Inside/Out

Building in lower Michigan in winter is all about timing. Getting the house under roof, putting up the exterior sheeting and getting the furnace in before the snow flies are critical for the contractor. No furnace no drywall no work over the winter. Opus Builders planned well, Jane and Craig's house is on schedule and their crew has been busy completing the interior while the snow was flying and is now beginning work on the exterior.

Painting, trimming, cabinets and finally floor covering is happening inside. Siding weather is finally here as we reached temperatures in the sixties this past week.

We were on sight a couple of weeks ago and the weather was less than ideal. Taking measurements and planning for the landscaping is not always a fair weather task. Having just come back from the south snow and ice are a rude reminder of Midwest winter. Drainage issues on this property will be addressed after the exterior is complete. For right now one needs to be extra careful walking around to avoid stepping through the ice crusted ground into freshly plowed trenches, both Bruce and myself got muddy reminders when we both buried a leg into icy, sloppy holes.

Going inside to thaw our legs and get a feel for the interior was a welcome relief from our outdoor duties. It is important to me to be able to see the inside of the homes we work on to learn more about our customers style and interior lay out. Putting an herb garden close to the kitchen, fragrant plants near windows, protecting precious lake views by not blocking views are all accomplished best when I am afforded access to a clients home.

Additionally when we are installing exterior lighting or helping with irrigation we need to know where we will be putting switches or coming out with electrical lines. There is lots of planning and coordination that needs to happen between builders, electricians, landscapers and decorators. Planning ahead saves the home owners both money and headaches.