Shorthorse: Before and After

No more need to pretend or to be impatient for completion. It's happened. This is our foyer...in August '07 and March '08.

The Team

Dave Oliver, realtor
Gene Pope, property seller
Larry Schuster, builder, general contractor
Terry Traver, concrete man
D.J. Auker, barn builder
Chad Pardee, road builder
Ben Traver, excavator & road builder
Glenn Haas, electrician
Joe Williams, well driller
Tom Wagler, cabinetmaker
Kim Mathews, fireplace builder
Gene Carner, mason
Dave Klaus, plumber
Mike Skinner, HVAC
Jim Lucas, drywaller
Chip Helmer, adobe finisher
Mark Yoder, finish carpenter
Casey Helvey, painter
Dave Alexander, tile and carpet
Shall Remain Nameless, lousy architect

Timetable

November 2003: Viewed and made offer.
December 2003: Offer accepted.
April 2004: We bring the 5th wheel up.
July 2004: Well goes in; 50 gpm, 90'!
September 2004: Power and road go in.
May 2005: We start clearing and pruning.
July 2005: Don builds a SIPS pumphouse with Terry Traver's help.
August 2005: We choose Larry Schuster to build the house next year.
August 2005: The architect gets the house plans.
October 2005: The barn is built.
December 2005: We get prelim. drawings from architect, finally.
August 2006: Phone goes in.
October 2006: Still no final drawings from the lousy architect.
November 2006: Finally...final plans...sort of. We "fire" the architect!
November 2006: The garage is started.
December 2006: The garage is built and sided! Basement for the house is dug. Concrete footings done.
January 2007: Basement and Don's vault are finished.
February 2007: SIPS panels arrive, and Larry's headaches start! Panels don't fit!
March 2007: Sides of main floor are up.
April 2007: Still fighting panel fit. Second floor started.
May 2007: Roof not complete; rain is pouring in!
June 2007: Roof is finally on, floor can stay dry now! Basement concrete floor poured. Upstairs starting to shape up.
July 2007: Most all rooms are framed now. Fireplace structures built and installed. Kitchen arch built. Porch roof is on. Breezeway mostly done. Patio and front porched done (stamped concrete by Terry Traver).
August 2007: Stairs and master tub go in. Plumber does his thing. Cabinets ordered.
September 2007: Windows go in. Electricians wire the house. HVAC is done. Roof steel to arrive the 26th.
October 30, 2007: Closed the sale on our Yakima house.
Nov. 3, 2007: Don closes his store after 30 years.
Dec. 1, 2007: Don and Jan leave Yakima for good.
Dec. 28, 2007: Custom cabinets arrive.
Feb. 22, 2008: Carpet installed upstairs.
Feb. 23, 2008: We're moving furniture inside!
March 1, 2008: We're in the house, for good, at last!
March 26, 2008: Our first overnight guest, Maurice Alpert.
July 23, 2008: Exterior staining is DONE!
July 25, 2008: Don's office cabinetry is installed.
Sept. 5, 2008: Stonework on steps completed.
Sept. 7, 2008: Our official "Open House"