House

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Sorry no new pics today. As I feared they didn't pull the forms off the walls on Saturday as was mentioned to me on Friday. That's ok since I found it strange that they would be pulling them that fast anyway.

So I took my wife to the house site today as Sunday is her time to see the progress. She does see the updates via the digital pics I take with our camera so she is always up to date.

I realize a job site is going to be messy and yes trash does get dropped. I cleaned up the few coffee cup lids, and soda cans from the cement crews. I figure I will see what the carpenters do or not do before I figure a trash can is needed. Since due to the weather it will just fill with water anyway.

So maybe tomorrow I will have no pics of the forms coming off, although I may wait until Tuesday to spare myself the gas and mileage.

 

[RobS]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

<font color=blue>I realize a job site is going to be messy and yes trash does get dropped</font color=blue>

That's one of my peeves as well. We put a picnic table and a trash can (with lid) out there and the guys use it somewhat. I still find a lot of lunch trash all over the place though. We've had a dumpster on-site for a few weeks now and they still toss trash where ever they are.

On the other side of the coin though, I spent a couple of long days out there doing the cable/network/audio wiring. I ate lunch at the picnic table but had a number of snacks and cans of pop in the house. It was a slight inconvenience to walk all the way back to the trash can with a candy bar wrapper. Maybe the key is a number of small trash cans placed about?

We try to spend some time each weekend tidying up around the place. I figure maybe the crews will see that we care so perhaps that ethic will rub off a bit. They've all been great crews so far and honestly, I'd rather pay them for their skilled trade than to pick up trash /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[JTD]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

We've got the same trash problem with the foundation crew. I've spoken to the contractor and it is a little better. Yesterday I had to drive all over the place to pick up trash blown from the site after some thunderstorms Friday. This is really a sore point with my wife (right after cigarette butts left around). I think you are right that several trash cans may help. I may also hire a next door neighbor's kid to clean up on a regular basis since he's asked for work.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Well the foundation crew should be done today. I stopped out last night and at first it didn't look like there were there at all. Then I noticed they took the pins, clamps (whatever they are called) off the forms so that I guess today they will just pull the forms off. So maybe tonight I will have bare walls that will soon get coated and then back filled before the weekend?

 

[s1120]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

cool. Your on the way now. Just talked to my builder. Secound draft of plans are done, and we will be stakeing out the house on mon, or tue. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Looks like we will be on our way soon.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Hot off the digital camera. the walls are free of forms. It appears they have some general clean up to do still.

Here is the garage face on shot.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Here is the front of the house.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Last one. The side angle shot.

 

[RobS]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Very nice Michael! Gotta love all those angles, though your framers aren't going to be too thrilled with you /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

Not much photo worthy at our place today but I was pleasantly surprised when I went in. The framers had been back to do the basement steps and various other details. Maybe a porch roof tomorrow. Also found our furnaces in the basement with a large pile of ductwork and various fittings.

Keep those pictures coming, lots of fun /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

RobS,

Not much progress since Tuesday when the forms were all pulled off. Today I stopped out and there were forms waiting to be picked up and mostly odds and ends laying around.

The problem is the builder can't move forward with finishing up the drain tile, coating the exterior walls and the excavators can't backfill either. We finally get a nice weather that is supposed to hold out. But man it is hard to see nothing moving along.

 

[tdenny]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Robs,

Be patient it will happen. I know the pain you feel. When we were building our house the framers disappeared for a month and a half. You might say, "Why didn't they just hire some more". Around here (Seattle) the construction industry is still booming and framers are impossible to find. We kept showing up every night to see the progress only to look and shake our heads.

At any rate the whole schedule ended up about two months late because of that. It was a tough wait but from the looks of your new home it should be well worth the wait. Good luck..

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

RobS,

I talked to the excavators last night. He sd that he stopped out and saw the mess and called the builder. He told him he planned to back fill this weekend and he needed the exterior water proofing done and the masons stuff out of the way.

Well tonight I went out and they did clean up the mess and the walls have been prepped for the back fill. The excavators are going to make sure the drain tile is all set all the way around. They are installing some extra stone on 2 areas that they feel need extra draining. I agreed.

So here we are all ready for back filling and the start to framing. Will post more on Sunday.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Well they started to backfill the foundation. The stone base of the garage floor is done and of course I had to test out (my wifes) car to see how it looks.

 

[RobS]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Hey, things are coming right along for you! I did the same thing with my tractor shortly after our garage was backfilled, just had to make sure it fit /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

I've been without TBN for several days while we moved out of our old house and into a rental. Still no phone there, but hopefully tonight. Roofers finished yesterday and we're supposed to get insulation tomorrow. I'd take some pictures but I'm not completely sure where the camera is in the sea of boxes /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Lots more to catch up on, keep the updates coming /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

RobS,

Well the backfill was completed today. And I almost ran into one of the masons trucks litteraly as he was coming into the driveway. The builder told them to collect the stuff and trucks (they only left two stake racks behind) and get them out or they will be towed. Once he starts he is moving his fork lift out there and it will server as a gate. It will block the whole drive and with the trees lining my driveway and the lift locks up no one will get in unless they go into the woods.

Anyway here is the finished product I will post a few pics. Here is the far edge of the front lawn facing the house (to be).

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

Here is the collection of worker bees that the excavators have been using. What is missing is their other ten wheel dump truck the (forget what you call it) front loader/excavator tractor? and another dozer.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

A good shot of my driveway and turn around area.

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

They start the framing tomorrow, and I guess they will be pouring the basement too. Not bad. So by the weekend I should have some really moving pics.

I called the local sub who is doing my premise wiring (voice, video, data and speakers) and he was a bit surprised by my call. I guess he figured either I wasn't doing it or he priced himself out. Actually I felt his pricing was good and I have seen his quality of work at a friends new home so I am sold.

I will be doing the voice/video/data/ speaker wire in all the necessary rooms, but will only be doing the surrond sound in the great room and master bedroom. The other rooms can wait (money) and in the next 18-24 months I will look to finish or longer depending on $$$.

Rob and others building lets have a great summer.

 

[RobS]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

MDNY, your driveway makes me jealous! Things look to be coming right along.

We're still adjusting to the rental house. Being a creature of habit, it's tough developing new habits and routines. We spent a lot of time prepping the kids for the move so they could ease into it, but forgot about ourselves. Lots of little things I could do to get this house set up the way we want it, but I'm forcing myself not to since it's short term.

Drove by the new house last night but it was raining so didn't get out. It appears they dropped a pump down in the well and laid the water line and electrical back to the house. I was talking to the roofer saturday morning and he said it was his cousin who drilled the well. Between the two of them they covered over 200 vertical feet /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MDNY]

Re: House, Chimney Construction

RobS,

Well they poured the basement floor on Wednesday as planned (surprised me) and they have begun to framing to cap the first floor. Things are looking good. Nice weather planned for most of the next week.