Monday, October 13, 2008

Pictures from Brandon's wife

Here are some pictures from the builder's point of view. Brandon's wife from Elite Builders in Green Bay took these shots. They are pictures taken the first few days of construction.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Clause Architects

Haley has included the proposed front porch from Tom Clause Architects, my brother. I really like his idea better than the original plan. Thanks, Tom.

Linda and Larry head for home


Our bedroom


From back patio door looking toward front door


Looking into the kitchen from living room


Looking from kitchen to living room out to screen porch area


Late afternoon sun through the kitchen windows


Front bedroom

We are contemplating a lofted area over this bedroom and the bathroom.

Linda and Larry Phillips come to visit


With Plants


Another View


The Front


What's next?

Elite Builders is 90% done! Wow! Great, great job! We recommend Brandon and his crew to anyone. Thanks again for all the help with the plans and the great construction.

Peter will be doing the roofing next-a big, high job. It makes me very nervous, especially if he asks me to hand him something? We have to figure out where we want the electrical outlets, etc. to go. We will be traveling to Milwaukee to look at lighting fixtures, etc. Peter will also be putting up interior walls for the bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen.

Pahl Window and Doors in Green Bay


Trying out the front door


Screen Porch from magazine


Back view from the magazine of our house


Thursday, October 9, 2008

Is That Really the House We Planned to Build?

It has become apparent to me (Dad) the house that we thought we wanted to build has evolved into something different. The difference is not so much on the inside but on the outside and is a result of adding four feet to the hallway area for an interior entrance to the basement which is a necessity in our climate.

As I worked on the front porch supports I found myself looking up wondering how the roof was going to work with the grade of the porch itself. It seemed like a long way up and I just wasn't comfortable with how to proceed. I went home Tuesday evening and took out the original plan hoping to find the answer when it all came to me. The extra four feet! By adding the stairs the builders were force to change the original pitch over the entrance so it wouldn't be too flat. In addition we had made some engineering decisions regarding the vaulted ceilings for the entrance that had changed the roof line to a degree also. Wednesday morning when I hurried back to begin the day at the construction site I was able to look at the project from a different point of view. We have become comfortable with the way things have changed now that we understand why. We now have a variation on a theme. All the basics are still intact.

I need to talk a little bit about the Enercept people. Enercept is the company that engineered and built the SIPS panels that were used to build our future home. When we started thinking about what type of home to build we were really drawn to Green Built and energy efficient. We first saw the SIPS technology at a home show in Marquette, MI and we liked it a lot. When the time came to build we checked out the Enercept company and found a local representative contractor, Elite Building Solutions from Green Bay, WI. We have been thoroughly pleased with the customer relations and I have been impressed with the quality of the Enercept product. I've been in construction for about thirty years and have seen all kinds of work. Enercept panels and the Elite builders have given us a truly superior product. Thanks!
Elite Builders has done an outstanding job. I cannot believe that last Thursday they began putting the panels up, and this Thursday the house has windows! Thank you Brandon, red sweatshirt, green sweatshirt, black sweatshirt! Tomorrow I'm bringing brownies!!

Another view of front


Where's the front door?


Back view without screen porch on right


Front view without front porch and entryway


Three windows to go


Back bedroom


From the interior patio looking in


More windows-grills go on later.


Door to the back screen porch

There are no grills or screens on the windows. There will be 4 opening grill on the top of each window and 4 grill on the awning windows on top and in the kitchen.

Thursday and the windows


The other roof line from the back


Sawing off the overhang on Wednesday


This is ooshy gooshy clay


Beginning the other roof