More Rain: Really!

Week 5: Well another week gone. Over a month already and we think we have seen everything. This week was supposed to be the starting of the framing work on the new addition, but mother nature had other ideas. We had another 2+ inches of rain and the threat of rain the entire week. Although it did not rain all week, it was looking like it would. We did not get to start the framing, but the first batch of lumber was delivered and if all holds up, they will start framing on Monday. This week we saw the installation of the new steel beams in the new addition and the replacement beam in the old house and Nicor came to hook up the new gas meter. The beam was a process which I discussed in a previous blog. They still have to finalize the beams by encasing the steel piers in concrete and tightening all the bolts. This week we hope to see the framing started, the water and sewer hookups and maybe the start of the slab demolition. The gas meter hookup was sort of a joke n that the crew came out early Monday and I get a call that they need access, so I had to go over to let them in after I got Kathleen off to horse camp. I went to work and 3 hours later, I stop by and they have dug a hole in the neighbor's yard. They then proceed to tell me that they did not have the correct size pipe and that they need another crew to bore the hole for the cable underneath the road. So two days later the boring crew comes and drills the hole and puts the pipe through. Then have to wait another day or so for another crew to come and hookup the pipe to the new meter. Then after they are done, the crew lounges around until 3:00, which is probably quitting time. Unbelievable. Anne and I spent part of Saturday looking at tile at a local tile company. As you know there are a multitude of tile and different options. We think we have come to agreements on everything except the guest bathroom, which we just did not have time to go over. Anne commented that all the different options she likes made her want to build multiple houses. I am fine with just the one.

Nicor truck early Monday morning for the new meter install.








Here is the pipe in my neighbor's yard.









Here is the new meter hooked up to the new addition. It looks high up, but when the walls are in and the grade is filled in, it will be only a few feet off the ground.





Here is a shot of the crawlspace under the new mudroom that is filled with crushed gravel over the new drain tile.








Here is the crane that lifted the steel beams.







Here is a shot of the new steel beam in the new addition. It also shows the step down underpinning that solidifies the new structure to the old.






Here is the new beam with the two new piers that are connected to a concrete footing pad.







Here is a shot of the new steel beam for the old portion of the house to replace the cut up main structural beam. They ended up cutting it in two pieces to give more support over the long span.






Here is where the chimney was that they prepared for the new steel pier to support the new steel beam.








Here was the rest of the chimney.








Here is a close up of the beam in the concrete "pockets". Ther was a discrepancy on the plans where it showed the beam pockets and then on another part, it shows the beam "in construction" which means it is hidden within the floor. This is for the head clearance coming sown the stairs. So, the guys had to remove the beam and fill in the pockets with concrete.


Here is the beam being re-installed outside of the pockets and laying on top of the foundation walls. This is the day that it rained hard on and off all day. I took this shot just before it started pouring rain again. It did not seem to bother the crew. They were already soaked.




Here is the new structural beam inside the old house where it was cut in two.







Her is one of the new piers in the house. They will be encased in new concrete.







Here is a shot of the new steel beam installed. The old beam is still to the right of it, but will be removed once the piers have been encased in cement. The slab will be demolished next with the old structural beam and piers.






Here is the end of the beam that is sitting where the fireplace once was.






One of this weeks gotcha was the foundation is cinder blocks. So the foundation is hollow in the middle. This is not uncommon when they did it this way. We will put something over it to create a better structure.





This is gotcha number two. The supports over the doors and windows on the first floor are not made of cinder blocks. It looks like a poured concrete. Whatever they used, the ends on most all are cracked and on the long one over the windows in the old family room, it is cracked in two places near the middle. It looks as if it is bowing in the middle. It probably was just a matter of time before it all caved in. We have decided we will cut out a huge portion of the front wall and frame it in with wood to shore up the structure. We will have to do this around all the places where they used this header. Both the architect and our GC feel this is the best solution.


Here is the first delivery of lumber...Yeah. No rain please.