Saturday, January 8, 2011

Week 10: Subflooring and Supplies

Day 64
December 7th, 2010

 All I joists are in place and ready for the subfloor to be installed!  Finally we can start to walk on our first floor!

 Subflooring of the master bath and bedroom.


 Oh, good! I'm glad it was installed the correct "side up". 

 The work zone and pallate of subflooring: made by LP as in "LP field home of the Titans"
Subfloor glue and scrap pile
Front view, still its hard to see how much progress has been made from a distance but that is all about to change 

Day 66

  The materials arrive to begin framing. 
 Day 67
 December 10, 2010





 Yellow Pine 2x4s
And the subfloor is finished
Blue print plans
The Butlers hard at work.  So exciting to be able to walk around in our new house at last!
 Scrap/burn pile , also a nice heat source for these cold December days

Week 9: Power and Progress

Day 59
December 2, 2010
The Weakley County Electric company arrive to put up the new electric poles to the new house.  This is the existing pole in the front yard.


 These are the 3 new poles on the east side of the driveway.  The small one is the temporary pole which will be removed when the house is done and buried under the ground from pole #2. 
There is a wire now that goes over the driveway from the existing to the new pole but you really don't notice it.  We have power!

Meanwhile back in the house...
 Our first set of stairs!  Very thrilling! 
 The first I joist beam
View from the top of the stairs from the basement to the first floor.  This will open up into the foyer...very soon!


Day 60 
December 3, 2010

While we were at work the crane arrives to lift the 2200 lb, 48 ft beam spanning the length of the basement east to west.  Patrick was upset he didn't get to see it but Mr Larry said that it was good thing he wasn't there because he himself almost had a heart attack watching the heavy beam be lifted and lowered over the foundation walls.  There was a man on each wall guiding the beam into place. Luckily it went off without a hitch and it is in its resting place. 






 These beams will support the first floor over the basement











I Joists under what will be the downstairs bedrooms and baths.

 View of I joists from below and the beautiful December skies above
 So I'm really trying to stay on top of all of the terms and products that we are using since I've never really built a house before, so I was standing looking down at the sub floor and said, "Al-so try" is that the brand name?  Then I realized it was a crummy commercial "Also try Zip systems".  Just a funny moment, had to be there I guess.
 Chris installing the vertical support collumns in the basement
 More I joists, we opted for the I joists for more stability so the floor would not sag and creak over time.  All of the beams and I joists were crafted specifically for our house by engineers out of a place in Ilinois. 


Day 61
Buddy and Sullivan checking out the "hole" at the end of week 9. 
 Patrick in the basement closet contemplating the where to put the electronic panel
 Last look from above thru the I joist before the sub floor is put in place.

Last stand on the "roof top" balcony,  good times
 The craftsmanship of the stairs from the basement to the first floor


 Buddy hanging out in the basement.  (Side note: On Jan 1, 2011 our beloved dog of 5 years went missing and later tragically found.  He was the best dog and will be greatly missed.  We will always remember his gentle presence in our home.)






Week 8: Let's Build a house

Day 54
Thanksgiving Day
 Our first Thanksgiving Day visitors!  Cousin Russell stopped by to check out the progress.
Aunt Treesa and Cousin Michelle pose for a pic

Day 55

Patrick and Sullivan crank up the tractor and move around more dirt. Sullivan loves helping in the tractor.


















 Our first "stick" wall; the frame of the doorway of what will be the basement stairs and closet.  So exciting!
 Last view from the "roof top" balcony into the basement
 Basement closet doorway
 Sullivan with his Humpty Dumpty impression
 Jasper nestled in the leaves next to the foundation.


Sullivan walking on the rim board of the foundation blocks.  Hopefully next Thanksgiving everyone can can come to our house!