Walls

Yesterday the walls on the first floor were fabricated and raised.  Here is a picture of the first one going up. Click on it for a better view. Today, some of the interior walls were added.  The bottom picture is a panorama the day's work. The temperature was in the mid 90s today.  It seemed 20 degrees hotter inside those walls.

Garage Foundation

Over the past couple of days the foundation for the garage was dug and  poured.  I was not there during any of it but it must have been hot work. At the end of August, summer has finally come to St. Louis and the temperature has been in the mid to upper 90s over the past couple of days.

Before

After

We Have Connections

On Friday the water and sewer to the new house were connected.  Below are pictures of the connection to the water main.  The man in the first picture is tapping into the water main in order to connect the line going to the house.  He did not want me to take his picture, so naturally when he was not looking I took it.  The reason for the double connection is that the only size valves the water company uses going into the main are 3/4 inch while the pipe going into the house is one inch. This guy says he does six or seven of these a day.  Seems like purchasing one inch valves would save the water company a lot in labor costs.

The yellow pipe is the gas main.

On Being Square

This is a panoramic view of the carpenters finishing the first floor sub-flooring.  They had all of the right tools and a division of labor that was as efficient as it was impressive.  They really were a team.  This deck is approximately 50' x 30'.  They started from where this picture was taken and were finishing where you see them.  At the end of the process, all of the edges of the 4' x 8' sheets of flooring were striking the exact middle of the 2" portion of the 2" x 12" floor joists, the same as when the process started and everything was square and level.  Amazing!

A Sticky Affair

A few weeks ago I mentioned to Chris that I did not want to have any squeaky floors or stairs in this house.  He said not to worry, that all of the carpenters called him the "glue Nazi" .  Here he is at work.

Keeping the World Safe From Squeaks

Empty  Glue Cartridges 

This One Probably Will Not Be Squeaking

The Carpenters Arrive :-)

August 21st is the first day on the construction site that you can hear hammers, saws and smell fresh lumber.

Setting the I beams in place

Bo Giving Chris, Our Builder, a Lesson On How to Build a House

Some of the Last Sun Light These Floor Joists Will See

A Day's Work

Relief ! ! !

One of the Amenities of the Work Site

Keeping the Basement Dry

Wet basements generate mold, so the ideal basement is a dry basement.  To keep things dry, the outside basement walls are covered with a black "pitch" like substance and then a vinyl covering that looks kind of like bubble wrap is placed over the "pitch". The bubbles have small holes in them that captures any water that comes down the side of the basement and directs it down to the drain pipes and gravel that surround the foundation.

The Forms Are Removed

Drain Pipe and Wall Covering are Installed

Gravel is Placed Over the Drain Pipe

The Pour

On Tuesday, August 13, the walls for the basement were poured.  It took about 9 yards of concrete, 8 trucks and all day to make it happen.  Fortunately the weather cooperated and the high only got up into the 80s.  It was still hot labor for the workers.  The wet concrete is hot and the heat coming up out of the forms made the day seem much hotter for those guys.

The Work Begins

Si (Duck Dynasty) the Cement Truck Driver

The Brain Trust

Careful!!!

Doing the Hard Work.

Soon To Be Entombed.

Straightening the Walls.

Waiting Their Turn.

The Leveler 

Hot Work!!!

Finished, straightened wall

Basement Walls Go UP

Late last week the forms for the basement walls began to be set in place.  These walls will be 8' 10" high, which will allow for standard height ceilings in the finished part of the basement.   The snaking wall in the bottom picture will be straight when they pour the concrete.

Before

After

All Future Vacations Are Canceled ! ! !

Tim our foundation guru and Chris the general contractor have both been on vacation during the last week.  The work site, however, is good for something.

My granddaughter, Ellie, practicing the long jump.