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| Click on the image to see the original. |
Across the street is a big hill so today I jumped the fence, climbed the hill and took this shot.
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
January 31, 2012 - Not much of a change except that the workers were out today and have almost all the forms up. I was there around 5:30PM and I'm guessing they will be done tomorrow and maybe the walls can be poured on Thursday. It was very warm today and the 65 degree weather was perfect for the guys.
Across the street is a big hill so today I jumped the fence, climbed the hill and took this shot.
Across the street is a big hill so today I jumped the fence, climbed the hill and took this shot.
Monday, January 30, 2012
January 30, 2012, and it's a BEAUTIFUL day here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Our builder told me last week the sub was not going to be out Monday because he was finishing up another project. I almost didn't go out for a visit but in coming home I was so close I stopped by...I'm glad I did! It looks like the sub decided to take advantage of the outstanding weather (it was in the mid-50's today) and put up the forms after all.
It looks like tomorrow they will be done with the forms and will be able to pour the walls very soon. It's getting easier and easier now in my feeble mind to actually envision the house.
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| Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
It looks like tomorrow they will be done with the forms and will be able to pour the walls very soon. It's getting easier and easier now in my feeble mind to actually envision the house.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
January 25, 2012 - If you are wondering how I can take all these pictures it is because the new home site is less than 5 miles from our current home and I try to stop by on my way home from work.
Today the guys finished the footers. If it rains tomorrow they won't be able to continue. Here is the forecast for the next few days. Chance of rain tomorrow. Good news is that at least the weather is warm for January.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Let me bring you up to date on our journey/adventure in building this home. This will be a little long since this post covers August 2011 to January 2012.
After we purchased the property in August we met with a builder to work out some of the details. She eventually met with an Architect about the home. After that initial meeting all contact was via email until Donna finished the home just the way she wanted it.
In the meantime I went to the local planning commission in Madison County to find out about permits. He informed me that because there was a stream bordering the property and the potential for the lot being in a flood plain I had to get clearance from the Division of Water in Frankfort, KY.
Well to say this was a surprise to us is an understatement. So I contacted them and we started 8 weeks of phone calls, emails, letters, more phone calls and requests for more information.
Our surveyor had to provide certified elevations and then supply Frankfort with Cross-Sections of five different parts of the property. This took time and then Frankfort had to do calculations on the data before they would approve the permit. During one of my conversations with my contact in Frankfort he told me the process could take up to 30 working days from when they received the information from the surveyor.
We knew the lot "was" in a flood plain but the reason we bought it is because the previous owners had the property back filled and the local planning guy told me he was sure it was above the flood plain. All we had to do was get Frankfort to agree.
In late December my contact in Frankfort finally told me he had approved the permit (Yea!) BUT when he took it to his supervisor, the supervisor wanted to see the back fill permit since that could have changed the stream in some way. Well they didn't have a copy of the back fill permit and needed to see who approved it. Now they were sending a crew to Richmond (our city) to get a copy of the permit and this could take an additional two or three weeks until our building permit could be sent! This was the week between Christmas and New Years and of course all his staff were out on vacation. I was told to call after the first of the year!
January 3rd, I called again and spoke to my contact. He said the review of the back fill permit was not done and I should just 'hold on' and be patient and let the process go on. I was not a happy camper and asked if I could speak to the supervisor. My contact only asked that he be allowed to brief his supervisor on the project and then I could call. I didn't have a problem with that and the supervisor called me within 15 minutes.
As we spoke the supervisor also indicated that they needed to see who had back filled the lot illegally because a fine could be involved. I told him I didn't have a problem with that because I had documentation showing the back fill had been done in 2003! In speaking with the supervisor (he really was helpful) I asked why my wife and I had to be denied a permit because of what someone else had done years earlier? He understood my reasoning and he thought there was something they could do. He told me he could issue a letter of 'No Harm' which allows us to obtain our permit. I asked him if there was anything he needed for the letter and he said 'Let me be sure I can issue the letter.'
The letter and permit came in the mail in about two days later with a copy to Madison County!!!
On January 9th, Donna took the letter to the Madison County Planning Commission and we received...
FINALLY WE CAN START TO BUILD!
January 14, 2012 - Broke ground.
January 15, 2012 - Excavation starts.
After we purchased the property in August we met with a builder to work out some of the details. She eventually met with an Architect about the home. After that initial meeting all contact was via email until Donna finished the home just the way she wanted it.
In the meantime I went to the local planning commission in Madison County to find out about permits. He informed me that because there was a stream bordering the property and the potential for the lot being in a flood plain I had to get clearance from the Division of Water in Frankfort, KY.
Well to say this was a surprise to us is an understatement. So I contacted them and we started 8 weeks of phone calls, emails, letters, more phone calls and requests for more information.
Our surveyor had to provide certified elevations and then supply Frankfort with Cross-Sections of five different parts of the property. This took time and then Frankfort had to do calculations on the data before they would approve the permit. During one of my conversations with my contact in Frankfort he told me the process could take up to 30 working days from when they received the information from the surveyor.
We knew the lot "was" in a flood plain but the reason we bought it is because the previous owners had the property back filled and the local planning guy told me he was sure it was above the flood plain. All we had to do was get Frankfort to agree.
In late December my contact in Frankfort finally told me he had approved the permit (Yea!) BUT when he took it to his supervisor, the supervisor wanted to see the back fill permit since that could have changed the stream in some way. Well they didn't have a copy of the back fill permit and needed to see who approved it. Now they were sending a crew to Richmond (our city) to get a copy of the permit and this could take an additional two or three weeks until our building permit could be sent! This was the week between Christmas and New Years and of course all his staff were out on vacation. I was told to call after the first of the year!
January 3rd, I called again and spoke to my contact. He said the review of the back fill permit was not done and I should just 'hold on' and be patient and let the process go on. I was not a happy camper and asked if I could speak to the supervisor. My contact only asked that he be allowed to brief his supervisor on the project and then I could call. I didn't have a problem with that and the supervisor called me within 15 minutes.
As we spoke the supervisor also indicated that they needed to see who had back filled the lot illegally because a fine could be involved. I told him I didn't have a problem with that because I had documentation showing the back fill had been done in 2003! In speaking with the supervisor (he really was helpful) I asked why my wife and I had to be denied a permit because of what someone else had done years earlier? He understood my reasoning and he thought there was something they could do. He told me he could issue a letter of 'No Harm' which allows us to obtain our permit. I asked him if there was anything he needed for the letter and he said 'Let me be sure I can issue the letter.'
The letter and permit came in the mail in about two days later with a copy to Madison County!!!
On January 9th, Donna took the letter to the Madison County Planning Commission and we received...
January 14, 2012 - Broke ground.
January 19, 2012 - Down to the base.
January 21, 2012 - Gravel down for the base.
January 23, 2012 - Foundation forms in place.
January 24, 2012 - Footers in place.
Monday, January 23, 2012
A good friend suggested I start a blog about the building of our home. Well you know me...if I can do it on a computer I'm all for it!
For many years we have wanted to build a custom home for a few reasons. As our family increases with spouses and grand children we have needed more room when we all get together. We also like to entertain and fellowship with our friends. And lastly, Donna has really needed a place she can dedicate to her musical endeavors. She not only teaches piano but she composes music in her 'spare' time. With all that in mind we decided to build just what we need. In August of 2011, we purchased some property (see above) and Donna started the process of designing what would work for us. She met with our Architect for the initial meeting and over five or six weeks via email and phone calls they created the final design. This blog will be updated as different phases of the building process goes forward. Check back often and see what's up.
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