FLOOR ON

The framers got the floor down Friday. The first pic is obviously before they got to that point. Tomorrow they will start framing the walls on the main floor.



VIEW OF WALK-OUT BASEMENT
THIS IS END WHERE MY BASEMENT WORK SHOP WILL BE
WITH GARAGE DOOR ENTRY



WALKOUT BASEMENT FROM OTHER END



ROCKIN' AND ROLLIN'

I was expecting the framers to start this coming Monday but they were actually able to start yesterday. Of course, it drizzled all day yesterday and a good part of today. Would have been nice to be able to keep all the lumber dry but what can you do? Hopefully we'll get some nice weather over the next week or two so that they can get things under cover.

Had somewhat of a mess with the I-joist delivery yesterday. The driver was not able to get up our driveway. He was pulling a 5th wheel trailer with rollers on the bed that allows them to tilt the bed and just "roll" the load off onto the ground. Since there wasn't enough weight over his axle, he was unable to get adequate traction. After tearing up the driveway and cutting ruts on each side, he decided to roll everything off near the end of the driveway. So, when the framers arrived this AM, they had to lug everything up to the house about 700 ft.....some of the I-joists were 48 ft. long so I'm sure they weren't to thrilled. I was not a happy camper last night after observing the mess. I was about to tell the driver that Red Batty could have backed a semi up our driveway without getting off the edge. I would post pictures but it was too ugly for public viewing!

We ordered a mahogany front door on Saturday at a place in Newport, KY. Brought back memories of college days when me, Bimbo Monnin and Granny Gavit used to visit a "performing arts center" there. Anyway, I digress. Some people have suggested that we are silly for going with a real wood door but I just can't buy into a fiberglass door that is made to look something like wood. We'll have some additional maintenance but the door will be protected by the porch which should help.

DP&L continues to be a PITA. I last spoke with them over a week ago and so on Tuesday I emailed asking if there had been any progress made in the past week. No reply as of yet....Grrrr!

SLABS POURED

Yesterday, the foundation contractor poured the garage and basemnent floors. Fortunately the rain held off long enough for them to get the concrete troweled and for the concrete to set up a bit. Today, they were back to saw the concrete and set the forms so that they can pour the porch deck. That will likely happen tomorrow.

I asked them to not use their standard sealer on the garage and basement floors. My plan is to use an epoxy finish in the garage and also in the workshop portion of the basement. Makes for a real nice surface.

 THIS WILL BE THE GARAGE ENTRY



 PORCH DECK WILL BE POURED OVER THE PLYWOOD,

FORMING THE "ROOF" OF THE SAFE ROOM

The installlation of electric service continues to drag on. The logical way to get service to our house would have been to come from a transformer across (or underneath)  a small stretch of our neighbors property. I approached him last week to discuss getting his permission to do so. Unfortunately, he wouldn't even discuss it with me and gave a "flat-out" no. Welcome to the neighborhood!! Unfortunately, the alternative will be more costly and will involve coming all the way up from the road.

DP&L is excruciatingly slow in getting things done. I have to wait for them to come up with the plans and then it has to be approved by two or three people in the chain of command. I was prepared for her to tell me trhat they would need to get approval at the next annual stockholders meeting.

The framer tells me he will be able to commence work late next week or on Monday October 1. Since we will not have electric service by then, I picked upo a used generator fro $150 that should serve our needs in the interim. Since most homeowners barely use their generators, it is easy to find them with very few running hours.

"MISSING" WALLS WILL BE FRAMED

FOR WALK-OUT BASEMENT

LOOKIN' The PART

Since I am playing the contractor role, I decided I need to look the part. So, I went out and bought a pickup truck.
You can't get much for $3,000 but I found a 1999 Dodge Dakota that will hopefully serve me well during the term of the project. My Honda Accord wasn't very well suited for driving around a construction job site and sitting in it with dirty clothes and shoes. Of course, I also need something to haul tools and materials and perhaps to tow large rental tools.

The picture makes it look much better than it's true condition. For example, you can't see the peeling clear-coat or the rusted hole in the wheel well inside the bed. But, it has great tires, 4WD, a hitch and wiring for towing and everything works except the cruise. An extended cab version would have been nice but I got tired of driving all over to look at junk.

As you can see, the forms have been stripped and we're ready for the first rough on the plumbing. That means running the drain and waste lines that go below the basement slab. I met with Rick Longshore (A&L Plumbing) this morning at the lot to discuss specifics. He will take a couple of days to finish this phase and then we have the foundation contractor back to pour the basement floor and garage floor.

I'm embarrassed to report that we are going to have about a 2 week period this month with nothing going on. I really thought it would be late September before needing the framer but things heretofore have progressed more smoothly than I had anticipated. Since the framer had planned for late September (which is what I had told him previously) he will not be able to adjust for an earlier start at this point.

DP&L has been a pleasure to work with!! I submitted the application for service about two weeks ago and nothing has happened during that time. It sat in limbo for about a week with no activity. The engineer was supposed to get out to the lot Tuesday to assess the job. Well, she said she hurt her foot on Monday and could not get into the field. She said she will try to get out there this week. You would think that since I will be committing to paying them $$ every month for years to come, they would be anxious to get me "on board".

One of the other residents on our road invited us to a Labor Day cookout. They moved there 2 or 3 months ago and found out we have a mutual friend who was also iuvited. Gave us a chance to meet a couple of the other neighbors as well as people who live in other parts of Bethel Township.

WALLS POURED TODAY

Well, it rained pretty good at times in Tipp City but only ssprinkled at the lot. As a result, the foundation crew was able to get the walls poured. Barb was excited 'cause it's starting to look like something she can recognize.

They brought in a pumper truck which makes placing the concrete in the forms a breeze. Would have shown pictures of this in action but had dead batteries in my camera....Aaaargh!



PUMPER TRUCK





The square section right behind us is the front stoop. Underneath will be the
storm shelter/wine cellar



The nearest area in this view is the garage.