BIG WEEK

This week we gained a garage, complete with concrete floor, finished the exterior framing on the main level and the drain pipes are also done.
Next week we expect the roof trusses to arrive and start going up. The interior walls will also be partially assembled. We are waiting on a dozen huge beams to complete the interior roof structure. The beams are 12" by 12" and should give the house a rustic look and feel. We expect the interior walls, beams and roof trusses to be done in two weeks, then the roof will be clad in plywood.

The windows will follow and should be installed in a few weeks, then the house will essentially be waterproof.

The views are outstanding, window placement perfect

Owner/Builder talks

The street

Drains getting close

Our excavator dug a 10 foot deep trench to connect the ain gutter and foundation drain pipes. More dirt getting moved around, just like when we were kids

Western view from the back, less a few trees

Work continues, trees down

Oops, missed one

Framing continues

The main level is taking shape. The exterior walls should be done in a couple of days an the interior walls in a week and a half. The steps into the basement will be installed next week. The roof trusses arrive in a week and they will take a fews days to erect. We can finally stand on the floor of the main level and "picture" what the rooms sizes will be, instead of looking at a blueprint.

We had one surprise today. The ceiling in the dining room will be 14'. We thought it was 10' but the framing looked too high. So we went back and looked at the detailed framing plans and 14' it is. Very cool.

Framing begins on the main level

View from the kitchen sink (once we install the sink)

We will remove the dead branch later

Main level floor almost done

Storm Clouds in the canyon

The smudge in the middle of the phots looks like a deceased insect. However, it is an airplane getting ready to land at the airstrip near the house.

Basement nears completion

A reminder of the view this winter

The walls go up

During the 10 months of construction the next 6 weeks will show the most progress. The house should look like a house in a few short weeks.

Framing wood arrives

Tomorrow the framing starts. Soon the walls will be up and it will look like a house!

Foundation drains installed

We have two types of drains in in the ground by the foundation. The first is the rain gutter drainpipe which will capture all of the rainwater off the roof and send it to the public storm drain system.

The second is a foundation drain that is perforated and will capture all the water in the ground right next to the house. The purpose of this one is to get all groundwater away from the foundation and into the storm drain system. Both of these drainage systems are required because of the severe slope on the lot.

Moving dirt -- tons of dirt

Basement floor "flatwork" done

The wood for the walls, roof, etc, arrives shortly and the framers start in a few days. They will be working at the house for approximately two months.

The "flatwork" is a term for horizontal concrete pours versus the vertical foundation walls.

The grading begins

The guy who is grading the property also knocked down a couple of trees for us with is huge backhoe. We asked him to knock them down so we did not have to cut them down. In the process he disturbed a beehive inside one of the trees. Thousdand of bees swarmed around him. Fortunately he has an enclosed cab in the backhoe. Unfortunately the air condidtioning did not work and it was 98 degrees. It took a half an hour for the bees to disapate which allowed him to get out of the hot cab!