Sorry I have not updated the blog recently. My motivation evaporated when my wife got sick in July then died in Octoter of an agressive form of ovarian cancer.

The outside stairs to the balcony were done according to the plan. Unfortunately they will not pass code due to low headroom from the landing to the eave. An alternate (an expensive) option is to install a spiral staircase. I opt to remove them and have no stairs to the balcony.

The grass is planted and gutters installed.

Garage doors installed. This was my first garage door project. the instructions said it should take about 10 hours. The first door took 30 hours but the second took 10. The kit included everything but the hardware for the back hangars. I chose too light of angle iron material and it bent so had to be replaced.

Finish grade has a swale to direct runoff from the septic mound around to the front of the house.

Staining. Four 5 gallon buckets of stain/preservative were estimated by the supplier. One and one half buckets were used. I will be able to apply a second coat next year but bought $500 too much.

Applying window and door trim. Blocks fill the void made by the chinking groove and calk is applied to seal each groove. An angle is cut on each horizontal piece to allow rain to run off.

Inside framing is done. This is the upstairs bedroom closet.

I bought a generator because the electric company said it may be a month before construction power would be installed. In fact power was installed a week later. A few months later the generator was stolen.

This was my first attempt at building stairs. I bought an Excel application to calculate the layout. A skilled carpenter can build a staircase in 1 day. It took me 2 weeks but I am pleased with the results.