Fall Has Arrived

The days are sunny and bright the nights are cool and getting colder; fall has arrived. Yesterday it was -4*C when I got up today it was 1*C at 7 a.m. The days are shorter, and the air is crisp, a great time to be in the north country.

Saw this blue heron as I drove into town yesterday. You may need to click on the photo to enlarge it.

Can you see the hint of colour on some trees? A few more weeks and the colour up here will be at its best.

Construction is making good progress; workers return tomorrow and we should have all the walls completed in another week.

The window bucks sit out about 3 1/2  inches from the outside edge of the wall. This will allow for the vertical and horizontal strapping as well as the steel siding over the spray foam insulation. We should be toasty warm.

West wall not quite done.

Drop by in a day or so for more photos.

Stone Slinger

The stone slinger came to town, and when the dust had settled the job was done.

This machine can throw the stone 50 feet and the operator can direct the chute 180*

Looking down the south wall. Note the dimpled waterproof membrane attached to the wall.

Up close.

Sometimes we just need to sit and enjoy what is happening.

This was a bit tricky, a very tight turn on a slope, but he managed and got the job done.

Once the inspector has approved this work I will use the bobcat to backfill around the foundation. The boxes are forms for the concrete piers which will support the cedar deck.

Enjoy your weekend and I'll have new photos on Monday.

Durisol Delivery

Yesterday we received the second shipment of Durisol Blocks. Seven hundred blocks were delivered with a total weight of over 35, 000 lbs. Imagine the weight of our house when we add all the concrete and rebar.

Unfortunately the truck couldn't get into our site so we had to bring each skid in a 1/2 km.by bobcat and hitchiker; down the road and up the driveway, 24 times and by 10 a.m. we were done. (of course we started at 7)

Difficult to see but we had no accidents just took our time.

Stacked, stored and ready when needed.

The walls have been parged and today we will tar and apply a waterproof membrane along with the drainage line around the foundation.

The interior area of the foundation was cleared of all construction items, ready for the compact fill later this week.

Foggy Today

We are back living in our trailer. The cottage is empty, ready for the owners to return and we are once again adjusting to smaller quarters. Yesterday's construction went very well, the "frost" wall is now up and full of concrete.

The view out our window this morning. A little foggy but very peaceful.

We are camped in the trees away from any construction and the trucks that deliver all the "stuff"  we need.

Notice how all the cut blocks have been re-enforced with wood scraps and the openings sealed with expanding foam.

The pump truck is getting set up and the concrete truck is ready to pour.

Each block looks like this inside, re-bar running vertical and horizontal every 24"

The crew discuss the plan with the pump operator.

The concrete is flowing and we start in the far corner. This concrete is like soup, very watery so it flows easily into all the crevasses.

Can you see the concrete soup flowing?

TJ handled the flow pipe while the rest cleaned and trowelled as he moved along the wall.

We will let the concrete set for four days as this is a long weekend here in Canada.

Day Eight

Yesterday was another perfect day for working outside; no bugs, warm but cloudy and a gentle breeze. We are ready to pour concrete today.This will complete the "frost wall" and allow us to start the wall above grade just as soon as we complete the backfill.

Occasionally we have to cut a block to fit a smaller space and a skill saw completes the job quickly.

Once the top row is complete we go back and toe-nail each block to the one beside it. This gives the wall additional rigidity and stability.

Each block is checked front to back and side to side. This is what we like to see, perfectly level.

Kent, toe-nails the top blocks.

Blocks marked with an X have been cut and need to be reinforced before we pour the concrete.

Always checking.

Today the pump truck will be here and the concrete will be done in just a few hours. Imagine doing this one wheelbarrow at a time. No thanks.

Day Seven

Yesterday was day seven of construction and we now have the footings in and one course of blocks laid. In some parts of the wall we are three courses high. By the end of today all the blocks for the frost wall should be in and we will be ready for the concrete on Thursday. Monday is a holiday in Canada, so the concrete will have four days to harden before we begin building the exterior walls.

Here Pat checks the block for level and square. Once above the first row, all blocks are dry stacked, no mortar.

Kent works on placing the first row, on the south wall in mortar. This first row takes extra time because it will determine how level and square all other rows are.

At the end of the day, there isn't much garbage to dispose of.

Look closely and you will see the top row of blocks has more insulation. Once at grade level and above we use a block with an R28 value.

Any questions?

Frost Wall

The crew is hoping to have the frost wall completed this week. Yesterday's progress was excellent and as long as the weather co-operates I see no reason why we shouldn't meet this target.

This is the north east corner of the frost wall. The top block is also the height of the floor in the house. Looks like we will be bringing in a lot of backfill.

We will fill the open areas where the steel rods are with concrete, probably on Thursday. The insulated side is the exterior face of the wall.

In several locations we have these steps over the bedrock. Pat was careful to measure and build the footings to fit the size of Durisol blocks we are using.

Sometimes it's necessary to cut a block. Here you can easily see the composition of the block and the insulation attached to the inside.

Straight and level, we are making progress.

At the end of the day we usually sit by the campfire and listen to the loons talk to each other as the fly over the lake. It doesn't get any better than that.

Check back on Friday for more pictures.

Bobcat Training

Whenever we have the kids up they like to use the "bobcat". Yesterday, Sherri got into the cab and had her first lesson. (These pictures were taken on Sherri's Canon  Powershot G12, by her unless she is in them, then I took it)

She looks a little nervous, but did just fine. Whenever they use the machine and don't tip it over, it's just fine.

Of course Mom had do give some last minute instructions.

My first bucket...................................................... and I didn't spill it. Yeah!

Steel and mortar delivered on Saturday.

Durisol Blocks. We are using these to build all perimeter walls. They come with insulation and the hollow core will be filled with concrete. The walls without additional insulation are rated R28.

Supper time and Andrew cooked "ribs and chicken". DELICIOUS!

Time to eat.

Time to relax.

Today it's time to work. The crew will soon be here and work on our "frost" wall will begin. Enjoy your week and drop by in a few days to see our progress.