I'm Finally Ready

They have everything backfilled now so I'm 100% ready for the framing crew.  I have a couple of little things I can still do while I wait but nothing that has to be done.  The timing is working out well.  I'm expecting a phone call in a week or so to set the date they will arrive.  Probably mid July and I'm predicting they will finish in less than 5 days.

I'm going to try to get the water main hooked up and a hose spout in the basement.  I thought that might be nice to have access to running water and a hose during the initial construction.  Other than that there isn't much more I can do at this point but get my supplies ready.

I ordered a tankless water heater and my PEX plumbing lines and supplies on-line a few days ago and everything was delivered already.  Shopping on-line is so nice!

Scenes From Apple Canyon

Yes that is a giant apple and butterfly in the middle of the golf course!

 That is not a lawn ornament.  This guy wasn't too concerned as we drove by him.

My friend Bryan on the green.  Check out the background.

View from the par 3 tee box area.

Got news today that they got things back filled.  Used all the dirt except some of the good black stuff saved for the final finish grade.  Usually when you dig a basement you wind up with extra dirt to deal with.  The fact that there is none tells me they did a nice job of really grading things away from the foundation which is a good thing.  I'm anxious to see and plan on driving over tomorrow.  Will get some pictures and update in another day or so.

The Waiting Game

Haven't been blogging lately because not much new to report.  I did get some good news this week from the Amish crew that will be framing things.  I am now #3 on their list.  That should mean we will be framed up and dry before the end of July.  That is sooner than I expected.  Even though the weather has been terrible, wet all spring and muddy every week, it really hasn't affected the construction because I knew, going in, that in order to get Ruben and his crew we would have to wait.

So as it turns out we might get real lucky and have a dry week when we build.  That is always a plus.  Since July is usually one of the drier months I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Took Kelsey and her husband Jay out last week to show Jay around.  He's the only one that hadn't been to the site yet.  While we were looking at the foundation (picture below) Kelsey says "so dad you're only having one window in the basement?" to which I replied "oh shit!"

Framed in Egress Window

Wall where other (2) smaller windows were supposed to be.

Somewhere along the way the foundation contractor and I had a misunderstanding and he didn't frame in for the smaller basement windows that would be in the utility room and the basement bathroom.  Remember early on how I said you have to expect problems?  The funny part is I have been out a half dozen times since they poured the walls and never even noticed!  Thank goodness Kelsey asked when it was still pretty easy to fix! 

So this week a company that specializes in sawing concrete came out and cut the openings in.  No big deal.

One of two saw cut window openings.

One of my part-time jobs recently has been doing some contract work for Deere in Dubuque.  We are receiving equipment in that comes packaged in big wood crates.  The wood gets hauled to landfill.  Friday I brought my trailer and loaded some up to use as walkways if it does get muddy, 4*4's to stack materials on to keep them off the ground and a nifty space saving platform where I will locate the porta-potty.  It acts as a bridge over the front culvert so it will be out of the way and dry.  

 Porta-Potty bridge / platform.

Basement and Garage Floors Poured

A Rare Encounter

A Rare Encounter        

I’ve been involved in many construction and renovation projects through the years and let’s just say inspectors aren’t my favorite people to deal with.  Apple Canyon Lake has their own building inspector and early on I was having a lot of trouble getting replies to e-mails and answers to questions.  Then about a month or so into the project he either left or was let go?  About a month ago a new inspector (Brian) was hired. 

Brian took it upon himself to contact me to introduce himself and provide me his cell phone number if I needed to talk to him.  That alone is rare but yesterday I was SHOCKED, and thrilled, to receive the following e-mail:

Hi Mike:

Just thought I would let you know that they were pouring your basement and garage floor today.

I was there when concrete came off the truck.  I saw several poured in place footings in the floor.  They were very liberal and re-roded.  Thought I would let you know, I know sometimes people wonder if the poured footings ever go in, but I actually saw them for you.

Have a good day.

Brian

ACLPOA Building Inspector

815-492-0900 (Office)

815-297-2771 (Cell)

815-492-2160 (Fax)

buildinginspector@applecanyonlake.org

Coordinating a long distance construction project creates some challenges.  One is that things can happen that I don’t get a chance to see or verify.  Another is that I’m never sure if work is being performed when it is supposed to be.  Brian understands that and took it upon himself to let me know things were happening and that they were doing a good job.  That meant a lot to me and I immediately called him to let him know that.

Rain Rain Go Away

Drove over the construction site last Friday afternoon hoping to see a poured garage and basement floor.  No such luck!  When I saw standing water in the basement on top of the gravel base it was quickly apparent why it had not been poured.  Lots of rain all week.

So after getting over my disappointment I figured I had two options.  1)  Wait for things to dry out naturally which, given the forecast, could take days or even weeks or 2)  Provide some mechanical help.

With the help of my friend Bryan, who happened to be at his lake house for the weekend, we made a quick trip to Galena for some supplies and proceeded to hook up a sump pump in a temporarily dug pit and ran 50 foot of hose out to the adjacent lot to make sure we got the water away from the foundation.

Standing Water

After plugging it in it ran non-stop for at least an hour while we were there and was still running when we left.  We decided to grab some dinner and come back and check on things.  When we returned after another hour or so the standing water was gone.  Progress!  It was still running off and on when we left for the night.  At the  rating of the pump I figured we pumped out almost 10,000 gallons of water.

Temporary Pit with Pump in the Bottom

Water Discharging from Hose to Adjacent Lot

Bryan called me on Saturday to report the hole was dry and the pump had stopped running.  That was great news.  This afternoon I got even better news when I was notified the contractor had worked all day and finished the floors!  I can't wait to see them.

A Glacial Turn for the Better

Notice the Darker Green Area of the Map

When looking a birds eye view of the topography of the area one time I was amazed at how "different" this one small patch was.  Someone told me it had to do with how the glaciers passed through so I looked it up.  The following was a brief description:

The 619 square miles in the northwest corner of Illinois that is now Jo Daviess County escaped the leveling effects of continental glaciers. Each advancing wave of glaciers bypassed this area.

Thus the ancient land surface has been exposed to essentially continuous weathering and erosion, forming the rugged topography of valleys and ridges we enjoy today.

People refer to Jo Daviess County as part of the Driftless Area. That term refers to an unglaciated terrain in a region that had many glacial episodes.

Front Stoop and Garage Filled with Rock Ready to Pour

Framed Egress Window in Basement

Basement with Blue Main Water Line Prior to Pouring