but the color difference between the primer on the house and the color we painted the house are very similar. The new color was just the slightest bit more chocolaty. Kudos to Mom and Dad again because the house really was tough to paint. When the house paint went on wet it matched the primer color, so you had to wait a few minutes for it to dry before you could tell if you made any mistakes.
Below are pictures of each side newly painted and sided. All we have to do now is put up the last of the roofing material around the soffets and the deck railings and the house will be finished enough for our mortgage!
Below are the dormer sides.
And because I can, more Roland!
Here is a picture of the new family together!
The above picture is courtesy of Andrews camera going wonky. However, I thought it was kind of cool and artsy. So I put it on the site.
Last but certainly not least I got this super cute picture of Roland today. He sits when I ask him too most of the time. He has gained 3 lbs in a week and has already lost his infant puppy wrinkly nose. Sigh...he's so adorable!
Monday, May 12, 2008
It's a boy!
Today we added an important piece to the house: a puppy! We picked him up in Anchorage this morning and drove all the way to Fairbanks. What a chill dog! We thought he'd have difficulty with such a long drive, but he just relaxed, slept, and never even peed in the car. We stopped a few times to play outside and those were the only times he pee/ooped. In fact it's pretty easy to predict. 30-60 seconds after eating and he goes. And after waking up. And before going to bed. And most of the time.
He doesn't seem to have any problems with our tile and laminate flooring, and our flooring doesn't seem to have any problem with his housetraining. He's really friendly to people, very calm, and just seems like a nicely mannered dog. Of course we've only had him for an afternoon, but we're happy to be dog owners.
Oh yeah, we named him Roland, after also considering Winston, Atticus, Pippen, Grimble, and several others.
Marcy and Roland in his pen. We'll put him in there when we're both at work, about 5 hours while Marcy is on half time. Those stains aren't from the dog, they're from me. No, not that, it was a dropcloth for wood finishing.
Roland in his cat bed
Roland with Uncle John
He doesn't seem to have any problems with our tile and laminate flooring, and our flooring doesn't seem to have any problem with his housetraining. He's really friendly to people, very calm, and just seems like a nicely mannered dog. Of course we've only had him for an afternoon, but we're happy to be dog owners.
Oh yeah, we named him Roland, after also considering Winston, Atticus, Pippen, Grimble, and several others.
Marcy and Roland in his pen. We'll put him in there when we're both at work, about 5 hours while Marcy is on half time. Those stains aren't from the dog, they're from me. No, not that, it was a dropcloth for wood finishing.
Roland in his cat bed
Roland with Uncle John
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