Dec 18

Another picture-less update…Site was backfilled the other week – and WE DID, indeed, take it on the chin and put in a change order. So we are now back to what we originally had – we are just a bit lighter in the pocketbook. Now the first floor great room, breakfast area and kitchen will be 10ft ceilings. It is hard to describe how much impact 10ft makes over 9ft – but once you are in a house/room with it – it really changes the entire feeling of that area. Something we should have just kept in all along. Oh well, as long as this is the first and last change – we can live with it. Better to take it on the chin then regret for years to come.

Things have slowed a bit due to the change order – however, I was able to get the architect to do a quick turnaround and it is already approved through the city of Naperville – so we are pretty much back on track within 10days – pretty darn efficient considering 9 of the 10 pages of the blueprints had to be modified due to the 1ft change. It means on the 2nd floor – the kids area – bedrooms 2 and 3 and the 2nd bathroom – are now kind of set off from the others – as to get to “their” area – you need to go up two steps (as it is 10ft below those areas). That was the original intention when I drew the plan out – just glad it worked out in the final plan. The roof also becomes a bit taller now and thee master bedroom , because of the way the lumber lays out – gets a 1ft boost, virtually by default.

Elsewhere – we are finally – after 3 months of looking – narrowing down to the final window selections. I would have never imagined it to be such a complex decision with so many options. We are leaning towards going w/ casement windows that mimick the look of a double hung (via a grille pattern). This way, you get the best of both worlds – the clean look and efficiency of casements – and the more craftsman look of a double hung. Also, casements will allow us to integrate blinds to be flush with the wall. Double hungs will create issues with depth and we would need to get creative w/ blinds. I think the finished product will be a unique feature of the house - something you don’t see every day.

Also – we are planning on replacing the windows in the front dining room to a 4panel French door – this will allow the front covered porch to become more a part of the house. The two middle panels open up, to create a wide opening. You can see this feature on the pic I posted previously of the house being built up the street from is (yes, we stole another idea). Another reason for this change is we are unsure what that room will ultimately be used for – with the breakfast room probably becoming where we eat 99.9% of the time – this front room may transition to more of a multi-use room. I don’t know – we shall see. We will also be ditching any idea for a chandelier or hanging light in this room – we will go with recessed in here – again – to leave the options open for what this room will be. I think our (or at least my) concept for this room is it becomes a transition to the large 8x17 covered porch – and March through October – with the 4panel French door – really merges outside and inside together (Ok, I am veering to far off into HGTV land now).

Sewer and Water folks were out yesterday and today – meaning the house will actually be hooked into the sewer and water grid. Then, all that is left to do underground is the electric and the gas….which should come sooner than later.

Hope is to get the framer up and running asap – and start making some “above” ground progress – that is much more visual.

Rigid Foam Insulation and Possible CHANGE ORDER/

Finally got to put in some of that valuable "sweat equity" - as the 48 sheets of rigid foam insulation needed to be put up before we can backfill. I had planned to do it Friday, but damp proofers got behind and were at the site longer than anticipated. So today was the day, no matter what the weather. But, weather finally returned to a more "normal" temp - with temps in the mid to upper 30's today. Worked out very well, as was in and out of the ground in about 4 hours. Certainly not a job I care to do again anytime soon. Pretty easy, just very dirty. But given I was quoted $2300 for someone to do it for me - and the material only cost about $900 - I opted to save that $$.

Other news is we may put in place an "official" change order with the architect (a thing I had guaranteed I would not do) - but after much thought - its one of those items if we dont take time to get right now - it will be around 150 yrs until someone knocks this house down.

We had originally had 10ft cielings in the great room, breakfast room and kitchen. It all flowed well. We scaled back to jsut having it in the great room and while it works - it leaves a lot of changes in the cieling lines and am afraid it may look off - so we have a call into the architect to see costs/timing to get changed. The time I am not worried about - as we can continue working on the backfill and utility work while changes are being made - its the fees from the acrhitect and the city of Naperville that concern me - as the change will need to be reviwed and approved.

We shall see...

Foundation Up...

Well, we have hit some of the delays I knew would happen but hoped wouldnt. In the matter of 10 days we have done from some nice late fall temps in the mid-40's to a couple inches of snow and now some pretty cold temps, maxing out at 27 today and likely the same tomorrow.

The foundation walls are done - forms were pulled off Wednesday - with the hopes of damp proofing the foundation on Thu - however, the cold temps froze some of the guys lines on another job and he hopes to come out tomorrow do ours - but not sure if temps will allow. Its a pretty critical step, as it (damp proofing) is required by Naperville code - and we are at a standstill until that step is done. We can't backfill, which means we can't get the underground plumbing done nor the electric - nor start on framing. Its a string of dominoes being held up until dampproofing can be done.

Also got caught in left field on the code for rigid foam insulation - which needs to be placed over the dampproofing. I plan to just place the panels on myslef (2x4x8 panels) to save $1,000 - but again, dampproofing not being done is mucking up my plans to do that tomorrow...so we shall see.


9ft basement with 3 windows ... 1 large escape window (code) and 2 smaller windows on the north side...


Window wells with drainage system installed...