Well, here we are in mid-August, pretty much at the half-way point. Mostly, we’re feeling like old pros at that construction stuff; we are able to navigate through the many decisions and are enjoying the highs of the TOH experience. While we have many time-sensitive decisions and sleepless nights to keep us grounded in reality, the break-neck pace has forced us to be well organized.

When we walk through the house now, we are literally in a “war” zone.

The rooms in the rear of the home are gutted, wire runs and recessed
lighting hardware are cut into most rooms, and Rich’s plumbing crew
just started to pull out the existing piping and fixtures. All around
lies the lumber, replacement windows, table saws and other tools.

Nevertheless, at the end of each work day, Tom and his crew neaten
up as they

prepare for a fresh start the next day; that typically
translates to some of the crew arriving as early as 6:30 am so they can
be ready to start making noise at 7 am sharp.

As we progress through each phase of the project, we are amazed by
the sheer efficiency of the team. The framing of the deck and 2nd floor
shed dormer both went up in about a week. And that goes along with the
many small details and surprises, such as a leaking sewage pipe in the
basement.

There’s plenty more work before we turn the corner, such as
plumbing, HVAC and wiring work for safety measure (Greg Smizer, Sprint
Security) and sound (Eric Reinhardt, Bose). Nonetheless, we are hoping
to have our additional credit planning done by the date school starts…just
a few weeks away!

Original post by Paul Friedberg