Reaching new heights

After delays for weather and for roof trusses to be built to code, we have seen much change this week! Before our new extended roof could be placed, we had to get our current building re-shingled. As they peeled off the old shingles, as Jim Victor predicted, the underneath (I think it is called fascia) was in pretty bad shape, so much of our roof has been fixed more extensively then anticipated. It is more expensive than shingles alone, but we will certainly make up or it with more efficient heating and cooling.

The rafters were manufactured elsewhere and brought to us on a flatbed. Then they had to be lifted off piece by piece and arranged as they were stacked so they could be fit together like a big puzzle on top of the addition.

The next post will include pictures of where we are now, with most of the roof trusses and rafters in place. The process has been very interesting to watch for its methodical, careful placement of each piece. Indeed, as we sit in our new Gathering Place in yeas to come, we can rest assured that the roof is a solid shelter.

Update from Jim:

C&E /excavation came to backfill and to install the 1800 gallon drywell shown close to the woods NW of our existing building. As I was showing them the approximate path of our sanitary sewer line so they could miss it, the question came up "why are you coming way north to gather water that is being collected on an addition to the south?" We discussed putting the drywell between our main building and the Childrens house. It looked ok to me, but had to be a final decision of Troyer so the responsibility could remain with them to give us a system that works, is to code, etc. So I called Dennis in Florida, who called Joe Letherman, who came to the site and agreed to the change. I asked that the manhole cover be under 8 inches of top soil so we can grow grass or ground cover. We went to (2) 900 gallon tanks to fit them in and get the required capacity. I also eliminated the requirement to pipe the downspout at the NE corner of our existing building all around to the drywell. These changes have reduced the excavator's job some 160 feet of trenching and installing 160 feet of 8 inch pipe. A further benefit is that it is no longer required to take trenching equipment along the east side of our building and across the north yard jeopardizing memorial bushes, the play set and the sanitary sewer.

C&E Completed the drywell installation and backfilled the west wall. They return tomorrow to run 8 inch pipe (picking up the downspouts) to the drywell and to backfill the east and south walls.

Datena Construction finished the sub floor and framed the east wall. They will erect this wall tomorrow and continue with walls,

Rich Hackel and the task force he put together have selected our new shingles.(cinnamon frost--oakwood) I gave this decision to Joe L. and to Steve Datena.

The plumber came and decided to reroute the pipe from the sump to the drywell, partly because we moved the drywell, but also because the original route would require boring holes thru (3) 10 inch concrete walls. I agreed he could run thru the rafters and down the stud wall to below frost line and bore (1) hole in the concrete and out to the drywell.

Garman tried to run a temporary line to power the c/b box in the lower level, but couldn't fish the line. Garman has our prints on our existing structure. He will return them when he no longer needs them and with a new set of "as built" prints.

Ya don't tug on Superman's cape...

And you don't mess around with Jim. Today I am pleased to announce that Jim Victor is going to be writing on this blog as well--he is our site supervisor and checks in with our crews each day. His updates will ensure that the information shared continues to be correct and up-to-date, and I (Rev. Amy) will still be here often and taking pictures. Here we grow! The big arm reaching over the building is a snorkel that drops the cement where it needs to be. The guys covered the tiles with the cement and now we are ready for back-filling around the outside and framing will begin next week.

Real walls

Once the forms were in place, they poured the concrete down in between the sides and let it harden for a day or two. The forms got taken off and...voila! We have walls!

Putting up the forms

The truck pulled up with forms on it and were lowered into the building site. The forms are made of plywood. They are spaced 10 inches apart with steel rods spacing them. The cement will be poured down into the forms and will attach to the rods, which will be inside the walls. After the formed cement walls have solidified the forms will be peeled off and we will have concrete walls. On the footers, they carved out indentations and the cement will pour down into those indentations, like putting Tab A into Slot B.

This is a couple days later when all of the forms are up and ready.

Concrete evidence

We have the foundation poured! As of Wednesday, January 8, the footings have been filled in and the middle part is full of pea stones. Because of the water table miscalculation, 6 extra inches of pea stones will be put down for drainage. The pea stone is laid and the whole surface is flat now, waiting for the construction phase to put the floor over the concrete. We'll still have the cement crew around for awhile, though, until the walls go up. Even in this snowfall, the crew was here checking on the concrete. It's covered and there's a truck full of forms (walls) waiting....

Pouring the Footers

Today the guys are peeling back the blankets to see when they can pour the concrete. There are big wooden frames visible in other pictures that show us where the walls will be. Inside of those wooden frames are small metal grids called footers or footings. Concrete gets poured over the grids (think waffle iron) and that makes up our foundation's floor. The blankets are getting peeled back to see if the ground froze around the footers. If it's not frozen, they can pour the footers tomorrow. If it is frozen, they will have to spend tomorrow heating it before they can pour. The picture is of Al (left) and Bruce (right) who are part of the team who's been pouring our concete.