Block Work Almost Done - Sept 25

The block work is nearly done now. Click pictures for a larger view.

The sides and front wall won't have high block walls because those parts of the basement are above grade and will be framed out. The next step is to put vertical rebar in the holes in the block and then pump the holes full of concrete.

This view shows the garage side of the house foundation in the foreground and the rear retaining wall in the background. The wall tapers to mirror the contour of the mountain. This wall will also be filled with rebar and concrete. Like the foundation, it will be faced with stone when done so it won't look like a prison wall.

Another view of the basement, but taken from the top side. Looks like Lego blocks.

In case you wondered what the back side of the retaining wall looked like, here it is. This void will be filled with fill dirt or gravel after the concrete has set up.

Sept 20 - Foundation Rising

click on images for enlarged view

Block work continues to go up...
We think there are two more courses of block to go on the back wall, looking up the mountain.

Maybe one more course of block to go on the front side (left side of picture). This is from Cheryl's future studio looking back through the garage to the driveway.

This part of the front wall (right side of picture) is about as high as it goes. The side wall to the left steps down from the back wall in several steps, but looks like that side is about done.

Sept 18 - Foundation is Started

click on images for enlarged view

Today the block masons started laying block for the foundation wall. Based on the new ruts and slide marks in the gravel driveway, it looks like they must have had fun bringing all that block up the driveway. The masons have erected a framework to make sure the walls stay straight and perpendicular as they lay the block.

View from the driveway into the garage area.

View from the future deck looking back through the house.

The footers for the upper retaining wall also got poured today.

Sept 13 - Footers have been poured

Cheryl stands in the middle of the future garage after concrete was poured for the footers.

Scene Changes

Norris is out of town so these are really just for him but we have not posted anything for over a week, and finally we see stuff going IN to the site instead of coming out. O.k. yes, this is the septic system... SuperDave put it in - it was inspected today, and he's not going home till he's finished the backfilling.






Here this one is a little more interesting - it's the rebar for the front door slab - the front door goes at the 45 degree angle.



Look Norris! Our garage has a new resident already!





















And now for an overview of the whole site, with all the trenches.

Sept 4 - Ready for Footers Tomorrow

The surveyors have marked the house footprint and the footer crew is ready to get started tomorrow.

The house footprint, as viewed from the future deck.

Super-Dave has cleared out some trees for the septic, so we can now see across the Reems Creek Valley to the ridge on the otherside. Viewed from our future deck.

Super-Dave has also cleared out some underbrush with his track-hoe, so this will be the view from Cheryl's studio (looking out toward the left).

This will be the view from the studio out toward the right.