WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?

The main focus has been on plumbing.  John’s doing all the rough-in for the plumbing.   We’ve purchased all of the PVC pipe and fittings and I think we’ve got everything we need.   John said I had one more chance to make any changes to where things would go, before he cut the holes - and I made absolutely no changes from the first time we marked it out, which I was very pleased about.    So, everything for the children’s bathroom, the half bath and master bath is plumbed in.   There’s a spot for the refrigerator to have a water intake and drain, in case we decide to get a refrigerator with an automatic ice maker, which I’ve never had.

John’s biggest annoyance is the kitchen sink, because we don’t know exactly where it’s going.  On the plans, we changed where the stove is going, so everything is off a little bit.   He cut the holes and all the pipes are in place, and he made sure all the fittings when through, but he hasn’t glued anything yet.  When we get to the point when everything needs to be done, he’ll just go back and glue it.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PLUMBING IS GOING PRETTY WELL.

The thing John’s had the biggest issue with, is the sink in our bathroom.  The fact that I wanted a pocket door, is making it hard for him, because there is not a wall for him to run the pipes through.   He’s gotten frustrated with that, and I told him I don’t really have to have a pocket door, but he says, “No, I know you want a pocket door.”   He wants me to have everything I want in this house.   He said he will deal with the annoyance so I can have what I want, because this is my “Someday House.”   He’s so sweet, and that’s why I love him so much.  He’s doing a wonderful job and I feel bad about that.  Had I known it was going to be a problem, I would have never asked for a pocket door.  I just like pocket doors, because they don’t take up space.  They’re just nice.

The other thing we did was, we picked up all of the hardware for the sinks.  The only thing we had to special order was the faucet for the whirlpool tub.  The standard ones weren’t big enough to reach across the lip of the tub, and they didn’t have a high enough GPM rating (gallons per minute).   It’s these little weird things we never would have known about.

The last exciting thing is, we are going to sign for our HVAC system tomorrow.   I’m 99% sure we’re going to have geothermal, which ended up really being a surprise.  Geothermal was totally off the table because of the price difference between the two quotes we’d gotten.  But we got the third quote in for the HVAC and it was phenomenal.  It was exactly where it needed to be.   He showed us the cost analysis and explained that we will get a tax credit.  As it turns out, it will have paid for itself within seven years.  So, that makes it worthwhile for us to do.  It’s very exciting, because it’s so good for the environment.

AFTER THE PLUMBING GOES IN, ARE HVAC AND WIRING NEXT?

I think the HVAC and wiring will go in at about the same time.  John spoke with PP&L the other day, and as long as the ground doesn’t freeze within the next few weeks, we will have the power hooked up.   They have to come out and do an inspection of the trench when it’s dug, and of the electrical box and meter.

THAT ABOUT DOES IT FOR NOW THEN?

That’s about it for now.