Day 16 | Wall forms are removed and pea stone is moved

House Day: 16
Loan Day: 33

The concrete only needed to set for 24-48 before wall forms can be taken off. So today they came down. We got to the property when they were just about to leave. So we got to touch base with them about the next step in waterproofing (tarring) the outside basement walls. He said they might come today or Monday. My guess is Monday. We were there from 3:30-5 today and nobody showed. The basement walls though, look great! I'm still amazed at how fast concrete can set within those forms. We still need to wait 7-10 days before framing can go on them. (7 good dry days, or 10 days at most). So we've got a little time to complete the following before framing can be started:

• underground plumbing (this weekend)
• plumbing inspection (hopefully Monday)
• waterproofing outside walls
• Tony and I to apply 2" insulation sheets around outside of walls
• also lay landscape fabric down outside walls to keep backfill dirt from mixing into pea stone.
• pour basement floor concrete
• backfill partially
• READY TO FRAME!

Soooo, remember that day we thought was so awesome that they delivered the pea stone?? Well that backfired on us. Because we had to pull back the pea stone away from the dirt so that our plumber could set up the underground drain piping for the septic waste. We actually didn't order to have the pea stone put in last week, Cooks foundation did. And at the time, when we say it being delivered, I didn't think anything of it other than "Cool! We've got pea stone coming in!" I figured they knew it was the next step or something. So here's my first tip for you to learn from our mistake... Don't let them drop pea stone before your plumber puts in the ground work. 

Talk about some labor work, we had to move 8 inches thick of pea stone away from a 2-3 foot clearing. From one side of the basement to the other, and then back to where the kitchen and laundry area will be on the main floor. We met with our plumber this  week and when I told him there was already pea stone, he looked surprised. And since it was something we could do to move it out of his way, then we did, so we wouldn't have to pay him labor to do that. So here it is, our updates for the day. Wall forms off and the pea stone trench is dug.

This drain pipe is just under the footing, the plumber will hook everything up to this so it can lead to the septic waste.

Tony doesn't seem pleased that I wanted a pic of HIM working on it. :P

Front view of the house, garage in the back left.




Aaron approves of the retaining wall next to our walkout basement, with a thumbs up!












Here is the garage, you can see the cut out for the opening for the garage door.

Future back porch here off the great room.

Day 14 | Wall concrete is poured

House Day: 14
Loan Day: 31

Yesterday was a lost day, not that it puts us behind or anything. We just seem to still be in competition to be ready for framing before another house, so that we can get our framer to do ours first. I wish I knew how close the other house was in pouring walls. Anyways, its a 7-10 day wait before framing can start. So we are gonna get all our other ducks in a row to be ready at that time. Wall forms are coming off Thursday or Friday, and then rough plumbing will be done this weekend. Our plumber is a friend of a friend, who is doing it as side work, so he needs to work weekends on it. Fortunately it should only take this weekend to do what he needs before we have inspection on Monday. Then then plan is to have the waterproofing on the outside done, the basement floor filled with concrete and then the backfilling can be done. That should put as at the time then framing can start.

So for today's pics, we have the concrete poured in the wall forms. We stopped out this morning at 11:45 and they were packing up their trucks and all done. So no action shots really for today.

Then we stopped out later this evening to be able to walk around more and get a closer a look at things without being in their way.

This is the retaining wall for outside. I'm already starting to pin things on Pinterest for ideas to 'decorate' this concrete wall on the walkout side.

This is a view from the back side of the house, thats the retaining wall extending off the left, from the walkout basement area.

I could see there is some space left in this one, this is the garage entrance, so that must be close to the ground level about a foot down in the form.

Day 12 | Basement and Garage wall forms are up!

House Day: 12

Loan Day: 29

I stopped out at the property around 9:30 this morning and saw Cooks was already almost done framing the garage walls. They had about 5 guys out there working on it.

I imagine a lot goes into this to make them nice and straight. I was told it will be level within 1/2" too! I sure hope so. I had so many people/contractors recommend Cook Foundation and said they were the ones to go with. You might pay a little more than others around here, but we felt it was a very important piece of the house we didn't want to cut costs on. I didn't even price compare other places, because I didn't want to even know, haha!

We went back in the evening to check out the progress, wondering if they were able to pour the concrete too. I was doubtful as there was some rain in the afternoon, so I figured they would probably just finish the framing. Tomorrow is suppose to be beautiful, no rain in the forecast, so I think we will see concrete trucks tomorrow.

Now you can see the walkout basement area.

Retaining wall on the right there. The slope of the concrete will be under that piece of wood.

The little corner there will be the foot print of my laundry room on the main floor. Down here in the basement it will be storage space.

This is the face of TROUBLE.

We had Hunter with us today so he came over with us and the boys.

This flat area here will be the future spot for a pool years down the road. :)

This is from the back of the house, the corner of the garage to my right. There will be a back porch off the back door here.

I absolutely just LOVE this view! I will love walking out the basement and seeing the wood line of trees.