Staging

Staging a construction project is not always easy.  Yesterday at 4:30 R.J. arrived with his bulldozer, ready to begin backfilling.  He was disappointed to find that Jim's crew had not yet completed the basement work.

I think Jim's crew has done well in spite of the tool theft and some uncertain weather.  The exterior walls of the basement are up, except for the stairwell box and the base for the front porch.  Before the masons can close in the stairwell, they have to finish the base for the masonry wall which will be a central feature of the living room and bedroom on the first floor.  And, at this point, they have run through all the block they had on hand.  Another block delivery is needed.

Jim stands in the unfinished stairwell "box" late yesterday afternoon.

The footing for the front porch (to the left of the stairwell) awaits its block wall.

Looking south over the basement... and all those rocks.

The base for the masonry wall which, on the first floor, will serve as a thermal mass.

Jim's men must also apply rigid foam insulation to the exterior of the basement.  That, plus the remaining block work, will probably take a couple days.  Then R.J. can start backfilling.  Backfilling will be delicate work because of those large rocks.  One rock, badly handled, could fracture a wall.

In turn, until R.J. backfills, the location of the garage cannot be fixed, because piles of rock are sitting on that part of the property.  And until the garage's location is fixed and the base for the slab is prepared, the slab can't be poured.  And until the slab is poured, construction of the garage can't go forward.  And the garage is needed to keep certain materials secure from weather and itchy fingers.

Moreover, for additional strength, certain parts of the basement's exterior walls will be filled with cement.  That can't be done until R.J. does the backfilling, because the cement truck must be able to reach all sides of the basement.  And, in turn, the rough carpenters can't start framing until that concrete is poured.  So, everything depends on something else being done first!  We might start framing next week, but I'm betting it will be the week after. •••