DAY 118: Second Floor ICF Still Plugging Along...

Brent arrived today at 8am, followed by Blaine and Brady around 8:30am, then Lisa and Cole at 9:00am.  Cole left at 11:40am for region swim.  Lisa left at 4 pm to make it to a cousin party.  Brent, Blaine and Brady didn't leave until 6pm.  It's been a long day but we're finally starting to see progress on the second floor ICF.  We are scheduled to pour next Saturday.  We're tired.  Brent's already asleep.  Cole is still gone for swim.  My head is swimming...

Today I noticed from this kitchen window (picture below) that we will be able to see Utah Lake.  How 'bout that?

 Aaaaahhhhhh, Timp

 We enjoy the simple pleasures.  Cole noticed a large piece of ice in the stair well (in the plastic).  He pushed it up, Brent grabbed it.  It was cool because it has a frozen layer of dirt. 

 So, of course Cole tossed it...

 and it smashed really well!!

Another progress shot.  As of 6pm today the foam reaches all of the windows! 

Another lesson in ICF.  Here is a wall dissection. Where there are joints that form a "T" or on edges by a door frame (that's what this is) the blocks are tied together with a gynormous  plastic zip tie.  I loved zip ties already and these are the BEST! This is one of the highly technical mechanisms that stop a wall from blowing out when concrete is poured down inside.  (The zip ties are actually part of the system, we didn't make it up).  From handcuffs to concrete walls, zip ties, can't live without them. 

 The other day I mentioned a stump that we pulled.  It was the most innocent looking stump, just sticking out about 8 inches out of the ground.  I couldn't believe it when Brent started pulling it with the backhoe.  It had a huge root system.  That's the "stump" in the upper left of this picture. I circled the part that was sticking out of the ground.  You can see a wooden pallet on the right, gives you an idea of the size of the thing.  I was so happy it was OUT of our yard!!!!  I love the idea (although a bit overwhelming) of a clean slate with the yard.  We'll make something great out of it!

DAY 114: I Like Snow Better

Blaine and his son in law Brady came down today to help us out.  For the first bit Blaine and I shoveled snow.  Snow is so much easier to deal with than the rain.  Brent and Brady bent more than 40 pieces of rebar for corner reinforcements.  Got in one more row of the blocks, got in a couple of windows, and placed bracing.  We'll be back at it on Saturday.  We are once again enjoying fantastic weather.  So remarkable.  We just need to to snow in the  mountains like crazy.

 

DAY 111: It's Raining, It's Pouring, We're Still Working Today

We had such great hopes of getting up the  main floor ICF.  It rained and rained some more.  We finally gave in to the weather around 1:00 pm (very unlike us...)

Brent covered the entire main floor with heavy plastic.  It really helped.  We still needed to sweep all the water off of the deck.  That job fell to me and Cole.

 Cole spent a bunch of time sweeping water into the stair well.  He rigged up a drainage system with the ICF teeth protectors and ran the water out the back door.  Now we just have an ice skating rink in the back yard.  The basement ended up with a lot of water but we got much of it swept out.  Brent and Cole also worked on all the "buck" bracing for the main floor windows and doors.  Not an overly productive day, but it's still work!

DAY 106: Garage Flooring, Main Floor ICF Stacking

We celebrated the holiday by WORKING!  That's how we roll!  The garage basement was about to receive it's flooring/roof.  But first, the big steel beam had to be lowered in place.  All the bolts sticking out of the top of the beam were welded on by Brent and Cole.  The cement locks around the bolts and helps to hold the beam in place.

 

Last Saturday Brent and Bob (Brent's brother) went to Provo and loaded up Brent's two ton bending table.  Since Brent rented the back hoe to lower the beam he decided to lower a few pieces of equipment into the basement storage.  The bending table was the first to go down, then the compressor.  

 Rick has been doing foundation and cement work for us.  He and Brent got that beam in place then Rick started working on the B Decking for the garage floor (storage ceiling).

  Brent got to use his bender in it's new home.  The rebar he bent was for the ICF walls.

 Cole's job was to cut rebar. 

Blain Johns is the Build a Block rep for Utah.  He came down today to help us start the main floor.  

The highlight of the day for me was ripping out a stump on our lot that has been bugging me.  Brent used the backhoe to get it out.  It seemed like a small stump, but the root system was huge!  I'm tired.

DAY 102: Christmas is still up, garage basement storage pour

I must get Christmas packed up.  Historically all Christmas is put away on December 26.  Didn't happen this year.  We were back filling and compacting a garage basement on December 26 this year.  This morning I was looking at my nativity (la creche).  History lesson here: http://www.santonsmarcelcarbonel.com/?language=en I bought many of the pieces during Christmas while on my mission in France.  I love it, it's the only thing that I collect.  Each figure brings something to the Christ child.

 

On my birthday last year Brent and the kids sneaked a santon into my nativity.  Brent had chosen "the blacksmith" (or I just call it "guy with the anvil") as my birthday gift.  I LOVED it!  I was thrilled--Brent chose himself, he is the guy with the anvil. Brent is all about making things and has always had the attitude of "I can do that myself" which has paid off in many ways.  Now he's putting his talents to work building our house. 

 I pulled up to the lot this morning and was greeted by a cement truck.  It dawned on me that we are coming to the end of the heavy machinery phase.   Once we get the walls up more intense work begins for us.

 The backfill for the garage is complete  and we have a better idea about our grades.  I think it will look nice.  It was sure hard to tell when everything was excavated and exposed.

 Today the garage basement storage was poured.  Next step is a big steel beam, flooring, and another pour.  Then we can start putting up the garage.  It will be stick built (less expensive).  

 This is a back yard view from the south east corner.  I'm standing in what will eventually become our vegetable garden. 

The big dirt pile is gone.  It made Estee cry when we watched them haul the dirt over to the garage.  She loved playing on that hill.  Now she has no place to hide when it's time to work (moi-ha-ha-ha, evil laugh).

We are supposed to hit 36 today, just not quite there...

Salt Lake City Current Conditions

32°F
Fair

DAY 101: 2nd story ICF to go up on Monday Jan 16

Just an invitation....

Our crew (the kidlettes) is available on Monday Jan 16th (no school--yay!  They get to work!).  As a result we will be stacking the main floor.  If you are curious come drop by!  I'm sure one of the kids would be relieved to take a break and show you around!  

DAY 100: Playing Chess

35°F
Mostly Cloudy 

 

I am amazed with the weather.  Unbelievable for this time of the year!

Building feels like playing a game of chess.  When a new subcontractor comes we have to move our piles of supplies, junk, tools and trash.  That's what I did this morning.  The pile was here:  

 

We moved it here 

And here

Brent and I put up the waterproofing membrane for the under garage storage.  Like the duct tape?  It wasn't sticking this time so we had to slap it up temporarily with the trusty gray stuff.  Sierra just said it's like a big rubber boot for the house! 

Garage backfill started

We brought cousin Ryan over for a visit to see the tractor.  I thought he would be impressed with the tractor but he LOVED the remote control compactor.

 On my way to the lot early this morning, this was my view across the street.  I LOVE that we have fields and open space close by.  I don't know how long it will last, but I will enjoy it for now!