East side drain system completed September 13, 2011

The top picture shows the drain/culvert on the east side of the house. Before we installed the drain system on the west side of the house, all water from the west side traveled across the front of the basement and went down the east drain. I put a 90 degree elbow on the end of the pipe you see here, and I cut a hole in the bottom of the drain box for the other end of the elbow to go through. The top is a 20 inch round grate that is rated for 1,000 pounds.

It took about 12 wheel barrow's full of dirt to fill the hole. I then put plastic over the box and cut out a hole in the center, then raked the rock over everything. No more tripping hazard and there should be a lot less soil erosion.

Here is what it now looks like from the edge of the basement apron. I wish we would get a huge rain so I can see the system at work.

All siding completed September 12, 2011

Today I finished siding the basement. I had help from Tony putting up the 16 foot boards. Tomorrow I will caulk the seams on the siding I installed today.

I also installed blinds on the 4 gable windows. I am still looking for blinds for the dormer windows. Butte doesn't seem to have any in stock!

Tomorrow I will go pick up the pipe I need to complete the drain system on the east side of the house. I will take before and after pictures to show what I do.

I also plan to install an outdoor outlet by the basement door tomorrow.

basement bathroom completed, September 8, 2011

The basement shower and bathroom are now completed. I finished grouting the tile around the shower door and installed the trim around the entry door to the bathroom and the mechanical room on Thursday. It was my first time installing trim around a door. Two pieces of trim later, I now know how to install it properly.

I turned on the shower yesterday to see how it worked. Some water splashes out onto the bathroom floor. I will look at getting a shower stall door next year. I checked the temperature of the shower and it did not get real hot. The water heater was set very low. I set it to 135 degrees.
I purchased blinds for all the windows on the main floor and the two windows and the double doors in the basement. I finished installing them today. I will look into getting blinds for the 5 loft windows.

I had to change our insurance carrier this year as you can only carry construction insurance for two years. (Guess I need to pick up the pace!) The new carrier wants me to get all the siding installed within 30 days of the policy taking effect. I will be getting the material to side the basement wall on Monday. With the amount of windows and doors, it should not take much material; I will probably finish it in one day.

Basement bathroom completed, September 8, 2011

Basement shower

Siding completed September 5, 2011

Today we finished the siding on the house. A friend of mine wanted firewood, which I had in two piles from last year. While his son and Jerry Phillips cut and loaded the firewood on a trailer, Donnie and I finished the siding. Jerry would run the lift for us whenever we needed his help.

Tomorrow I will clean up the main floor, putting away all the tools I will not be needing until next year, and vacuum the floor of all sawdust. When this is completed, I will be loading all the excess siding material on my trailer and returning it to the lumber yard for credit.

On Tuesday I will finish hanging the trim on the two basement doors and finish the grouting on the basement shower.

Siding end gables September 3, 2011

Yesterday, September 2nd, I started siding the end gables. Fitting the trim around the logs (Top wall logs, purlins and ridgepole) takes a fair amount of time. Once I have the trim installed, the installation of the siding goes pretty fast.

The top picture is the south end. I did as far up as I felt safe. I used the lift cage to lift all my tools up, then I used a ladder to carry the cut siding into the cage. Most of the trim I cut while in the cage using a portable circular saw and a jigsaw. I am caulking the siding as I go so there will be nothing else to do to the siding when I finish the installation.

The second picture shows the progress on the north end. Once I get all I can safely reach by myself, I will get someone to run the lift while I install the upper siding on both ends.

Tony finished the second clear coat on the basement bathroom door, mechanical room door and the trim for both doors. I'll install the trim this coming week.

I started repairing the culvert on the east side of the house. I found I had the wrong size 90 degree pipe. The right one will be in next week.

Landscaping and sidewalk completed August 3, 2011

Today I placed black plastic sheets under the deck on both sides of the house, then I had help to install 10 yards of small stone over the plastic. The west side is complete. On the east side I am short a small amount of the larger stone.

The picture below shows the sidewalk, and pads for the deck steps, completed. They were poured yesterday and I stripped the forms off this morning. I used the same small rock between the sidewalk and the house, and on the outside of the sidewalk.

Yesterday I finished tiling the shower. Tomorrow I will grout the tile and the shower will be ready to go. I may need to install a shower door.

Once I complete the grout, I will begin installing the trim on the end gables, getting them ready for the siding.