Several weeks ago, we gave our contractors a hard end-of-September deadline to get the exterior done. We have a large video shoot here at the beginning of October and realistically, it could start snowing at ANY moment here in Idaho and we want to make sure we’re sealed up before the weather turns. Our goal is a contractor-free fall and winter since last year’s was SO INTENSE (sometimes I can’t believe how long we’ve been essentially living with contractors) and we’re cautiously optimistic we’re gonna get there.

(Above are the initial Exterior design renderings. Read more about them here) 

There is a lot A LOT going on inside right now– but for the sake of word count and sanity, this list is just what’s left to do on the Exterior THIS MONTH. (keep your fingers crossed)

1. Finish installing siding
   1. Smart Side paneling around dining room and breakfast nook
   2. linear siding (on front and side of house)
   3. remainder of eaves and soffit

      

2. Entry Area
   1. Add arch back into portico. After looking at it for a couple weeks, we just can’t shake the thought that the portico should be arched, to mimic the front door going in.

      

   2. Install front door
      1. This was the door that was in the dining room when we moved in originally and it was in rough shape so we sent it off to a professional to get restored. He discovered it’s Butternut Wood, a rare cousin to walnut, and has sent us a few photos and it’s looking beautiful.
      2. Jamb needs refinished
      3. Change swing of door
   3. Hang Tongue and Groove under porch ceiling
   4. Lay flagstone walkway and stairs leading to porch
   5. Remove old stone pillars on either side of walkway (we were initially going to keep these and just cap them and add a cute fence but decided to nix them altogether for fear they would clash with the flagstone)
   6. Install new Lighting. There will be 2 wall mounted gas lanterns and 3 hanging gas lanterns in the porch area and a new lamp post where the stone pillars used to be.

      

3. Finish Roof. We’re 80% there, but we ran out of some of the starter pieces. More materials were ordered and should get here today so the roof should be finished by sometime next week.
4. Install Stone around garage and large living room window.
   1. All of the stone arrived this week and we met with the mason to figure out a mortar color. We narrowed it down to three that he is going to mock up for us in an over-grouted look but the stone is starting to go up TODAY (supposedly).
   2. The chimney will also get covered in stone. There are a lot of details to work out around the power vent area.
5. Balcony Area
   1. Install handrail. This has been designed and sent off and will hopefully arrive next week.
   2. Add another epoxy coat to the balcony floor. The first one was done last winter WHEN IT WAS SNOWING to protect the dining room through the season and we really need another one to finish the job.
   3. Install lighting.
   4. Add a trellis (I mean, this is bonus points area)
6. Install new garage doors
   1. These should arrive next week!
   2. Install copper goose necks lights above each door.

      

7. Finish Painting. They started painting this week (Benjamin Moore Graphite) after a lot of caulking–have you ever thought about caulking an entire exterior?! Nightmare fuel.–and they are FAST so I’m hopeful this will be a quick and easy check off the list.
8. Install copper rain gutters. The crown jewel! We had a gutter guy come last week and measure and advise on placement and the install will be one of the very last things that happens.

This was the first time we wrote this all out and I’m trying to be hopeful but not feeling very confident to be honest. Haha. The good news is we are managing SEVERAL different groups of contractors for this project. The roofers, painters, masons, landscapers (that will install the paths), siding crew and general contractors–not to mention the electricians, plumbers, sheet rockers for the bathroom that are also happening right now) ARE ALL working simultaneously but separately on their projects which helps. If it was one group of contractors doing this entire list, I don’t think we’d have a chance. But because everyone is kind of working on their thing at the same time (while we try to keep it all straight–send prayers!) maybe there’s a chance. There’s totally a chance.

Even when this is all done, I should note–our exterior won’t be completely complete. There’s one remaining original window left in the house in the kitchen and even though it was so tempting to swap it out we KNOW the location and size and everything will change when we fully renovate our kitchen (hopefully next year). The side entry door will likely also shift with that renovation so our plan is to make them work for now (I think I’ll spray paint the exterior of the window even!) and revisit those areas next year. This was a hard decision, but the snowball effect was already going so strong on the exterior that there was no way we wanted to live with a dismantled kitchen or mudroom for the next 6-8 months. So that’s why the kitchen window is still there. And we’re not swapping out the side door for a dutch door quite yet and the railing is going to stay the same for a little while longer. As much as we’re pushing for an “after” by October, in reality, this house will always be a work in progress.