Building a stick frame house in the woods in 90 days

[FairfaxStu]

Peter, I think you have received some valuable advice from both Ron and Sixdogs. I think the fix is a combination of both of their ideas - creating drainage ditches in a few areas and regrading some others. I really don't think it is likely that you will get much help, if any, from the County given the economy with budget cuts, sequester days, and the like.
-Stu

 

[pclausen]

Agreed. Appreciate the advice Ron and Sixdogs!

I have looked at it with a couple of different guys and yes, just a little change to the grade in front of the driveway should keep the water from running down and across it. Likewise, a little work on the approach should prevent the stream running down the "tractor trail" by the shed.

I'll see if I can get Timmy to come back with the Case 850. He should be able to get it knocked out in no time. Since they got it slightly wrong the first time, hopefully it will be a freebie.

Still waiting on the rock guy. They sent some substitute rock guys, but they sucked. I could pull the rock they put up back off by hand the next day. Turned out to be a good thing since, despite telling them to only put thin rocks where the gate opens due to clearance, they didn't and sure enough, the gate hit the rocks once opened about 75 degrees.

Besides, the rock pattern they used was totally different from the work the original guy did. So now we're back to waiting again. Also have numerous things on the final punch list that are not done. Hopefully I'll be able to post some "everything is done" pictures by Christmas, lol...

Peter

 

[pacerron]

Agreed. Appreciate the advice Ron and Sixdogs!

I have looked at it with a couple of different guys and yes, just a little change to the grade in front of the driveway should keep the water from running down and across it. Likewise, a little work on the approach should prevent the stream running down the "tractor trail" by the shed.

I'll see if I can get Timmy to come back with the Case 850. He should be able to get it knocked out in no time. Since they got it slightly wrong the first time, hopefully it will be a freebie.

Still waiting on the rock guy. They sent some substitute rock guys, but they sucked. I could pull the rock they put up back off by hand the next day. Turned out to be a good thing since, despite telling them to only put thin rocks where the gate opens due to clearance, they didn't and sure enough, the gate hit the rocks once opened about 75 degrees.

Besides, the rock pattern they used was totally different from the work the original guy did. So now we're back to waiting again. Also have numerous things on the final punch list that are not done. Hopefully I'll be able to post some "everything is done" pictures by Christmas, lol...

Peter

Peter,
Sorry to hear your still waiting on the stone on the gate columns.
It did look in your pictures like there was not enough clearance between the gate hangers and the concrete block
for the stone. Will fitting thinner stone on the pin sides cause a problem with the front and back corners on that face?
I'm sure it can be done by a good layer but he must be on a bigger job and you may never see him again. Remember how long it took him to start in the first place.

If sorting enough stone or cutting enough thin stone for the pin sides is a problem or will create a problem with the look,
you might consider, after some careful calculations, making the pins stick out further. To accomplish this, turn the pin brackets on the gates so they are on the rear rather than the sides as you have them now. That will give you more clearance for the stone equal to the bracket amount that now sticks out on each side.

This will move the gate forward a little, maybe an inch, if you use the same pin holes, or you could put in new pins when they put the stone on. The gate may look better that way, to boot, as the hinge pin brackets will be hidden from the street view.
Do you have all the dog fence up yet?

Ron

 

[pclausen]

I met with the stone guy that did the original work. He agreed the work done by those other 2 guys was unacceptable and he will tear down the stones they put up and do it over. He feels confident that he can work with the clearances around the gate hinges with no issues. He has had some tragic family events over the last few weeks (mother dies of cancer 2 weeks ago, and father in an induced coma after a traffic accident last Friday caused by a high school girl sideswiping him in an intersection while texting...). I told him to not worry about this job right now, it can wait.

The dog/deer fence is completed and the gates are fully operational. Here are a couple of pics of the gates as they are right now. I had to notch the columns to sink in the brackets for the actuator arms since they only have a 15" throw and are normally used with 6x6 gate posts.

Landscaping in front of the house is starting to come together

 

[tommu56]

From 2307

Will also need to look into adding some dirt banks or something at the driveway entrance to divert the water away from coming down the left side of the driveway and down behind the shed.

put a small mound in drive called a water bar to direct water were you need it to go.

or some thing like this to keep it flush

 

[FairfaxStu]

Peter:

Glad to hear that the deer/dog fence is in and operational. Geez, your rock guy has really had some hardships to deal with. I wish him the best.

The real question at this point is what does your mother think of everything despite the drainage issues? I hope she is happy.
-Stu

 

[wmonroe]

The place looks really good. Anything your mom has found that she wants to change or would have done differently?


Too bad about the stone guys family troubles, that's good of you though to let him focus on his family and not have to worry about work.

 

[FairfaxStu]

Folks:

Peter called me tonight and we had a good chat. He has been busy with other projects including more repairs to his BMW X5. To quote him, "I can't make it more than about a week without something else breaking". I am pretty sure at this point that he has spent more time doing repair work than he actually has driving it. Peter, his mother, and family are doing well.
-Stu

 

[tractchores]

Folks:

Peter called me tonight and we had a good chat. He has been busy with other projects including more repairs to his BMW X5. To quote him, "I can't make it more than about a week without something else breaking". I am pretty sure at this point that he has spent more time doing repair work than he actually has driving it. Peter, his mother, and family are doing well.
-Stu

Not to get too off subject, but i had the same car and can confirm it was in the shop as much as on the road. I lost the engine (valve problem) at 40k mi and trany at 50k before ditching it because it was about to go out of warranty.

 

[tractchores]

Folks:

Peter called me tonight and we had a good chat. He has been busy with other projects including more repairs to his BMW X5. To quote him, "I can't make it more than about a week without something else breaking". I am pretty sure at this point that he has spent more time doing repair work than he actually has driving it. Peter, his mother, and family are doing well.
-Stu

Not to get too off subject, but i had the same car and can confirm it was in the shop as much as on the road. I lost the engine (valve problem) at 40k mi and trany at 50k before ditching it because it was about to go out of warranty.