Building our retirement home

[KiotiKowboy]

Soooooooooooo .... after all the drama of the day. Here is the site status.

The basement walls are set to 10'. After the 4" slab and the addition of ceiling, I'll be left with close to 9' of clearance. The entire basement will be "finished" with 2x4 studwalls and drywall. This will make wiring for outlets and surround-sound a simpler task.

Since taking these shots, the open wall on the end has been enclosed.

 

[CurlyDave]

FWIW, my solution on the stone would be to change from a full-thickness to a stone veneer.

All of the potential solutions have problems, changing the forms is expensive, and the veneer looks very, very good.

We bought stone for our house from an outfit that seems to be out of business, but a few hours on the internet should find a supplier for you. We use natural stone, cut to a thickness of about 1".

 

[jk96]

FWIW, my solution on the stone would be to change from a full-thickness to a stone veneer.

All of the potential solutions have problems, changing the forms is expensive, and the veneer looks very, very good.

We bought stone for our house from an outfit that seems to be out of business, but a few hours on the internet should find a supplier for you. We use natural stone, cut to a thickness of about 1".

If you havent already purchased the stone Daves suggestion would probably save you money on material and labor as well.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

We've looked the veneer stone and, yes, it is nice. We "may" go there for $$$$ but that will be decided a bit later.

As for my ledge problem - It is solved.

I met with the contractor this morning. The concrete worker, although technically correct in what he was saying, did not understand the plan. Essentially, the contractor had already planned wider footings for the entire house. I guess I need to take a pause when I hear potential bad news, and get my facts in order.

Back to forward momentum - lol. Ordered my safe-room steel door this morning. Should arrive on Monday and basement walls should be finished before the end of next week.

 

[jk96]

We've looked the veneer stone and, yes, it is nice. We "may" go there for $$$$ but that will be decided a bit later.

As for my ledge problem - It is solved.

I met with the contractor this morning. The concrete worker, although technically correct in what he was saying, did not understand the plan. Essentially, the contractor had already planned wider footings for the entire house. I guess I need to take a pause when I hear potential bad news, and get my facts in order.

Back to forward momentum - lol. Ordered my safe-room steel door this morning. Should arrive on Monday and basement walls should be finished before the end of next week.

I guess I'm confused on how the wider footings solved the problem. Were the walls set at the correct width and location all along after factoring your ledge?

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I guess I'm confused on how the wider footings solved the problem. Were the walls set at the correct width and location all along after factoring your ledge?

We're ALL confused

The contractor said he had planned all along to pour the house footings AFTER the basement walls went in. This puts the ledge outside the wall and preserves my interior dimensions.

My only guess on WHY he went this route is to avoid pouring the exterior basement walls 4" thicker. His approach would perhaps be less costly?

I'll just add, this guy is a major player in construction and has a stellar reputation. He has done many basements and just finished one that was 11,000 sq ft. What may seem odd to me is apparently not odd to him - lol.

 

[jk96]

We're ALL confused

The contractor said he had planned all along to pour the house footings AFTER the basement walls went in. This puts the ledge outside the wall and preserves my interior dimensions.

My only guess on WHY he went this route is to avoid pouring the exterior basement walls 4" thicker. His approach would perhaps be less costly?

I'll just add, this guy is a major player in construction and has a stellar reputation. He has done many basements and just finished one that was 11,000 sq ft. What may seem odd to me is apparently not odd to him - lol.

I'm even more confused now - lol. Your house footings get poured first, then the basement walls sit on top of the footings. That is what he has done in this pic you shared.

View attachment 434571

Is he pouring another footing and ledge for the stone? Just trying to get a visual on what his plan is if the ledge is not part of the basement wall. Also be careful on relying on your contractors "stellar" reputation. We just finished our build about a year ago and I could make a list of issues I caught as the build progressed. All of my subs had "stellar" reputations as well.

Jeremy

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Did I mention I'm no builder? :confused3:

The basement only comprises a portion of the footprint of the home. The basement footings are just that. Nothing has been prepped above ground for the slab.

As this progresses, I'll be posting images that will make more sense than my explanations The basement walls will be next Tues/Weds. I suspect the ground level work will start at that point. Who knows ... In 10-14 days, even I may understand it!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I'm confused too. How are they going to attach the ledge at the base of your footing? Is it going to be attached by rebar drilled sideways into your original footing? I would be worried about settling differences if they are not attached. But I'm not a builder either.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I'm confused too.

Alright ... we need to start a club!!!

Guys, I'm sorry I can't explain this any better than I understand it ... poorly. I'm just going to keep an eye on what happens because I also had/have concerns on settling - only across the span of the basement exterior walls. I brought this up directly with the contractor and he says THERE WILL BE NO SETTLING PROBLEM. He is adamant.

If I "think" I see a problem in the making, I will most likely become a nuisance. Until then, I'm just going to have to give the guy a break and hope his reputation is well founded.

As I mentioned earlier, I ordered my safe room steel door today. Until it arrives (scheduled Monday) the basement wall pour is on hold. With luck, that will be next Tues/Weds. MAYBE by then, or at least very shortly after, I can get some pics and shed more light on this - for all of us.