Living Our Pipe Dream

On Wednesday morning, Brian and I met with our construction supervisor Chris at our lot. Chris went over all our options to confirm everything and then showed us all of the various building plans for the house (i.e. electrical wiring and plumbing) and answered our questions. He also briefly discussed our warranties and told us that we would get a super-duper warranty book with a DVD about all our warranties when we close. He also went over a tentative construction plan and told us when we should plan to have our building inspector come out (post-"trades," but pre-sheetrock). I learned that "trades" are the electricians, plumbers, etc. We asked Chris a few questions and he was able to answer about everything but two things, so he called Brian back this afternoon with the last two answers. He told us that we'll have one outdoor spigot at the back and on one side of the house and explained that they would continue to grade our yard up to the house to minimize the slope and to make it as flat as possible without creating drainage issues.

We asked him if we would have a garbage disposal and asked where our mailbox would be located. This week, the morons on the Raleigh City Council (who solely control the municipal water system) outlawed garbage disposals after March 15th and told citizens that they can't replace their disposals when they die (yeah, right). Also, Churchill puts two mailboxes on one post to make the street look neater (and it works!). However, since there's an odd number of houses on our cul-de-sac, it's hard to tell if our mailbox post will be by our driveway (and shared with the house on the "sac" or the neighbor on the "cul.") OK, I have no idea what I'm talking about. Anyway, we want the mailbox shared with the neighbor near the end of the cul-de-sac, as opposed to the one on the street because it will be closer to our driveway. Chris called Brian back today and said that we should have a garbage disposal since we already have our building permit and that he thinks he can put the mailbox post where we want it since we're the first house on our side of the street. That was very exciting.

Chris also went over with us a tentative construction schedule. He said that they would be laying the ground pipe- and electrical-work later that afternoon and then, depending on the weather, they would start digging the footwork for the foundation. He then said that they should pour the foundation toward the beginning of next week!!! He also said that the lumber delivery is expected for either 3/14 or 3/17 and that house will be framed very shortly afterward!!!!!! So there should be a lot going on in the next few weeks.

Last night, we drove back over there to take a look at the piping and took a few photos for your viewing pleasure:

Doc Box Permits:




Massively huge pipe extending about 12 feet in the air:






In the ground:




Around the peripheral: