Curb Appeal!

I must admit, I was sorely disappointed when our builder never returned to finish the front of the house. I was so excited to add this stone wainscoting (cheaper and easier than brick and mortar, but a similar look) and so frustrated when we moved in without it completed. Two weeks later, however, I understood why we needed to be the ones to install it. As we finished installing the firing strips, Ben pulled out the brick and discovered a major error. The company had ordered and delivered two different finishes on the stones, instead of the one like we wanted. The main stone and the trim would not have matched. It would have looked quite tacky, but I am quite confident the builder would have installed it anyway.

Ben talked with the company, they admitted the mistake and fixed it (at their expense) as quickly as possible. With the new bricks delivered, we set about installing them. We were both very impressed with the product and excited with how easily it went up. Ben did all the cutting, but I did most of the installation. There is a base piece that is screwed in at the bottom of the firing strips (the wood 1x3's which are secured to studs). This piece interlocks the first row of bricks, which are secured to each of the firing strips with screws. We off set each additional interlocking row, securing each fourth row with screws to the firing strips.

The ends are capped off with a real pretty looking corner piece. Since we are only applying this to the front of the house, we will use a steel trim piece on the back side of the corners. The top is capped off with rather massive pieces which are secured additionally with caulk. A steel trim piece is then secured behind the siding and on top of the brick to finish it off and prevent leaking.

A neighbor lent us his skid loader which will save us a lot of money in rental costs and lessened the pressure to get it all done. Ben has been able to take his time, pay attention to details and touch up as needed. He buried an extension for on of the downspouts. It was flowing away from the house (what we wanted) and straight across the front walk way (not what we wanted). This is helping to keep mud off little shoes!

We had a load of gravel delivered and Ben has been working to adjust the driveway. The circle was tightened more then we had requested, so we need to widen it and soften the curve a bit so we can maneuver the suv and trailer. Well, so Ben can do that and I can get the van around. Trying to get all the ground moving done this summer and fall so we can focus on grass next spring!

We still have many trees to take out and clean up. It feels like the project that will never end. I was asked what on earth we would do once we moved in. Obviously this person has never owned land! There is ALWAYS something to do, but we are looking forward to seeing the end of the storm clean up...hopefully soon!