12/7/10

After many requests I am providing an update since moving in... The house is doing very well... I have had just minor issues 1 light switch went bad and I had to call Albany Mechanical twice in regards to the downstairs heating system... Once I had submitted the work order though Marini's Site One, I received a response and was fixed within 24 hours. Each of the subcontractors were very friendly and made sure that I was satisfied with the completed work.  I have also completed the 60 day walk through with no issues.

As far as the neighborhood... I am very impressed and happy with my neighbors. They are very welcoming to all the new residents.

There are still lots available so if you are thinking of building, then this would be the best place to build and raise a family.

7/22/10

The house is complete and I am moved in... I will update the pictures in the coming weeks! Overall the experience with building with Robert Marini Builders was fantastic!. 

The staff/contractors that work with Marini understand the customers needs. All through out the construction process I was entering the home to take pictures and see the progress... Every single sub contractor was very friendly and was always willing to answer any questions that I had.

Ronnie, the site super made sure that everything was "perfect".  During the final inspection I met with Marini's Warranty Manager. He went through the house with me and made sure that I was completely satisfied with everything... I really did not have anything on the punchlist because of the quality of work that was done.

Anyone wanting to build a house... I would highly insist that they build with Robert Marini Builders!

I am looking forward to meet the neighborhood, so feel free to stop by and say hello!

7/7/10

The house is pretty much complete... Touch up painting, sprinklers, landscaping and lawn are left. The final inspection occurs on July 13th with the closing on July 16.

I will update the interior pictures when all the touch ups have been completed.

6/29/10

The driveway is complete and the carpet installation has begun... This morning the painters were back in to touch up.

6/24/10

All the grading is complete

6/23/10

The sinks, faucets, toilets all have been installed... We are looking to do a final inspection walk through on July 13 and we are aiming for a close on July 16th. I will keep you posted on the progress throughout.

6/18/10

The insulation in the basement is completed... The granite has been installed in the kitchen, the wood floors have gone through two rounds of the sanding and poly..

6/15/10

As of this morning, the selected handles for the doors have been installed. All tile work is completed, kitchen cabinets are installed and bathroom vanities are in place... The wood floors are being sanded... There are three steps of the sanding and poly. The final step occurs right before final inspection/closing.

6/8/10

The tiling is complete along with grouting. The kitchen cabinets, vanities and fixtures have arrived... Installation begins today.

6/3/10

The subfloors are in where the tile will go down... The painting of the trim is complete, garage openers are installed and the tile work began yesterday in the master bath

6/1/10

Most of the installation of the lights, switches and outlets has been completed.

5/26/10

Painting is coming to a completion. Starting tomorrow the light fixtures will be installed.

5/25/10

The crown molding and the baseboards are in... Yesterday was a day of masking and today the painting has begun.

5/18/10

The hardwood floors are being installed... Once that is complete the painters will begin. As soon as the painting is complete, the hardwood installers will come back and sand down the floors and apply 3 coats of poly... The mantle and the granite surrounding the fireplace has been installed.

5/13/10

All the taping is complete and the railings of the staircase are being put together... The hardwood floors have arrived awaiting the installation.

5/6/10

The taping continues.... The stone on the front exterior is almost to completion.

5/4/10

All the sheetrock has been completed and now for the next 7 days all the taping will be done on the interior of the house. Also the stone work on the front exterior of the house is almost to completion.

4/29/10

The sheetrock has been going on the past few days and is scheduled to finish today. This morning the stone on the front of the house began.

4/26/10

The insulation installation completed today and the HVAC units received the electronic air cleaners... This week we will see the sheetrock going up along with the stone on the exterior of the house. (American Mechanical was kind enough to allow me to take pictures of them while they were working on the HVAC... Thanks!!!)

4/22/10

Insulation began this morning... Following up on yesterday, the HVAC units are installed in basement, and the brick work is complete... See picture below.

4/21/10

This morning the siding continues along with the bricks being laid on the lower part of the garage... Insulation work begins today

4/20/10

11am -- The siding work continues, the ducts are going in the basement, the plumbers are also inserting the outside water faucets and Towne TV is going to finish the pre-wire

4/19/10

Much has been done in the past week ( I have been traveling the past week)... I did the electrical walk through with Ronnie, VP of Robert Marini Builders... He has been with the company for over 30 years and is out an about the site overseeing all the activities of the subs (People have been asking for me to put a picture of myself on the website so see below the picture of Ronnie and I) ... He expects perfection! In the electrical walk through you see where all the cable, outlets, lighting, and switches will be placed. The electricians have been wiring the house, the HVAC ducts have been installed... The concrete was poured in the basement... This morning Micky Valetta, owner of Towne TV arrived and began the walk thorough of where the audio/video components will be placed along with the speakers, touch panels etc. The fireplace was installed this morning. Finally at the end of the today the siding for the rear and south side of the house has been completed. (The rest of the pics are in the photo gallery)

4/9/10

The windows and garage door have been installed. Next week I will be doing the electrical walk through and the plumbing begins... The master bath soaking tub and the tubs/showers for the 2 other bathrooms upstairs have arrived and are awaiting installation.

4/8/10

The roofing is complete and the staircase from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor is in and the concrete was poured in the garage. (The rest of the pics are in the photo gallery)

4/7/10

After being on a short vacation to Indianapolis for the 2010 Final Four (Duke, West Virginia, Michigan State and Butler). I am back to see the progress of the house... It has been significant in the past few days... The framing of the roof is complete and the shingles are now starting to go on the roof.

4/1/10

The roof is beginning to take shape.

3/29/10

The rain was coming down today but the framing crew was at it again and have accomplished a significant amount of roof framing in 1 day.  I tip my hat off to them... Great Job!

3/27/10

The framing of the roof began yesterday (Friday)

3/24/10

As of this morning, all the 2nd floor interior framing is complete and the next phase will be to start on the framing of the roof.

3/19/10

The sub floor and exterior of the 2nd floor is complete. (The rest of the pictures are in the photo gallery)

3/17/10

All the first floor interior walls have been framed... You get a great idea of how the house is going to flow... It was quite exciting walk  through the foyer to the family room, kitchen, dining room, living room, study, mud room and powder bath. (The rest of the pictures are in the photo gallery)

3/16/10

All the exterior framed walls are up

3/15/10

The walls are beginning to go up... You will see the rear, sides and part of the front up. They are all being held by braces that will prevent them from falling, even though they are nailed down. (The rest of the pictures are in the photo gallery)

3/14/10

Siena Basketball is headed to the big dance... Siena received a #13 seed against #4 Purdue on Friday at 2:30pm est in Spokane Washington!

3/12/10

Framing continues and you can see the that the first floor is together (The rest of the pictures are in the photo gallery)

3/11/10

Framing began today...(The rest of the pictures are in the photo gallery)

3/10/10

The foundation was back filled today and the lumbar for the frame, roof and floors were also delivered.(The rest of the pictures are in the photo gallery)

3/9/10

Congrats to the Siena Saints on the Three-Peat last night at the Times Union Center!

Ok onto the house construction. Now that the footings and foundation are in place I had the opportunity to ask Robert Marini about what the black coating that is put on the foundation. Also he elaborated on the process of keeping the basement dry. (See below for some pictures... All the pictures are in the photo gallery)

"That is an asphalt coating to damp-proof the foundation."

The basement is kept dry by a number of things we do to comprise a complete system:

• There is a drainage coil around the outside perimeter of the footings encased in a fabric and #1-#2 stone.

• There is a drainage coil around the inside perimeter of the footings encased in stone and is tied to the sump pit.

• There is 4” to 6” of stone throughout the entire basement that acts as a drainage plane below the concrete slab

• There will be pipe extensions that will be installed that will act as leaders for the roof gutters. This will be piped directly to the storm sewer system. The less roof water around the perimeter of the home the better.

• All concrete ties are removed from the walls and plugged and then an asphalt coating is applied around the entire perimeter of the basement area to seal the walls from moisture penetration.

3/3/10

The process of the foundation is in the works... This morning the digging began and by the afternoon the entire hole was dug with footings and rebar . (pics in the photo gallery)

2/11/10

The preparations for the foundation has begun... Wooded stakes have been inserted into the ground to show where the foundation is. Also flags have been placed on to show the locations of the utilities (Gas, Electric, Cable etc)...  (pics in the photo gallery)

1/22/09

All the selections have been made at Robert Marini Builders Design Studio. The Design Studio occupies 3,000 square feet. Monika DeJohn, design consultant worked with me on selecting the interior and exterior features of the house.

Images of the model house: Courtesy of Robert Marini Builders.