What Changed Since Field Visit 18
Visit 19 marks a pivotal transition from "waiting for cabinets" to "installing everything." Despite Thanksgiving week typically causing construction slowdowns, the project saw substantial progress across multiple interior spaces and exterior hardscape elements.
Cabinet Installation Progress (Multiple Rooms Complete)
The most dramatic change is the installation of cabinets in several key areas throughout the home. The kitchen now features elegant sage-green upper cabinets with a sophisticated profile, while base cabinets are in active installation with protective cardboard still in place. A utility/mudroom area shows white cabinets with a dedicated space for a pet door installation. Additional brown-toned cabinetry appears in what is likely a wet bar or secondary kitchen area, complete with an impressive floor-to-ceiling wine rack with dozens of bottle slots. The variety of finishes and styles across different rooms demonstrates the home's custom design approach, with each space receiving purpose-built cabinetry appropriate to its function.
Stunning Two-Story Library Built-In
Perhaps the most architecturally significant addition is a magnificent two-story built-in library bookshelf system installed in what appears to be a great room or study. This impressive white unit extends from floor to ceiling across two stories, featuring a decorative turned-spindle railing at the mezzanine level that adds classical elegance. The lower portion contains substantial cubby storage, while the upper section provides extensive book shelving. This is clearly a signature architectural feature that will serve as a focal point of the home. The craftsmanship evident in the millwork and the scale of the installation represent a major step forward in the home's custom interior character.
Exterior Concrete Deck/Patio Foundation
Significant progress is visible on exterior hardscaping, with formwork and rebar grid installed for what appears to be a substantial rear deck or patio area. The wooden forms are precisely leveled and staked, with a comprehensive rebar reinforcement grid tied and ready for concrete pour. This represents important progress on exterior living spaces that will extend the home's usable area. The stone veneer on the home's exterior and the dramatic site topography (visible in the family photo) underscore the home's elevated position with commanding views of the surrounding landscape.
Interior Finish Coordination
With painted walls providing a neutral backdrop, the various cabinet installations now define each room's character. The floors remain protected with builder paper and cardboard, indicating active trade coordination as cabinet installers, countertop templaters, and flooring contractors work in sequence. The protected floor surfaces show this is precisely the stage where finish-work coordination is most critical—one misstep with heavy cabinets or stone countertops could damage completed flooring, necessitating the careful sequencing evident on site.
Critical Path: Next 4-6 Weeks
With substantial cabinet installation already complete and the holiday period approaching, the critical path now focuses on completing remaining cabinetry, templating and installing countertops, and beginning hardwood flooring installation. The December timeline will be shaped significantly by year-end trade availability and the traditional construction slowdown between Christmas and New Year's.
Immediate Priority (Next 7-10 Days)
- Complete remaining cabinet installation — finish all base cabinets in kitchen and other areas where uppers are already installed; verify all cabinet hardware, adjustments, and door alignments; total remaining install time likely 3-5 days across multiple rooms
- Cabinet punch list and preparation for template — installers complete final shimming, leveling, and securing of all cabinetry; verify all units are perfectly level and plumb for countertop template; clean all surfaces and ensure accurate reveals at walls
- Countertop template scheduling — coordinate with stone fabricator for field template visit (must occur within 48 hours of cabinet completion for optimal accuracy); verify all sink locations, faucet drilling, edge profiles, and backsplash details; this is the single most time-sensitive coordination
- Plumbing rough verification — before countertops are templated, confirm all sink drain locations, water supply stub-outs, and appliance connections are positioned correctly; any adjustments after template will cause delays and potential re-template fees
Short-Term Sequence (Next 2-3 Weeks)
- Countertop fabrication period — 10-14 days typical for natural stone or quartz fabrication; extended to 14-16 days if fabrication shop closes for Christmas/New Year week; no other work can proceed in kitchen during this waiting period, but other rooms can advance
- Countertop installation — 1-2 days depending on complexity; includes sink cutouts and faucet drilling; plumber must be available immediately following install to connect sinks and fixtures; this is the gating item for kitchen completion
- Hardwood flooring material delivery and acclimation — flooring material must be delivered to site and allowed to acclimate to interior conditions for 48-72 hours before installation; coordinate delivery for late December to ensure material is ready when countertops complete
- Appliance delivery coordination — verify all major appliances (range, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave) are in stock and schedule delivery for after flooring installation; built-in appliances like dishwasher require coordination with cabinet installer for proper fit
Extended Critical Path (Weeks 3-6)
- Hardwood flooring installation — 5-7 days for entire home; must occur after countertops to prevent damage from stone installation; crew productivity may be reduced in early January due to holiday scheduling; floor protection critical during appliance delivery
- Interior trim and millwork completion — baseboards, door casings, crown molding in areas not yet complete; shoe molding to cover flooring expansion gaps; this work proceeds in parallel with other finishes
- Plumbing fixture installation — all sinks, faucets, toilets, shower fixtures, and accessories; requires 2-3 days with multiple plumbers; kitchen and bathrooms cannot be functional until complete
- Electrical fixture installation — recessed lights, chandeliers, ceiling fans, pendant lights, switches, outlets, and cover plates; requires 2-3 days with electricians; final electrical inspection cannot occur until all fixtures installed
- HVAC system commissioning — final startup, balancing, and testing of heating/cooling system; thermostat programming; air filter installation; typically occurs in final week before CO inspection
- Appliance installation and testing — delivery, uncrating, installation, and operational testing of all appliances; gas connections for range/dryer; water connections for refrigerator ice maker; venting for range hood and dryer
- Final paint touch-ups — after all installations, painters return to touch up any nicks, scratches, or areas that need attention; this is typically 1-2 days spread across multiple visits
Issues & Watchlist
- Countertop template timing coordination — with cabinets substantially installed, the countertop template must be scheduled immediately (within next 48-72 hours ideally); any delay in template pushes fabrication into mid-December, risking Christmas week plant closures that could extend delivery into January (critical).
- December fabrication shop schedules — most stone fabrication facilities close or operate at reduced capacity during Christmas week (Dec 23-27) and potentially longer through New Year's; if template doesn't occur by early next week, fabrication may not complete until January due to holiday closures (urgent).
- Hardwood flooring crew booking — flooring contractors are typically heavily booked for late December as projects rush to complete before year-end; confirm flooring installation crew is reserved for late December/early January window immediately following countertop installation (active coordination).
- Year-end trade availability squeeze — the period from Dec 15-Jan 3 sees dramatically reduced trade availability as crews take vacation and many companies close entirely between Christmas and New Year's; projects that aren't substantially complete by Dec 20 typically see 10-14 day delays through the holiday period (watch).
- Exterior concrete pour weather window — the deck/patio formwork is ready but concrete placement requires temperatures above 40°F for proper curing; early December forecast shows several cold fronts that may impact pour timing; any delay pushes exterior completion potentially to spring (monitor weather).
- Appliance availability verification — even common appliances can have extended lead times during holiday season due to shipping delays and inventory constraints; verify all selected appliances are actually in stock or in-transit, not just "available to order" (verify immediately).
- Final inspection coordination — county building departments often have reduced staffing between Christmas and New Year's, and January typically sees a backlog from delayed December projects; schedule all final inspections as early as possible to avoid January scheduling congestion (plan ahead).
- Driveway paving decision deadline — asphalt paving requires sustained temperatures above 50°F; late December forecast makes paving increasingly unlikely; builder must decide by mid-December whether to attempt year-end paving or defer to spring 2026 to avoid repeated schedule adjustments (decision needed).
Completion Forecast
| Scenario | Estimated Completion | Key Assumptions | Change vs. Visit 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimistic | Dec 28-30, 2025 (~Dec 29) |
Countertop template occurs Mon Dec 2; fabrication shop works through holidays with 12-day turnaround (completes Dec 16); install Dec 17; flooring crew mobilizes Dec 19 and completes Dec 24 (Christmas Eve); all trade crews return Dec 26 for final fixtures/appliances/touch-ups; final inspections scheduled and passed Dec 27-28; no weather delays for exterior concrete; all materials and trades available without holiday gaps; year-end push creates accelerated completion momentum | Delayed ~4-7 days |
| Baseline | Jan 10-14, 2026 (~Jan 12) |
Countertop template by Dec 5; fabrication plant closes Dec 23-Jan 2 extending completion to Jan 6; countertop install Jan 7; flooring material delivered but crew not available until Jan 8 due to holiday backlog; flooring installation Jan 8-13 (5 working days); fixtures and appliances install Jan 14-16; final inspections Jan 17-20 amid county backlog; punch list Jan 21-22; typical holiday workforce reductions add 7-10 effective days; exterior concrete delayed to January due to cold weather | Delayed ~2-4 days |
| Conservative | Jan 24-28, 2026 (~Jan 26) |
Countertop template delayed to Dec 9 due to fabricator availability; fabrication shop closes Dec 20-Jan 6 extending delivery to Jan 10; install Jan 13 after fabricator returns and catches up on backlog; flooring crew not available until Jan 15 due to January scheduling congestion; flooring installation Jan 15-22 (6 days with weekend gap); appliance delivery issues require substitution and re-ordering adding 5-7 days; plumbing fixture supplier backorder delays completion; multiple inspection failures due to rushing and require re-visits; final punch list extends through month-end due to limited trade availability in late January; total holiday impact: 14-16 effective days lost | Delayed ~2 weeks |
Critical path sequence: Remaining cabinet installation (3-5 days) → countertop template (1 day) → countertop fabrication (12-16 days with holiday impact) → countertop install (1-2 days) → hardwood flooring acclimation (2-3 days) → hardwood flooring installation (5-7 days) → plumbing fixtures (2-3 days) → electrical fixtures (2-3 days) → appliance delivery and installation (2-3 days) → HVAC commissioning (1 day) → final touch-ups (2-3 days) → final inspections (3-4 days) → punch list (3-5 days). Total elapsed time: 37-50 days without delays, 44-64 days with typical holiday coordination gaps.
Monte Carlo methodology: 10,000-iteration simulation modeling December/January task duration variability, holiday trade availability impacts, fabrication shop closure schedules, inspection backlog patterns, and weather constraints for exterior work. Optimistic scenario (90th percentile) assumes aggressive year-end completion push with fabricator working through holidays, immediate trade availability post-Christmas, and first-attempt inspection passes on Dec 27-28. Baseline scenario (50th percentile) incorporates typical 7-10 day Christmas/New Year shutdown period, standard fabrication shop closure Dec 23-Jan 2, January scheduling backlog for flooring crews, and minor inspection re-visits. Conservative scenario (15th percentile) models extended holiday disruption through mid-January, compounding trade scheduling conflicts, appliance delivery issues, and inspection failures requiring corrections. Probability-weighted completion average: January 12, 2026 (±8 days).
Field Visits (Photo Albums)
- Visit 1 — Jul 23, 2025 — album
- Visit 2 — Aug 6, 2025 — album
- Visit 3 — Aug 9, 2025 — album
- Visit 4 — Aug 17, 2025 — album
- Visit 5 — Aug 22, 2025 — album
- Visit 6 — Aug 31, 2025 — album
- Visit 7 — Sep 6, 2025 — album
- Visit 8 — Sep 13, 2025 — album
- Visit 9 — Sep 20, 2025 — album
- Visit 10 — Sep 27, 2025 — album
- Visit 11 — Oct 4, 2025 — album
- Visit 12 — Oct 12, 2025 — album
- Visit 13 — Oct 18, 2025 — album
- Visit 14 — Oct 25, 2025 — album
- Visit 15 — Nov 1, 2025 — album
- Visit 16 — Nov 8, 2025 — album
- Visit 17 — Nov 15, 2025 — album
- Visit 18 — Nov 22, 2025 — album
- Visit 19 — Nov 29, 2025 — album