We're building an ICF house

Or one more thing the wife will back in to!!!

Mine has been good. I'm the one who took out the lamp post with the plow. Oops...

Thanks for the tour today A. Nice to meet you E.

It is a great house and will be fantastic when completed!!!
I really like the clean design!

Thanks!

After I was done putting around on random projects I jumped in with the wife to coat that fir and we just got done an hour or so ago. There is no longer any walking room on the first level- that stuff is all over the place!

Come anytime. Give us a few months to spruce the place up and we'll have all the time in the world for beer drinking!

Sheetrock stocked and ready to go. Fir ceiling stacked and covered.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bhk_Ui_Vq_4JQKedDDaoAdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PtqE2BdX090/UVYIxgciAUI/AAAAAAAAAkE/ixVYzxWRbRk/s640/P3260012.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/March292013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">March 29, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

Can't remember if I posted picture of the kitchen cabinets... Here they are- they have to be moved around a few times as sheetrock goes in. The cabinet all the way to the right is where it will actually end up. Wall oven and microwave...
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6T_vs2erc9JnZ5u-sbcZKNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aHJ9pKHeSao/UVYJHuKaU4I/AAAAAAAAAko/crAo8wtZPLE/s640/P3280020.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/March292013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">March 29, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

And things coming together nicely as sheetrock gets hung:
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Dt3EMhOgoXFGBZl1EVe2FdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1Yqs-cc2IMg/UVYI7RBef1I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/GgUDzBVDfVo/s640/P3280014.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/March292013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">March 29, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wIYwro5xYWuPHBlmokCpVNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ClVzQ1Pri6Q/UVYI7RJ4S2I/AAAAAAAAAkU/2liLpx3ouAw/s640/P3280015.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/March292013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">March 29, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yz2_RYYyVIvXHAm02NFH99MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x1DTs3ZkpRo/UVYJLnqHoEI/AAAAAAAAAkw/11z4CzPC4Tk/s640/P3290027.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/March292013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">March 29, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AdOFLrvp5DzumtmcPjn-ItMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Div5MFDntyc/UVYJUE6sKsI/AAAAAAAAAk4/ngIp3vMA9u8/s640/P3290039.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/March292013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">March 29, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

Oh yeah!!!!!

I've got plans today that involve wearing semi-decent clothes. Just got out of the shower, got dressed, and found that my clean clothes somehow have sheetrock dust on them. That damn stuff gets everywhere!

LOL! True enough A. Been there, done that, too many times!

Time to start priming things!

And with that I could use some advice and opinions on interior paint.

The general consensus around here is that Benjamin Moore makes the best paint. It's also the most expensive. Wife is on her way to pick up some of BM's higher grade primer right now.

If that's the way to go we'll do it, but if there are more affordable options that people know of we're open. We've got Sherwin Williams locally available along with the Big Box stores. Had a bad experience with Behr paint last time I used it- so I'll probably shy away from that.

I've had good results with O'Leary ceramic based flat as well as Valspar IIRC.

The benjamin moore is worth the price. The coverage is great with a high solid content and it is very durable. The lower sheen finishes are washable. No other brand i tried is.

You could use a cheaper primer. they have a few grades of primers and paint, all of them excellent.

I too tried the behr, not great results. They were passable.

The Benjamin Moore Primer (we got the better stuff) seemed pretty nice. My wife did the first room that's ready for it. I'm nursing a back injury that happened at work. About the only thing that's comfortable is to actually walk around. Standing, sitting, laying down- all hurt. This is the first morning since Wednesday that I've felt a bit of relief. Still gotta take it easy for a few more days so it's healed up in time to move in a few weeks.

We were digging a ditch at work the other day and I placed a ladder in the hole to go down. As I stepped onto the ladder the feet kicked out and my left leg (the one on the ladder) went flying out from under me. I'm pretty sure I did a triple toe loop before I caught myself- I've never fallen so fast, and I probably would have been better off if I fell all the way in the hole instead of catching myself. Oh well- such is life.

Still amazed at the GC- he has been amazing to work with and it has become obvious why he doesn't need a business card or advertising. He and his crew have managed to hide all the ICF mistakes except for one, which is really only obvious to people in the trades that look for things like this.

I wouldn't use anything other than Benjamin Moore. Expensive, but rich color, and great coverage.
I asked myself what was cheaper, two coats of Moore, or three or four of the cheaper stuff.

+1 on Benjamin Moore

Just ordered appliances. We bought them from a local business that is more or less a kitchen showroom. I expected to walk in, give a thumbs up, and walk out.

The owner was in a chatty mood and the wife and I had *several* beers with him. The big box stores don't give you beer when you buy appliances from them. Buy local, folks.

(and we paid Internet prices too)

Let's just double-check that when you're sober, m'kay?

wife already did that last week and was pleasantly surprised!

Home stretch!

We started moving into the basement today. It'll be a little campy for a bit but the exodus from the apartment is long overdue.

The fir ceiling in the main living area (it's been complete for a while now):
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j71NGv-rqBnK47Qje5iuQtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GLE986NBaew/UX276ThtZaI/AAAAAAAAAmw/uBtLfjwhhxc/s640/P4100006_1.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/April282013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">April 28, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

Our basement bedroom- mainly wanted to show the interior doors we chose. The GC found a great deal on these solid pine doors- 4 panel shaker style, which is just what we wanted. We thought for budget reasons that we'd have to go with something cheaper but he got a good deal and passed it on to us.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/glpDWXgtFsleBhgQANM_cdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-99FQyhFY5Ko/UX27mr3GGbI/AAAAAAAAAmo/bW_JbSogsa4/s640/P4280024.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/April282013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">April 28, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

Basement bathroom. With running water! First flush today! (Better get that septic pump hooked up soon, we've got 1700 gallons before the pump needs to come on)
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CUBVbl9qYyCHKy34n6XDjdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kYjiqiYHiQg/UX27goZ7xFI/AAAAAAAAAmg/T_vO3HCbXjo/s640/P4280021.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/April282013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">April 28, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

This gives an idea of the trim detail on the main level. My wife found something like this online, passed it to the GC, and he really liked it and made it happen. Basically just took 5/4 clear pine and butted it up to the window jam. (Remember the walls are about a foot thick) Sheetrock is taped right up to the trim, so there's no need for casing around it. He left a slight reveal so the trim sits about 3/16 proud of the sheetrock. It's really clean looking.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0svA3iOfGaI4gkv0T3TIctMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-udLrYR2itnM/UX27UrIMtfI/AAAAAAAAAmY/jXyPkN7rzGk/s640/P4100005.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/April282013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">April 28, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

And the brackets are up! We really like how it looks in real life.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Q7zlp0DgcAcMZ0tn9wPy59MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-17NkbNbmETE/UX27Lwn2GjI/AAAAAAAAAmM/X6qn_-cKnjY/s640/P4160008.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/April282013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">April 28, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

And our cabinet maker friend installed the kitchen the other day. He really did a bang up job. Now I've gotta get my act in gear to get the concrete countertops built. I've got a wet grinder/polisher on the way along with some special concrete mix and additives. If future picture shows formica tops you'll know that there was an epic concrete countertop fail.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2t_VUT62Aun1bEd1jPuJc9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D8KWCY_vkf0/UX27DyHODUI/AAAAAAAAAmE/Gd4I89U2F5w/s640/P4280015.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/April282013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">April 28, 2013</a></td></tr></table>

You kept saying "brackets" and I kept thinking you, mistakenly, meant corbels. Seems I'm the one who was wrong. Those are beautiful. Fantastic architectural feature I've never seen used before. Very nice.

I learned something- had to look up corbels. Pretty similar if you ask me- but I've only been calling them brackets because that's what the architect and GC called them.

What I really would have liked was for a post and beam house where features like that are actually structural. Post and beam + SIPS = more $ than we have. We're broke as it is. If someone catches me in a weak moment they could probably score a 2006 R12GS.