OP
StAngerSandman
Member
Unfortunately, today was 30-40 mph winds all day, and I had to work late, so I didn't get out to the property to check on things. I think they had a bigger crew today, hoping the wind didn't slow them down too much. I wouldn't want to be holding those panels up the way the wind was whipping through, but I'm sure these guys probably don't have any issues. I picture myself flying through the air holding one like a hang glider... 
I'm sure when I get out there tomorrow afternoon, they will have made a ton of progress.
Thanks for everyone's interest, I'll try my best to answer all the questions:
1) How much dirt did we bring in?
Overszd and CompleteLawnCare are correct, the building is on a decent downhill slope (slopes downhill away from the driveway toward the building) and the building was flattened from there. Didn't have to bring in any dirt this way, and we will be able to use those huge mounds of dirt sitting out there now when we start to level the house site (will be about 100 feet away from the barn on the North. (The big barn door faces west). It's going to take all of that, plus I will be bringing in more from the pasture over by the pond (Hope to expand the pond over the next couple years).
2) Insulation / Concrete / Finish work?
Right now I am just doing the super cheap Solex insulation. It is probably like R3... It is really more for drip stop and to keep the black metal roof from fully baking me. Current plan is also to do perimeter installation of the foundation before pouring concrete (pouring 5 inches of 4000 PSI concrete with rebar). That way I don't have a giant thermal heat sink if I ever do want to insulate it. The building is 80x40 and 16' tall, so I doubt I ever try to heat/cool or insulate all of it. Once I have used it for a while I think I'll get a better idea of what I may want to finish off. Originally our plan was to finish off a small portion as an office / bathroom, but I think we are going to kill that idea and move faster on building the house. Longer term, I can likely see myself building a wall near the halfway mark, and finishing the East half (where the 2 smaller doors are) where I will be putting in a 2 post lift (We are going to pour 2 4'x4' areas 8" deep where the lift posts are going for extra strength). That way I don't freeze or sweat my behind off when working on cars, etc. The other half will be for tractor, etc., and is unlikely to be finished.
We are still working out some details on the home floor plan right now, that is the next step in the process. Right now, I need this finished to get my tractor and more tools out there, and then some more of these 60 degree days to get things done! Planning on a lot of 3 and 4 day weekends this year focused on staying out there working. Hoping I can get more drone footage of using the tractor for clean up and brush clearing, as well as all of the steps once we get going on building the house.
@CompleteLawnCare -> There is a 40' by 600' rock ledge just to the east of the long part of the driveway (not sure it comes through in these pics) that I swear they should let me use as a house foundation! It isn't going ANYWHERE, and I can totally see why you would keep that as the floor if you built over it. Mine has a 2 inch layer of topsil, without that it would be perfectly flat. It seems to be at least 4' deep, but I'm hoping I am wrong because in a perfect world I will be trenching through it to run the electric from the road!
Happy to answer any other questions, and appreciate everyone's interest. This has been a a crazy fun (and stressful and EXPENSIVE) project, but I can't wait until it is all complete and we are out there full time!
Sandman
I'm sure when I get out there tomorrow afternoon, they will have made a ton of progress.
Thanks for everyone's interest, I'll try my best to answer all the questions:
1) How much dirt did we bring in?
Overszd and CompleteLawnCare are correct, the building is on a decent downhill slope (slopes downhill away from the driveway toward the building) and the building was flattened from there. Didn't have to bring in any dirt this way, and we will be able to use those huge mounds of dirt sitting out there now when we start to level the house site (will be about 100 feet away from the barn on the North. (The big barn door faces west). It's going to take all of that, plus I will be bringing in more from the pasture over by the pond (Hope to expand the pond over the next couple years).
2) Insulation / Concrete / Finish work?
Right now I am just doing the super cheap Solex insulation. It is probably like R3... It is really more for drip stop and to keep the black metal roof from fully baking me. Current plan is also to do perimeter installation of the foundation before pouring concrete (pouring 5 inches of 4000 PSI concrete with rebar). That way I don't have a giant thermal heat sink if I ever do want to insulate it. The building is 80x40 and 16' tall, so I doubt I ever try to heat/cool or insulate all of it. Once I have used it for a while I think I'll get a better idea of what I may want to finish off. Originally our plan was to finish off a small portion as an office / bathroom, but I think we are going to kill that idea and move faster on building the house. Longer term, I can likely see myself building a wall near the halfway mark, and finishing the East half (where the 2 smaller doors are) where I will be putting in a 2 post lift (We are going to pour 2 4'x4' areas 8" deep where the lift posts are going for extra strength). That way I don't freeze or sweat my behind off when working on cars, etc. The other half will be for tractor, etc., and is unlikely to be finished.
We are still working out some details on the home floor plan right now, that is the next step in the process. Right now, I need this finished to get my tractor and more tools out there, and then some more of these 60 degree days to get things done! Planning on a lot of 3 and 4 day weekends this year focused on staying out there working. Hoping I can get more drone footage of using the tractor for clean up and brush clearing, as well as all of the steps once we get going on building the house.
@CompleteLawnCare -> There is a 40' by 600' rock ledge just to the east of the long part of the driveway (not sure it comes through in these pics) that I swear they should let me use as a house foundation! It isn't going ANYWHERE, and I can totally see why you would keep that as the floor if you built over it. Mine has a 2 inch layer of topsil, without that it would be perfectly flat. It seems to be at least 4' deep, but I'm hoping I am wrong because in a perfect world I will be trenching through it to run the electric from the road!
Happy to answer any other questions, and appreciate everyone's interest. This has been a a crazy fun (and stressful and EXPENSIVE) project, but I can't wait until it is all complete and we are out there full time!
Sandman
