HowellJourney

We Have Lift Off - Foundation Built

 

On Wednesday, Cate Concrete, Keller, TX completed the foundation.    With Cowboy Concrete Pumping's help (I could not get any more redneck), Cate pumped 164 yards of concrete into the beams and slab of the foundation.   Virginia and I spent from about 7:00 to 10:30 PM keeping the foundations wet.    I am hoping it rains in order to help the task of slowing down the curing of the concrete.  Theoretically, the slower the concrete cures, the stronger and less cracks you will have 

Our next door neighbor told me this morning that they saw headlights on our property last night and became concerned until they realized it was us.    Dale was loading his hunting rifle when the discovered it was us.  We appreicate their help in keeping our property secure.

On Tuesday, Mario Perez and crew will start the framing process.  This will take about three weeks.   I thought all of the thousand of people that veiw this blog might appreicate the attached photo taken yesterday.

  

and more steel

Since the May 14th posting, the crew that was digging the beams and laying the steel for the beams and slab finished.  Another crew came in that made sure the foundation was level and square for the pending concrete pour.  The crew also set the brick ledges for the home, built the frame work around the drop in shower and set up the porches.   

Our plumbing contractor, Costlow Plumbing, is scheduled for Monday to double check the plumbing to make sure it has not been knocked out of it location. Also on Monday,  ABC Pest Control technician is scheduled to install Termimesh.   A Nortex Foundation Design engineer will inspect the foundation before the pour along with the city's building inspector.  If everything goes to plan, we will have a foundation on Tuesday.

Foundation - A Whole Lot of Steel

On Tuesday, the concrete contractor started the process of digging the beams.  Afterward, they laid 6 mil poly on the pads of the foundation.   The crew assembled a "jig" and started to assemble the steel that will be dropped in the beam cavity.  Virginia and I drove by after she closed her office and was surprised by the amount of steel they are putting in the foundation.  Unfortunately, it rained Wednesday morning which shut us down.  Hopefully the crew will return on Thursday to finish this facet of the construction.   I have attached some random photos taken during this process.

Building the Foundation

Since the last posting, we accomplished quite a bit.  The foundation form boards were installed and surveyed. Per the survey, everything was well within the property lines and located where we wanted the structures.