New house build Update - House Build almost done!

30 Jun, 2022

June 2022

We are so close to done! We started this New house build Journey after purchasing 20 acres of bare land in North Idaho in late 2018. We didn't really know where to begin. We started by scratching out some dirt roads, then adding gravel, sea container storage units, and little by little this project came together. We signed the contract with the builder in early 2021 and broke ground in the fall. The Builder is responsible for the house, walls-in. We did everything else; bringing in power, digging a well, installing septic, installing the well pump, driveway, and more. We are nearly done now and this our story... 

Returning after just a couple of weeks. The weather is unseasonably cool, daytimes in the 40-50s.  Recent torrential rains have damaged some of the roads in Yellowstone National Park and buildings, and part of the park is currently closed. Snow has melted and the roads are clear. 

Our main goal this trip is the final walk through. Other things to complete is painting the exterior, sealing tile grout, sealing granite countertops, and general cleaning. 

I purchased the same product to seal the grout and seal the granite countertops. I thought I would need the biggest jug, but in reality, I only needed a small amount. The product is thin and goes a long way. I used a small paintbrush for sealing the grout and a lint-free cloth to seal the granite. 

The final walk through with our Project manager, Guy, was a few hours. We walked room to room and inspected that each electrical plug/light was functional, flooring and carpet are good, wall texture is even, and water runs and plumbing doesn’t leak. We walked the exterior and evaluated the siding, roofing, electrical panel, heat pump, hot water heater, and garage door function.

We discovered a few things during the walk through that I may not have found right away. All plugs were functional. Flooring and carpet is good. Uncovering the protective cover on the flooring, I found a missing floor register (vent cover). There were 2 missing ceiling vent covers. Several areas of texture on the walls that were noticeably imperfect. A couple of dings and missing trim on the cabinets. A chip in one shower and a puncture in a bathtub. A leaking p-trap under one bathroom sink. I placed post-it notes with areas that needed fixing. Heat pump was delivered and set, but not hooked up. Builder has 2 weeks to work on the ‘punchlist.’ And once the final payment is made to Lexar Homes, we can move in.

There are also a few things that we still need to fix. Upgrading the living room to vinyl flooring from carpet was a great choice, but the trim that had already been installed for carpet had to be torn off and reapplied. The process created some areas that needed repair such as re-caulking and painting above the trim and a small crack in one of the door frames. No big deal, we can do that on our time. Once the walls are re-textured, I will have to go back and repaint and touch up.

I always say that a house is the cleanest the day you move in and they day you move out…in between is a big blur.  

Next thing on my list is the garage floor. I Have been considering paint vs. epoxy. Epoxy seems more durable and will require 30 days to cure so I am planning on completing that at the end of my next trip so that it can cure undisturbed until we return.

Future items on my list are a vegetable and herb garden, livestock shelter, a workshop, and more. It will be nice to move out of the RV into a real house. Once I am setup, I will continue to make homemade goatmilk soaps and fruit wine...

I started looking up garden items on Facebook Marketplace, perhaps a bit premature, but I am excited to get started. I met this wonderful lady who said she would give me free Jerusalem artichoke plants. When I went to her house, I was pleasantly surprised when she gave me so much more than I had expected. I have heard that people who move into this area, especially from California, are not welcomed, but in my experience, I have had no such treatment. My neighbors and people we meet around town have all been welcoming. Many people I have met are transplants themselves from somewhere else, recently or in the distant past. I know that we have made the right choice and cannot wait until we can thrive here full-time...

This is the bounty that she gave me! ...North Idaho kindness : )