Tip: when you're about to swing the excavator, turn your head in the direction you intend to swing, fix your eyes on a point roughly where you intend to end up facing and stay focused on that through the swing. About eye level's probably preferable as opposed to looking down into a hole or up at the far horizon. I find that helps me, can't hurt to try it.
No thanks. I must be over tired because I just noticed I called it a cement pump. That's one of my pet peeves- it's concrete, not cement. No date set, but it'll be in the next few days and I'll post when I know. On a serious note- no- I don't know how they clean the tubes- should I worry?
Have you two chuckle heads met in real life yet? When the house is finished I'll save you guys a room.
No, but you and I are overdue for a beer. Sounds like you and your wife are making great progress. Would like to carve out some time and drop by. I'm sure your wife LOVES all of your fellow inmates stopping by to bother you and slow you down.
Pouring walls on Monday. There's been a lot of extra prep for this stage because of deck ledger board, cuts and rebar for "bumpouts" that come in the next level, and prep for the Hambro system. Pump truck scheduled for 10:00AM, but they told us they'd send it earlier if nobody else calls with a slab to do. Figured we wouldn't rush because we're waiting on the Hambro stuff to show up anyways- they told us Tuesday. As usual, visitors welcome.
And the walls are poured. <table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From July 15, 2012</td></tr></tbody></table> And we did some more time lapse. Still not happy with the timing, and this one is even more boring than the others. Maybe by the time we're done I'll have it figured out! (I'm told that picture quality will get better in a few hours) <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gVaz4RaCNKA?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" width="853"></iframe> Hambro flooring system to arrive on Wednesday!
My wife and I took the day off of work (the place where we get paid to work, as opposed to this project where we work harder than normal and don't get paid.) With the help of the ICF guru we placed all the steel trusses for our first floor. As mentioned before, it's a Hambro system, which is a division of Canam Steel. I have mixed feelings on my dealings with them, but overall I'm quite satisfied. Funny statement to make, and I can clarify for anyone seriously interested in the product, anyways... We got the entire system in, along with the temporary rollbars used to support the temporary (and reusable!) sheathing. We also managed to place a beam without hurting anyone. Nice to have the excavator around. It could have been done by hand, but would have been more cumbersome, dangerous, and time consuming. Here are a few pictures of different perspectives, including one of me that I didn't know was being taken. I caught a lot of flack for the condition of the T-shirt I was wearing. Enjoy: <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Iu3pls_yiryyM2sgv7X4K9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oBu3V6E3VdQ/UBMPJSAS15I/AAAAAAAAAKY/DR6BAZnBrb0/s640/P7270003.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/July272012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">July 27, 2012</a></td></tr></table> <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Eaf5rdO6vWoTDTaXOX_sttMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b3Ks4iev818/UBMPJ8dPiII/AAAAAAAAAKg/uF4X542L9AA/s640/P7270004.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/July272012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">July 27, 2012</a></td></tr></table> <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hKU6BUTN-8_HABlwPnBO5tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IkaS3EZXNHo/UBMPM7mXfVI/AAAAAAAAAK8/h4KYeAvVWgc/s640/P7270008.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/July272012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">July 27, 2012</a></td></tr></table> <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Eq548whyWjgPedgLB3leIdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JtGWLqDSwpE/UBMPMSyaS1I/AAAAAAAAAKw/aXMzuaLBDos/s640/P7270007.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115670853405340716908/July272012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">July 27, 2012</a></td></tr></table> More progress to come. Well drillers didn't show up today, but there is evidence that they've cased the joint, so I'm sure they'll be around soon.
They got stuck badly at our place on a hillside in VT but made it on the second try a week or so later. I wish you good luck getting a shallow, high yield well.
:huh I bet that's why they didn't show. I built them a pretty decent road using bank run gravel, and the stuff packs well and it really sturdy. Unfortunately it gets a little greasy when it's wet, and I made that clear to the guy. Since it's on a relatively steep slope I'm thinking they would have had trouble getting out. Thank you for the well wishes. (No pun intended!) I've been praying to the water gods lately.
Got *all* of the temporary decking in for the flooring system. Got the waterproofing stuff on the outside where it's going to be backfilled. Moved some mud out of the way for the well drillers, who pushed us back to Wednesday. Also bought a new Milwaukee circular saw this morning and am VERY pleased with it. Nice saw. It was nice to get so much done today. All by myself. Nice and quiet.
Went flying by your site today on the DR, MP40-Man in tow on his R1150GS, would have stopped but I was not on my own. The excavator was moving when we went by.