The End is Near

We have completed the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, and should have all of those inspections done this week.  I finished painting the closets and installed the closet shelving in the pantry, front hall closet, and master bedroom.

We finished painting all of the walls over the weekend so that the electrical outlets and light fixtures could be installed. It is really nice to have access to light and power now without having to stretch and extension chord the length of the house. 

 
The lights are all of a craftsman style and are Energy Star certified which makes them among the top 25% of the top performing light fixtures in energy efficiency.  The under cabinet lighting is a ribbon of light emitting diodes (LED) about 1/8" thick, and about 3/8" wide.  It comes on a spool which can be cut to length with a pair of scissors in about 2" increments.  We had selected the color to simulate daylight to match all of the other lamps (the technical term for light bulbs) in the house.  Though we went to some trouble to get all of the lamps to match, the lens that it shines through, and the paint that it reflects off of have an impact on the color of the light. 

All of our lamps are either LED or compact fluorescent lamps (CFL's) in an effort to minimize energy consumption, and reduce the amount of Photovoltaic panels we will require.  Every appliance in the home is Energy Star rated for the same reason.  We have opted out of having a garbage disposal to reduce the demand for power, water, and the impact on the septic system, and will compost food scraps instead.  We have opted to make some lifestyle changes, and will keep you posted on how well we are adapting.  More on that later. 

 

This weekend we will finish painting the trim, and start painting the doors.  As soon as that is complete, we can re-install the doors and hardware, remove the paper and plastic from the floor, and prep the floors for the final coat of sealer.  We still want to finish painting the basement and the garage before we move in, but neither is a priority. 

When we are done with this phase of work, we will call for the final inspection.  We will get a temporary occupancy permit which will allow us to live in the house until the exterior work is complete.  The cement stucco, trim, painting, stormwater collection system, final grading, and landscaping will need to be completed in order to get the final occupancy permit.