Almost ready for wood!!!

[R7]

I'm thinking about placing my first lumber order for next weekend

It was a pretty good day today, Bob moved just a couple yards of fill around...and I stood around with a shovel (it was actaully holding me up so I didn't fall over most of the time)
Bob put his skills to work today yet again, nice job

I'm hoping the heavy rain holds off until late tomorrow, we need another good day to finish.

[beet]

Bob does nice work that tar shit sux

[R7]

Bob does nice work that tar shit sux

Yup, he sure does

And I didn't get my hands dirty with that tar shit, I paid one of the form guys a couple hundred bux to come back and put that on, materials included

[beet]

Yup, he sure does

And I didn't get my hands dirty with that tar shit, I paid one of the form guys a couple hundred bux to come back and put that on, materials included

now thats a deal cost almost that for the fing tar he must of found it

[beet]

I never played with that big a hoe

[Stoneman]

That's awesome Mark! I wish Bob lived closer to ME...

[SSearchVT]

Looks like it's coming along. Now the fun begins - most of the work from here on out is by hand - no big excavators... Sorry. You'll enjoy it though - and get good at hefting around 4x8 sheets of plywood in blowing wind...

[Stoneman]

I'm pretty sure Mark's familiar with the construction process...

[Sidewinder]

Doh! I guess you wont be needing those window headers I put on the first floor plan I see you box out the concrete Looking good mark this week looks like a tuff week for framing weather wise. Did you get that loan ok(ed)?

Keep us up to date!

[R7]

Things turned to soup quick today with the snow and rain. Bob got a good early start while I was home sleeping and got a lot done before the rain. I have a nice access road about 500' into the woods to the right of my property so I can get firewood. We only need a few hours of dry weather to spread the topsoil so I'm hoping this storm blows by and we can take care of that before the machine leaves.

Yeah, I don't think I'll have much of a problem tossing around a 4x8 sheet of plywood... now the LVL's I need may be an issue...

Doug, I had to change a bunch of things on the foundation that we had on the plans, thanks to the ledge. The basement windows got moved, got rid of one of them, dropped the rear wall 2' to make the grades work for the backyard, and I had to move my basement entry to the side of the house rather than the rear like on the plan.
Also, I have to finish the second floor now. I didn't want to but those two added bedrooms and a second full bath add $50k-$75k to the house value...which I'll need in the end to get the mortgage and not pay PMI

I'll secure a loan this week and I've got 2 options (I think) at this point, the private mortgage is one of them...though it's expensive

[Punjistick]

It's coming along now

Let me know if you want a transom window or a Rivco pre-hung door.

[Awesome]

Awesome. you must be excited.

[R7]

Thanks, I am very excited to start...and finish. I'll be living there by the winter and everything will be complete by this time next year.
I may just have to have some sort of spring party next year...though I'm not sure if you guys can hang with my neighbors with the drinking My god, they drink 24/7

[Stoneman]

...though I'm not sure if you guys can hang with my neighbors with the drinking My god, they drink 24/7

I think we all know we can keep up with THAT!

[bigred875]

I never played with that big a hoe

fucking sexist!

[R7]

I think we all know we can keep up with THAT!

They're gonna give us a run for our money

No pictures from today, I was to cold and wet to take any After 6" of rain over the past 3 days, we had to spread the topsoil today before the machine left. Yeah it was muddy...very muddy..and sloppy but it still looks damned good to me. The big piles are gone and I can now see the contour of the land again and what the yard will look like. Once things dry a bit we are going to try and york rake it to smoothen things out so I can plant some summer rye to keep the dust/dirt/mud down while I'm building.
Thanks again Bob

[R7]

Not a bad days work I guess I got all the sill plates down and the kneewall built. I couldn't have asked for a better foundation, it was within 1/8" of being level and about 1/4" out of square. I'll put the center beam in tomorrow and layout for the floor joists so I can start them mid week after work.
Even had some time to take a couple laps around the property line trail with my neighbors, it's a fun trail

[MissTwisties]

Can't wait to see the finished house!

[beet]

Can't wait to see the finished house!

[R7]

A not so productive day but I did have some fun

Todd and I were on our way to lunch and I decided to take the back way into town...apperently knowone has used the road sence last weekends storm..



It's a good thing I had my chainsaw in the truck, we were on our way in less than five minutes



And I did manage to get my center beam in today. I put it on adjustable post shores for now for ease of install and just in case the footings settle a little bit.
Not as much as I wanted to get done but I got a late start and had some company. Next weekend the deck and four walls is the goal

[MissTwisties]

what??

[R7]

Man, I'm exhausted!! It's been a while sence i framed and I forgot just how much work it is...especially by yourself.

I got a real late start Saturday and didn't get to the land until close to noon time, friggen doctors appointment...
I got the whole floor system framed by the end of Saturday, I was hoping to have it framed and subfloored, and I would have if I didn't get such a late start, but oh well.

Sunday I got a early start and had the deck on by noon time, I thought I was going to make up for my bad day on Saturday...but once I ate lunch, I lost all my energy and got tired again. Man, I can't wait to get off these Lyme antibiotics I did manage to get one wall framed and boarded, I'll build the front wall after work tomorrow...and then round up some help to stand them up so I can build the side walls.

Doug, did you over engineer this floor system? haha This is the stiffest floor system I have ever worked on, even with a full lift of studs, there was still no bounce. I guess 3 rows of solid block bridging, a half a case of PL construction glue (the big tubes) and nailed every 4-5 inches may have had something to do with that... no wonder it took me so long

I've got a LOT to do this week, I need to get all 4 walls up and the center partition so it's ready for the second floor by the weekend. I also have to scaffold the whole outside so it'll be easier to work the second floor and roof...what the hell, I work for a scaffolding company so why not

Just a few pictures from my weekend..







I can hardly see the road from my future livingroom, just wait until the leaves green up

[skiierx]

Looking good Mark!

[need4speed]

Looks real good so far Mark.

[ftrain]

Damn dude, you are motivated.....