Heavy winds

Ferocious winds have been slowing progress. Off and on for about 10 days, Erik has had to deal with sustained winds of 35 mph with gusts to 74 mph, with loss of power and crazy noise.

November 13: Working Into the Night

It was about 11:30 pm by the time the concrete set up and everyone was satisfied with the product. Our neighbor Mindy said our house looked sweet with the lights on, casting a warm glow into the valley.

November 12: Finally...The Slab Pour

A large crew came in to work on the slab. Radiant heat tubes snake through the rebar.

Concrete is pumped in - the 10" x 10" timbers are wrapped for protection.

Smoothing out the concrete is a long process requiring much patience and finesse.

After the heating tubes, roughed-in plumbing and electricity passed inspection, we had more than a week of fierce weather with rain and winds gusting to 50 mph, snapping and ripping the tarps, requiring constant attention and frequent pumping to protect the area. Needless to say, with all that noise and worry, Erik got little sleep. Finally, the weather broke long enough for the slab to be poured. The concrete pump truck returned and the pour began early in the morning.

October 24: Lower Level Takes Shape

Beautiful weather led to a productive Saturday as the lower level takes shape. Views are from the field toward the northeast corner, and from inside the structure looking north to Orcas Road,

October 22: Timbers Go Up, Framing Begins

After re-sawn timbers were delivered to the site, Kaj makes a cut in the base of the post - note this is the SE corner post, which will be in the corner of my office on the lower level. Kaj and Doug lug the timber to the corner and hoist it into place, dropping the post onto the knife blade.

October 14: Timbers Re-Sawn

These re-sawn timbers will become the timber frame for the porch and the bent and girt walls of the main timber frame structure. Erik is extremely happy with the final product and says the timber color will darken as the wood is exposed to air.

October 10: Backfill, Excavation and Under-Slab Work

Orcas Excavators returned to backfill around the foundation and prepare the under-slab area. They also dug a long trench to the south - this will carry conduit from the house to solar collectors. Rough-ins were made for plumbing and electrical systems.

October 10: Carport Enclosed for Workshop

Our project incorporates green building practices at every opportunity. Erik carefully deconstructed the stem wall forms in order to reuse the wood for closing in the carport. This dry workshop will come in handy during the wet winter months.

October 4: Stem Walls Poured

Forms were constructed for the stem walls (part of the foundation), meticulously measured and leveled. The truck returned for two sets of pours, and after the concrete cured, forms were stripped from the walls - the wood is to be re-purposed to close in the carport for a workshop. Visible in photo 3 is a knife plate, anchored in concrete, which will secure a 10" x 10" post supporting one of the timber frame trusses.