Things have been happening - its just the stuff that makes no "visual" progress. Sewer and water is hooked up and approved via Naperville. They had to dig into Webster St - so a cold patch of asphalt had to be laid - and they will do a hot patch sometime when the temp is more stable outside. Nothing surprising - as the patching was all in the original proposal - we would have gotten a credit had they not had to go into the street.
Electric contractor was out and has the service box installed. He should have called for inspection when he was out there, but did not, so Naperville will be out on Monday - hopefully it passes. If it does, Naperville (which runs their own Electric Company) will be out to install the new underground service. Previously, these old houses had overhead service - all new houses have to have it underground - the main lines run through the lot line in the back yard (actually, pretty smart of those folks back in 1930 - locating the lines in the back yards - not the front yards),
The "top of foundation" survey folks were also out - these are the people that determine the locations of all the foundation walls and their distance from the lot lines. I am not expert - but from viewing what they gave me - we should be good to go. We have the required 30ft in front - 6ft on the north side, and nearly 6ft on the south side (we are 2cm off - but they allow 6inches of deviation).
Nicor is taking their good ole time – but gas is not imperative to have now, however, hopefully, it is sooner than later
Spoke with the framer this week – the coordination with the steel guy, the lumber guys and the framers has now started. Apparently, the framer knows my lumber guy, so makes things a bit easier. Hopefully, the sounds of power nailers will be heard with 7-10 days. Weather has been very good every since a 62 degree day wiped out the snow pack – so missing some good weather – but hopefully it holds up.
Windows have been ordered - so that ordeal is done – photos of what we have settled on are below.
Of course – looking at the plans everyday causes you to second guess everything – so we are now contemplating the kitchen layout – good thing is we can change it at will – as we are just modifying the layout, no impact on walls, etc. We are thinking about going back to a large (massive) island – versus the setup we have now (breakfast bar wrapping around the kitchen, smaller island inside). I think the massive island layout is what we prefer – plus I think it will probably save $4,000 in countertop, edge, and cabinet costs - so could be a win-win, we shall see.
The windows...these are casements - ie, they crank out...however, the look like double hungs due to the grille pattern...windows will have actual grilles (not between the glass, but real wood on the inside and clad on the outside)
There is a mix of casments with fixed transoms above - they differ greatly in the drawings below - but great care has been taken to make sure most will line up with each other from room to room. For example, there will be two of the windows labled 'great' on the back wall in the great room. On the wall to the left, there will be two awning windows that will be the same size as the transoms on the windows on the back wall (ie, they will all line up visually). Also we are using more awning windows placed higher on the sides of the house (neighbors within 12 ft on each side) and making the back of the house heavy with windows (as it will look out to the backyard with trees). You quickly see how window selection goes from an afterthought to primary time "sucker".
This is a very very very very very large 4 panel french door that will be nearly 9 ft high and 10ft wide!! Yes, very very big - but it will let in a ton of light and add a lot to the hosue...in addition, the windows titled "breakfast" above will flank the 4 panel door at an angle, so even more light will be let in (again, the transoms, and heights will all be lined up). This door alone, ate up 20% of the window budget.
And we have decided to mimick that back door on the front of the house leading out to the porch (on a smaller, and cheaper scale). No transoms above, and sticking with a smaller height keeps costs down. The room where this goes in only 9ft high...the other door is in a 10ft room.
The exterior window cladding will be Chestnut Bronze (as in the picture below)...
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