Foundation In Process

The forms for the foundation walls were put up yesterday and they were filled in with concrete today.  Even this little bit helps us to visualize where and how the house will look.  We're having great spring weather this week so it's worked out perfect for the concrete work.

We Have Feet!

I mean footing.  Our foundation's footing was poured today in preparation of the foundation walls.  Unfortunately we expect to get rain tonight, all day tomorrow and then more this weekend so we won't see those walls until later next week.  It doesn't look like much but it's one step closer.  

Neighbors

These are our only neighbors right now.  They're very curious but haven't said anything to me yet.  I think they were waiting for me to do something but all I did was take pictures.  So far they're not noisy or smelly.  We'll see if that continues.

Basement dug, bring on the concrete.

Clay finished our basement dig on Tuesday afternoon and ended up completing it faster than expected. (Which means it cost less -Hooray!) He brought in a load of gravel for the driveway so we won't be spinning in mud when it rains. Clay is widely considered the best dirt man around. I think one guy said Clay does "Cadillac" work. ?? I'm no expert on excavation work but it looks pretty good to me.

Up next will be concrete work. Keith will be our concrete man. He already had a few loads of gravel brought over for the footings and basement in case we expect to get rain. If we do, he can get the gravel spread so the water doesn't make a big mess. He said yesterday that he hoped to get the footing done this week. I hope so. I'll keep on him to get it going. The concrete footing will go around the perimeter of the exterior walls at the very bottom of where the basement was dug and provides the support for which the foundation walls rest upon.

This afternoon I enjoyed driving up and turning around on the driveway.

Breaking Ground

Ready or not, here we go. We broke ground this morning at our home site. By we I mean our excavation man Clay. (Ironic huh?) First thing this morning I helped him square up the stakes that Bonnie and I put out yesterday to mark the corners of the house and garage. After I returned to work Clay used his laser transit to "shoot" the elevation to know how deep to dig and how much dirt to move. By evening when I returned he had the shape of the basement dug and most if not all of the driveway dirt in place. It was very exciting to walk on and smell the overturned earth and begin to see the shape of what's to come. We have a long way to go but I'm sure we'll appreciate every step.

I plan and hope to post pictures and updates on the construction process as we move along but I expect to get busy and not always be timely so bare with me. Check back once in a while and leave a comment to let me know you're visiting. Thanks - Corey