Day 143 - Pooling Our Resources

I almost couldn't find a place to park upon arriving at the house site today.  It looked like a parking lot at the hardware store.  But I'm not complaining since there was so much work going on - pool guys, rainwater expert, plumbers, masons, mill work rep, and the senior project manager.

So glad we put in this parking lot

"Overflow" parking

The first appointment of the day was with the pool crew from Pristine Pools to site the swimming pool in the back of the house.  They were very precise in locating the pool according to the data and drawings from their pool designer.

Pool Crew with orange outline of pool

Marking Pool Deck

Tim - Pool construction supervisor

Survey equipment to site pool

Bruce meet with this crew early in the morning - too early for me.  But after about hour or so, Bruce called me and asked if I could get there pretty quickly.  When I arrived and saw the pool site, my immediate reaction was a definite NO.  The pool designer met our request to save as many trees as possible, but unfortunately his placement put the pool uncomfortably close to the back porch.  We have over 26 acres and many trees, so the pool designer is drawing up a new plan to relocate the pool area further back on the property..........a few trees will need to be sacrificed, but not any big oaks.

Other water related work was going on with James making progress on the foundation ring for the second rainwater cistern.

James hard at work

Cool hand mixer for making concrete

And inside, Lee from Bracken Plumbing was moving the trap drain in the powder room.  When we did the cabinet walk through, our cabinetmaker noted the drain would be visible because of the open design of the vanity. So, Lee moved it higher where it will be concealed.

Lee replumbing powder room vanity

The masons started putting the brick inside the patio fireplace, worked on the back porch arches, and did finishing work on the entry columns.

Concrete brick for first layer

Firebrick layer

The arches next to the fireplace will be constructed after the fireplace is complete.  The area around the other arches has been cleaned up. And the columns on the pool house now have rock.

Supports still in place

Cleaned up work area

Still a little messy on scaffold!

Outdoor kitchen area

Grill goes under this arch

Rocked Pool House Columns

On the front side of the house, the masons finished placing rock on the columns and relocated the electrical connections for the outside lighting.

Working on top of entry column

Cap on top of column

Relocating lighting connection

We had lots of discussions with our mill work representative and project manager about crown molding and doors over the course of the morning.  It was a very productive day.

Talking it over - Aaron, Nancy, and Terry

Tomorrow is another big day with an early start meeting our independent inspector.  I'll try to be in on that event from the beginning...........