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Category Archives: As We Build
I knew from the very beginning of construction that I wanted a claw foot bathtub in the master bathroom. And it just so happened that in the house plans there was the perfect spot for one. We came across an original iron one with the original claw feet back sometime last year. It was in terrible condition, though. The bathtub was probably a hundred years old or more. But we knew it was the one. We had a plan for that old rusted worn out tub. Here’s some of the process. I think Joe did a beautiful job. Now we just need to get it put in it’s place in the bathroom… and for the plumber to put on the fixtures and hook it up to water!
P.S. Joe, Grayson, and I may be moving and getting a new baby sometime in the near future.
Back in March and April, the roof on our new house was put on. In June and July, the roof on our new house leaked. And leaked. And leaked some more. With every rain and every blowing rain, it seemed to leak in a new place. Talk about NOT FUN. The roofer tried to repair the leaks — and well, let’s just say there was really no way to repair a brand new roof. The fact of the matter was that it just wasn’t installed correctly. By August, Joe knew sooooo much about roofing, that he could’ve just re-roofed the house correctly himself. Talk about FRUSTRATION. And HEADACHES. Especially when time is ticking on the new construction, we had paid for a brand new roof, and we had a roof that leaked and that looked so old because of all the repairs that had been done. I mean, seriously, we are just the type of people that if we pay for something we expect to get it. And a roof is the most important part of your house right? And, honestly, I wanted to be able to go sit on top of that brand new roof and have a steak dinner if I pleased But instead, what we paid for and what we got were two totally different things. And unfortunately, the roof ordeal took up the entire Summer months and wasted alot of time. So, Joe did his homework on finding a new roofer. Instead of letting a contractor or anyone else take charge of the re-do of the roof, he took it into his own hands. Things got back on track in September, the old roof came completely off by the old roofing crew, and the new roof was put on by the new roofing crew, with all new materials, even new felt. Joe and I both took alot of pictures throughout the new roofing process — simply because it was a big deal to us. So here’s the new roof on the new house.
We have snakes scattered around on our porch railings They don’t bite, though — they’re pretend. The birds were making a mess on all the porch railings while Joe was painting, and they were really messing up his fresh paint job. We did some research and found out that birds are scared of snakes and also owls. We weren’t really sure on where to find fake owls, so we picked up a dozen fake snakes at Wal-Mart, and scattered the snakes around the porch. So far, the snakes have helped keep most of the birds away from making their messes on our railings!
The new roofing crew was really good. They drove over an hour from Geneva, Alabama, they worked all day, full days, 5 days a week — and they even showed up on cloudy rainy-looking days.
They even had their own metal roofing equipment that they brought back and forth with them.
They really did a good job. It is very neat-looking. And, they did it RIGHT. After all the research that Joe did over the Summer in dealing with the leaky roof, we decided this go-around to step it up a notch and go with a standing-seam metal roof instead of just the regular galvalume metal roof. The standing-seam metal roof doesn’t use screws at all and is also a thicker, heavier, more commercial/industry-grade, all-around-better metal roof. I’ve learned alot about roofs too.
And — the new roof is 100% complete!! It took the new crew less than a month from start to finish — WOW, I am impressed! We are so glad that the roof is now finished – and done RIGHT!!
This past week, Joe, my Dad, and my brother Brantley have started on the inside! Things are moving along.
Joe is just about finished painting the wrap around porch and the screen porch. It all looks so good painted — and I know he is proud when he looks at it… and he has to feel a sense of self- accomplishment, knowing that he did it all. Grayson and I went down to check on him and to look at everything one afternoon last week. {Side note #1: While we were there, the old not-so-good roof was coming off!} {Side note #2: Now, the new much better roof is being put on — More on that to come later!}
Take a look at Joe’s hard work…
While I was trying to take some pictures while Joe was painting, Grayson was running around seeing what he could get into, and running around with Mom’s dogs. It was kindof hard to chase a 2 year old with a camera around my neck, so Joe said, “Just sit him in my truck for a minute while you take some pictures.” So I did. Then I took the pictures of Joe and the porch. Then I turned around (the truck was right behind us) to glance and see what Grayson was doing, and this is what I saw.
Whatever works, right?!
Joe planted our grass seeds about 4-6 weeks ago. Since it was nearing the end of the Summer and probably not much grass growth is going to happen during the Winter, he wanted to go ahead and get the seeds planted so that hopefully our grass would have a head start and maybe start growing some by the Fall. Well, it’s growing! And, it’s pretty and green! We used Bermuda grass seeds by Scott’s… first making sure that the ground was good and ready with a nutrient-rich topsoil, followed by lime and fertilizer. Joe bought the Bermuda grass seeds by Scott’s, the lime, and the fertilizer from our local Pike Farmers Co-Op. The front yard growth has been a little slower than the rest, so we are making sure it’s getting plenty of water. Joe said that in the Spring we will probably plant some more seeds in the patchy bare spots. Overall, though, it has really done well and we are so surprised at how quickly it has grown in just a little over a month.
I did very little editing to these pictures… just sharpened them a touch. The grass is really that green! I told Joe it looks so alive and colorful… and almost tropical. He says that the lime and fertilizer help to strengthen and give the grass a healthy boost.
This is the back yard. It is really doing the best. Not really sure why… maybe because the sun sets on that side, so it hasn’t gotten too much sun… or maybe because the dirt was richer on that side. Whatever the reason – - it looks great to me!
In other house news, we have hired a new roofer (Yay!), and the new roofing materials and supplies have been ordered! (Yay!) Hopefully, if the weather cooperates, the new roofing crew can start as soon as the supplies are in. *Fingers crossed* that all goes well with the new roof.
Joe has been working on priming the porch railings this week (there’s alot of them!). He will probably finish up on priming those the first part of next week, and then start painting them. I know those railings are tedious and time-consuming, and I thank him so much for being dedicated and getting it going so fast. The railings are already looking good with the primer… can’t wait to see them with the paint. When he is finished with all of the porch railings, he hopes to work on the screen porch…. getting everything he can finished on the outside before going to start on the inside when the new roof is completed!
{I love Joe and his planning and the way he always tries so hard to stick with his plans and make things happen!}
good morning. this is going to be a lengthy and a picture-heavy post. it has been awhile (2 months exactly) since i have done a house post. i have been taking pictures during this time and wanting to blog with updates, but then i sometimes find it hard to sit down and actually put it all together here in this space. i guess because i feel that house posts are boring and annoying for you to read…. and sometimes i feel that posting words and photos here may come across a bit boastful or bragg-ish… but that is not the type of person i am. at all. if you know me, you know my personality sways towards the private side, but this blog does serve a good purpose as being an inspiration for me to share what i wish, when my soul desires. both joe and i have worked really hard to be able to build a house and to get to the point that we are at today in our lives… just to clear any confusion… and we will continue to work hard… and i am so thankful for that. i am glad that you have landed here to grace through our world with us…. this is our journal to which I share our life, that will include photos. even if for no-one else but us to read and see later.
okay, so now that i have those feelings out, i shall proceed with the last couple of months of our journey as we build.
around mid-march, after the framing was completed, the builders started working on the porches. the house has a wonderful wrap-around porch and a screen porch right off of our bedroom. i can’t wait for us to relax on the porches, breathe in the fresh country air, drink lattes, and watch grayson play out there… at *home*.
after the porches and roof rafters were all up, they started working on the exterior siding. we are using a hardie board and batten siding for the exterior of our house. the cement-material siding lasts forever, and since it is made from cement, it will never rot… and has little to no upkeep. we decided to go with hardie board because of all of those factors plus the fact that to us it just looks good and fits the landscape so well out in the field.
as the hardie board was being put up, so were the exterior windows and doors. there are lots and lots of windows and transoms in the house, which i love. we will be able to see the beautiful country and land - and feel like we can reach out and touch the trees. how nice and relaxing that makes me feel already. we want to be able to take advantage of as much natural light as we possibly can. light is good – good for the soul.
also while the hardie board was being put up, joe and dad started priming and painting the rafters around the porch. there’s lots to paint on the exterior – lots of rafters, trim, and exterior hardie board and batten siding… so they were really smart to get a head-start on the rafters. they decided (and it was a good idea) that it would be alot easier painting them before the roof was put on, opposed to trying to paint the rafters while having to work around the roof in close spots. i love that the rafters are exposed… it just adds to the craftsman-style look. it’s alot of wood and alot of paint – and joe and dad have done such an excellent job. and i am just so glad that they were able to use their hands so quickly to get it done in just a few weeks.
the galvalume metal roof is being put on now as they are also finishing the hardie board and battens. if you look closely in the last few pictures, you can somewhat see parts of the roof. things are going on inside as well – electrical, plumbing, kitchen framing, and cabinet planning. soon in the inside will be central heat/air work and insulation.
so that is where we are today. we are trying to make things exactly the creative way that we intend for them to be, custom-ly made, artistic and quaint… with the best hands and resources that we have…. while at the same time as simple, stress-free, and economical as we can. thank goodness for an artisan family. my hopes and dreams are that the smoothness we have experienced throughout the process thus far will continue as we build.
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.jpg "antique clawfoot tub")
.jpg "original cast iron claw foot tub")
.jpg "rusted clawfoot tub")
by Lauren Donofrio
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Honey - We are so excited!!! Can’t wait!!!!
Allie - SOOOOO NEAT!!!! I love it and am completely jealous