Flagstone, grout, septic, electrical trim, concrete prep, and paint forever

Inside the house feels like a little bit of the doldrums... Painting and repainting and spackling and more repainting. I guess they noticed a lot of nail holes that required more touch up. Glad they are being thorough but it feels like paint is taking a loooong time. The house is sort of a mess, there is paper or plastic and tape all over everything that's not getting painted, paint supplies everywhere, etc.   The good news is our tile is all basically done - they were able to get in and grout everything in the last week or so and (from what we can see?) it looks good. Electricians have installed all the recessed can lights inside and are supposed to continue work tomorrow. The AC is up and running to help get the hardwood floors conditioned/acclimated in preparation for staining and finishing.

Outside, the septic system was installed, which didn't work out quite as we had hoped, though we're glad it's in and plumbing finish inside can move forward. We have 3 tanks in the back yard and the round covers and pump/alarm stick up above ground. We'd hoped they would be off to the left a little farther than what was installed. They're front and center off of the steps down from the deck so we'll have to figure out some landscaping to disguise them.

Masons finally finished up with the flagstone on the front porch and steps as well as the back side and last column on that corner. The flagstone looks awesome. We will have enough leftover material to DIY some garden paths in the future. There is still work to do on the bases of the deck posts out back - they will get a similar stone wrap like the front porch columns, just no decorative tapered wrap on those.

Last but not least, the paint on the exterior started - so far just the front second story areas. That needed to be done so the metal roof can go on (tomorrow) and they can get the tongue and groove ceiling installed for the front porch.

Not many new pics of the paint progress because it doesn't
really look noticeably different yet, but here's cute Mara.

Basement shower grout wasn't covered up the other day so we
got a photo of the grout in here though it is a bit blurry

Front steps and porch all done!

The pond side of the porch used a lot of stone

Tough to tell the difference between the primed hardboard
siding and the real paint unless you see the side-by-side

Another view of the completed porch

Paint out front! Losing light so hard to really see

Maybe we will be able to get a better photo with more
daylight this weekend

Another view and prep for concrete pad outside the garage

Concrete was poured today but we didn't have the camera

Backsplash, garage doors, deck, porches

Work is plugging along. Monday the kitchen backsplash went up. We picked out this tile a long, long time ago and it was so nice to see it installed. Unfortunately we have a light switch location issue so the last bit near the door to the mudroom is incomplete. No grout yet, either, we're guessing the tile guys will do all the grout in one go after painting is done.

Painters have been on site daily doing "point up" which is apparently the fancy industry way to say "spackling, sanding, caulking, and other prep." Not a lot of wow factor but definitely a lot of work and important to get a good paint job so we're not complaining.  They did get all the ceilings painted and those look really good. We are looking forward to smooth ceilings after both of us have lived under popcorn for the last 10 years.

Garage doors and openers have been installed, though they don't work yet. But we could close them if we need to. Only have a picture of the third-car door down - double one has been up all week.

The composite deck went in this week, too - one of the things Matt especially has looked forward to; no annual cleaning and staining! We picked two colors to give the porch and deck a little more definition. The posts and balusters around the screened porch were added today and now it's almost safe to go out there. Feels like a nice space we'll use a lot.

And finally they've been working on the front foundation/porch all week as well. The stone veneer on the foundation is almost all done, except the stairs and I think maybe the back side of the part that wraps around the house.  Today they started laying the flagstone on top.

We're trying to get quotes for landscape so we can get that lined up asap... We still have some work to do on the driveway and grading and septic along with the actual nice looking plantings, etc. The septic people were on site today and dropped off a bunch of materials.

Shiny subway tiles

Little "cofee station" area

Butler's pantry

Stone veneer on the front

Wide view of stone work in progress

Garage Door

Front foundation just about finished

Grilling deck - rails to come soon

Screened porch

View of the porch with the official posts in place

And from inside with the frames/rails and balusters

View from the grilling deck

Flagstone in progress

Still missing that last column, too

Driveway, paint, and counters

Big week, but not without a lot of headaches. The dirt we had added to the driveway got dumped on with rain early this week, before they finished spreading gravel on top. The bottom 1/3 of the driveway turned into a mud hole and made it nearly impossible for workers to get to the house. Painters persevered and trudged through on foot to prep and prime, but we had counters scheduled for delivery today and there would have been no way for the truck to safely get down the driveway as it was. Thanks to some incredibly short-notice help from a local grading guy this morning, the mud got scraped off and topped with fresh gravel in time for the counter delivery at 11 a.m. When we went inside today for the first time all week, it was a huge relief to see all the work that was done.

Paint is going up throughout the house; primer and a first coat of all the colors is already on the walls, though splotchy/thin for now. The upper corner cabinet in our mudroom was brought in (apparently post prime-day, it still needs a coat). And of course our counter tops and sinks are now installed! It makes the kitchen and baths feel much more complete. We're very happy with the white quartz.

Masons have the bigger half of the front porch wrapped in stone, it's looking good. the rainy days have slowed progress on that work, too.  But what's done looks great and we look forward to seeing the rest of it (not to mention the column bases and finished porch columns, ceiling, and metal roof).

Driveway slope has definitely improved, so hopefully that's worth the stress we experienced all week over it. It's a little lumpy-bumpy but we'll get that smoothed out with final grading and finish gravel.

Kitchen counters!

Long view

Apron-front sink

Primed pantry shelves

butler's pantry counter

Dining room in 'Dovetail' with lots of over-spray on the trim
right now; will look better when trim gets painted

'Mindful Gray' in the family room (and in these ceiling boxes
too  -again with over-spray on all the trim for now)

Mudroom bench will have a stained benchtop.
Those are doors for the study cabinets that need priming.

Upper cabinet for our "drop zone" (keys and cell phones)

Powder room sink and counter

Study shelves

Study opening

Playroom cubbies and 'Contented' green walls

Laundry sink and counter, walls also in 'Contented.'
Colors look pretty similar with such low light right now.

Master bathroom counter and sinks

Maggie's side of the master closet

Matt's side of the Master closet

Matt's side from the front

Maggie's side from the front

Master bedroom is also being painted in 'Dovetail'

Basement bath counter and sink

All bathrooms are 'Mindful Gray'

Basement main walls are also 'Mindful Gray'

Front porch - it's done around the side, too, but too muddy
to wander over for photos today

Driveway in much better shape.

Masonry, mantle, driveway work

The stone up the fireplace wall was done last week and they hung up the mantle. Matt also worked out a deal to get some dirt added to build up the driveway. Unfortunately due to a variety of delays, the work didn't start or go as quickly as planned - and this morning we got heavy, heavy rain. They were barely able to get a load of gravel on top to keep the mud down on 2/3 of the drive. Still more to do to get it right, but it does improve the slope significantly.

Fireplace wall

Reclaimed wood mantel

Driveway - post monsoon