Our new house...

[2Blonde]

is coming along nicely. It's a lot of work and time but it should be worth it in the end. Here are some pics of the ongoing construction as of last week.

Front View
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6976/frontview120906avt0.jpg

Back View
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9883/backview112806nc5.jpg

Patio Bar
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8242/patiobariu9.jpg

Chimney (Chimney Base is the color that the stucco on the house will be and the Chimney Band is the color that the trim will be.)
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5523/chimneyxu3.jpg
There will also be rock added to the bottom portion of the house below the Stucco .

[Slomo]

nice!

[MannyIsGod]

Thats what I'm talking about. It looks nice.

[Taco]

WOW!!

Pretty Cool

[1369]

Detached garage, or are you going to park there in front?

Looks really good, where are you building at?

[PM5K]

Is the garage on the side or detached?

[PM5K]

Detached garage, or are you going to park there in front?

Looks really good, where are you building at?

lol

[CavsSuperFan]

That is one of the nicest houses I have ever seen! It is really an "estate" isn’t it?

I have a rather small apartment....You can just about grab your morning coffee from the kitchen counter without getting out of bed...”Sweeeeeet”....

[easjer]

It's going to look lovely - that porch is terrific!!

Who is your builder?

[Pimp my Banner]

Is the Builder going to let you have different colors in each room? Some builders won't.
If not pick me up and have me paint them before the carpet comes in.

PS: Your stereo kicks ass I am using it as we speak :wakeup

you still have the Mustang?

[TDMVPDPOY]

thats a huge house u got there.....you have a big family?

[Pimp my Banner]

Is that a Pulte home?


Make sure they add extra sealant around the base of that chimney while the roof is still not done, You will be happy later you did. :smokin



http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5523/chimneyxu3.jpg

[ShoogarBear]

Nice big porch. Don't see those much anymore. :tu

That covered walkway at the front is interesting.

[ashbeeigh]

Is that a Pulte home?



The yard looks too big to be a Pulte house.

Very nice 2Blonde! Enjoy it when it all comes together!

[PM5K]

I can't wait for the GTG....

Blue Scooter FTMFW...

[Pimp my Banner]

The yard looks too big to be a Pulte house.

Very nice 2Blonde! Enjoy it when it all comes together!

You have a point. But when I used to work for Don Johnson and David Weekly they used to make custom homes out in the country now it's all track homes.

Those where the days, when I had money, now the Mexicans took over and all us white dudes had to move north or find other work. :depressed

I dare you to find a white painter.

[ShoogarBear]

http://www.bobross.com/art/supplies-special.jpg

[2centsworth]

I like.. very beautiful.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

No way in Hell that's a Pulte home.

The covered porch is nice, but why so big?

Are you planning on using cultured stone on the exposed concrete as well or will the finished grade cover most of it?

[johnsmith]

Good thing you married money!!!


They should put some low income housing somewhere near her new place.

[ShoogarBear]

The covered porch is nice, but why so big?
Clearly not a Southerner.

For sipping bourbon and sweetened ice tea in the evenings, of course.

[1369]

No way in Hell that's a Pulte home.

The covered porch is nice, but why so big?

Are you planning on using cultured stone on the exposed concrete as well or will the finished grade cover most of it?

I don't think either one. I guess a big deck, or a pool.

You got a couple of ceiling fans on the porch 2Blonde?

Probably too late, but I wonder if you could get one of those plumbers who install the misters at restaurants (Stonewerks, El Jarro, etc) to run a line around the porch?

Need me to think of other ways to spend your money?

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

A pool makes sense in back of the arched patio, but what about the 6' of exposed concrete on the far right rear elevation? Elaborate waterfall? Grotto?

I'd love to see the design/plans.

[Pimp my Banner]

http://www.bobross.com/art/supplies-special.jpg

I think he's a Jew.

That house cost the same to build as a house in town. It's just the folks in the city are to stupid to know any difference. You would be amazed how cheap land is if you look outside the city limits.

It's the same sheet rock stucco and wood. at one time all custom homes in San Antonio where like this one. But now they are built like over priced apartments.


Her Husband is just a regular guy retired from the service, he was Special forces I was Delta force. He didn't smoke weed. I did. He has a house, I live in a one bedroom apartment. It's ok cuz when I am stoned, I don't know the difference :smokin

[braeden0613]

Is that a Pulte home?


Make sure they add extra sealant around the base of that chimney while the roof is still not done, You will be happy later you did. :smokin
That definently a custom home...a lit nicer than pulte

[SpursWoman]

but what about the 6' of exposed concrete on the far right rear elevation?


We bought a new Ryland home in October and ours has the exposed concrete (it's actually concrete covered with plaster) ... because it's on a gigantic hill and that's how they level it out. If the concrete weren't there, my house would probably be perpendicular to the neighbor's house. :lol


We've got a great front porch ... but I'm so jealous of the back one on 2Blonde's. Mine's hardly big enough to turn around on. Which is why User is getting a gift certificate to Lowes for Christmas ... so he can build us a new deck. :angel

[1369]

We've got a great front porch ... but I'm so jealous of the back one on 2Blonde's. Mine's hardly big enough to turn around on. Which is why User is getting a gift certificate to Lowes for Christmas ... so he can build us a new deck. :angel

You're seriously thinking about letting an engineer build something for you? :dramaquee

You know that old adage about "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"?

Engineers say, "If it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features".

:fro

[themvp]

It looks tight!

[PhotoShop]

http://www.boomspeed.com/woaimouse/1.jpg

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

We bought a new Ryland home in October and ours has the exposed concrete (it's actually concrete covered with plaster) ... because it's on a gigantic hill and that's how they level it out. If the concrete weren't there, my house would probably be perpendicular to the neighbor's house. :lol




You misunderstood what I was asking. I wasn't asking why it's there, I was asking how they planned on covering it up. Usually, when you wrap stone on the bottom 36" of a home and you have a drop in grade like that, you use stone where the drop is to keep the stone continuous.

But I have no idea if that drop will even be seen/there when the house is finished or if the stone goes all the way around the house. Judging from the 36" they left exposed on the pillars on the covered patio, I would think yes.

[PhotoShop]

We bought a new Ryland home in October and ours has the exposed concrete (it's actually concrete covered with plaster) ... because it's on a gigantic hill and that's how they level it out. If the concrete weren't there, my house would probably be perpendicular to the neighbor's house.

That is true but they are not supposed to leave the cement exposed to the eye, it looks nasty, and they want more money to stucco it or rock it. If they tried that shit up north where folks know about holmes they would run them out of town.

[SpursWoman]

Usually, when you wrap stone on the bottom 36" of a home and you have a drop in grade like that, you use stone where the drop is to keep the stone continuous.


But if the drop in grade isn't consistant on all sides, it'd make the house look lopsided, IMO. What I've seen here is the drop wrapped in plaster....which looks like exposed slab anyway.


Kind of off track ... I used to not like that big piece of *exposed* slab but now I'm kind of glad we have it. I think it might be protecting our house a little better against major wall & tile damage as the house settles in it's first year. The people at the top of our hill whose lots are more level and slabs aren't as thick are apparently starting to have major problems with cracks & shifting. :(

This is our new house ...

http://www.boomspeed.com/sweetc/myhouse.jpg

and we have no fucking trees, either. :flipoff :lol

[Billy Cobham]

A pool makes sense in back of the arched patio, but what about the 6' of exposed concrete on the far right rear elevation? Elaborate waterfall? Grotto?

I'd love to see the design/plans.

I'm guessing that they're putting a deck back there.

[Das Texan]

i am going to pony up for something more than a sapling next year.

fuck that shit, i have 2 years to get those bitches to grow.

[Kori Ellis]

2Blonde - Wow, it's coming along nicely. Congrats. I know you and 2Grey put your heart and soul (and money) into it. I'm glad to see how great it's turning out.

And Congrats to SpursWoman and User on their new house too - though I already told them that privately.

[easjer]

That's a lovely house, SW. I'm jealous!

[Das Texan]

oh and congrats on the new homes.


best investment you can make.

[Buddy Holly]

What area of the city is it?

[johnsmith]

What area of the city is it?


Why, so you can tell her when they are going to put up a Chili's near her?

[Shelly]

Looks great, 2blonde! We'll be doing that in a few years. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to it :lol

[2Blonde]

Detached garage, or are you going to park there in front?

Looks really good, where are you building at?
There is a 3 car garage on the left side and the circular drive that goes underneath the portico. It's out by Smithson Valley. We are about a mile from the high school in the Mountain Springs Ranch subdivision. We bought a little over an acre.

[ShoogarBear]

Plenty of room to turn the Tahoe around.

[1369]

Plenty of room to turn the Tahoe around.

Since she moved out that way, away from the rest of the unwashed masses, I'm sure 2Blonde upgraded.

http://www.leasetrader.com/photos/actual35030/640x480/Mercedes-ML500-SUV.jpeg

[Shelly]

There is a 3 car garage on the left side and the circular drive that goes underneath the portico. It's out by Smithson Valley. We are about a mile from the high school in the Mountain Springs Ranch subdivision. We bought a little over an acre.

I can honestly say that our garage will be nicer than the house :lol

[1369]

I can honestly say that our garage will be nicer than the house :lol

Mancave

[2Blonde]

Looks great, 2blonde! We'll be doing that in a few years. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to it :lol
Is this really Shelly?????? I feel blessed. I have missed you so much.

We have a great builder who has walked us through this whole process. We are using C & C Benjamin Contracting. They only build a few homes a year so that they can put all their effort into building good homes. Most of their homes are in the Fair Oaks Ranch area but they are good friends of some people we knew so they agreed to come out to the Canyon Lake area and build for us. We looked at some of the homes they built and loved them. We had an architect draw up our plans and went from there. The husband handles everything from breaking ground up until the sheet-rock is installed and then the wife handles everything after that. I have had wonderful luck with them so far. They are working so hard to make sure that every little detail is right. They treat it like it's their own home they are building.

I have been working with her for about 6 months getting bids on everything from plumbing to tile & cabinets & lighting. I have notebooks filled with info. When you decide to build let me know and I'll be glad to show you what I've got. It might help you get organized and figure how to proceed.

[Shelly]

T'is me!

I'll keep that in mind. We bought in Mico (2 acres), but we also want to see how much it develops, which is looking like a lot. And since my husband works downtown, it may be a pain to get there if that's the case. I haven't been out there in a while, but I need to go check and see if squatters are living on our land!

When is it supposed to be finished?

[2Blonde]

Good thing you married money!!!

Nah, I went for good sex instead !!! :toast

When I married my husband he was a CPT in the Army. I made more money than he did. I still contribute very significantly to the household income.

[2Blonde]

T'is me!

I'll keep that in mind. We bought in Mico (2 acres), but we also want to see how much it develops, which is looking like a lot. And since my husband works downtown, it may be a pain to get there if that's the case. I haven't been out there in a while, but I need to go check and see if squatters are living on our land!

When is it supposed to be finished?
Hopefully the end of April or beginning of May. But it's going along pretty smoothly so I'm optimistic for the April time frame right now. I just hope my old house sells quick when we put it on the market at the end of Feb.

[Daddys Girl]

Why, so you can tell her when they are going to put up a Chili's near her?

:lmao

[kobe_bryant]

if anything goes wrong with the construction, let me know. I know people

[Guru of Nothing]

PM me if you want to see a picture of my new house.

http://paulduncan.org/files/matt_foley.jpg

[1Parker1]

Beautiful house! I always wanted a home with a big wrap-around porch like that, but you don't see much of those anymore. Is this in San Antonio, btw?

[2Blonde]

Beautiful house! I always wanted a home with a big wrap-around porch like that, but you don't see much of those anymore. Is this in San Antonio, btw?

It's about 15-20 minutes north of SA. It's on the south side of Canyon Lake.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

The house looks great!

Have you thought about putting in a grey water recycling system and water tank? I was reading about SA's rainfall here:

http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/climate.html

although with climate change you never know how rainfall patterns will change in the future. For example, the rainfall distribution along Australia's populated east coast has shifted east during the last 50 years. That has serious implications because all our dams and water catchments are 50-100kms inland to the west of the coastal cities, but now they get only 40-50% of the long-term average rainfall they recieved 40 years ago. More rainis now falling on the cities, so if everyone in the city had a rainwater tank (and grey water recycling for their toilet, washing machine and garden) we wouldn't have such a problem.

Also, have you thought about solar panels? They add a bit of cost now, but they more than pay for themselves over the long term as they have a lifespan of 30-40 years. You can become a net electricity donator to the grid, depending on your electricity consumption. If you don't want to do it now, maybe think about doing it in 10 years because an invention called the SLIVER CELL is set to reduce the price of solar cells by 50-60%. It is currently in the commercialisation stage (ie. building the large-scale factory) of development.

[spurs=bling]

Nice house 2Blonde.

[SequSpur]

We bought a Ryland home this year. Ryland sucks ass. They don't follow up on shit, the house wasn't complete when we closed, they are still fixing shit and we've been here for 4 months now. I've already told them if they were Walmart, I would've gotten my refund already and been shopping at Target. I also told them to make sure they didn't have their new customers ask me what I thought. Ryland blows.

[leemajors]

We bought a Ryland home this year. Ryland sucks ass. They don't follow up on shit, the house wasn't complete when we closed, they are still fixing shit and we've been here for 4 months now. I've already told them if they were Walmart, I would've gotten my refund already and been shopping at Target. I also told them to make sure they didn't have their new customers ask me what I thought. Ryland blows.

sounds like you really know how to get shit done.

[Pimp my Banner]

2Blonde call me today! :wakaeup




Nice house 2Blonde.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/midgetonadonkey/Blingy.jpg

who made your banner, Was it midget on a donkey?

[Nbadan]

http://www.boomspeed.com/sweetc/myhouse.jpg

Damn, Best Buy must be paying pretty good these days!

:p:

[ObiwanGinobili]

The house looks great!

Have you thought about putting in a grey water recycling system and water tank? I was reading about SA's rainfall here:

http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/climate.html

although with climate change you never know how rainfall patterns will change in the future. For example, the rainfall distribution along Australia's populated east coast has shifted east during the last 50 years. That has serious implications because all our dams and water catchments are 50-100kms inland to the west of the coastal cities, but now they get only 40-50% of the long-term average rainfall they recieved 40 years ago. More rainis now falling on the cities, so if everyone in the city had a rainwater tank (and grey water recycling for their toilet, washing machine and garden) we wouldn't have such a problem.

Also, have you thought about solar panels? They add a bit of cost now, but they more than pay for themselves over the long term as they have a lifespan of 30-40 years. You can become a net electricity donator to the grid, depending on your electricity consumption. If you don't want to do it now, maybe think about doing it in 10 years because an invention called the SLIVER CELL is set to reduce the price of solar cells by 50-60%. It is currently in the commercialisation stage (ie. building the large-scale factory) of development.


good tips! :tu

we ae hoping to build a green home when we do ours.

[Pimp my Banner]

2Blonde call me today! :wakaeup




http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/midgetonadonkey/Blingy.jpg

who made your banner, Was it midget on a donkey?

[Das Texan]

good tips! :tu

we ae hoping to build a green home when we do ours.




when i build mine, its going to be fully green and fully self sustainable.


what type of insulation did you use?


pay a bit more up front, save a lot down the road.

[Duff McCartney]

If you ever want tile put down I can give you my cousins number he owns Carrillo tile. Practically all of my family works for him. My stepdad and his nephew who lives with us does...and all of my cousins. Crazy.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

good tips! :tu

we ae hoping to build a green home when we do ours.

Thanks. I am going to do the same - passivehaus design, recycled grey water, water tank, and 1-1.5kW of sliver cell solar panels. Once the house is built, it will have virtually no impact on the environment in terms of operational energy and water requirements.

Another thing to think about before building your home is "passivehaus" design which is growing rapidly in Europe. You can reduce heating/cooling energy use in a house (which is typically around 40-50% of household energy use) by 90% just by designing it properly (orientation, insulation, double glazing, passive ventilation). It is about 8% more expensive to construct today, but getting cheaper every year:

http://www.ases.org/chapter_newsletter/2005/JA05/SWC_Passive_Solar_Design.pdf

Our houses waste a ton of energy and water, and given that the world is already facing the limits of fresh water supply, and the impacts of climate change driven by energy generation, I can't see why our governments aren't making passive house design and grey water recycling mandatory in all new homes. It costs a little more, but the savings are massive, for the consumer and the environment.

Sorry, I guess I'm experiencing withdrawl symptoms from the political forum... :lol

[2Blonde]

PS: Your stereo kicks ass I am using it as we speak :wakeup

We have the cabinet for the system if you want it & the speakers too. 2Grey says he'll bring them too you this weekend if you want them.


2Blonde call me today!

Let me eat my dinner, catch up on email and relax first. I just got home. It's been a long day. I'll call you this evening.

[missmyzte]

2Blonde - beautiful house! can't wait to see the pictures when it's all done.

Spurswoman - love the house! looks great

[2Blonde]

2Blonde - beautiful house! can't wait to see the pictures when it's all done.

Spurswoman - love the house! looks great

Thank you,MissM, we're really excited about how it's turning out too.

Hey SW, I love your house. I swear I've seen it somewhere. Do you live by me now? Are you in the Stone Oak area now? That house looks so familiar and we have a Ryland development in the next subdivision over that I pass every day.

[SpursWoman]

Thank you, Misti. :)


Hey SW, I love your house. I swear I've seen it somewhere. Do you live by me now? Are you in the Stone Oak area now? That house looks so familiar and we have a Ryland development in the next subdivision over that I pass every day.


We're off Lookout Rd. ... and there are probably 5 other houses in our neighborhood that are the exact same plan, so there are probably several in that subdivision, too. :lol

I'd pretty much sold my house before it was even formally listed, so we were kind of in a hurry to find something we liked. And based on the fact that we were really, really tired of my money-pit fixer-upper, we wanted something brand new ... where there were no electrical code violations, jerry-rigged plumbing, and we could actually play on the weekends and not have to spend them tearing down walls and replacing drywall.

A realtor found us this inventory home that was just being completed and we love it. But I really, really miss my 1/2 acre yard and my old oak trees. At least I do now, since I don't have to mow anything yet. :lol

Your property looks gorgeous ... the style of home y'all chose looks like it blends in perfectly. That's very exciting ... I hope one day we can build our own from the ground up. We even considered renting an apartment and doing that ... but I think I'd rather live in my truck than an apartment again. :lol

[SpursWoman]

http://www.boomspeed.com/sweetc/myhouse.jpg

Damn, Best Buy must be paying pretty good these days!

:p:


He's been selling a lot of extended warranties. :smokin

[2Blonde]

Here's an update on my on mi casa. :spin It's coming along beautifully and is ahead of schedule right now.

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/479/01122007qh1.jpg

[Fillmoe]

wow thats a nice pad..... whens the move in date and are you single?

[2Blonde]

Looks like late March, and I'm very married.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

wow thats a nice pad..... whens the move in date and are you single?

She mentions her husband at least 4 times in the thread.

Do fake gangstas not know how to read??

[Fillmoe]

She mentions her husband at least 4 times in the thread.

Do fake gangstas not know how to read??


do special ed homos not recognize jokes?

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

do special ed homos not recognize jokes?


I'm not sure. Look down your pants and let me know.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Just kidding Fillmoe. That was mean of me.




I like the kids pretending to be gangsta. It's cute.

[Shelly]

dude, ghetto rulz!

2blonde, your house looks great! I take it your daughter will have to switch schools? If so, how does she feel about it?

[Fillmoe]

Just kidding Fillmoe. That was mean of me.




I like the kids pretending to be gangsta. It's cute.


:sleep :sleep

[Taco]

Very Nice 2B :clap

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

2Blonde, it is a great house.

I love the porches and the built-in entertaining area out back.

Very nice.

[2Blonde]

you have the best damn tree in the world

if you decide to cut it, i will buy it off you
I love that tree. There are actually four of them in the front yard. I made sure I was there when the guy came to clear the lot so none of them got touched.


is that california cultured stoned?

dress field? stackstone?
It's Texas hill county yellow but is cut is irregular/random and I used a colored mortar


2blonde, your house looks great! I take it your daughter will have to switch schools? If so, how does she feel about it?
Yes, she'll be switching to Smithson Valley High School. She's fine w/it. She's really outgoing and makes friends easily. Plus 2 of her friends have moved out there in the last year already.

[Kori Ellis]

The house looks great 2Blonde!

[SpursWoman]

Yes, she'll be switching to Smithson Valley High School. She's fine w/it. She's really outgoing and makes friends easily. Plus 2 of her friends have moved out there in the last year already.


My nephew will be going there next year ... my brother just bought a new house off 281 & Lookout Canyon. :)

[Slomo]

That's a beautiful house 2Blonde!

[RashoFan]

very nice!

[RashoFan]

We have a great builder who has walked us through this whole process. We are using C & C Benjamin Contracting. They only build a few homes a year so that they can put all their effort into building good homes. They are working so hard to make sure that every little detail is right. They treat it like it's their own home they are building.
It is nice to hear that someone puts a lot of pride in their work and building a quality product.