LATEST PROGRESS
(last update April 2004)

November 2002:       We approached a company to draw plans, estimate and furnish materials for our new home.   They were to give us an estimate on the house.

January 2003:       The first week of January after getting a quote and cost breakdown, we gave them the go ahead, the house plans were to be drawn and presented to us in the matter of two weeks.   We then applied for a construction loan.

February 2003:       But by mid February we still hadn't seen any plans.   While talking with the contractors we had asked to help us with the building we were told to go out and price out the building supplies and compare to this quote which they felt was entirely too high.   After spending an entire rainy day at Home Depot in Yuba City we began to see their point.   These contractors came back with a quote that was under the first company's and included many items that had not been covered.   Such as kitchen and bath cabinets, a central vacuum system, the deck, and two propane stoves.   We decided to switch and go with our contractor's bid and told them to start. While we were in West Covina at the end of February our contractor Terry Welch took the perk test results we had from 1991 to the county and found we have to have that redone.   So he scheduled a perk and mantel with the county for April (earliest they can do it).   Terry also took our elaborately computer drawn plans to a plan drawer to draw at the proper scale.

March 2003:       A week later we had preliminary plans to look at.   March 10th we checked out the enlarged drawings and with a few minor changes the plans should be on their way to an engineer early next week.   Also that same day, we had a well driller out to see the place and after divining the place he located the same location our family diviners had back in 1985.   As soon as there is a break in the current storm he will be back with his drilling rig and crew to drill our water well.

April 2003:       On the 15th, we had our perk and Mantle with the county inspector looking on, (actually they did the perk two weeks later).   We spent most of the Month planning as the rain continued.

May 2003:       We finally got the well put in on the 16th.   We had a Ground Breaking celebration on the 18th enjoying one of the best days of the year.   Our construction loan was finalized on the 21st after four months of waiting.   On the 19th, we got our first draw on the construction loan to pay for the drafting and engineering costs, and permit fees.   Near the end of the month we got the septic system plans from engineering and were able to submit them to the county for permit.

June 2003:       We started construction on a Well Pump House.   We leveled the area, poured the foundation and framed up walls.   We worked on this while awaiting word on permit approval; everything is approved except for the septic system.

July 2003:       We had the three oldest Grandkids with us for the month.   On the 4th we went to the 4th of July parade in Grass Valley, had watermelon and ran races and played horseshoes (see pictures).   The house excavation started on the 7th along with installation of the septic tank.   We painted the well pump house and put the roof on the pump house with the grandkids help.   The foundation for the basement and Garage were framed on the 11th to the 17th.   The kids went to Vacation Bible School at Penn Valley Community Church the week of the 11th, which they really enjoyed.   After a foundation inspection we poured the foundation on the 22nd.   It took five and a half trucks of concrete.   After removing the foundation framing, we started the waterproofing of the basement foundation walls and backfilling.   The kids were a big help in picking up nails, moving boards and removing spreader tabs from the walls.   We then started the rough plumbing in the slab floor and framed the interior foundation stem walls.   On the 31st, we made a quick trip home to return the kids to their mother.

August 2003:       On the 4th we poured the Garage slab and the basement interior foundation stem walls.   We laid out the insulation and radiant floor tubing on the 5th and 6th.   Quick trips got materials for the radiant floor that was only available in Truckee and Sacramento.   On the 8th we poured the basement floor slab and deck piers.   On the 11th, basement wall framing started and we started the main floor on the 15th.   On the 20th, we started erecting the main floor walls.   We had a real downpour with lots of lightning on the 22nd (2 inches of rain) that took out our answering machine (now replaced).   On the 28th we erected the garage walls.   On the 29th we framed the upstairs floor.

September 2003:       On the 2nd we laid down the upstairs floor and snapped wall lines, the next day we put up the walls.   On the 5th, we started putting up the roof rafters over the upstairs middle bedroom.   After that each day was putting in the roof beams and rafters.   We made many trips to pick up the bathroom fixtures, lights and miscellaneous items for the house.   On the 10th, we started on the garage rafters and garage ceiling joists.   Fascia boards were started to be put up on the 12th.   Roof sheathing was starting to be put up on the 16th.   The septic system was started on the 17th.   The well trench was dug on the 18th.   We had an inspection and got the O.K. to roof on the 19th, when the basement stairs were framed in also.   The roofing materials were delivered on the roof top and we got the windows on the 23rd.   They started putting the windows in the next day.   Our septic system was finished and inspected on the 25th.   We finally put the pipes in the well trench and covered all 420 feet of trench on the 29th.   That same day the trench was dug for the gas lines and electric service.   They also started siding the house.   On the 30th, we put in the gas pipe and gutters were installed.

October 2003:       On the 1st, Joyce and I started the roofing.   On the 2nd, we had the gas and electric trench inspection.   They started the deck framing on the 5th.   The rough plumbing started on the 7th.   The deck framing was finished on the 8th.   On the 11th we pulled the well wires from the house to the well.   We finished the house roofing on the 12th.   They delivered the house heater and A/C unit on the 20th.   That same day we started spreading straw over the septic area to prevent erosion.   The next day we had a house siding inspection so we could start the house painting which we did.   They started installing the heating ducts on the 22nd.   On the 30th they started installing the central house vacuum system.   The plumbers had other jobs going also so were not on the job most of the month.

November 2003:       On the 3rd we pulled in the house electric service wires and hooked up a phone in the house.   The electrician started on the 4th with a walk through the house marking where the electric plugs and lights would be.   Meanwhile the plumbers were back working along with the framers, so it was a busy noisy time, with wood chips and sawdust everywhere.   This continued all the rest of the week.   On the 10th we poured the garage door concrete pad and the heater pad in back of the garage.   They installed the heater the next day, all we need now is power and propane.   The plumbers and electrician continued working the rest of the week.   On the 15th I started pulling in wires for the phone, networking, cable and tv.   I worked on this off and on until the 22nd.   The electrician finished the rough electrical on the 17th.   The next day the stove installers put in the vents to the outside.   On the 19th the plumbers finished the rough plumbing work.   On the 20th we passed inspection on the framing, rough electrical and rough plumbing. The next day they started putting in insulation in the walls and ceiling which they finished on the 24th.   After insulation inspection on the 25th the drywall hangers started putting drywall on the walls and flat ceilings.   They are expected to take two weeks to complete the drywall hanging.

December 2003:       We got our propane tank on the 4th and we got the heater running on the 11th.   We painted on the outside of the house as weather permited.   The drywall work and texture spraying was finished on the 18th.   We started painting the interior walls on the 31st.

January 2004:       The first week stonemasons built up the stove hearth and chimney chase.   We started the interior painting on the 5th.   The Kitchen and bath cabinets were installed on the 8th.   From the 16th to the 26th we stained T&G boards for the ceiling, we also started staining the cabinets.   Our garage door was installed on the 17th.   Ceiling boards were put up from the 19th to the 29th.   The plumber showed up on the 26th getting our basement floor radiant heat working.   Right after that we started staining the interior doors, baseboards and door trim.

February 2004:       Contractors started the month hanging interior doors and framing the outside decking.   I worked on putting up lights inside and out and still painting interior walls.   I built the basement stove hearth on the 16th and finished the interior painting.   The cold wet weather meant we still couldn’t do the outside painting.   Hardwood flooring was put down on the 16th to the 18th.   Contractors were working on another house, so I put up the ceiling fans and lights.   The propane stoves were installed on the 27th.

March 2004:       The month started with the closet and pantry shelves going in.   We put up the wagon wheel light in the kitchen, it looks like home now.   The kitchen and bath counters were installed on the 5th.   The outside decking was finished on the 9th.   Interior staircase installation work was done from the 10th to 18th.   The plumber then showed up to install and hookup faucets and toilets.   WOW in-door plumbing!   On the 16th we poured the driveway, garage sidewalk, and door and stair pads.   The same day the electrician got all the lights and outlets working.   The next day I could finally get back to the outside painting.   We got the dishwasher working, along with the washer and dryer.   The outside stairs and deck stairs were started on the 22nd.   We stained the staircase on the 27th.   The deck railing was then installed on the 29th to the 31st.

April 2004:       The Master bedroom window seat was built on the 1st.   Our Carpet was installed on the 7th.