So this last week was a very productive one! After a thankfully quiet Thanksgiving, the clean and grade crew and the sprinkler repair crew got their work done this week. I was able to work from home several days this week to be there when the crews were working. SO glad I did that. Not that something would have been messed up, but being able to show them where i wanted my salvaged flagstone to go, how I wanted the sprinkler heads set up and adjusted, how the grade of the lot should be, etc., made a huge difference. Everything is just as I wanted it. Plus, I can finally water my lawn again!!
The masons also finished up with the retaining walls and flagstone caps on the deck steps. Everyone has been doing a great job, but I continue to be incredibly impressed with the masons. Their attention to detail shows in everything they do. Tolerances are tight and cuts are very clean, even around tight curves--I included a picture below of how they got the flagstone around one of my downspouts.
It's really starting to take shape, but I know we have a little ways to go. Trying to get past the NRH pre plaster inspection is proving challenging--as all inspections are in this city. Don't give them more than 10 seconds after they knock softly on the door, or else they're back in the truck and make you reschedule. Fingers crossed for inspection tuesday. If that clears, we're scheduled for plaster Wednesday. We ended up picking Luna Quartz Bermuda for the finish. The wife doesn't like the aggregate finishes of pretty much any texture, so i think it will be a good compromise. Plus, I like the color. I really want to see the install, so going to try and be home for that.
Bonus for me--I'm a landscape/grass nut, and I've been itching to get a few projects going. I was able to start laying a flagstone walk path around the back corner of the house toward equipment pad (shown in pics below). I'll add a more structure flagstone pad with a border and crushed granite base in front of the equipment, but I'm going to wait until after start-up to do that. The creative juices are already flowing, and i'm getting excited just thinking about how I'm going to get the lawn and the beds built out over the next couple of months.
My TF-100 test kit also arrived this last week. Going to do a test on the fill water this weekend to see what I'm working with. I'll post results once I do it.
If anyone has any tips, recommendations, warnings, etc. on what to do or look out for at this point of construction, I'm all ears. Thanks again for being such a great community.
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