Progress | Kathy’s Retirement Blog

When I posted about the start of construction on my house, some of you expressed an interest in updates.  So, here is the first update on the progress.  

It’s taken all of two months to complete the permit process, excavation and foundation. That seems like a long time, but no matter what you’re building in life a solid foundation is critical.  Time, careful thought and workmanship are the essential ingredients.  Of course, the government has their fingers in it every step of the way with endless inspections, which delay progress as we wait our turn with other local builds.  Thankfully, no glitches, no re-inspections.  I worked in the building business for a long time.  But this foundation in Michigan with its frigid winters, a slab with much more under the surface, was something I had never encountered in the toasty south.

At this stage it’s not much to look at.  Just a lot of dirt and cement give a hint of what will rise from all this hard work.  Though the site appears to be a barren stretch of soil right now, I have several pounds of wildflowers to seed on the back third of the two acres and among the trees along the roadside.  One of my new neighbors gave me hundreds of milkweed seeds to sow.  A few young cedars already on the property were moved to the very back and I planted a young maple, wrapping it in tree guard and crossing my fingers that the deer won’t find it enticing.  Add to that several junipers I bought during end of season sales and I have a good start towards shaping up the landscaping.

Friday my builder son-in-law, Travis and I made the trip to Michigan Barn Wood and Salvage in Mason to choose beams for the front and screen porch columns and headers from among stacks and stacks of rescued beams.  Passing a pile of aged barn siding wearing time worn remnants of red and pale blue paints, I stopped.  Travis and the owner, Trevor had already passed by. I called to them.  

Pointing to the stacks I said, “I’m thinking screen porch ceiling.”

Already enthused by the shops deep caverns filled with salvaged remnants of a bygone era, Travis dove into a description of how he would install the boards, which would most certainly add a charming character to the space. 

“How much?” I asked Trevor.  

“$4.00 a square foot” came the reply as he quickly calculated how much I would need and Travis turned the boards looking at both sides. Although the planks were already planed smooth on the opposite side, we agreed the side with the aged pigments was to be the side down on the ceiling.  Character. Yes, I bought them.  And, fawn colored rough hewn beams for the front porch along with greyed beams for the screen porch columns and header.

As our beautiful Michigan autumn progresses toward winter the framing began yesterday with rain spitting from cloud covered skies periodically breaking apart to reveal patches of cool blue with a sparkle of sun.  After yoga class, I used the day to revisit the flooring store and my initial choices just to be sure nothing new and trendy had materialized over the summer.  It hadn’t.  I was still in love with my selections and, thankfully, the prices of last June hadn’t budged. Then, I was off to the lumber supply to choose a roofing color.  Originally thinking of black with the white board and batten siding, after seeing a white farm house with a pale grey roof, I changed my mind.  I chose the palest grey from among the available shades of grey.  Decisions, decisions as we make progress, but, oh, so exciting!

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