30 May 2014

Only made three trips to Goodro Lumber today… Could have been worse.  First trip was crack of dawn early to prep and apply primer to the two additional steel beams we’ve decided to use to support the house Main Level.  Using steel instead of LGL (lumber glue laminate) beams is not only safer in case of a fire, but less expensive to boot.  Got back to Fern Lake at 11 to find Jimmy hard at work back filling the foundation and Sean, Ben, and Ty Zimmerman nearly done with installing the under-slab foam insulation in the cellar.  Just before Sean and his crew departed, he gave me a list of tasks to accomplish this weekend: making and installing the radon gas abatement piping, spray foam sealing the under-slab foam insulation, and putting onto a drawing all the measurements needed to install the under-slab radiant heating piping.  Right after lunch Jimmy asked me to go to Goodro’s to pick up some more fittings needed for the perimeter drain installation.  Brought back Schedule 40 PVC fittings (‘cause that was what Chuck used for all the under-slab drains) only to learn that there is specific sewer and drain pipe (which is what Jimmy was using for the perimeter drains) and, no 4″ PVC does not fit 4″ SDR.  So back to Goodro’s I went.  The difference in price between the two types of fittings almost paid for the gas I burned making the exchange.  Jimmy and I installed a vertical branch off the perimeter drain to which a grate will be fitted to catch water coming off the roof valley onto the Patio.  Had him put a ton of stone (literally) all around that vertical pipe so water will have no excuse to stay on the Patio surface.  Jimmy then commenced digging the trenches for the Garage frost walls.  Right in the southeast corner he uncovered a 2-ton rock, which made that corner of the trench extra big... severing the footpath over to the wood walkway.  James came for his after work job and used the skid-steer to move to the north side of the house the smaller rocks and dirt Jimmy was digging out.  That done, James and I lugged the detachable section of the wood walkway up the hill and made a temporary bridge across the Garage frost wall trench, suitable for 90 year old ladies to cross.