MARCH 2004
As March begins,
we're STILL waiting for the permits. Carlos (architect) and Jim (engineer)
are working out some details to clear up some questions from the city. Meanwhile,
while we wait
for concrete bids and more materials are ordered and delivered, we get started
on the fences,
which we're doing ourselves with a little help from our friends and relatives.
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3.6.04The
Southern property line shared with our future neighbors Chad and Derrick.
This fence was about to fall over anyway and a recent storm actually knocked
down
about 30 feet of it for us.
First we
tear down about half the fence and get the holes dug. There was a huge
tree stump crossing the property line so I had to have the stump removal guy
come
back and grind down my half. There were still roots where a hole needed to
be so
we had to stick the chainsaw down there and tear it out.
Don's dad
is now an official part-time crew member. Don Sr. mixes concrete and
fills the post holes.
The new fence
framework is constructed of steel PostMasters (which are just about
the strongest fence posts available) and 2 x 6 pressure treated wood beams.
The
fence siding is Certainteed Weatherboards (fiber concrete) that are usually
used for
house siding. They will be painted with a textured paint that will give the
fence a
sandy stucco-like finish. It will hopefully look more like a stucco wall than
a fence.
3.7.04Don
Sr. constructed a portable table saw to bring to the site. The concrete
boards are cut to size to fit the top 2 feet of each 8 foot long fence section.
These boards are only 5/16" thick, but very dense and hard to cut.
Each side
of the site will require fourteen 8-foot long sections. After 3 1/2 days
working on the
South line, it's still not quite done... and then there's still the other
side plus 6-10 more section of additional yard fencing. Not to mention all
the
painting that needs to be done on it. And then, there will be a anodized aluminum
c-channel cap screwed to the top of the whole fence. A lot of work!
3.16.04The exising HVAC vent, which was previously
inside a drywall covered
soffit, is being torn out in the central living area. The existing soffit
vent will remain
in the office, master bath and one of the boys bedrooms.
At left, the soffit vent in the office is left exposed
and will be connected to an new
exposed round spiral pipe vent that will hang from the ceiling. The connections
in
the office at one end and inside a closet at the other end will be hidden.
The new
vent will run along the exposed center support beam (at right) and add to
the
"modern urban loft" style of the house.
3.18.04The front patio is marked out in the yard
with pink string. The lower lines
show the 24' x 9' concrete patio and 2' wide planter strip. The planter strip
will be
between the patio and the 3' high masonry-stucco wall, the top of which is
marked
by the high pink string. There will be a simular smaller patio to the right
on the
other side of the front walkway.
The tallest white stick represents the average height
of the plants that will be in the
patio planter. They are meant create a natural screen wall to provide privacy
from
the road and sidewalk (where this was shot from) and also to create a garden
view
from inside the house.
These photos show three samples were custom cut and
bent by Loomis Metals.
They are made of Kynar-painted 26 guage steel sheets. The test pieces fit
almost
perfectly. After a few adjustments to the drawings, we'll have enough made
to
cover the entire facia around the house. There will be other custom metal
pieces
made to go under the roof overhang and the triangular sections on the sides
of
the house (black area at right).
03.26.04Forms for the large back patio and the
two front patios are in place for
the first concrete pour tomorrow morning. Bill the trencher digs where there
will be
forms for the footing of the 3' tall patio garden walls.
03.27.047:30am the concrete truck shows up to
start with the back patio.
The mud begins to flow. Captian Ron smooths out the
first section of the back patio.
(I know there's a technical term for what he's doing here, but I don't remember
what
they call it.)
The concrete gets troweled, crack control joints are
put in place, and later on, Ron
sprays off the surface with a hose to expose the agragate underneath.
Our first look at the exposed agragate texture. This
will be sealed in a couple weeks
to give it a matte finish shine that will enhance the color of the rocks.
The front patios on either side of the entrance. The
3' tall walls will be 2' in front of
the patios and tall plants will be planted between the patio and walls to
provide
privacy. There will be a 6' wide walkway with 2 low step-ups leading to and
11' x 11'
center entrance patio, which will be under the 15' high dormer roof that will
replace
the existing roof over the entrance.
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