We had our weekly meeting with the builder and architect. Inside the house, nothing is happening this week while we wait for the plaster to dry. I did recover the construction camera memory card, so here is a video of the plastering of the living room.

Meanwhile, outside the house, work continues on the deck.

And the landscaping crew has started their work outside the house. The first task was to adjust the ground level and gravel at the front edge of the deck. This was done to help water flow since rain water comes off the road and flows past the house to the river. We want to carefully control where the water goes to avoid water damage or erosion anywhere.

This is the front of the deck where you see an opening for water to flow.

While we were there, the crew was digging the dry well. The dry well, near the southeast corner of house, is where we will collect all the water that runs off the roof, through the downspouts, and then through underground pipes. Here is a picture of the hole partially dug. The yellow pieces will cover the dry well (the bottom is just gravel).

Our big decision this week was what to do about the exposed concrete. We got a quote for applying stucco and decided that it was too expensive. So we toured the neighborhood to see what all out neighbors have done with their exposed concrete. One neighbor installed a fancy fake stone finish, which looks really nice but is too expensive for us. All the other neighbors either left the concrete unfinished or just painted it.

We have a small strip of exposed concrete in the front, but it is very short. We also have a little exposed concrete on the north side of the garage, mostly hidden by the propane tanks, and on the south side of the house (shown below), but neither of those locations are very visible from the street or the river.

The real area that is visible from the river is under the living room, between the deck and the porch. You can see it here in a recent picture.

We have decided to leave all the concrete natural except for the part under the living room. For that area we are trying to decide between paint and just putting a matching section of vertical slats (so it matches the slats under the porch and under the deck). Decision coming soon.

Here are the expectations for the coming weeks.

  • The painter will apply prime coat starting May 4.
  • Also on May 4, the front stoop gets delivered (which will allow the construction crew to install the front posts.
  • Site work (digging) has started and will continue for 4 weeks.
  • Interior doors are delayed and are now expected May 11.
  • Front door installation will be done on May 4.
  • Kitchen cabinets will be delivered on May 11.
  • The game room’s cherry beams will be installed on May 11.

Things remain on the new schedule for now, but past behavior is no guarantee of future performance.

Current estimated occupancy date: July 31, 2026 (no change).

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