Approaching Level 5

The mudding and taping and sanding (repeat a bunch of times) has finally completed. The final wall surfacer (which also doubles as a primer for paint) was sprayed on. Boy they're smoooooth.

More concrete work

2nd section of driveway and the start of the 3rd section down to the street were poured along with the front porch! The suggestion of our concrete contractor to have the brick guys make a footing around the edges really turned out nicely.

Evidently a Level 5 finish is a LOT of mudding...then sanding, then mudding, then some more sanding.... you get the idea. This is about the 4th or 5th round of mudding and sanding.

Don't look now, it's a driveway!

The weather FINALLY broke long enough to allow some progress on the driveway installation. 1 section of the driveway was poured and the rest framed out. Let's hope the weather stays dry long enough to get it all done.

Mud & Tape

Well the drywall contractor has indicated he's got about a week's worth of mudding and taping to do to complete the finish on the drywall. We elected to do something a little different than most homes in the area. Instead of plaster veneer, we're getting what's called a Level 5 finish on the walls. This eliminates the gritty texture of plaster and provides an additional protective coat on the face of the walls. It's supposed to be smooth as a baby's butt and show no seams or screw holes.

More Drywall

A bunch more drywall photos... the house looks much cleaner with the scraps and screws all carted off to the dumpster.

On the walls and what a mess

I've put up a few sheets of drywall in my day but to watch these guys do it makes me feel... well, completely inadequate. They've got 12 screws in the board by the time I get one on the tip of the gun. I also think, for these guys anyway, the RotoZip drywall router was the best tool ever invented. I bet those old time drywallers sit and curse this tool when they meet at the coffee shop drinking coffee with scarred hands from having to cut out all those fixtures and receptacles by hand.

Kitchen area


Upstairs bathroom

Upstairs bedroom

Garage