We decided to build a new house with Kettle Creek Homes. The lot we're building on is in the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin on Dana Lane. We're building the Cambridge model. Generally speaking, the house will be a ranch that has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and a den. It will be just over 2000 square feet.

Click here for more details and pics of the floor plan, deluxe master bathroom, elevation view and a similar existing house.

Below is a timetable of milestones for our build - newest entries are at the top.

7/3/2007
Landscaping - Day 9 - FINISHED!! (21 photos)

7/2/2007
Landscaping - Day 8 (22 photos)

6/29/2007
Landscaping - Day 7 (12 photos)

6/28/2007
Landscaping - Day 6 (15 photos)

6/27/2007
Landscaping - Day 5 (5 photos)

6/26/2007
Landscaping - Day 4 (5 photos)

6/25/2007
Landscaping - Day 3 (6 photos)

6/22/2007
Landscaping - Day 2 (8 photos)

6/21/2007
Landscaping - Day 1 (15 photos)

6/12/2007
Utility boxes on the east lot line were raised 34 inches to "finished grade"

5/15/2007
Driveway installed

5/2/2007
Driveway prepped for paving (2 photos)

5/1/2007
Exterior pics pre-landscaping (17 photos)

4/24/2007
Landscaping plans by Createscape accepted by us

1/4/2007
Garage door opener installed by Lifetime Door Company

12/16/2006 - 12/31/2006
Unpacking, hanging blinds, running wiring for network and CATV
Kitchen organized and setup, blinds hung, hooked up washer and dryer
Hung towel/toilet paper racks, garage organized and setup
First party - New Years Eve - Happy New Year's!!

12/15/2006
Movers came (8am til 2pm); we completely cleared out of old house by 8:30pm

12/14/2006
Closing on the house at Kettle Creek's office; Cable TV, telephone hooked up;
RO System and Water Softner installed, refridgerator and stove delivered;
Moved some more items in

12/13/2006
Final walk through, allowed to start moving some stuff into basement

12/12/2006
Misc adjustments and touch-ups done between 12/7/06 -12/12/06

12/6/2006 - PART 2
Basically completed house, just touch ups to go. (15 photos)

12/6/2006 - PART 1
Basically completed house, just touch ups to go. (17 photos)

12/6/2006
Tile in master bath grouted

12/5/2006
House cleaned, finished setting tile in master bath, shower door in master bath installed

12/4/2006
Carpeting installed, bathroom mirrors installed, disposal re-installed on correct side of sink

12/1/2006
Wood floor surfacing finished - 2 clear coats.

11/30/2006
Drywall touch-ups, wood floor surfacing started - sanded and sealed.

11/29/2006
Kitchen sink installed, master bath tile work continued.

11/28/2006
Wall painting completed.

11/27/2006
Wall painting started.

11/23/2006
THANKSGIVING.

11/22/2006
Screens for windows installed, drywall touch-ups done, great room ceiling fan hung.

11/21/2006
Cove moulding added in den, misc finish electrical done.

11/19/2006
Insulation batts added to walls in basement.

11/18/2006 - PART 2
Pics recapping 11/06/06 - 11/17/06. (23 photos)

11/18/2006 - PART 1
Pics recapping 11/06/06 - 11/17/06. (23 photos)

11/17/2006
Finish carpentry misc items: snack counter installed, bookcase shelves installed in den

11/16/2006
Finish electrical and finish plumbing continued

11/15/2006
Finish electrical and finish plumbing continued

11/14/2006
Master bath ceramic tile continued, finish electrical and finish plumbing continued

11/13/2006
California closet organizers installed, master bath ceramic tile started, finish plumbing started, finish electrical continued

11/10/2006
Lighting fixtures, dishwasher and microwave delivered, microwave installed,
finish electrical started (outlets, plugs), air conditioner installed, humidifier installed,
counter tops installed, ceramic tile in master bath started

11/9/2006
Fireplace brickwork and mantle installation complete

11/8/2006
Some exterior brickwork re-done, fireplace brickwork started

11/7/2006
Trimwork painting finished today, fireplace mantle and brick delivered

11/6/2006
Trimwork painting started today, front door painted

11/5/2006
Pics of installed cabinets (12 photos)

11/3/2006
Finish carpentry completed, screen door installed

11/2/2006
Finish carpentry continued

11/1/2006
Finish carpentry continued, exterior trimwork painted except front porch columns, front screen door delivered

10/31/2006
Finish carpentry continued, door from garage to house installed - house all locked up now

10/30/2006
Finish carpentry started (cabinet installation, trim, interior door hanging)

10/28/2006
Pics of everything from 10/23/06 - 10/27/06; LOTS of photos - be patient (31 photos)

10/27/2006
Wood flooring install complete, vinyl flooring installed, interior doors/baseboards delivered

10/26/2006
Wood flooring started, cabinetry delivered

10/25/2006
Ceilings painted

10/23/2006
Primer/texture coat sprayed on walls and ceiling, lamp post installed

10/20/2006
Decorative brickwork completed, drywall finishing nearly complete, move-in date set (12/14/06), driveway stone delivered, rough grading of lot. (9 photos)

10/19/2006
HVAC ductwork completed, driveway approach completed, drywall finishing continued, decorative brickwork started. (8 photos)

10/18/2006
Drywall finishing continued, HVAC ductwork started, sidewalk sections replaced, gutter section poured at approach. (5 photos and 3 mini movies)

10/17/2006
Furnace installed and started up, removed existing curb and some sidewalk for new driveway approach, drywall finishing started. (6 photos and 4 mini movies)

10/16/2006
Temporary gas line installed for furnace hook up (furnace install scheduled for 10/17) - warmer temps needed to start drywall finishing.

10/13/2006
Drywall hanging complete. (22 photos)

10/12/2006
Drywall hanging continued, gutters and downspouts installed.

10/11/2006
Drywall hanging continued.

10/10/2006
Drywall hanging continued, shutters installed. (4 photos)

10/9/2006
Drywall hanging continued, attic insulation blown-in.

10/8/2006
Drywall hanging continued.

10/7/2006
Drywall hanging continued.

10/6/2006
Drywall hanging continued.

10/5/2006
Garage door installed, front porch posts built, drywall started - ceilings done in bedrooms, master bath and closet, den. (2 photos)

10/4/2006
Drywall delivered, stairs to basement built, sub-floor joints sanded. (9 photos)

10/3/2006
Insulation of exterior walls completed.

10/2/2006
Insulation of exterior walls/ceilings started, extra lumber delivered for stairs to basement and front porch columns. (7 photos)

10/1/2006
We swept and vacuumed out the house.

9/30/2006
I installed interior insulation.

9/29/2006
Bought the insulation for interior wall sound deadening. (7 photos)

9/28/2006
Rest of the concrete work was done (basement floor, front step, back step), carpenters worked on some misc punch list items. Photos taken 9/29/06.

9/27/2006
Walk through with Gary (Construction Superintendent) - verified installation of all items so far per plans.

9/26/2006
Misc siding items finished - two sides of chimney and a small spot of aluminum fasica on the front, small basement windows put in.

9/25/2006
Electric service and meter installed.

9/22/2006
Garage floor poured and basement floor prepped for concrete.

9/20/2006
Gas line installed.
I finished installation of low voltage boxes/conduit for extra CATV & network. (3 photos and 3 mini movies)
EXTRA - 7 extra photos of low voltage boxes and conduit included in a list at bottom of page

9/19/2006
Some re-grading of property along back and east side of house. I started installing low voltage boxes/conduit for extra CATV & network.

9/18/2006
Siding nearly finished - part of chimney and small spot of aluminum fasica on front door overhang. (5 photos)

9/17/2006
Siding continued - yes on a Sunday!

9/16/2006
Sanitary sewer & water laterals completed, siding started. (9 photos and 6 mini movies)

9/15/2006
Electric rough in continued, sanitary sewer & water laterals started, siding delivered.

9/14/2006
Electric rough in continued.

9/12/2006
Tubs and shower installed, electric rough in started. (3 photos)
EXTRA - 12 extra photos of rough plumbing included in a list at bottom of page

9/8/2006
Roof complete. Electric panel and outside meter box installed. Went and picked out California Closet items for laundry/back hall area. (8 photos)

9/7/2006
Roofing continued.

9/6/2006
HVAC roughed in, insulation added in exterior walls where tub & shower will go, roof shingles started, went to pay the gas line hookup fee, ordered CATV & networking conduit and boxes. (2 photos)

9/5/2006
Copper piping roughed in, and roof shingles, roofing felt, roof flashing, roof vents delivered.

9/4/2006
Just photos of basement/main floor. We had more rain today as can be seen in the pictures. (10 photos)

9/3/2006
Some more rough plumbing done, sump pump & crock installed.

9/1/2006
Smaller sized gravel delivered for garage and front door areas, form setup for concrete step outside sliding glass doors.

8/31/2006
Rough carpenters primarily finished and rough plumbing continued.

8/30/2006
Chimney stack put up, exterior cedar trim started, sump pump & crock delivered, fireplace delivered and installed, whirlpool tub delivered, rough plumbing started. (17 photos)

8/29/2006
Roof sheathing mostly complete, more interior rough construction finished, some piping for plumbing delivered. (17 photos)

8/28/2006
So much for the correct weather forecast: we had a little more rain today, master bath shower stall and main bath tub delivered today, basement pumped out, work continued on roofing and interior rough construction.

8/27/2006
Rain, rain, rain - standing water pushed out by us, the house is mostly dried out by evening and the rain appears over for now.

8/26/2006
Rain, rain, rain - standing water pushed out by us.

8/25/2006
Rain, rain, rain - windows installed, misc interior work continued, more standing water pushed out by us.

8/24/2006
Rain, rain, rain - but they still started on the roof sheathing, windows delivered, small interior items continued, and we had about 1/2" of rain sitting in the house, we pushed water out of house.

8/23/2006
Rough construction - roof trusses and interior walls mostly complete
Couple of exterior doors delivered (8 photos and 5 mini movies)

8/22/2006
Rough construction - garage walls completed, interior walls started. (9 photos)

8/21/2006
Rough construction - exterior house walls completed. (24 photos)

8/18/2006
Rough construction - basement capped. (12 photos)

8/17/2006
Big day: The port-a-john was delivered!
Also, rough construction started by Beechwood Quality Construction late in the day. The sill plate (green treated board on top of basement wall) set around perimeter of house. We also went to Signature Lighting to pick out lighting fixtures (worked with Lyn).

8/7/2006 - 8/9/2006
Rough construction supplies delivered. (10 photos)

8/4/2006 - PART 2
Backfilling of basement complete. (14 photos)

8/4/2006 - PART 1
Backfilling of basement underway. (17 photos and 6 mini movies)

7/31/2006
Columns/beams set, waterproofing sprayed on walls and gravel placed on drain tile. (15 photos)

7/27/2006
Basement walls poured. (15 photos)

7/26/2006
Forms setup for basement walls. (10 photos)

7/25/2006
Columns, beams, basement wall forms delivered. (13 photos)

7/20/2006
Basement excavation finished. Beaudry Services, Inc set forms for footings, gravel fill placed for basement floor, concrete footings poured, Zignego Concrete brought concrete. (22 photos and 4 mini movies)

7/19/2006
Basement excavation continued and nearly finished. (5 photos)

7/18/2006
Backhoe delivered in the morning (D&L Grading of New Berlin), some topsoil removal started mid-day, temporary driveway rock delivered and spread, basement excavation started. (18 photos and 3 mini movies)

7/5/2006
Permit approved by City of Waukesha. Woohoo! House number is 954. (11 photos)

6/21/2006
Erosion control (silt fencing) installed. For photos go to 7/5/06.

6/16/2006
Permit info and application submitted to city.

6/15/2006
Stake out of house corners complete; ready to go to permits.

6/12/2006
Lot purchase and construction loan closing.

6/9/2006
Signed off on the final plans for our new house.

6/7/2006
Tree removal complete. (9 photos)

5/25/2006
Robert (ABC Tree Service) and his crew start removing/clearing trees from our lot. (3 photos)

5/22/2006
Met with Robert (ABC Tree Service) and Gary at lot about tree removal and clearing.

5/19/2006
Signed off (approved) all of our selections and upgrades (paint, counter tops, carpet, bath fixtures, ceramic, siding, etc.).

5/12/2006
Rough staking of house corners to aid in tree removal and lot clearing.

5/10/2006
Selections and upgrades chosen with Rebecca at the Design Studio. At this time we chose paint colors, counter tops, carpet, cabinets, faucets and bath fixtures, etc.

5/8/2006
House placement survey drawing approved by us.

5/2/2006
Initial plan review meeting with Ann (Pre Production Asst) & Gary (Construction Superintendent).

5/1/2006
Pictures of our lot. (5 photos)

4/19/2006
Loan process started - Equitable Bank.

4/12/2006
Offer to purchase lot and building construction agreement signed.

4/1/2006
Met Kettle Creek Homes sales rep Lisa. We decided on the Cambridge model with slight changes.