Rock Crest Renaissance

Usually, when I sit down to chronicle the Rock Crest happenings it's because something's been happening. However, at this moment, we're more or less in a holding pattern, waiting on several very critical developments.

During late November and throughout the month of December, our indefatigable architect Chris continued to wrangle with the Plans Examiner to finalize approval on several structural elements that warranted clarification, by the terms of the Great County of Hamilton. Of course, if such Great County were to understand the construction magnificence of the Neil and Dan team, they'd come by and bless every aspect of the property with their magical fairy dust and let us get on with things.

Once the Plans Examiner is satisfied, then we move forward to the Building Inspector and hope to remove what became stuck in his craw when he made a surprised and unannounced visit to the property earlier this year, holding outdated plans and struggling to catch his breath from wild-west construction he thought had taken place. With all our plans, documents, structural engineering assertions, photographs, and personally guided tours through his hands-on inspections, we will hopefully smooth down his ruffled peacock feathers toward PROGRESS!!

Since Eagle Creek moved on in October, we've made other sorts of strides at the Crest. Neil and Brien have been diligently taping the seams of the SIPS panels to prevent moisture penetration on the inside of the house, and they have painfully worked the ducting in to prepare for the installation of the primary wood-burning fireplace in the living room. We also finally managed to get the hot tub moved from our friends the Jodys' home and seated it right outside the office window, with a lovely view of the hillside. Mojitos, anyone?

When -- and I mean the very moment -- the inspections are behind us, signed, sealed and delivered, we will have the pleasure of getting the roof shingled, if the weather permits. Otherwise, we either re-tarp or just take our chances with the weather of the next several months until we can get those shingles in place.

With the house battened down, we can feel confident to FINALLY proceed to making the shell a home. We will need to apply interior tongue and groove timbers to the tallest ceilings and enlist some help to drywall the entire house. Our plumber still has some work to complete, as do our electricians, but, at least their rough-in inspections are done, with a gold star and a couple of smiley faces.

So, onward we go! It's Rock Crest '12, and we're ready to roll!