Masonry Complete

I posted a little sneak peek on Facebook Tuesday, that said I thought our mason job was two days away from completion. Guess what? They finished today! Two days exactly.

We started installing brick on May 22nd. I was told this would be a two-week job.. EASY!

We did not finish until June 17th!

It was not all the mason's fault. We did run out of brick. And when we ordered more, not all of it was from the same run and we risked it not matching. We then had to wait to locate more from the same run.

We lost a couple days because those deliveries of brick were late in the day and not 5:30AM. Other jobs had priority I guess.

It was fun to see the pattern the "brickers" worked in because their was no logic!

I would come home and be surprised at what was done. I couldn't predict it.

I learned so much during this process, like I do with each process. Those brick ties that are on the wall help the brick not ever lean in or away from the wall. There is also a gap to cover up the imperfections of walls.

 
Now, the brick pictures differently. Up close, it looks like it should. Some dark, some light, some red. But from the street, it looks brown. I like it. It's pretty neat how it is like a chameleon.

A couple of days the crew stayed late. One of those nights I was so surprised! They had started building the patio!

I had been working so hard to make sure this was not forgotten. The footer was not poured at the same time as the house. This was mainly because the surveyor did not draw it on the lot layout as elevated. It was drawn at the same height as the driveway. There would be no need for footers. However, I did not want steps immediately off the exterior door down to a patio level with the ground. The footers were dug and poured in one day. Then they got to moving on laying the block.

The front of the house was last to get to.

One reason we ran out of brick was because the porches had brick all the way down. It's wasteful to have brick to the footer and then have concrete come fill the porch and you don't see it.

We bought 4-inch block to use, but the crew only used it on the back patio.

Now we have leftover block!

While we were waiting on locating brick from the same run, we had our stone delivered and we started working on that. I was bummed it was in boxes that I couldn't peek in to.

Our stone would be on the back screened-in porch and the "tower."

The back porch might seem silly because no one sees it but us and our guests, But I think that is special for our guests to be the only ones to see it.

When it came to the stone, I had special instructions. The stone would not be dry stacked. I wanted to have wide joints. I found a picture in a magazine for a local store's add. I took that picture with me to choose the type of stone. 

I picked out a man-made stone, Horizon Stone. The stone shape is 19th Century. The color is Shenandoah. I was so nervous the color would not coordinate with the brick. Turns out, it was perfect!

The back porch took two days and the front tower took two days. It was funny to see the masons using cake decorator tools to put the mortar between the stones.

I love the front tower so much that I am redoing my landscape plan so that I do not block the details all around it.

Our Architectural Committee approved us not having a crawlspace but told us we had to make it appear as if we were a cralwspace by having foundation vents.

I spray-painted the blocks black and the masons left spaces to put vents. Instead of buying $75 irons vents, I made vents out of brick.

I saw it done on a townhouse already in our neighborhood and liked it!

The last of the brick to get finished was over the garage. We had to get special "speed arches" to hold the brick.

Most door and window openings have straight lentils that hold the brick up.

I was so excited to see the garage doors get finished.

Now that the brick is complete, it's time to pressure wash it clean.

I now can't say we are the "blue" house when people ask. The brick has covered up all the ICF framing so that it looks like a normal house.

Brick Colors

Our land we are to build on is in a subdivision with an HOA and Architecture Board. For each house built, the builder/owner has to submit an application. Along with that application, you have to provide a sample of the brick you are to use and the exterior paint chips.

I was not even close to picking a brick color yet. We've been designing this house and I had my choice of brick color and Mr. JCrew had his. This is the only thing where our tastes varied. I like red brick and he does not. My favorite brick color is near my mom's house.

But I'm picky about my red's. It can't be red-red. There has to be some contrast to it. Below is an example of red brick I do not like. It may be that I think the stone doesn't match.

This red brick is okay, and reminds me of our first house.

When I think of brick and stone being on the same side of the house, I picture them matching. This house does that very well. Mr. JCrew says it looks very masculine.

There is white brick that can be testefully done.

And then there is white brick that is too much. I can't judge it yet because it is not finished. The trim and shutters could make it so much better. But I have nicknamed this house the "pink house." When it rains, the house turns pink!

This picture made the brick look white, but it really a cream with varying shades mixed in. This house has been under construction forever. My sister always asks about it becase she can't believe that each time she visits, the owners have not moved in! I think they're close!

Mr. JCrew seems to like gray/brown brick. 

My mom has always loved this house.

To me, I think I shy away from gray/brown because of the lack of color. But there was one color of brick that we both liked and I chose it as my backup color. I loved watching this house be built. I am in love with the front doors and the porch ceiling.

I've thought about painting brick if I couldn't find a color Mr. JCrew and I agreed on.

But I shutter at the maintenance of paint. I rather only have my trim and minimal siding to touch-up every few years and not the entire house.

We drove all around the city and finally found a color we liked. We always overlooked it because the majority of the house is stone.

 I called the builder and asked him the brick name and color. He provided it to me along with the mortar color and stone. I've realized brick shopping how important mortar color is. Below is a sample of the same brick we've chosen, but with a different color mortar. Makes a huge difference.

Ivory Mortar

Buff Mortar

So, I called the brick company and asked if I could borrow a sample to get approval from the HOA. But I also needed the sample to pick an exterior trim color. This step made me really nervous.

I knew what color I wanted the doors to be; Dragon's Breath by Benjamin Moore. I started with that paint swatch. When I pulled it, I realized I loved every color in the family. My choices would now be easy.

I really did do a happy dance and got all excited. This was it! Next, I had to decide what color and where. It's hard to describe without showing you the elevation of the house, but I would need three, possibly four, colors on the exterior.

One rule of thumb I was given, was to pick the shade darker of the color you like when selecting exterior colors. The sun washes colors out. The 'London Fog' color at the top of the swatch in the picture above appears gray, but would look white on the house outside. That was a good rule of thumb to use.

When selecting our colors, I had to remember the style of house I have. It is mainly Tudor, with a front porch. Tudors don't have porches, but we both wanted one. And usually tudor style houses use dark trim colors. You can't find white trim on a tudor. So that nixed my lighter color I had picked for trim (Ben Moore China White).

I picked out three colors. Here's where they fit on the color swatch.

I remembered to pick the shade darker than what I was drawn to.

I am very excited to have picked colors and be happy with them. I really took this step seriously. It's not like the interior that is easier to change. I have a reputation for painting things over, but I think I am learning what I like and am happy with and sticking to that instead of trying to be bold.

As for what we selected:

Brick: Harbour Shoals by Pine Hall Brick
Mortar: Lite Buff
Trim 1: Plymouth Rock by Benjamin Moore
Trim 2: Gargoyle by Benjamin Moore
Trim 3: Dragon's Breath by Benjamin Moore

Once they go up on the house, I'll share more pictures.

Whew. I'm getting really excited now.

A Walk Through the Yard - Year 5

This is one of those ho-hum posts about plants that are written for the interest of the JCrew grandparents. Hi, Nana!! On the flip side…landscaping is one of those things that might not be easy or quick or interesting but it sure does help the look of your exterior.

I’m sure I look like a dork when I take my camera outside and take pictures of my
yard, but I’m so glad I do. So many things have changed! My favorite part is remembering how little something was and then looking at it now.

The Teddy Bear Magnolias were the first trees we planted. We called them our love ferns. We planted them the weekend Mr. JCrew separated from the Air Force and moved home.

Teddy Bear Magnolia - April 2009

Teddy Bear Magnolia - September 2013

The Dwarf Buford Hollies in the front are finally joining together to make a hedge.

Holly Bushes - 2009

September 2013

The Ivory Silk Lilac is my favorite tree in the yard. Along with the Parson's Juniper that filled in underneath it.

I wanted to share with you also the hidden views that are overlooked.

The boys and I spend a lot of time outside in our backyard. It's fun for all of us and you get to see things in a way the outsider can't. These two trees create an "entry" into the yard that I love.

The crepe myrtles are doing their thing. They are at the height that I wanted, creating more privacy.

I always love coming through the gate and walking under them.

The Eagleston Holly's are growing fast! They, too, create great privacy!

The porch has a nice "homey" feel to it. The Jackson Vine keeps growing!

Tea Olive's are my favorite. When the weather is between 60-70 degrees, they give off this awesome aroma. I just wish I had planted them closer to the porch!

The Eastern Redbud is growing. 

Seems like it is still small, but when you look at the first time we got it, you quickly realize the growth.

Redbud on far right.

That’s just a look at things that have been around the longest. Of course there are others, but they are in their beginning phases. Kinda cool to see what we started with and where it is now!

Maybe I do have a green thumb after all.