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While one crew tediously ties steel for the top level walls, another crew readies the middle level deck for the top layer of exposed aggregate.
We are tying both ends of this deck into the rockeries to help blend the house into the environment.
The pressure treated window bucks show the screws that will be covered in concrete and will then hold the wood tight. Downstairs we used galvanized nails, larger in size, but fewer in quantity. Turns out they didn’t hold very well.
What good’s a wheel, if it can’t be reinvented a time or two.
The Dingo was parked too close to a sprinkler and a leaky gas cap welcomed about a gallon of water to the gas tank. I hadn’t sucked a siphon hose since the gas crisis during Jimmy Carter’s regime. But, hey maybe I could put that talent to some good use in the current gas crisis . . .
To his credit, the head floor polishing guy saw the condition of the bedroom floors and agreed that three were not up to his standard. We are working out a strategy to keep everybody happy. It is refreshing for a contractor to accept responsibility.
Steve
Flooring Solutions from Seattle provided a color palette by actually applying dyes to the floor. Everybody got to pick room colors.
Those pads might not look like much, but they are embedded with diamonds for cutting the concrete. Debbie says I never buy her diamonds. Ha!
Katie just wants to get moved in so she can sit by her creek with her dog.
Because of the wide openings for the Nana walls, and the 14’ high ceilings, the rebar schedule calls for an intricate web of #5 bar to make columns.
Wall growth is waiting now on the electrician to run conduit for outlets.
Steve
The steel railing guys brought welding equipment to add to the 100+ degree temps. They want vertical spindles, while I want horizontal cables. He calls it a ‘ladder’ for the kids. He also refers to the ATV to the outhouse as the shitter shuttle. My hope is his welds as as smooth as his vocabulary!
I just don’t get the younger generation with pants at half mast. If I forget my belt, I am constantly pulling up. At least I am not in the belt and suspenders group. Are you?
Met with the power guy. Voltage drop is an issue. There was a $5,000 fix, and then, with some conversation, we came up with a free fix. Feel the power.
The USFS came through with an agreed reprieve of the four trees on the inside corner. I paid the $1,310 and the Ranger assured me the money would remain dedicated to my roadway so as to be available if ever needed. Yeah, right. At least that’s done.
Seeing the walls go up gives real definition to the building. Course, now I am stressing about bracing, etc.
Steve
With respect to the Great Communicator (Mr. Gorbachev, tear these walls down), I was glad to finally say, Mr. Strode, build those walls up! These are the first walls since resuming work four months ago. Whew!
We tore away the shoring under the top deck. The cantilevered concrete deck with massive front beam is visually intimidating. And very cool.
Debbie went front door shopping. Seems everybody makes the same generic styles. We are looking for something unique, but complimentary to the theme of the house. Hmmmm.
The three day weekend took its toll. Terry no-showed. The floor grinder guys late showed, and then fiddled with the electrics until very late in the day. Eric was expected but did not appear. I guess the 4th burnt out more then just the fireworks.
Progress nonetheless.
Steve
To be honest, I was nervous about the flat work crew. Sure, they worked hard on the interior slab, but the cracking is beyond what I thought was reasonable.
But greater worries kept me from switching flat workers. The special additive that promises to prevent water seepage (the deck in parts is above living space) was ordered by me a month ago, but not ordered by the concrete provider until a couple days before the pour. Then the ‘chairs’ needed to hold up the mesh ran short. I ordered up a case by overnight FedEx. It went from CA to Memphis. Thank you , thank you very much – not. We improvised with ABS pipe. I think it worked.
Looking good for Friday, all things considered. Oops, somebody didn’t consider cleaning out the pump truck. The sledge hammers solved that problem.
Meanwhile, the floor grinders kept progressing on the slab work, bringing out the hidden rocks and the fish templates.
We continued the river across the deck. That’s me placing rocks. Oh yeah, that’s also me foreseeing old saw blades into the garage slab. When that floor gets polished, we should see the outline of the blades.
The day ended with the flatwork guy exposing the deck aggregate. Sugar is used to ‘kill’ the top cream and then it is removed with a pressure washer. We used Sam’s cola, because the price of molasses had gone up. Imagine that.
Three pours in three weeks. My main guy delivered the goods.
Now we tear out the shoring and start on the last set of walls.
Steve
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