Saturday, November 10, 2007

The Cure & the Sticks-- Weeks 17-18

This waiting really is tedious. But we had to wait for the concrete to cure & for the post-tension cables to be stretched.

Sometimes delays happen for good reasons, like better financial planning. The lumber was originally going to be delivered on Monday, October 29th, but we learned that if it was, the payment for it would be due November 10th. We decided to wait to have it delivered until Thursday, November 1st so that payment for it wouldn't be due until December 10th. That should allow for the framing to be completed & inspected & for the draw from the bank to be managed correctly.

In the midst of all this, we had to sign paperwork recognizing that a lien would be placed on the house if the contractor didn't pay or the bank didn't pay or we didn't pay for the lumber. I guess the company has had problems with non-payment in the past. So by delaying the delivery a bit, we could avoid any potential hassles in that arena because of timing.

The lumber was delivered on November 1st & framing began November 2nd. We didn't get to see the initial work because we were on a Dia de los Muertos tour that day, but we did catch up on the weekend. I was amused & pleased to see that at least some of the lumber was from Weyerhaeuser since I retired from there. The framing forman, Vince, said that's who they use for special orders.

Because of the stucco, it's not usual to put what they call "shear" walls all around the house down here. They usually do it only at stress points. But because Trout's shop is so tall, the whole house had to get an engineering stamp from Pima County. And if it was going to have to get that, we decided to make bigger windows closer to the corners which required that the entire house be sheathed in OSB, or shear panels as they call them here.

Besides the materials ready to go, this is what we saw the 1st weekend in November.

It wasn't a lot, but it was a start. See the next post for the real action.

3 comments:

Joline Albaugh said...

Dear Lo & Trout,

We found your website and it is so much fun! Welcome to the neighborhood and we know you will be happy living here. Does Trout race cars or does he build them? You are welcome to come to our house or shop anytime. Send us an email or call 822-1485.
Joline & Neil Albaugh

Lo said...

Joline,
Are you the folks with the sports racer in yard? Yes, Trout does race. He has a 1981 Crossle 45F. The last time he raced it was in late September in Seattle where it currently resides. He also plans to build a Cobra Daytona Coupe kit car and already has multiple parts stored in the garage of our rental. We will be at the job site Monday (11/12) morning okaying some internal walls. Come on by if you want. If we don't see you, I'll give you a call when the time arrives for sane people to be awake. ...Lo

Anonymous said...

oh sure, now that i am leaving DBR we get a neighbor who loves GWTW AND Oh Brother!
Lo, are you and Trout from the Seattle area? We used to live in Everett, Mukilteo and Lake Stevens.
Lo, as i was reading your other blog, the one with the travels with (or without) Trout, and the day of the dead, it reminded me of Utah. In Northern (and probably southern too) Every year on Memorial Day weekend they have "Home Coming" which is sort of like the day of the dead. they clean and decorate graves and have huge family picnics. in the alley ways behind the houses, there are tons of lilac bushes and they are usually in bloom about that time, so many of the graves are decorated with them.

Welcome to Diamond Bell Ranch!
Sheila