Going way back, the initial parts of this project are just homeowners dreaming about what they want in a home.  Then it became more like architecture and design, thinking through the space in multiple dimensions, form and daily function.  Then by early this year it became an engineering project, designing foundations, insulation, HVAC, and plumbing systems that work in harmony.  And in Summer it became general contracting season: working with the city authorities, hiring and scheduling contractors, material logistics, and so on.

Now we are slowly transitioning into the final season of the project, where we are the primary labor.  We installed the exterior insulation and waterproofing, and now we’ve nearly finished the main house roof.  We’ve also moved in doors and are about 2/3 done with the plumbing drain lines, working on the interior-side insulation, and looking at ductwork install next.  After that we have porch framing to do, electrical rough-in, and several dozen other projects both major and minor before we ever see move-in day.

The transition hasn’t been as tidy as we had expected.  Because of the long delay in the summer, we’ve been up against the weather, which is extending some of the contracted work further than we had anticipated.  The masons are still chugging away, but they have been in the way of getting the porch slabs poured and of us finishing the roof.  We’re also scurrying to get various mechanical systems in place where they penetrate the outer shell of the house so that the brickmasons can mortar around those wires, lag bolts, and pipes rather than us later having to hammer-drill or wet saw out the cured brick.

As of today we are still juggling the brickmasons, fireplace install, the power company gas line, the water company for the main water line, an HVAC guy for the furnace and A/C install, the foundation contractor still for the porch slabs (and repairing our sewer line which was sheared off), and spray-foam insulation contractors from whom we are seeking bids.  And we’re juggling all those folks around (along with several suppliers!) while also spending all weekend and some weekdays physically on site doing labor.

Still, I wouldn’t trade it.  Things are a lot less stressful now than either the time we were delayed with no end in sight, or the period where we had a half dozen major trades all engaged and asking a hundred questions.  With each day of labor we can see clear progress, either from the masons laying the brick or us laying the shingles.  My fingers are freezing, but my heart is warmed.