Wowwww!

Question - do you consider this acceptable paint finish on baseboards? We are doing our final inspection soon and I’m not sure if this kind of defect is something that will get fixed or if it’ll be a case of me being a perfectionist... I understand some minor imperfections are expected (such as those tiny dents in the wall above the baseboard as shown below). Kind of annoying because “final” cleaning has been done so generating a bunch more dust will require an additional cleaning. In some places there is a horrible brush stroke through the middle. It is highly visible in this spot because you see it in the hallway as you come up the stairs.

Also, our freaking cabinet maker DID NOT LOOK AT THE SPECS for the kitchen range. So we have a 2” gap behind the stove because the glass cooktop is supposed to align with the counter edge. It’s literally designed for standard 25” counters, and the company who did our kitchen seriously did not know that 25” is considered standard, so this counter is 27-1/8”. So incredibly awkward, now they will put a piece of countertop behind to fill the gap but there will be a huge visible seam since the edge is rounded. It’s more than whats shown in the photo because the stove is forward a bit more. Of all the mistakes thus far, this might be the one that annoys me most. It’s hard to pick just one though :)

If the home is by a HCRA licensed builder, the paint may be acceptable under TARION's Construction Performance Guidelines (link) The blemishes, dents and lines must be visible under normal lighting from 1,500mm-1,800 mm.

Presuming either wall tiles or slab behind the stove, you could shim out the wall to cover the distance. (But, of course, you'll lose counter space.) The solution from the cabinet company would be acceptable to me.

Every new build I've done includes loads of "unintendeds".

The most on our current build are courtesy of the architect who sited the house beyond the permitted variances. During the year it reviewed the plans, the AHJ missed it. But the surveyor caught it before the foundation was poured. The actual room widths differ from 4"-2' from the approved plans.

Wow hopefully that worked ok for your floor plan! Ours would not work losing 4”-2’ because it’s pretty tight in areas. Did your architect need to rework the plans a bit? And did they charge you to do that? We’re still stuck dealing with a couple small screwups by the architect but luckily we are done with her. For instance, our “study” is essentially useless space in the floor plan because I won’t be able to use it. It’s directly on top of the mechanical room, with the heat pump outdoor unit directly below the window the desk faces. So standing at a desk one would literally be on top of all the electrical equipment for the house where there is both a loud humming noise and vibration (not to mention EMF). There is no insulation in the mechanical room ceiling below. Architect wasn’t concerned about this when I asked about this risk. There is so much more than meets the eye in design, much more than pretty portfolio images and word vomit.

Yeah we are doing the Tarion PDI soon and I’m worried they will say that paint is technically acceptable. Tarion should be more careful with their use of the word “normal” like normal lighting and viewing. To me, viewing a home in the evening with overhead lights on is very much normal. And this “normal” condition illuminates many defects like these baseboards.

Our defect list is now so long that it might make sense to postpone the inspection until we have at least resolved some of the items. What fun!

There is so much more than meets the eye in design, much more than pretty portfolio images and word vomit.

Well said!

Fortunately, the two-foot deficit was in the garage length. So while we lose storage space, the garage still accommodates four-door pickups.

The powder room was trickier.

We used a 2"x4" wall on one side, grabbed an inch from the adjacent central stairwell and installed a tankless w.c. (the tank is in the wall).

Nothing structural in the changed dimensions, so the AHJ didn't even notice.

The architect was in no rush to revise the plans--until I mentioned the word "solicitor" to the senior partner!

******

Trench for hydro line. (Tube carries hydro vac excavation.)

As it nears completion, the design--for better or worse--is exactly what we envisioned.

Biggest headache was my poor choice of a framing contractor. Delayed us two months. Then we spent two more months repairing and re-framing.

Give me this plan to do again and it'll take half the time.

I can't post a 1 year set of photos yet, but 5 months ago was an epic day.

it started like this.

Sam and I rolled out 500' of 1" water line times 2, and 1.25" conduit and a 3/4" poly.

I backfilled and rough graded with the excavator. The road is taking shape.

Switched buckets to the rip-n-tear unit. This tree was too close to the house site.

This tree was *IN* the house site.

That is where we got that day.

The next day, I expose the little white fir that is symbiotically grafted to the big tree.

We wanted to save it. What can I say, we are tree huggers when we can.

We got it moved and so far, it looks great. I put it where we took out the first tree, to fill in the dead space.

Trees removed, we laid out the rough space and I started stripping the deep organics.

Gathering quotes for sidewalks and some landscaping! Just checking in on everyone’s progress. Lots of beautiful homes!

That hand laid stone looks great!

Family lakehouse taking shape. Knocked down old cottage November 2024, foundation dug and Amish framers who did an amazing job. Roof on. Plumbing HVAC and electrical going in now.

More pics

Great progress!

Around here, that pile of free lumber un-fenced and unguarded would be greatly depleted one morning! (Just checked our security cameras. So far, just fox or coyote tracks dragging game in the snow.)

We started on the windows today. We will get what we can tomorrow, and finish up the metal roof after it thaws in the afternoon. It is not ideal roofing weather. Snow coming overnight tomorrow night.

This is solid ice on the north side from the slide off without any gutters or snow bars on the metal.

@Kelly M - I know you’re glad your gutters weren’t on for that ice! We just went through the same. Luckily no damage to the gutters for us but we need those ice cleats on soon!

Counters were going in yesterday while we were onsite - it’s such an exciting step.

We got the rest of the windows in today, that were possible. The cupolas need a little custom ridge cap flashing, and the basement needs parging. This is not parging weather!

It isn't roofing weather on the north side either. That little bit on the south is dry and OK, but the little bit on the north is off limits. That is all we lack to have it totally dried in.

It was not our intention when we picked parchment roof color to get so close to the Milgard adobe color, but it just worked out. It's like getting a free spin at the color wheel :)

Oh heck, forget one-year progress pics!

Removing natural gas service Feb. '21

Placing new service a mere four years later. (Didn't they re-build Europe faster after WWII?)

Ensuite #2 shower 6 Recycle Esagona antique

Ensuite #5

Kado Ice Flakes Rt.

Ensuite #4 Allmarble Capria Lux Rt

First of 2,300sf for basement. Treverkhome Quencia Nat. Rt.

All tiles from CIOT.

Even up close in person this solid porcelain so resembles wood that mrs. worthy and son #3 asked, "It's not wood?" (For the heated floor, porcelain is a better conductor than wood.)

infrastructure. The first of 7 ground loops going in for a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP)

Ah, the luxury of space!

In our built-up area, I've only seen a very rare vertical GSHP. But 300 feet deep, I'd hate to see what you might come up with!

Ambient-air heat pumps with conventional backup would be my choice were we starting today.

@Kelly M - in what agricultural zone are you? I know nothing about GSHP - I don’t even know if it was a possibility in our area.

See N.C. government link.

@TDinNC We are in 8a and 8b, but Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) will work anywhere. The earth is stable below 6' down across most of the country. In areas like the Dakotas and up north, add a foot or even two.

That temperature is ~50 to 54F depending on where and what season.

As @worthy mentioned, to do horizontal loops as I am doing requires a bunch of real estate, and if I were paying for an excavator and operator and crew, it would not pencil out when compared to the newer air heat pumps.

I am doing it because I'm a geek, it is my one home build, and I am an operator and have that excavator at my disposal.

That 100 ton pile of clay in the photo above has been a thorn in my birkenstocks for a while now. I laid it all down and covered two loops with it. Picture a rock wall along the side of the fill, starting at 2' and tapering to 4' and then following the terrain.

It is some saturated gumbo clay. The machine settles into it about 6", so I schmeared it down like cream cheese on a bagel and wiped out my tracks as I backed off the fill. In 3 months it will not show a track mark in it. I have a big pile of organic laden soils to put over it and till and seed this fall.

I am over-looping my system because I can. This is #3 I covered this morning.

My brothers and nephew helping cover #4 this afternoon. We'll have it all in and also place 200 tons of spoils from the house excavation by the end of the weekend. I am using it to create a flat-ish north yard and that side yard above.

It will amount to about 40 gallons of diesel by the end of it.

@Kellly M - thanks for all the info. I think it’s a fantastic project given your interests and abilities! I had a feeling you’d say it is possible anywhere given some limitations. We’re in zone 6a/b in a mountain valley and GSHP is not something I’ve seen done in this area. Given all you’ve described, I can see why!

the climate zones have nothing to do with it, the ability to dig down 6' and have a large lot has everything to do with it. It does not pencil out if you have to import bedding material or fill to make it work.

Rocky or nonexistent mountainsides are a real non-starter, but the valley bottoms are usually great. I was very lucky to get both some views and deep soil to play in.

Seeing some nice progress over the past week. Wood floors are nearly complete. Counters are in, most plumbing fixtures are in, and it looks like we’re just about ready for lighting to go in. Tile is nearly finished - just the backsplash needs to be done. Here’s just a couple of pictures from today.

Recycled wood, scorch marks and all. Wow!

But I'd hate to be the assigned explorer for the Bermuda triangle behind the soaker tub.

very nice :) I think we will flip your script, so to speak. Natural wood cabinets and pantry ( species under debate ) and then paint the island for the contrast. Love the floor!

EDIT: @worthy I think that will get a lovely cover on it, maybe some marble? If it was left open then that would be the place that all mismatched socks would go to hide.

@ worthy - the floors are reclaimed barn wood from a Nashville barn. Very rustic and exactly what we wanted. Re: the Bermuda Triangle…I expected to be able to walk behind the tub but it obviously didn’t work out that way. It will require some effort when cleaning, but will also be a great place to hide a bottle of wine LOL

@Kelly M - thank you! We really wanted a calm, warm kitchen with just a pop of color. That will come from the unfinished hutch.

We are in Minnesota East of St Paul on the Mn/WI border. We did Geo and our loops were horizontally bored 20ft deep. Love our geo and the savings from it. Love our generator even more as we had 100 hours on it just last year. (We added it in 23 after a 3 day outage that was the last straw). If you are in a wooded area like we are, you NEED a generator. Budget for one. You won’t regret it.

See Link for March 2025.