It's finally happening!

[DanG]

As most of you know, I've been pecking away for a while, trying to get a house started.  Progress has been slower than I could ever have imagined. :-\

Well, a little window of opportunity has finally opened, as a couple of my friends got a sudden break in their schedule and offered to come over and help get it done.  Now these guys are experts at this stuff, and both of'em work like a rented mule!  John, the Contractor(same guy that has the big pottery kiln), was so confident yesterday that he had me call for an inspection for this afternoon.  Continuing in that confident vein, he ordered the concrete for tomorrow!  At that point, we were nowhere near being ready for the inspection OR the mud!

In this County, the inspectors always work the east side in the mornings and the west side in the afternoons, so we figured we had to work hard to make any kind of showing by mid-afternoon.  Imagine our dismay when he pulled in at 10:30 this morning!   It turned out that this guy was totally cool!  First thing he looked at was the temp power pole.  I figured it was going to flunk because the meter box was too high.  The guy that built it must have planted it six feet down, and I only put it at four.  I had it in the hole before I realized the problem, but couldn't get it out again without help. :-\  Anyway,  the inspector guy told me to put a pile of dirt around it, and he slapped a sticker on it! :D :D 8) 8)  Then he started looking at the foundation, where we still had at least a  half-day's work to do.  He couldn't believe how stout the thing was being built.  He saw how things were being done, and said he didn't have to worry about this one, so he signed it off, too! 

As it stands right now, I got 3 concrete trucks pulling in at noon tomorrow!! 8) 8) 8)

[pigman]

Congratulations on the start. 8) The only part of building a house harder than starting is finishing the house. ;D


Bob

[metalspinner]

Wow!  I hope you didn't have any plans these next few days. :D  Great news!  What a cool inspector you have.maybe he has a brother up my way in the same biz?

Of course, withoput any pics to prove it you could be just pulling our legs. ;)

[DanG]

Yer just gonna hafta take my word on this one.  Taking pics was the LAST thing on my mind today.  Maybe I'll do better tomorrow, but I ain't making no promises. ;)

[Mooseherder]

DanG was near hunnerd degrees today DanG!

[sawmilllawyer]

Dang, yeah probably won't get no pictures of the concrete trucks neither. Oh well, the housing adventure begins, fare thee well. Andy

[brdmkr]

Well, I'll be.... There is a saying about snow if July or something like that.

Congratulations!

I suppose I'll have to find some time to get down there and be supervised.

[rbhunter]

Congradulations on the start.

I am impressed by the inspector. He found a easy remedy for one problem:
"Anyway,  the inspector guy told me to put a pile of dirt around it," and "Then he started looking at the foundation, where we still had at least a  half-day's work to do.  He couldn't believe how stout the thing was being built.  He saw how things were being done, and said he didn't have to worry about this one, so he signed it off, too!  " he looked at how things were being done and could judge from that how things would continue.

It is good to hear a good story about an inspector.

[Haytrader]

Wait just a DanG minute. I insist on heppin with that mud.
Nothing I like more than pouring concrete, especially when the temperature is a long way from freezing.
;D
Tell ya what. Just go ahead and start without me and I'll be there with hand trowel in hand just as soon as I can.
:D

P.S.  Hey, what ya going for? Husband of the year??
:D :D

[SwampDonkey]

 smiley_clapping

Way to go Dang. The fun begins. 


Having fun yet?  ;D

[Qweaver]

It was about this time last year when we finally got our concrete work finished and I know how you feel.  Will it rain, will the forms hold, can I get everything done in time, have I done everything that I should...worry, worry, worry.  But it sure feels good when it's done and the real building can begin.  Good luck with the pour, I'm sure you've got it with no sweat considering all of the good help that you've got.
Quinton

[DanG]

I've about poured enough coffee down my neck to get me through the morning, so I gotta go out and cut the last few sticks of rebar. : :D :D :D  As soon as I tie them in, we'll be ready for trucks. 

Qweaver, there are no forms to worry about...all of it is bank formed.  I'm not worried about the pour.  It WILL go well.  The "no sweat" comment ain't gonna happen, though.  It should be about 95 by noon!

[bedway]

Something tells me Dang and his friends are gonna be nurseing some sore backs tonight ;D,,,bedway

[Radar67]

You have me envious now DanG. I was planning to start my foundation this week, but plans changed.

Will be looking forward to seeing pictures of your progress over the next few weeks. Also expecting a guided tour after Moultrie this year.  ;)

Stew

[OneWithWood]

Ain't no turning back now  :D

Congrats, Dan.  The journey and the fun have begun.  I can't wait for the open house party when it is finished.

[Corley5]

Now the work really begins  ;) ;D  I'll bet there's more than just sore backs getting nursed/consumed tonight  ;D ;D   Concrete work tends to create a super thirst  for

[WDH]

Come up here, DanG, and get a foundation ready to pour on my place so that it will rain for weeks ;D.

The fun begins .

[Slabs]

Dang DanG

I was hopin to put some elbow grease into that project but CANTHOOK has me busy on a rental fix-up tomorrow.  Oh well, maybe when the temperature goes down.

[badpenny]

   Good on ya, DanG. 8) 8) Glad to hear things are rolling along. Remember, no pics, didn't happen. (We do like pics, eh) My trusses were set in place two weeks ago, and I am still working on shingeling the last half of the last side of the roof.

[DanG]

My beard, my toes, and everything in between, hurt!  But, we got'er DONE!  28¼ yards of mud went into the ground.  The first concrete truck didn't arrive until after 1pm, so we were guaranteed a hot time.  It was 100 degrees by the time we finished.

First truck is in...



They were still getting the concrete pump going at that point.

People working.



That's me all bent over in the hole.  FF member and Son-in-law, James_G was our nozzle man for the pump.  The guy in the funny hat is Ben, and John is wearing the sawed off bibs.  A man has never had better friends than these!

Second truck was a front-loader.



A view from the southeast corner, with the porch footer on the right and the house footer down the center.



The slab in the middle is to support the stairwell and the loft that will bridge across the living/dining area.  We poured it solid to serve as a little root cellar and safe room.  The inside dimensions will be about 3.5'x12'.                                                           

[pigman]

It did happen. 8)   At least you did not have to do a lot of concrete  finishing in the hot weather. Did you get the footer below the frost line? :D

[Jeff]

And ta think, I knew that spot when it was just a hole in the ground.

[brdmkr]

I cut pecan just behind that hole.  Well, I suppose the work has begun.  Or ended if DanG is as sore as I would be after that.

[Tom]

I'm sure proud of you Dang.   Y'all  made it happen. 8)

[sawguy21]

It did happen. 8)   At least you did not have to do a lot of concrete  finishing in the hot weather. Did you get the footer below the frost line? :D

DanG don't know about frost lines. :D The first step is the hardest, don't stop now.