Day 137: Peace

Yesterday was hard. With the last week's stress of lamenting over the granite, and making a new choice so quickly yesterday, I have to say that Im mentally exhausted. I did spend last night staring a the lousy pictures I took of the Eco countertops. I do adore it and am eager to see how it looks in my new kitchen. I know it will work well with my kids and all of the wonderful things we intend on using that huge island for. I can breathe easy knowing that they cant stain it. It doesn't have to be sealed or use any special cleaners on it, which will be easier for me, too. So, overall, I think this whole thing happened for a reason and is working out for the best.

Jennifer called this morning to check and make sure I was happy with the new selections I had made yesterday. I could honestly tell her I was. And am!

This morning I headed over to the house to select where Id like my new trees to be placed. With a blank slate of a yard, tree placement is important as they will eventually give me shade, if I place them in key spots. However, because of the direction my house faces (west-southwest), mostly my neighbors trees will shade my house in the afternoon. My trees will at least help shade my front sideyard. However my beautiful house will give my whole backyard its afternoon shade, which will be incredibly nice in the summertime.

While I was placing bricks where Id' like the trees to be, I found a heart-shaped rock in the dirt.

And last piece of granite was being wheeled out and put onto Summit's truck. Goodbye granite!

 

 

 

Believe it or not, after reading about my new countertops, Eco by Cosentino, Ive learned about how granite can expel radon, an invisible odorless gas which is a Class A carcinogen and a cause of lung cancer. Remember when I said perhaps God knows best? I sure don't need anything like that around my daughter who has asthma. The Eco tops will be much healthier for her and all of us. 

Also, there was a worker there working on the leak in the master bath/kids bathtub area.

When I picked the kids up and stopped by the house today, we noticed white stuff on the floor, so we didn't walk around or look at much. I would take a guess that its in preparation for the wood flooring. I cant wait to see that! In all of the houses Ive ever rented, none of them have ever had anything other than vinyl linoleum and carpet. It will be a wonderful change to have a earthy element in my new home.

I did notice that our nook lower cabinets were installed. Uppers were still not there. Upstairs, in the master bathroom, the leak has been repaired and the wall put back into place. Also, the entry hole to get into the attic now has a cover.

My littlest, who has the best eyes in the family, noticed on our way out that the shingles are finally complete (above the front patio). The house from the front now looks almost finished.

What a good lookin' house!

 

 

 

Last, on our way out of the neighborhood, we met a new neighbor, David, who is building down the street towards the pool. He was checking out his lot. I remember those days! He'll be where we are in no time.

 



Day 101: Top Quality Products Used To Build My KB Home

While I've been privy to watch my house being built, I've taken pictures of practically everything along the way--the lot, the daily changes, the phases, the piles of materials, etc. Likewise, through this process Ive learned http://www.kbhome.com/partnersa lot more about what goes into building my home, making it energy efficient. Many of these products KB Home does not tell you about when you come looking in their showroom. They tell you about your home being energy efficient and how much lower your energy bill may be, but they don't tell you how. I loved seeing these products being used in the building of my home. With each product I researched, I found over and over that KB Home was using the best products at each element. I couldn't be happier!

Below are a few of the products KB Home used in my house and why they are so important.


James Hardie Siding - Apart from being award winning, if you cant have brick or stone, this is the next best thing. This siding helps prevent your home from catching fire, can standup to even hurricane strength winds and rain and is even resistant to rotting, warping and delamination. In addition, James Hardie Siding is five times thicker than vinyl siding, making it resistant to hail damage. Because James Hardie siding is made of fiber cement, it does not undergo the same degree of expansion and contraction that hinders wood-based and vinyl sidings. Therefore, it will hold onto paint three to four times longer than wood siding, reducing your overall maintenance costs, without compromising aesthetics.

Mi Windows - Low-E with Argon Gas Enhancement - Low-E windows have a microscopic layer of metal that is applied to the inner surface of the glass on double-pane window units. This coating appears like a window tint, only slightly so, yet provides protection from UV rays that can fade carpets, furniture and even your family. It also helps reflect radiant heat from entering the room on a hot day, while ensuring warm air will stay inside the house on a cold day. The argon gas enhancement is an invisible, non-toxic, odorless gas that helps improve energy efficiency by minimizing the amount of heat that comes through the window and helping to soundproof. It reduces the possibility of condensation and frost in all climates and will not corrode the window material. Argon also helps to block harmful UV rays.  (picture above, tag below)

TechShield Radiant Barrier - This is the original radiant barrier sheathing and the #1 selling brand. Installed in more than one million homes, it has been on the market for more than a decade. This innovative product helps block radiant heat in the roof from entering the attic, keeping the attic cooler, lowering energy costs up to 17% per month on air conditioning costs, and making the home more comfortable. As a result of using LP TechShield, you may be able to reduce the tonnage of your HVAC system. It's also a green building product and will help in getting your home Energy Star certified.

HomeTeam Pest Defense - TAEXX is a network of tiny tubes that run throughout designated walls of the home. These lines are perforated and connected to locked service ports on the outside walls. This allows a HomeTeam technician to apply pest control materials inside the walls from outside the home. This network sets up a virtual barrier that keeps unwanted guests out – and strikes them where they’re the most vulnerable. Taexx is an effective service because pest control materials hit bugs where they live, hide, and breed - inside the walls. Materials remain effective longer because they're not exposed to sunlight.

My home was also treated with a borate-based termiticide which soaks deep into the wooden structural framework of the home to set up a barrier that sends termites packing and adds an extra layer of protection – keeping termites from reaching non-treated areas. Best of all, the treatment lasts for years!

So far, that's all Ive seen put into my home this far. As my home continues to be built out, I'll post again as products come in.

Here is a link to a complete list of products and services KB uses in building their homes.