Drum Roll Please . . .

We got our building permit! Three weeks later than expected, but nonetheless, we got it. Maybe we’ll be pouring footings in 2009 after all.

On another note, our good friend Ian from Arizona is coming up for several days in late January for his job. He is very excited to pitch in and help us on our project while he’s in town. To describe Ian as a “motivated worker” would be the understatement of the century. Ian, Scott say’s he already tired knowing that you’re on your way. We look forward to seeing you!

I Can See Clearly Now . . .

That we got our windows! Scott and I ventured back to BMO (Building Material Outlet) over the weekend after learning that they had just unloaded a large truck shipment of windows. Lucky for us, we were able to purchase all the remaining windows for our kitchen and sunroom at deep discount prices.

Now if we could only get our permit . . .

Scott called for our silt fence inspection last Friday. Theoretically, we should be able to pick up our permit as soon as the inspection is approved.

I am still hoping to pour footings before the end of 2009!

Baby it's Cold Outside

Our unusually mild November has given way to an unusually bitter December. We are still waiting on our permit to come through. Last week Scott learned that before the city will issue a permit, we must install a silt fence. As a silt fence is designed to prevent erosion, we believed we would not need this precaution as our remodel is being done in the dead of winter, but we were wrong.
Yesterday afternoon Scott bundled up and headed into the 5 degree weather and hammered the silt fence into the frozen ground. We are hoping that the city will be lenient with the slightly “haphazard” install, and will issue the permit without further delay.

Let There Be Light

On Saturday, Scott and I went to the Builders Supply Warehouse in Eagan to look for windows for our addition. Back in May of 2008, we had great success at this warehouse and purchased discount windows for the entire front of our home. On this excursion, we didn’t have the same luck. We need approximately six windows for our addition, and we were only able to locate the smallest of the six: a 33 x 25 window for above my future kitchen sink. As the building boom has halted, so has the surplus of building supplies.

On a separate note, we are still waiting for our building permit to be approved by the city. Last week we received notice that they needed additional detail on our roof plan. Scott dropped off revised plans last Friday. I am assuming we should receive our approval sometime this week. If all goes as planned, we’ll be pouring footings by Saturday.