Saturday, April 30, 2011

Construction Outline

At our meeting, Les explained the construction process in more detail, which was very helpful.  Basically Adair breaks it into 3 parts.

Phase 1 includes the foundation, framing, rough plumbing, roofing, and rough electrical.  He explained that this usually takes about 33 days.

next - there's the middle part - which includes drying out the house, inspections and utility connections.  Because these tasks are part of the home owner's responsibility, the time this takes is up to us and can vary substantially.

Finally - Phase 2 - which includes insulation, Sheetrock, painting, and finishing.  This takes about 45-55 days.

It was great to have him break it down like this.  I know that they aren't hard numbers, but it's nice to have a guess about when things will happen.

I'm totally ready to get going!

It has begun!

My grandparents are up visiting from California so we drove out to show them the property.

I was SUPER surprised to find people out there, on a Saturday, setting up the forms for the foundation. 


YEAH!!!

They said they plan to pour the foundation on Monday.

Here we go!!



Progress Shot

Monday, April 25, 2011

Busy 10 days

A lot has happened in the last ten days.
Our electrician came out and installed the permanent meter base.  Two days later, the state inspected it.  We passed.  :)


Josh and I went out and built the pump house.


We got most of it complete.

We left the roof off so the water tank and pump could be installed.


A few days later EPUD (our power company) hooked up power to the base.


So, now we've got power!
The electricians came back and hooked up the well and construction power.


It has been POURING for the last month, with only a few small breaks in the rain.   Our pad had puddles and the trenches are full of water. 

 

We had 4 days of minimal rain, and everything sort of dried out.    Still water and mud everywhere, but no puddles on the gravel.

We met with Les from Adair at the site this morning, to make sure the site was ready and to talk about the construction process in more detail.
We're all good on the site, except there's a bit that's not quite level, so Josh and I will go out tomorrow morning and rake it level-er. (otherwise we might get a bill for extra concrete needed in the foundation)

We're getting close!!!
Les said they'd start within the week!
Thursday at the earliest, Monday at the latest!!!

It's actually happening!
WHOO HOO!!!!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Meter Base and Pump House

This last weekend Josh and I poured the 6x6' pad for the pump house.  Have you ever poured concrete? 

It was HARD work.
We rented a mixer and used 18 - 90 lb bags of concrete.
Josh wheeled it over and dumped it, I spread it.


The kids had fun playing in the dirt while we worked.


We talked to the electricians and the meter base has been installed and will be inspected by the state on Thursday.

As soon as the base has been inspected we can call the utility company and get them out to put in power!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Amazingly quick - the pad is ready!

Josh went out this afternoon to install the meter base.
He found that Jeff had finished cutting the pad, graveled it and the driveway, trenched power to the well, and installed the septic tank.
WOW!

The forecast for tonight is a chance of snow - I think he wanted to get as much done as he could.

We just need power and then the "construction" can begin!
yipee!!


View from the beginning of the driveway.


Septic tank


Our van parked in front of the garage.


The permanent meter base - it used to be a "climbing wall" on our kids' play structure.  (recycling!) :)


View from the front door.
pretty isn't it?



from the north-east corner


progress shot!

all the piles of dirt will be used to back fill around the house once the foundation is poured.

Electrical Trenching Approved

Josh went out Monday and laid the conduit for the electrical line and the phone line.  He was able to call the utility company and have someone come out and inspect it on the same day.
The line was approved! 


Then, the same day, they back filled the trenches.
Jeff started on the pad!


When we went out yesterday, they had made a lot of progress.


Here's the view of the new driveway, with the turnout for the big trucks.


Since our lot is sloped, they are doing a bit of reshaping, so that rain water won't run towards the house. 

Josh met the electrician and talked through the next steps.

We need to put up an "H" frame for the permanent meter, then the electrician will install the meter.

After dinner, Josh started to build the frame.  He's hoping to get it out and set today.

I took this picture right before we left.
It is truly amazing how quickly the site is progressing.


Oh, and our building permit was approved!   Yeah!!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Trenches, Rocks and Permits oh my!

So much has happened so quickly!
First, our sanitation permit (septic system) was approved on 3/16.
We were assigned an address - 4/1  who knew it took so long to create an address!

We finally had a small break in the rain, it was long enough for Jeff, our excavator, to start on the driveway and the trenching for electrical and phone.
We went out on Saturday.

It was so exciting to see SOMETHING happening!


This is the view from where the garage will be. 

Now, a couple of shots of the trenches



This shot gives you a sense of scale - that's me peering into the water-filled hole.




And here's the progress shot:



Yeah! things are a-happening!