on it goes


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May 14 - Update
Footings framed, ready for concrete.

Rebar tops for safety, Oliver still managed to take 10 stitches in the forearm bending rebar, vicious stuff.

A bale of rebar ties - what can I say, I was feeling artistic.

Nothing says "WELCOME" like a bright blue port a-potty at the entrance to your property.

Some of the crew, Bill Kennedy left, Doug Sadler (East Bay) center, Oliver (young Hemingway) right

Finally - something concrete! (Ha Ha)

Some of the prettiest concrete forms you'll ever see. This is a close-up of how the exterior wall will form against the existing rock. I can't believe the wood we're using for forms, I've used worse for finished carpentry. They're calling it "re-sawn" and Doug says they'll recycle it into the siding of the final structure but I'll be using the off-cuts for years.

May 19 All the rebar is in for the foundation walls (the guys even let me help) That's 5/8th rebar on one foot centers baby!

Now this is really exciting, our new sewer line in it final location - no more unhooking the pipe and taping up the toilet handles.

Here's a shot of the project for those of you who aren't able to view the flash slideshow. We'll be pouring the foundation walls next week after Victoria Day.

May 25 The concrete ballet. Everyone moving in unison. The guy in the orange pants has a remote control to guide the pumper arm. It took three truckloads to do the lower walls. That's Ian Baker making his first appearance on the site doing the pirouette on the top wall.

Pouring the wall up the side to the house. The hose had to go up and over the telephone and cable lines which are still in there old place waiting to be buried up the driveway. I can't imagine how they'd do this without that pumper truck.

Here's the forms being stripped, most probably one of the least enjoyable parts of the job. Now its my turn to de-nail everything so we can reuse the wood.

Here 's the most basic brute of a tool, called a Burke Bar it weighs about 30 pounds.- perfect for removing concrete forms The guys call it "Senior Burke" - a tool to be respected.

Two more massive beams the engineer wanted under the existing house.

Zen and the art of raking. Ian indulged me with a zen garden raking pattern, a much needed lift on a crappy work day for me.

June 1 We've changed our mind about the reno and decided to put in a swimming pool instead!

Just for Doug. Here's the stack of wood I promised to get de-nailed and restacked nicely for Monday June 4. I think the crew from East Bay are getting worried about the messy jobsite reflecting badly on them. I better get my butt in gear and keep up with them!

Saturday, June 2 Just for Doug (in case you have nothing better to do on Saturday eve). Worked from 6:30 til 4:00 but got the big pile done and stacked up by the workshop. Tomorrow the ugly stack on the other side, Yuck! Olivia devised an ingenious device for picking up nails... more to follow.

Hi, Olivia here! My dad started telling you about my invention. We took the silver, magnetic thing that picks up nails and put a handle on it. Since my dad was de-nailing boards, there are lots of nails on the ground. There are so many nails on the ground that it took less time to collect the nails than it did to take them off and put them in the bucket. I kept having to take breaks to sit in the shade because it scorching hot out there, it's like an oven! Bye for now!




Sunday June 3 I got the two big stacks of boards dealt with. All the scruff is chopped up and stacked at the bottom of the driveway for our neighbour Jim (Graces Grampa) to haul away for firewood. There's still the big stack of siding boards but there's only a few nails per board, I just need to figure out where to stack them.

Tuesday June 5 ring...ring....ring "Hello" "Hello, are the Walls there" "YES THEY ARE!!! "


June 12 The internal walls are up

June 14 Mum's roof starts going up.

June 18 Big Day! The coatings guy (finally) showed up s spread a toxic layer of black goo that is apparently completely impervious to water penetration. We can back-fill in two days!

Doug and Billie framed the roof of Mum's living room. How's this for perfection?

Ian framed up the stairs form the lower level, We can walk between the floors! (So can Maggie)

May 14 - Update

Finally - something concrete! (Ha Ha)

May 19

May 25

June 1

Saturday, June 2

Sunday June 3

Tuesday June 5

June 12

June 14