Life in the fast lane

Well, here we are in mid-August, pretty much at the half-way point. Mostly, we're feeling like old pros at this construction stuff; we are able to navigate through the many decisions and are enjoying the highs of the TOH experience. While we have many time-sensitive decisions and sleepless nights to keep us grounded in reality, the break-neck pace has forced us to be well organized.

When we walk through the house now, we are literally in a "war" zone.

The rooms in the rear of the home are gutted, wire runs and recessed lighting hardware are cut into most rooms, and Rich's plumbing crew just started to pull out the existing piping and fixtures. All around lies the lumber, replacement windows, table saws and other tools.

Nevertheless, at the end of each work day, Tom and his crew neaten up as they prepare for a fresh start the next day; that typically translates to some of the crew arriving as early as 6:30 am so they can be ready to start making noise at 7 am sharp.

As we progress through each phase of the project, we are amazed by the sheer efficiency of the team. The framing of the deck and 2nd floor shed dormer both went up in about a week. And that goes along with the many small details and surprises, such as a leaking sewage pipe in the basement.

There's plenty more work before we turn the corner, such as plumbing, HVAC and wiring work for security (Greg Smizer, Sprint Security) and sound (Eric Reinhardt, Bose). Nonetheless, we are hoping to have our extra credit planning done by the time school starts…just a few weeks away!