The week of July 2nd was a short one for the workman due to the July 4th holiday. On Monday and Tuesday, they installed the Tuff and Dry waterproofing system on the exterior of the basement walls. The system is composed of draintile around the inside and outside, a spray coating on the walls and a layer of insulation. They also started to rough in a temporary electrical service for the trades that need electricity to power their equipment.
On Friday and Sunday, Dave, friends Steve and Scott, and myself started tackling the deep brush and fallen branches in what will be our backyard. Scott and I used trimmers and hauled branches while Dave and Steve took turns at the chainsaw. The weather was hot and humid, so we only spent a couple hours at a time at the lot.
Week of July 9th
On Tuesday, and Wednseday, they backfilled around the basement. First, the bulldozer layed in a layer of gravel over the drain tile and then finished backfilling using the mounds of dirt from the basement excavation. The tree trimmers were back Weds. to take down a few trees that were too close to the four seasons room. Also on Weds, Dave and I cleared some more brush and cut some more firewood. The backyard has really been opened up now that a lot of the dead trees and wild raspberries have been cleared.
On Thurday, the temporary electrical was hooked up and the framing crew began work. Their first task was to erect the beams and support columns in the basement. Then they began adding the floor joists. On Friday, they finished putting in the joists and laid down a layer of OSB plywood to make the floor. By the end of Friday, they had the exterior framing done on the back of the house.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Dave and I cleaned up the back of the lot some more. Dave made some more firewood while I moved some brush and branches to the back of the lot.
The basement with the Tuff and Dry system
Another view
A closer look at the system
Here are some pics of our lot clearing:
Our friend Steve in front of some of the firewood
Another friend Scott takes a break from trimming
A view of the progress
Some pics of the backfilling:
The bulldozer backfilling
A front view of the dozers handiwork
A side view of backfilled foundation
Dave in front of the dozer
Don with the dozer
Some pics of the framing:
The beams from the west side
The beams from the front
The joists begin to get laid
The back of the house begins to take shape.
Another view of the rear of the house.
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