House

[RobS]

Re: House, View from above

Here's the latest shot of our house going up. Chimney is done and as you may guess from the subject line I did have to climb up the tower for a shot (next post). Roofers have started the last section of roof and as soon as the masons take down their platform the framers will come back for the porch roof. Weather continues to cause delays but soon we'll be weathered in /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

RobS,

No walkout in this design. But there are two windows, but I don't see how they put them into the forms so they can actually install them later.

It started out nice today, then poured for an hour or two then stopped for the balance. I went out at lunch figuring I woud catch the masons and confirm the pour for tomorrow. Not a soul to be found. I waited about 40 minutes but no show. I guess they called it a day when it rained. What stinks is they probably could have finished the forms today and poured as planned tomorrow. So maybe a pour next week since it is supposed to rain, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Got to love NY.

At any rate no one has called me to say a pour is on, but I may go out at lunch tomorrow to find out.

 

[RobS]

Re: House, View from above

A rather commanding view from the mason's platform. Also a view I'll likely never have again without a hot air balloon or something. I tried to keep a tractor theme and took one shot with my trailer in the background but I liked this one better /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Re: House, View from above

Since I am a self-proclaimed equipment junkie, here is one final shot of the mason's equipment from below. Quite the impressive rig they use /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Yeah, the weather delays kind of suck. I've found that once they call it a day they're gone even if it does clear off later. We've got just a day or two of roofing to go then the weather won't be quite such an issue for us. Of course there is siding, but that's a whole other story I'll share another time /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

House is looking very nice, Rob. That first picture you posted tonight really shows it off. I forgot, what colors are going to be on the siding?

 

[RobS]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

David, siding color is "Ivy", kind of a mossy green. Lots of cream trim (eaves, fascia, window wraps and band boards). We're trying to work in some burgundy, perhaps in the porch trim. We meet with the builder tonight to finalize a bunch more stuff and get a timing update /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

I like mossy green /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Rob,

Things are looking really good on your house. I like the masons handy work there. No chimney for us as we are going with a gas fireplace and we didn't have any interest in a wood burning. So we saved some cost on not having a brick & mortal one.

The foundation forms were finished today and they are going to pour tomorrow. I guess it was a good thing I stopped out at lunch time and met up with the masons. They didn't have a cell phone and based on weather (not being cooperative overnight) they are concerned about mud and such. So they will need a pumper truck (added cost to me) so they had to call around. I helped out and they got one.

Next are some foundation shots with the forms ready to go for tomorrow.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Here is another shot of the forms.

 

[RobS]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Wow, looks great MDNY! Be sure to get some pics of that pumper truck, should be impressive. How far off the street are you?

We had a meeting with our builder last night. Went over costs to date and such. We're running a bit over, but not as bad as we were expecting. Siding has been an issue for us. The color we want is only available in the top of the line vinyl siding. That's OK in the long run, but more expensive up front. Also, getting high/no quotes from the siders due to the height. She finally found a guy to do the job and he was reasonable. We'll still have to foot the bill for a man-lift to reach the peaks.

Our final move from our current house into the rental is this weekend and next. Busy, busy, busy /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Rob,

We are about 250FT back from the road, but the driveway is bout 300FT +/- long. We did pretty much all of the deciding to have a budget in place before we even broke ground. The only things that are allowances were the fireplace (we chose it and it is within budget) the well and tank, and finally the lighting budget. We have to pick siding and shingles.

Funny thing about shingles. Our builder has been using the 25YR Certainteed. He has a house going up about 1.5 months ahead of ours. He just got them in for that job and found that the shingle companys seemed to all at the same time (uh huh) made a change. They made the 25YR a 30YR and and introduced a new 25YR. No big deal until you notice that the new 25YR is not the same as the old. So we are going 30YR paying a few hundred more and not having to worry.

So far we are about $1.5k over. The excavators did plan for extra stone needed on the left side and front bay from unexpected water and soft soil. I agree a dry basement is a higher priority. Also the pump truck wasn't in the budget but due to weather it is now. Not sure who is paying that me or the builder. Then there is the shingle increase. Not too bad so far.

Anyway here are som pics. the first is pump truck

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Here is the back of the pump truck unfolding (so to speak)

Michael

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Here is the pump truck fully extended.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

My first load of concrete for the walls

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Let us not forget the exceptional weather people and mother nature. They had originally called for a nice day. But of course the weather changed a day later.

This is the pump truck operator hard at work.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

The last load. It took about 54 yards of concreted to fill my walls up. We have 8' basement with 4' garage walls each is 10" thick.

I got there about 8:30 am and stayed until 4pm. The trucks started pumping at 10:00 and finished at 3:45. We originally had until 2pm with the boom operator, but he was a great guy and was willing to stay and let the final bit in. they had to bring in a last few yards to meet the fill.

They are pulling forms tomorrow and I will take pics on Sunday. Oh yeah got my nice knee high yellow boots to keep my feet dry and mud free. They are nice, but do get heavy.

Michael

 

[RobS]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Absolutely awesome Michael! Of course, I'm an equipment junkie. I actually have a 1:50 scale model of a pumper. Same Mack chassis (not sure why that chassis is so popular with pumpers, but it is) but my model has a Schwing pumper, not a Putz. Good you got some photos to remember that by! Your pouring weather looks as bad as ours though ours turned to snow partway through. Hope it improves for the rest of your project /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[s1120]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Ohhhhhhh!!!!!! you guys are KILLING me! I wan't my new house NOW!

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

s1120

Get in line. My builder projects sometime in October for our move in date. We didn't get an appraisal for the full construciton value so other funding options are covering the balance. It is hard to build a victorian home (right RobS) and get a good appraisal. Everyone wants a simple box to keep the cost down. Not us.

RobS, I know what you mean. the rain was bad, but I had on my new boots, an umbrella and rain jacket (from my golf bag) to protect me. The crew didn't even stop for lunch. But I did complement the young kid who worked last weekend to pull the footing forms on an 80 degree sunny day. He worked hard.

Nothing but rain on Mon/Tues then some sun (so they claim) then rain on Fri and Sunny for the weekend. All I know is they need to dry the mud out to move it around better.

I will tak pics of the foundation all bare and ready to be topped with a house.