Growing

The forms are continuing to grow. We are told they won't be ready to pour until the first of next week. Diana is the main contact for the contractors. They told her today that when all rebar is in place there will be three tons of iron in the foundation. With the spacing of the rebar seen in the first picture, it's not too hard to see how they will get to the three ton mark. The tops of the vertical bar is close to where the heighth of the finished wall will be.

Taking Shape

There are enough forms in place now to see the outline of the floor plan. Missing are the screened porch which will continue on from the foundation panel on the lower right hand part of the picture and the garage which will be to the left of the picture. Thanks for checking in.

Getting Into Form

The foundation work has begun. Not much to look at yet but rebar is placed in the key way and around the perimeter where footings will be poured. Now we are moving into actual construction mode. Woo Hoo......

More Dirt

The rest of the dirt in the basement area has been excavated out. The small track hoe is digging a key way that will be under the footing on the length of concrete wall that will be 10 feet high. I would never have known what a key way is were it not for this project. The only dirt left to be excavated is the garage area which in this picture is above the track hoe. We're getting closer to the start of a foundation.

Bigger

The hole got bigger. There's still a ways to go but a hydraulic line on the track hoe had other ideas about gettig it finished today. It is repaired now so they say they will complete it tomorrow. Sometimes equipment dictates the pace.

Dirt

The excavation has started. It's nice to start moving out of demo and into the actual construction project. Thanks for checking in.

Blocks and Rocks

Today Tony and Bob came over to help remove landscape blocks and rocks. They were inside the excavation area and they will be reused for other things on our place. It went much faster with their help. There are many more to remove but they are not in the way right now. Two of the 'Three Amigos', Cole and Tyran, also were here. They found the remaining pile of concrete that will be loaded out Monday and couldn't resist the climb. The Wii was their main attraction for the day. Thanks for checking in.

Just a bit more

As you can see, about all that's left is concrete. They should get that cleared out tomorrow. We will then stake out the approximate location of the new house and we will move on to excavation. Thanks for checking in.

What Happened?

I go to work in the morning with a house in place and when I come home, it's gone. Well almost. As you can see from the pictures they did use the track hoe today. Josh said he was in anger release mode. I know there's a legitimate reason for parking equipment on top of things at the end of the day but it still looks like there's a little boy in all construction workers. Their toys are just bigger and more powerful.

Now It Starts

A crew has moved in to start the demolition of the house. They removed all the windows and pretty much anything metal. They also have removed all the ceiling insulation and bagged it up. Quite a process as they get to it by removing the ceiling sheet rock. It all gets hauled to several different places for recycling, or at least that's what we're told. We removed some of the carpeting ourselves so now our shop is also carpeted, better accoustics for sure. The track hoe is here and should be put to work in the next day or so. This is the contractors first step in building our new house so now it starts. Thanks for checking in.