Deck Finished

I'll wait and do the stairs after they are done with the septic and grade out the yard.

Decking Complete

Underground LP Gas Tank

Good Day Outside

Beautiful day today.  More than half way through with the decking and at 6:00 p.m. the septic guys arrived with their equipment and will be starting tomorrow!

Deck Structure Continues

Frustration!

We've built enough houses to know that sub contractors are VERY unreliable.  They tell you they will show up and then you don't see them for days and days.  I guess I was hoping this one might be different and it started out OK but now I've been waiting for 3 weeks for someone to do something!  I'm extremely frustrated at this point.  I know they get buys on multiple projects but what makes me so mad is they won't even call you back or answer an e-mail.  Changing at this point isn't really an option.  The floods a month or so ago have obviously provided them lots of work.

I was going to hold off on starting the deck in the back until after the septic guy was through working to make it a little easier on him but I gave him long enough so Friday I started laying it out, digging post holes and concreting the posts.

I also spent last week making a fireplace mantel out of an old Douglas Fir plank I found in the warehouse I manage.  My partner has a pattern shop with lots of woodworking machines so one night last week I went in on second shift and one of the pattern makers helped me make it.  Kind of cool with all the natural "character" in the plank after we planed it.  Things like old nail holes, knots, etc.

Plank Before

Mantel After

Setting Deck Posts

The Boss Inspecting My Work!

Waiting Again

The worst part about building is waiting on sub contractors.  As of Saturday I literally have nothing to do on the construction project right now.  I'm waiting on 1) Septic  2) LP Tank installation  3) Driveway  4) Heating and Air Ducts  5) Insulation  6) Drywall.

I like it a lot more when I am the one performing the work, like the plumbing and electrical, because then I control the schedule.  The big storm several weeks ago was good for sub contractors because it created a lot of emergency work but that didn't help my schedule any!  Hope to get the Septic, LP Tank and Driveway this week.  If so then I can at least start on the rear deck next week.  As for the others I just have to keep calling and making sure I am on their list.