Pictures from the Zion Hill home, completed August 2009.

--Photography by Jake Belanger

The exterior is deceptive because it appears to be a "finished house". Aw but not so. Now the detail work begins by running water, gas, sewer, heating and cooling plus all the electrical lines. Because we already have a garage and don't plan to build a new one for a while, the heating, cooling units, hot water heater and all other mechanical control points will be in a "mechanical room" on the second floor. I will take pictures as it develops. For today, the fireplace was installed. The water line has been trenched from our pump house (we have a well) and the plumbing lines are in.

It has been truly amazing to watch our dream home take form. As the rooms take shape we have been able to make minor changes to the plan and layout. Much to Jim's consternation I was able to get him to add a wood burning fireplace in the living room. It was left out of our original plan because of budget limitations. The budget will have to compensate somewhere else to make up for the additional materials and labor. Our framers are terrific and very precise. I told them I was hanging stripped wallpaper so the wall must be plumb and level :-). That is a bit of an inside joke.

Having allowed the slab to dry/cure for 28 days Jim is able to stain and seal the first floor slab, before any walls are in place. We have chosen to stain, color brown, and seal the front and back porches as well. In the attached photo, the extreme contrast in appearance is cause by concrete sealer after the floors have been stained twice and washed thoroughly. The sealer will dry for 24 hours.
The lumber package and the framers arrive tomorrow. We are using Hardie Planks for the siding so the framers will be doing the siding as well.

Zion Hill construction photos slide show.