BIG - you bet it is!

Windows arrived. The one for the master bedroom took 8 of us to lift it and set it in place. We got about 8 windows set - and had to leave the others overnight. Hopefully they will be safe and there in the AM - the site has been very good so far.


That is Donna waving at you...


We also had a problem with the concrete that was placed yesterday - so back they came today and ground down the top amd 1/2 of the main floor to get the gentle wave (some ridges) out of the floor.

Floors and Roof

The placer crew of 7 arrived bright and early and the pump truck was all ready to go by 7:30 AM.
We put 32 yards of concrete in for the top, middle and basement floors plus all the crawl spaces (2,200 square feet or so) and the garage floor.

We left the site at 6:30 PM and there was still one person buffing the garage floor and you could actually see the reflection of the 2x6 studs in it.


The roofers were also there bright and early - a 2 man crew - and they got about half of the roof done today.

Top Hat - Shingles Arrive

It is Saturday and all the shingles arrived for our roof which will mostly be installed on Monday morning.

Up they go -

It is a long reach...


But they land safely and in good hands. A lot of weight to set upon one's top - but not a quiver from the beams below. Ready for Monday...and no rain in sight.

I AM WAITING...WHERE ARE YOU?

The inspectors came - they poked at me, looked into my joints, got under my skin and decided they loved me so much so they gave me a PASS. So I am hyped and ready to go - BUT...I WAIT...
For about a week...the concrete placers were all set to come in and do me up...and the SUN was shining on me - I was scheduled for Wednesday, June 23rd but the placers had other work to do in the sunshine. Hard to imagine that there would be a bigger and better job around than ME!

So sad - but then they were to come on the 25th, Friday. Got all excited again BUT...an 8AM placement became a 1 PM placement and then they STOOD ME UP AGAIN!

Thank God for Mike and Donna - they came and visited me and CLEANED UP and vacuumed as the electrical subtrades were on site and doing their finishing touches on rough in. Could not have sawdust in my joints now could I!

Anyway - getting born is a painful process. Thank goodness TANYA is around every now and then - I know how she feels. BUT DARN IT - she will have sprout (baby girl due August 10th) before I get out of here!

ANYWAY - my HOPES are UP - I heard Donna and Mike say that MONDAY at 8 AM, June 28th will be the DAY. All is scheduled...my joists are crossed!

AND I heard them say my glasses (windows) will arrive on TUESDAY. Ahhh...I will be able to see a bit more of this world.

TWO MILES of Piping

Everything was readied. Sub-trades have never seen such a clean floor. They could not stand it - and EVERY time they came back on site they messed it up again. So Donna (and I) must have vacuumed 4 times - just to keep the deck clean so the pipers could do their work. But clean it was.

Manjit Bal took the directors seat on the back of our plumbers truck and watched the work unfold.

With all the corners to go around our plumbing team made an elaborate maze of curves and runs - there is art in piping!


And we must have put down close to 2 miles of piping - using 6 inch spacing to ensure that we will get maximum efficiency out of our condensing boiler system. The inspector commented that instead of having to heat the outflow water to 130 degrees - we might have to heat it to 93 - 107 degrees depending on the time of year. A great savings.


Donna was catching these roles as they threw them up onto the main floor.

And in the end it was a work of art - and state of the art!

Basement Slab & Crawl Spaces Readied

The team swarms the site...styrofoam for the basement and special piping for the radiant heating system are now on site.


We leveled out the gravel and put 9mm plastic over it as a vapour barrier and then covered with 4 inch styrofoam to keep the cold out. We had to set in place all the electrical and plumbing and go through another set of inspections by the City and letters from our engineer.

And the basement floors also get more STEEL. We decided to go 12 inch centres on the re-bar so that there will be NO cracking of the floor -- fingers crossed!


We also decided to HEAT the garage floor as part of our radiant floor heating system. Costs a little more but the cars will be warm in the winter and our Viessman boiler system will be more efficient.

TITANIUM Roof - strong like the women in front of it!

The roofers arrived one day and 3 hours later our roof had its Titanium underwear on. Much better than tar paper - does not lose its composition over time.

Donna surveys the roof covering from the front roof deck.

Poking Holes Everywhere

Now that it is built - they started poking holes in the walls and floors. Need to get all the plumbing roughed in along with HRV and air conditioning. Chips and sawdust everywhere!


These 2 shots are of plumbing going through the floor (above) and hiding in the ceiling (below).
DONNA went to the back of our lot and caught us chatting on our Saturday family visit.


Sheliza also got to water her pumpkins with her new pink watering can. They are going to be BIG.

Sunday Clean-up

Tanya and Sheliza joined us today for 'clean-up' Sunday.

And what a mess - with all the cutting that went on to get the trusses up and the sheeting on the roof. But we also had fun - with Sheliza helping grandpa with the wheelbarrow and getting a ride.




BEST of all was Sheliza wanting to walk the roof and sit at the top with Grandpa, : )

TOP THAT...

We will - but this is as high as it gets - for now! Could not resist the picture from the top or our everest!



It is really hard to believe how fast this is happening. All of a sudden we have a house, complete with the roof seen here from the back.

This morning we got a call from the framers - they needed 15 additional sheets of plywood to finish the roof. Off we went to Dick's Lumber and an hour later Mike was helping to get the plywood from the driveway to the roof. It was a three man job ....



View from the top


and the view at the top

Trusses ready to Install

We missed a day at the site - and they got the walls up on the 2nd floor and then the roof trusses arrived and got placed, ready for installation. Sometimes things just move too fast!


This is the view, again, from the top of the hill on City land behind our house. Looking good.
Now we move on to the roofing contractor for late next week and the start of rough in plumbing and electrical.


And the list keeps growing...fixtures, outside finishing (stucco and cedar), windows are ordered but we need to see how production goes before we get our arrival times. AND THEN there is the back deck, back yard and front yard to start working on. We have some quotes in, and thank goodness for Manjit, as he guides us through the alternatives that will keep our costs somewhat in line.

Onward...