House Progress - July

So by the start of July we were ready to make the first pour in the back where there was over 4 feet of slab. They do this so as to not break the forms due to the weight of the concrete. Then it was time to trench

House Links:

First pour along the back and side of the form. Our grandson would have loved this part of the job watching the big trucks come in and grind away.

Then the slab crew trenches the fill dirt in preparation for the steel rebar that goes in. This part is done before the plumbers come in to put the water and wastewater pipes that are in the slab.

So after the plumbers are done, the slab guys come back and lay out the rebar in the trenches, connecting them to the footings, and laying out the top layer also. Show me the concrete!

The plumbers are laying out the pipes ... tricky because once the concrete is poured, it's a major issue to change anything that is laid out incorrectly or not designed right.

What a messy job!

Pour day! At 3:00 A.M. on a Wed. morning the pumper truck shows up (much to the dismay of those trying to sleep). It was a relatively cool and cloudy day, perfect for pouring concrete. Heat is not good for concrete to "set up" correctly.

Almost done!

The "arm" that is used to direct the concrete from the pumper truck to the guys pouring it on the slab.

The day after the form guys left, the framing crew starts on the house. It took a day to lay out the lines where the walls are, then things started happening fast.

It took four weeks to clear the spot, form it up, trench and get the rebar in, and then pour and knock the forms off (plus clean up the mess). Now it's time to frame.

Standing in the what will be the kitchen, looking out toward the lake.

From the back of the house, this is looking up at where the deck will be.

This is the west side of the house ... no windows here because of the Texas sun.

Wood on the side of the house and beginning on the roof gables.

One night we took our wine and watched the sunset off the new porch.