After 6 brutal months of not building, we are going again! I felt the need to replace my general contract with a new one. I probably waited to too long to do so, but I did it. I’ve learned the downside of delays. Some of what I have learned by all of this is, that a project cannot be allowed to slow down, if possible. There are so many moving parts that can affect the progress of the project. Insurance…
As impatient as I am I moved forward on some items that are out of sequence, but DONE, unlike other issues! City of Marathon requires approvals for an inspection of rough plumbing, electrical and mechanical work before I can move forward. I had gutters installed, so we can feed the cistern (required for my PBAS permit) of reclaimed water. I got a used cistern, one of the only deals I could find now here. The biggest news is…
Well it’s been a difficult few months. The contractor has NOT picked up the pace, at all! So I’ve been reluctant to sit here and write about nothing happening. If I know then, what I know now, I’d choose differently, that’s for sure. In the interim I’ve been ordering things for the house, such as who will I sub out work to. I’m doing it because the contractor is so slow and is not to be moved! Too much other…
Before the insulation for the walls is installed the room studs must be installed. The choice was wood or steel. Surprisingly to me, the cost is the same. I went with steel, as it is resistant to mold and termite proof. The door frames are encased in wood 2 x4″ lumber to decrease the chances of the steel, at the doors, from twisting out of plumb. The second floor ceiling is insulated with SealTite PRO Open Cell insulation. The R…
Working is so rare around here, that when it happens, they put up a sign! After the stud lines have been placed on the concrete floors, the rough plumbing was installed. Due to the inefficient design, the second bedroom shares common walls with two bathrooms. I am hoping to add insulation or a double layer of sheetrock to deaden the bathroom sounds. I also delivered the 3 bathroom fans and kitchen fan to be fitted as…
After a long wait (in my mind) the roof is mostly complete. This week the final (I hope) concrete pour was completed. The wood trusses are installed, the plywood over the trusses are installed and the waterproof membrane is on! The exception for the roof is the final metal installation. The concrete pour was to finalize the truss supports. The contractor decided to set the trusses and then pour the concrete around the set trusses. Why?…
Finally! The concrete pour for the second floor is completed. What every idea I had for a completion date is a sad joke. First, I guess I’ll go through the second-floor concrete pour. I send the week before the pour trying to add electrical outlets to the balcony area before the concrete was poured. I asked the general contractor for the name of the electrician so I can coordinate with him. Nope! No answer. It seems the contractor wanted to…
The first floor (not the ground floor!) has the walls built. Those block layers completed the first floor in ONE DAY! They get paid by the block. The more they do the more they get paid. The contractor placed all the rebar to get ready for the second floor concrete pour. I realized that the plan called for two floor electrical boxes and an electrical connection for the kitchen island. After not getting any response as to who…
This week the contractor and his crew are framing the second floor for the next concrete pour. This one is a little different as it will have the second floor balcony/loggia. The balcony will be a few inches lower to keep water from moving back towards the interior living area. The contractor has his crew creating the rebar “cages”. Those will be used for the horizontal concrete beams and the vertical concrete columns. I need to talk to…
Now that the first floor is up, and the concrete has cured enough, the contractor is putting up the temporary supports for the second floor. I am unsure when the second floor will be poured, but it will be soon (I hope!) The method to support the forms for the second floor are wood 4″x4″s, two are attached to a metal connector. The metal connector is used to lock the 4″x4″s together. The workers can place one on the floor…