It’s Wednesday, our framing package was supposed to be delivered on Monday and framing was to start on Tuesday. Nothing, still no framing package which means no framing – nothing has been done. Julie and I, as well as our Structural Engineer, have been trying to reach our GC by phone, email and text but for whatever reason he won’t respond. What is going on? This is crazy. I don’t even know what to think and why won’t he at least have the decency to call us back?
Tag Archives: remodel
Some Progress
So today the footings and rest of the walls connecting the existing structure with the new were poured. 
It’s a hot one today but I’m so thankful that I’ve had so much wood to split and dirt to move – great way to take out my frustrations and feel as if I’m somehow moving things forward.
A Little Quality Time Picking up Bricks
It was 90+ degrees but that didn’t stop Max from wanting to spend the morning with me picking up bricks that we’re hoping to salvage and reuse in our renovation. We’ve asked our GC to try to save any bricks that weren’t broken however we soon discovered that didn’t happen so the two of us spent a few hours collecting wheelbarrow loads of bricks which had been scattered around the property as well as buried in the dirt which was excavated for the new foundation walls.
Not sure if it will last being that Max isn’t quite 4 yet, however currently he’s quite the worker – no slowing down, wants to stay busy and you have to make him take a break. Half expected that the majority of the time I would be telling him “don’t do that”, “get back over here”, “put that down”, “get off of that” – never once, just a father and son picking up bricks while talking about all that goes through a 3 1/2 year old’s mind. Three hours of work and sweat that I wouldn’t give back for anything. I love being a dad!
Why Lie?
It’s been 3 days since any work has been done on the house, disappointing since we were told that they were really going to start moving everything forward to try and get back on track.
On another and rather confusing note, today Julie asked our GC to contact the sub that cleared out the backyard to have him come and finish clearing out the front yard, especially being that we’ve already paid for it. His response – that sub is out of business. Initially this was disappointing, until I called the sub myself and found out that he was still in business. I just don’t understand why our GC would lie to us about him being out of business? I want to and I’m trying to give our GC the benefit of the doubt on this but it’s hard. I just keep asking myself why would he lie about this and also, have we been lied to about anything else?
I Don’t See How This Could Be Good
So I went by the house today after work and besides the fact that the retaining wall for the carport is in the wrong spot, I also noticed that the carport foundation is even(flush) with the basement foundation, plans call for it to be 1″ – 2″ lower with a gradual decline to aid with channeling water away from the house. If that wasn’t bad enough, the carport foundation slopes toward the basement, basically channeling any water towards the house. How does this happen and why am I the one catching it?
Happy Valentine’s Day
The grading was completed on the expansion portion of the house yesterday so I went by to view what will soon be covered in concrete. Not quite sure… but I think we have a problem, still have some diggin to do. The plans call for an 8′ finished ceiling in the basement, however I’m 6′ and I’m able to reach the top of the floor on the main level of the existing house. I know this can’t be correct as we’ll need to account for the joist, foundation, sub-floor, etc… Also the carport is smaller than what we discussed. I sent an email to our GC just to alert him to what I’ve discovered.
On another note, while Julie has enjoyed deciding on finishes, colors, etc… I’m starting to scare myself. I’m now a subscriber to Better Homes & Garden‘s website and bought a copy of the latest Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and Renovation Style. Thankfully we were left with a lot of wood that needs to be split – think that I need to go and split some in the near future for a reality check.
Pics of the grading process, you can see that Max had a blast and felt very much at home:
We Have a Leak
Will this rain please stop!!! I went by the house yesterday and it seems that as a result of all of this rain we have sprung a few leaks in the basement. Nothing major but definitely something we’ll need to get taken care of since our immediate plans are to use this area for storage. Our GC said that it won’t be a problem and that he’ll take care of it when we get to that point.
He also suggested that it would probably be best for Julie to call the Planning & Zoning Department to push for the permits, seems as if an angry wife tends to get more attention – my money is on us getting that permit shortly after she reaches someone.
Closed and Ready
Well we closed on our house/project today. Our excitement is beyond explainable however that is at times dampened when we look at the current state of the house and all that will need to be done. Big Picture, it’s not a sprint, focus on the finish line – I have to keep reminding myself of these thoughts. There is also comfort in knowing that we’ve got a great and very reputable General Contractor (GC), great plans, house with good bones, almost 1/2 an acre which will have a flat backyard for the boys and it’s in the neighborhood where we have been concentrating our search efforts for the last several years – Morningside, Atlanta, GA. Our GC says that it will take 5 months from submitting permits until completion which will put us in the house in May however I bet him a 12 pack that it will be June – something has to come up, nothing is ever that easy. May or June, whichever it is, we’ve got a lot to do and a ton of decisions to make. Big Picture – it will and should be, our ideal house and Julie’s “forever home”. Here we Go!
Morningside Renovation 