New House Build in WV

[TnWV]

Here’s a few pics of the porch and dirt work from yesterday. Today consisted of moving some stumps while I had the bobcat here, winterizing my camper and working on getting the grade in the garage completed. Just need to do some raking and final compacting and it should be ready for vapor barrier and rebar.

 

[ovrszd]

Lookin good!!! Thanks for the pics!!!

 

[EddieWalker]

Good idea to get the dirt all done so you can concentrate on the house once the weather gets bad.

 

[TnWV]

Good idea to get the dirt all done so you can concentrate on the house once the weather gets bad.

Yep, didn’t expect that to get that done this weekend, so it was a nice surprise, and only cost the price of a rental. Looking like a dry week, so hoping by the weekend I can get it tilled, dragged and some seed/straw down in the front and around the side. The back will still need a little work and possibly a couple loads of dirt brought in to get it how I want it, but that can easily be done with the equipment I have and will likely wait until spring.

 

[civilian]

Yep, didn’t expect that to get that done this weekend, so it was a nice surprise, and only cost the price of a rental. Looking like a dry week, so hoping by the weekend I can get it tilled, dragged and some seed/straw down in the front and around the side. The back will still need a little work and possibly a couple loads of dirt brought in to get it how I want it, but that can easily be done with the equipment I have and will likely wait until spring.

Even if not to final grade, you may wnat to throw some grass seed down in areas not final graded for the winter. Might cut down on tracking mud. Jon

 

[TnWV]

Lookin good!!! Thanks for the pics!!!

Thanks! I’m trying to get better about taking pics as I go, but most of the time when I think about it, I find I walked out without my phone.

 

[TnWV]

Even if not to final grade, you may wnat to throw some grass seed down in areas not final graded for the winter. Might cut down on tracking mud. Jon

Good point.

Not sure any grass will actually grow being planted this late in the year, but I’m hoping if I get it down, it will come up in the spring.

 

[ovrszd]

Thanks! I’m trying to get better about taking pics as I go, but most of the time when I think about it, I find I walked out without my phone.

Shoot the first 4 or 5 years I carried a Cell Phone I'd see something and wish I had a camera with me......

I have my Samsung phone setup so I double click a button and it goes straight to camera. Improved my spontaneous shots dramatically. Especially of moving wildlife!!!

 

[civilian]

Good point.

Not sure any grass will actually grow being planted this late in the year, but I’m hoping if I get it down, it will come up in the spring.

In northern Michigan in October I have throw some seed out and it came up. 2 different years. Ground is still warm then. I would think similar in your area? Jon

I was thinking you were in TN. Opps!

 

[TnWV]

In northern Michigan in October I have throw some seed out and it came up. 2 different years. Ground is still warm then. I would think similar in your area? Jon

I was thinking you were in TN. Opps!

October is actually a really good time to plant grass here, not sure about November though, I’ve never tried it.

We reseeded a hay field in October and it’s come up really good, nice and green.

Wish I had gotten seed in last month.

 

[ovrszd]

We waited a year on our yard. Wasn't ready to seed in the Fall. Never have any luck seeding in the Spring. So we seeded the following Fall.

 

[TnWV]

We waited a year on our yard. Wasn't ready to seed in the Fall. Never have any luck seeding in the Spring. So we seeded the following Fall.

Pretty much the same experience here. Late September - early October is the best time to plant. I planted grass around my goat barn this past March, and it did ok, but not as good as fall planting.

I’ll get grass planted ASAP, fully aware I may have to redo it next fall if I’m not happy with the results.

 

[ovrszd]

A friend of mine did similar. He added wheat as a cover crop to hold the soil until the grass established since it was so late. Worked out fine. Looked kinda funny the following Spring when he had a wheat field around his house.

 

[TnWV]

Been a slow week but did make some progress. Finished the stairs to the basement and got the gravel pretty much finished in the garage. Also picked up all the supplies for my underground electric service. Have a guy coming Sunday morning to dig my ditches, he’ll likely help me install the conduit and water line as well. Rain in the forecast for the weekend now, so not sure that will happen.

I’ll work on the last of the garage wall and decking through the weekend. If rain holds off, I’ll till and drag the front and side yard and plant seed.

I’m off all next week, so should get a lot done.

 

[Buppies]

I have had good luck seeding in the fall as late as November but water it when freezing temperatures are called for all night. Seeds do not freeze

Your build is coming along nicely

 

[TnWV]

Grass planting never happened. Left early Saturday to pick up straw, came home and was about to start tilling when my ditch guy called and said he was on his way, a day early.

We got the ditches dig, water lime in and electric conduit in. They use a ventrac and boy what a machine that is. Effortlessly cut the ditches in at 36”, would have taken me all day with the wall behind rental.

They moved quick, a little too quick, as the dot h was buried before I realized the conduit for the phone line never got put in. Took me most of the day Sunday to hand dig the same ditch down to 18” and put the conduit in, all 180’ of it. Digging wasn’t too bad since the dirt was loose, just time consuming. Bummer but it’s done now, and I’m thankful for that.

We had a light rain as we finished the ditch work on Saturday, and rained pretty hard Sunday just as I finished the phone conduit, so too muddy to work on the yard now. Not sure if it’ll dry up enough to use the tiller again or not, forecast doesn’t look good....

Nice day today, and after running for water fittings and rebar, I managed to finish framing the garage door wall, now just need to sheet it and all the major framing will be done.

Not sure if I mentioned yet or not, but I purchased a set of forks for my tractor just before starting the build. One of the best purchases I’ve made and I’m not sure how I would have done most of this without them. Here’s a shot of the tractor helping lift the 16’ garage door header in place.

 

[ovrszd]

Thanks for the update.

When we were building I was **** about keeping track of all the utilities being buried. My backyard is a spider web of utilities. Somehow I got it all done without forgetting anything.

 

[TnWV]

I have got a good bit done this week, but not as much as I’d hoped at this point.

The garage wall is sheeted.



I’ve got all but 6 rows of the composite decking down as well, hopefully I will finish it tomorrow. I bought a sliding miter saw and stand to make cutting the boards easier. A board across to studs makes a nice extension of the stand and really helped with the 16’ boards. I should have bought this setup at the beginning of the build, no more leaning over or using the circular saw for cutting boards.




My 7 year old son has been working on a house of his own lately. It gets sturdier every day!



I also got the water line hooked up and the inside electric panel hung and the service wire ran and tied into the panel. I will install the meter/disconnect on the outside over the next couple days so I can get the inspection done. Electric service is the only required inspection.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Your 7 yo son's house is priceless.

Maybe let him make a fort or treehouse with it?

 

[TnWV]

Your 7 yo son's house is priceless.

Maybe let him make a fort or treehouse with it?

He has added to it since the picture. It will at least stay in the basement for him to play with.

He has gotten pretty good with the screw gun!