DAY 11 - Underground plumbing - cement pour

Here we are at day 11. All underground plumbing was put in place 2 days ago.  Forms are in place for 4" cement foundation. The weather forecast is predicting 90% chance of rain.... 

Underground plumbing includes black and grey water drains and vents for 3 sinks, 2 toilets, shower and mud room.

                 

Video here: Cement Pour

Cement pour went well. Three cement trucks full filled the foundation.  Despite the threat of rain and a few sprinkles the job was completed. With the heat index near 105 degrees, we will keep water on the cement for a few days.  At the end of this day the forms were finished for he two porches. They will be poured tomorrow.

DAY 10 - Rethinking the floor plan - Windows schematic

DAY 10 - Reviewing the floor plan, the use of each space and physical layout led us to make some floor plan changes.  Initially we wanted 2 bedroom home since we were downsizing. However, we ended up with a 3 bedroom plan, with one very small guest bedroom. Today we made some slight changes.

We removed the wall between the two extra bedrooms making one large 19'x12' room. We took out the closet in the hall and extended the wall towards the front of the house giving us a very large walk in closet. The closet that was in the tiny room was removed and a shelving system in the mud room will take its place. By making these small changes we removed 3 interior doors, one wall and gained alot of storage. Not to mention saving a significant number of Franklins!



We will be ready to mark cement and hand over plans for window placement in a few days. The lower side wall windows are all 35 x 71 aluminum sitting 24" off the floor. The kitchen windows are 35 x 35 and will be at 46" above the floor. Bathroom window is 23 x 35 and also at 46" above the floor.
The challenge may be placing the three windows above the front door.... Here is a view of how we designed the front. The software program is showing 6/12 roof, so the pitch will be a little different since we are building at 5/12 pitch.

DAY 9 - Chimney Delivery - Cupola Completion

Day 9 (its been a slow week-we are not in a hurry) Yesterday, the support beam was installed. The installation of the underground plumbing will start today and the cement pour will start in 3 days. (All approximations!)

 BUT,

Today we received delivery of the chimney parts!  We will need them in the next week or so when the roof is installed.  We are using 6" SuperPro Cathedral Ceiling support, 6" x 48" Class-A chimney pipe, Guardian 304 Stainless steel (5/8" mesh) chimney cap, 6" Champion stainless storm collar and vented roof flashing. The cast iron oven will be installed in the living area that will have a cathedral ceiling.


In addition to the Chimney, the handmade cupola will be installed as well.


My talented husband designed and fabricated the cupola. He made the wood frame, painted and installed reclaimed aluminum panels on two side walls. We purchased 36x24 end-louver flush mount vents for the other two side walls and topped it off with a very nice copper deer weather vane. Some final finishing will take place this week.

His lovely wife painted the flat aluminum star so it looks 3d. There are two, one on either side of the cupola.

Metal frame cabin DAY 1 and DAY 2

We  have been waiting for this for many years. Lots of plans and pieces of the puzzle had to fit together just right. After obtaining our land and clearing a location for the house, we are ready to start the build of our metal frame cabin in the woods.

Land was cleared and 12 trucks of fill dirt arrived. Only one truck got stuck in the soft sand and it was the last load.

Today is the Day!   DAY 1 and DAY 2 photos below are  the corner post and framing for the roof. The plan for the entire build is to hire out some of the work we can't do and my husband and I will finish out the inside. This is a blog of that progress. Thank you Huff Welding for starting the framing on time - great job!

Each post is buried 4'. Exterior wall height will be 12'. Roof pitch 5/12