In Texas the TRCC had every builder get a registration number. With this number you were required to register every home you build through them. Each home was required to meet certain standards and codes required by the state no matter where the home was built. The state decided to abolish TRCC, which allows anyone who says they are a builder to be one. This is a major concern to me personally, for I have devoted my life to building the best homes possible that meet or exceed all local, state and national codes.

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.

Timing is everything. The crew is just finishing up the framing by putting in the windows and doors. The roofers will start tomorrow, all their materials were delivered today. The plumber has run his lines today and won't be back until the sheet rockers are done. It never ceases to amaze me that Jim can schedule the flow of materials and workers with such apparent ease. In his absence, the last few days (he is still at the International Builders Convention in Las Vegas) I have been the one on the phone confirming orders, getting extras delivered, and working with the framing crew.

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.

Jim built the decking yesterday and Steger Construction arrived at 8am this morning to frame the Castle playhouse. It is now 4pm and they are almost finished. This year the "Dragon's Lair" is a huge two story playhouse. I will attach todays pictures so you can follow the progress with us. This is so exciting. I want one of these in my backyard, supposedly for my grandchildren.
Jean

I am confused by the show with the solar energy people talking about costs. If solar is $6.00 a watt and the power company is 12 cents a kilowatt, I still don't know enough to compare them. My impression is that the total cost of building a solar system is calculated into the cost of generating a watt of power divided by one user. The total cost of a power plant is calculated into the cost of generating a kilowatt (one thousand watts) divided by millions of users.

Jim was approached by a person that wanted him to build a house using a VA Mortgage. We had projected a closing date with the title company for the funding. when the title company found out the financing was to be VA they wanted to push out the date for several months. We were told it took months for a builder to be approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs. In less than ONE DAY Gibson Homebuilders/Jim was approved as a VA builder!! They faxed us the acceptance letter and followed it up in a few weeks with an official looking one. Jim credentials are excellent.