Delivering the Goods

At 8:30 this morning the Rycenga truck arrived and began off-loading building materials.  The truck carries its own three-wheel forklift.  Using this, the driver dropped stacks of materials on all sides of the basement.  It's remarkable how many products are required for a house.

The Rycenga truck left Grand Haven about 2:00 a.m.

This tricycle is a real workhorse.

The SIS panels, applied to the exterior of the building, are intended
to prevent infiltration of air through cracks in the envelope.

While the materials were being unloaded, the framing crew picked up some of the larger stones — the type that turn ankles — and filled the bucket of Kyle's Bobcat.  These were then dropped on Lot 5.  I can use them for landscaping when the house is finished.  After picking up the worst of the rocks, the crew got busy running sill plate and building walls in the basement.

Sean tosses a rock into the Bobcat's bucket.  A lot more rocks
need to be removed... but all in due course.

The sill plate is bolted to the top of the basement walls.

Dave adds a stud to one of the basement walls.

The most interesting chore for today was installation of the steel beam which will carry the floor joists for the ground floor.  Kyle and his team measured the space from beam pocket to beam pocket, and then Kyle used a saw to cut the beam to size.  (There's an old saying: "Measure twice, cut once.")

Sparks fly as Kyle saws through the steel beam.

 He then picked up the beam with the Bobcat and brought it over to the edge of the building.  Using scaffolding on wheels to support the lead end — and with the help of Jim and Junior, the masons — the crew pushed the beam across the basement and dropped it into the beam pockets.  Installing the beam took about 20 minutes.  Kyle and his crew made it look like they do this every day!

The Bobcat proved its utility by transporting the beam to the
opposite end of the house — easier than carrying it by hand!

Jose and Dave guide the scaffolding as Kyle uses the Bobcat
to push the beam across the basement.

Kyle and Sean maneuver the end of the beam into its pocket.

Finally, the beam is in place and installation of joists can begin.

One thing is sure — the crew doesn't waste any time.  They seem to be constantly in motion.  And I have to be sure I don't distract them from their work. •••