Pool - now with water...

Today the pool guys come out very early morning and acid washed the pebble-tech surface to expose the pebbles. The picture here doesn't do the color justice - the pebble finish is a little darker than it appears in the photo.

Here is a better view of the finish

Then they started filling the pool with truck-loads of water. Our well water is not top-notch quality so we decided to fill it with water that was brought in instead.

And for the first time, we get a sense for what the pool looks like with the infinity edge - seeing these pictures I am so glad we insisted on keeping that in the budget and save on other items.

Someone really can't wait to get in...

Pool Pebble-Tech installation

Today the pool contractor is on site and is applying the pebble tech pool finish. We chose a dark blue (almost black) pebble finish. The process takes two days and the photos below are from day one. The backing substrate and the pebbles are applied and the finish looks uniformly blue until they come back on day two and acid wash the surface to expose the pebbles in the finish. 

We can see light at the end of the tunnel...

Now we are on the home stretch and there is tons of activity. Plumbers are finishing all faucets, drains, showers, etc

Glass railing being installed.

All countertops have been installed - and the cutout for the flush induction cooktop has been cut.

Countertop in the mudroom.

Our composite decking is being installed.

Water heater has been installed - we are using a Stiebel Eltron air-to-water heatpump heater.

More glass railing being installed on the second floor.

Driveway is poured - and deck build continues

Today the driveway was poured.

And the deck build continues. Looks like it's almost ready for the composite decking to go on. We decided to use a recycled composite deck plank that is made of recycled plastic bottles and bamboo fiber. Can't wait to see it installed.

Driveway ready to be poured - and deck build begins

The driveway is now ready to be poured. 

The plan is to pour tomorrow before the rain starts again.

Flooring is now complete on the second floor as well.

And outside the deck build has begun

Driveway and stucco color coat

It's Friday afternoon and there is lots of progress at the house. The grading and concrete crew is working on the driveway.

Inside the flooring guys are done with the 1st floor of the main house and are now almost done with the 2nd unit.

In the garage the concrete steps for the staircase are still drying. It looks like they will be ready to be installed on Monday.

Most of the floor in the main house is covered with paper, but I found a corner that hadn't been covered yet. The flush baseboards are going in on Monday to finish off the edges.

The electrician has installed LED lights in the garage.

And finally the last white stucco coat is going on. 

Flooring - Day two

Ulla stopped by Tuesday afternoon and took a few photos of the flooring progress. Two days after they started.

Flooring installation

Its Monday morning and I just had time to stop by to check in on the build and deliver a few items. Today, the flooring crew began installing the floor downstairs. We think it looks awesome!

There was activity in the garage as well. The concrete contractor is pouring the steps for the staircase.

General update on bathrooms, tiling, cabinets, etc

It has been a while since we posted anything so we are overdue for an update. Things are progressing fast now. All bathrooms have been tiled and grouted except the 2nd unit bath that they are scheduled to finish early next week. 

In the master bath they have hung the bath vanities and sinks and the tub is ready to be installed. We have chosen to use Ikea cabinets and sinks for all bathrooms, kitchen, mudroom, 2nd unit, etc.

Master bath shower ready for plumbing hardware to be installed.

Niche for shampoo and soap - we chose to do a full tile width so it looks uniform.

The floor upstairs has now been scraped, swept and vacuumed so it's ready for the flooring to go in early next week.

Vanities going in in the upstairs bath. 

All our HVAC equipment has now been installed. Heating and cooling is supplied by a mini-split ducted heat-pump system with a couple of condensers outside hooked up to three individual zones indoors. Instead of the standard grills and vents, we chose to use some long linear slot grills that we felt blended in better with the white ceilings and looked a little better. And the electrician has begun installed LED cans.

Our concrete sub has begun building the forms for the concrete steps for the staircase in the house. The staircase structure is made from steel and the landing zone and steps will be poured onsite next week. We chose to use colored concrete in a dark gray to give an industrial touch to the staircase.

Forms for the steps - ready for the pour.

Kitchen cabinets are all installed and competed now. The gap to the right will house a 24" wide refrigerator column with a custom panel front made of the same black cabinets as the other tall cabinets on that wall. The island with the light blue protective covering on is a high-gloss white finish.

Cabinets in the mudroom - also high gloss white.

And the other side of the mudroom - low cabinets that are ready for the sink and countertop to be installed.

And the second unit kitchenette ready for the sink to be mounted and for the refrigerator and countertop to be installed.

Tile sub is finishing up in the second unit early next week.

Here is the flooring that we are using. A European laminate product in wide planks that mimics a "white stained walnut plank". First time using laminate - we like the look of the flooring and hope it holds up better against UV and fading than our old solid hardwood floor did in the house we came from. The product is from Berry Alloc.