The Brandt Blog

Despite being the architect …we’ve not yet walked through the house with Adam.  So, when I drove up on Friday afternoon as Adam was backing out of the driveway, I asked that he re-park his truck and we walk through together.  Bottom line – He’s very happy with the outcome and says that we’re ‘doing his design […]

Between the difficult-to-notice type of detail work the guys have been doing and the general hustle-bustle of the holiday week we haven’t posted any house progress in over a week…but…we were happy yesterday to see the trades back in the house hard at work. If all goes according to plan – and if Rick wants […]

Well, now that the lot is completely graded we can actually call the exterior phase of construction complete…at least until Spring when we will add the landscaping, top layer of driveway and the rear patio. On the inside, the carpenters have been busy installing doors, moldings, trim and cabinets while the electricians pull their wires […]

The 25th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s destruction occurred nearly to the day that our own “wall” came down.  Of course, the occasion was not nearly as historic nor was the scene anywhere near as dramatic as was Berlin ’89 but believe me, there were tears streaming down the cheeks of one Type A, soon-to-be-homeowner who wonders […]

After eight long months of walking on the dusty gravel to enter to the house – we’re very happy now to have a driveway.  Almost as soon as the driveway pavers left the landscapers brought up their Bobcat and starting excavating the ground for what will be the pathway to the front door.  Yes, somewhere behind […]

When we’re in Napa…we love how time just seems to stand still.  We didn’t expect progress on the house to follow suit. Sure, there were pockets of activity but nothing major to speak of during the two days we were in wine country. The gutters were finished, the first row of the driveway retaining wall […]

Finally….the stone masons finished placing the 800 pound limestone pieces and formed our arched entry.  The cinder blocks were also added to complete the porch structure and now await their stucco coating from Erich and his crew.  The masons also placed the caps on the knee-walls. Speaking of Erich, he and Javier finished the first coat […]

Just when Anne thought forward progress had ground to a near-halt…Ted, Mike, Brian and Craig (the carpenters) appeared Saturday again on the scene.  Using their ladders and catwalks, they installed the beginnings of the beams in the Great Room. On the outside, the landscapers finished burying the downspout drain-pipes of the south side of the […]

It was a little bit slow this week…but happily, there is still progress to share.  The excavator came out and spread some black dirt around the lot to get it close to the final grading.  With the grading just about done, we can start working with the landscaper on the walkway and burying the downspouts. […]

Here’s Anne (tired of the slow pace of the construction) pitching in with a drywall sander. The painting crew arrives on Friday and the flooring installation should commence on this Monday.