Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work is done, arches are framed and we're ready to finally sheetrock.
Here is a mockup of our first rock selection - didn't look anything like the pictures we'd seen, it was too wide to fit on the brick shelf and it took forever to get - other than that it was just fine. On the bright side, we still like our brick selection so we're halfway there at least.
It's tough to see with all the framing exposed, but the great room wood beams are installed. The chopped off ones in the background are framing the future stone fireplace. With all the money we saved with our initial stone selection, we added full stone fireplaces in both the great room and veranda and stayed within our budget. Unfortunately, the new stone that actually works and looks good was a bit more expensive, so our "free" stone fireplaces are no longer free.
Another shot of beamage with the ceiling can lights.
Our new stone arrives - looks a bit gray, doesn't it. Again, its impossible to pick this stuff from photos - you have to see it in person, washed and preferably on your house...
Yep, its too gray - need to add some different stones to bring in some color. Fortunately, this stuff has three distinct colors in different layers. This one is from the bottom layer. The middle layer is called Blue/Brown and it has more brown tones in it. The top layer is called Surface Moss and its much more brown and it has moss growing on most of it.
Insulation installed in about a day and a half. Can you imagine working with fiberglass insulation for ten hours a day when its 105 degrees outside?
Another pre-sheetrock pict looking up the stairs - enjoy the handrail, its about to be gone!
Fireplace units installed in both veranda and great room - all of the black metal will be covered by stone eventually.
Here's our mockup with a few of those more colorful stones laid on top - hope it works and we get the right mix! It is a bit of a pain to take down and start over...
Sheetrock arrives - piles all over the house...
Sheetrock going up - this is the barrel arch over the tub in the guest bedroom bath...
A tangent, but it appears there is a metallic serpent like creature living in our attic!
Chimney with spark arrester installed - decorative cover under construction.
This will be the access door to get to the pump servicing Debbie's air tub. Might also serve as an extra bedroom!
Tray ceiling in the master rocked and ready...
Great Room ceiling going up. Looks like they might need to find some taller guys to finish the top.
You can start to see the wood beams a bit better now that the sheetrock covers the rest of the framing. They are rough sawn and will be stained a pretty dark color.
Our more colorful stones arrive. The stone yard warned us not to install the really mossy rocks where the sprinkler will hit it as they are actually ALIVE and the chlorinated water will kill them!
Taping and bedding underway. I think they do at least three passes to smooth everything out.
Debbie's bathing throne with its barrel arch starts to take shape.
Taping and bedding is really bringing out the beautiful archways. This one is from the kitchen looking out onto the veranda.
Finally! Actual stone going up on the actual house. Once this is done and it looks great, I will breathe a huge sigh of relief. Who could know how stressful a pile of rocks could be?
One more shot looking up the stairway.
The Great Room beams exposed...
Another shot of the bathtub barrel arch...
They have started to put the beaded board on the ceiling over the veranda. I kind of liked the exposed insulation look, but oh well.
Final shots of the archways - this one looking from the Great Room toward the Dining Room.
This one from inside the Dining Room looking into the Foyer and Gallery.
This one looking from the Dining Room toward the Great Room.
Shot from the upstairs bedroom into the Courtyard. The brick has been delivered and distributed, but no brick on the house yet.
I have a feeling we won't see a handrail again until the stairs are in and the final rail is ready to install - wonder if I need to put a big mattress at the bottom just in case.
One final shot of the stone going up. The windows will have cast stone sills and headers. It will be interesting to watch them do the stone archway - I've never seen one in progress before.