Progress Update - Week 6

A completely rotted out beam from inside the buidling.

Marc using the chop-saw

This week was all about getting the foundations in. On Monday and Tuesday we finished up processing the remaining beams, joists, and clap board. Between the de-nailing and cutting processes everyone got to put their hands on the power tools. Sahar used the Saws-All for the first time, she reports that her arms were numb after two cuts. By Wednesday we were ready to start digging some footing holes. First we measured and marked the column grid using the triangulation method, the good old 3, 4, 5 right triangle. Admittedly we had to do it twice because the first time we assumed the existing foundation wall was square, it ended up being 3” off on one side.

Sahar using the sawzall

Footing digging was a somewhat experimental process. Because the soil in this area is organic matter (i.e. clay) it is not suitable to bear weight, the result is that we have to create 36” x 36” x 1’ footings for the piers to sit on. To begin we marked out the 36” footing based on the previously established center points, then using a skill saw we scored the footing outline and broke up the concrete slab with an electric hammer drill. We started hand digging the first two holes and quickly discovered the soil is dense wet clay, it was like digging into solid cheddar cheese.  Soon a buddy developed where one person gets the clay out of the hole and the other moves it to the pile, mostly because the hole was not big enough to have two people. At one point Arial felt a few drops on his head thinking it was the eminent rain but turns out it was Anthony dripping sweat on him. It was grueling work, so grueling that eventually we decided to have Brad dig out the holes with the back hoe, it isn't as pretty, but it's faster.

Footing holes.

In the middle of the week Chris had to leave us for 24 hours to present as a featured artist at the Furniture Society Conference at Maine College of Art in Portland Maine. We really missed her, but she reported back that her lecture went well and she really enjoyed the gardens of her host.

We also got an extra set of hands. Paul is an experienced carpenter and friend of Brad’s who came from Florida for the week. We are going to try to make him like us so much we will want to stay longer.

In other excitement we had a toilet back-up at the parsonage. There was so much water that it went through the floor to the basement below and soaked the ceiling tiles. Brad saved the day with his “plumber’s moves” with a plunger.

Gary and Jennifer stopped by and used a transit to make a level line for the foundation wall to be cut down. Our line level system wasn’t super accurate. They also got hold of a pneumatic drill for a few hours and busted up the concrete stair. We were shocked to discover that the rebar used in the stair was 1” iron bars used to tie back coal mines, plus some scrap iron railing, guess nothing goes to waste here. Anthony jumped in and took a turn, it was quite a photographic moment.

Jennifer teaching Sarah to use the transit

Anthony working the pneumatic drill

On Friday we spent the morning over at Duane’s house milling the larger oak beams into smaller pieces using his portable saw mill, the WoodMizer. Duane is even more our hero that before, he is super strong and works that WoodMizer like a pro. We ended up with beautiful cross sections of lumber.

The portable saw mill area at Duane's house.

Duane using the WoodMizer.