This is the front elevation from many months ago so lots has changed, but you get the general idea.
We have begun construction on our future home! It’s been just about a year now to get to this point. (I imagine the city will mark the Harvey anniversary in some meaningful way, but I want to do something too.)
We have interviewed architects and builders. We’ve gone back and forth with the architect on design changes. We had to demo the house, survey the property, pass inspections, get permits. I have looked for ideas on the Houzz app more than I …. I’ve torn pages from design magazines. We’ve selected plumbing fixtures and appliances, a front door, interior doors, windows (that was a biggie), and exterior stone.
And so they begin. In the left photo, the ground is marked and has passed city inspection. At that point, for various reasons, we decided to move the house 18″ closer to the street. So the right photo is one entire month later, the ground marked yet again, forms up, city inspection passed, and ready to drill and pour piers.
Below are photos of them drilling and pouring the piers. We passed all inspections with zero issue – the structural engineer and city inspector were on site.
We get our updates via Buildertrend software, which also tracks every selection, expense, etc. I am so thankful to know what’s going on but not have to stand outside on 99 degree Houston afternoons! It also lets me know what selections I need to make or approve and have budget parameters.
We’re staying ahead of the builder in terms of what they’ll need from us. For a couple of months now, I’ve been visiting a plethora of tile showrooms. By about October, I need to make selections for many walls, backsplashes, and bathroom floors. Here’s what that looks like. My dining room is a sample collection! Some things, like our fireplace stone, had to be ordered already because it comes from a quarry in Spain. (I am learning so much I never thought I would!)
Many people ask me if I’m excited. Yes and no. I have found most of the process so far to be a pain in the neck. Delay after delay has kept us from getting started. As soon as the waters drained, I was in our old house ripping out sheetrock… I wanted to get ahead of everyone else and get started on whatever the next phase was.
So while none of this was planned and it’s taking quite a bit of time, effort, and patience, I guess I am excited. I think it’ll be really cool to live in a place where we got to select every single item, from color and material choices to how much and what type of insulation is in the walls.
Your next question is “how long is the process?” and we’re told it’s about a year. It really does have to happen in the background of regular life. I realized several months ago that if I were waiting to get through each step, I would go insane with anxiety and frustration. So we live our day-to-day life and tune in to the house stuff when needed. At least right now.
I hope to keep the house reports coming. That will mean things are happening!
