The finish line is within sight, but it isn't over yet.

So close we can taste it; so very, very close...

The driveway is being poured, and after seven days, we can have vehicles on it.  This is the closest we have to a "move-in date", which projects to January 15th.  While that is happening and before move-in, the "punch-list" must be completed.  The punch-list is a list of those items which must be addressed prior to our bringing furniture and belongings into the home.

My job, after the walk-through with the construction manager on Thursday (yes, the last day of 2015), was to photo-document the issues on the punch-list, as well as put together an "expectation list".  The expectation list is the list of items the builder needs to address as a part of their final hand-off of the house.  Items include power-washing the exterior and outside living spaces, clean-up of the interior, construction trash pick-up, etc.  In total, there are 66 items on the punch-list and expectation list, which might seem like a lot, but they are very detailed lists, identifying even the smallest defects.  I created a presentation in Google Slides, and it has 45 slides.  The presentation mode of documenting works well because it includes both pictures and simple descriptions of the issues (very helpful in an English-as-a-second-language environment).  I have used it in the past to describe other issues around the house, and have seen the subcontractors walking around with it as they address the items.  It is hard for me or the construction manager to remember all the items and the concerns, so it is an effect check-off document for us, too.

My landscape architect is getting orders prepared for his part in completing our home, at least Phase 1 of the landscaping.  The next two items (after drainage, which is about 80% complete) to address are filling and grading.  Several areas need sand brought in to build up the areas which are presently too low.  Grading is needed to establish the ground's drainage patterns, add contouring, and prep for planting.  The landscaping is 100% separated from the construction.  We have hijacked the minor grading the builder was to supply so that we can work with our landscape architect exclusively.  He would have to re-work anything the builder did, more than likely, and the builder gave us appropriate credits.

Here are a few pictures of the flatwork pour; more will come in the next post:

The sidewalk connecting the lanai and the casita will require dirt fill work
to flatten the steep slope which now exists as a result of the concrete pour.

This is a panoramic shot of the porte cochere and motor court areas as they have been freshly poured and smoothed.

The rebar is being built and placed as the pouring takes place.

Rare moment of the crew waiting on concrete.  Having a large crew is critical
in keeping the rebar ahead of the concrete, working the concrete before it
sets, and smoothing the concrete to finish.

The concrete was poured from the truck into this tracked wheel-barrow.  It
went back and forth continuously, pausing only while the concrete trucks
switched out.  The total amount of concrete for this job is 85 cubic yards
(65 cubic meters), which is 8 1/2 truckloads of concrete.

Another shot of Leaning Oak at night, New Year's Eve 2015 (enhanced by Google)