Dee-Dah ... Dee-Done!!!

Day Twelve - Tuesday - October 30th

Crew of four showed up today, Foreman Matt was home with a sick child. I was skeptical, not having a foreman present, how would work progress? I was pleasantly surprised ... all four stepped up to the plate, knowing exactly what needed to be done. Impressed was I!

Installation of the wall anchors continued to be a challenge. There was obviously something quite massive obstructing the progress. A second hole was drilled (first was patched) and threaded rod was inserted.

While work was continuing in the basement with rod installation, two were outside addressing the crumbling block problem. Everything was moving along quite smoothly. Again, impressed was I!

After lunch one continued filling the last remaining hole outside (concrete work had been completed). The three remaining were involved attaching outside plates to threaded rods, it was fun to observe. They worked so well together. At one point I had walked through dining room and noticed two feet sticking up. One of the crew was head down in a hole, while a second one was shoveling dirt into a hole ... fortunately not in the occupied hole!

By three o'clock they were in clean up mode. Two picked up all the gear in the basement and two filled holes in crawl space. Filling a hole takes less time than digging one and is a whole lot easier! As they cleaned gear out of the garage they even grabbed our push broom and swept it out! They were loaded up and done for the day by 5:30 p.m.

They were a fun crew to have around. The average age could have been 30 ... a most excellent crew, I was impressed.

It's difficult to see him ... but Dillon's feet are just visible above deck flooring. He was tightening bolts and removing "non-dirt" items from hole.

It was an interesting experience ... but one I don't want to do again. Alot of hard work done by the crew. Alot of noise, vibrations, holes and dirt. It's finished now. Time to make a "to do" list ... but for now I'll enjoy the quiet, getting to sleep late and hanging out in my jams until mid-morning!

~~~ Yawn ~~~ this is getting OLD!

Day Eleven - Monday - October 29th - Full Moon ~ perhaps that's the "hang up"?

Long story short ... they'll be back tomorrow. The crew got a late start today, arriving around 10 a.m. due to mechanical difficulties. They showed up with a crew of five, a bobcat (tractor not animal) with an auger and bucket shovel. They set to work right away, alternating between filling holes - manually and with bobcat, tamping soil as they didn't want the compactor to disturb the "fragile" walls of living room crawl space.

While that crew was playing in the dirt, the foreman was digging four holes with bobcat/auger for installation of the wall anchor plates. Back in the basement the drilling through four basement blocks was successful. However, drilling a long threaded rod through a hole to the anchor outside became the challenge. Evidently roots from large maple (the swing tree) brought that installation to a standstill.

All of the concrete was taken away and heavier equipment was also loaded up (jack hammer, etc.) to be taken back to shop.

The soil is so dry, even at the four foot depth, that it sifted through your fingers like sand. Now that's some serious drought!

Fortunately the weather today was very pleasant - low 60's with no wind, and alot of sunshine! The crew was in good spirits, Larry and I are still talking to one another, but I think every one would agree that it sure will be nice when this job is done!!!

... our butterfly bush (knock on wood) has survived the process ...

and so has the chrysanthemum!

A Day of Rest ...

I chose to take a day of rest yesterday ... didn't take any pictures of foundation progress ... or post any new pictures from Day Ten. I was quite frankly mentally exhausted from the whole week. Most of my morning was spent dusting, mopping and vacuuming the first floor. It was a rush job, and rooms sure looked a whole lot better than they did on Friday! The only number one labor related task was to get the water heater up and going again, so Larry spent his morning painting the "furnace room" before moving it back in. I'd like to say that everything went smoothly, but nope, water softener connection won the bout and a new part was ordered! While we are without "soft water", we do have "hot water"! Yeah ... no more "house camping" for us!

As I walked around the exterior of the house I decided there was no need to take additional photos - holes are holes. The interior shows remarkable improvement. NO MORE DIRT PILES!!! The holes in the large room were filled in and there's new concrete. The bookshelf wall has painted so shelving will soon be re-installed.

Day Ten - Friday - October 26th

Friday's schedule was to finish installing piers in furnace room, then lift the basement and the crawl space. Finishing the hole became a challenge as dangling water connections didn't allow enough "head room" for the hydraulic ram. Fortunately Foreman Matt had been a plumber in a previous life and was able to do plumbing work ... disconnecting AND reconnecting! What would have been a fiasco for us, was a piece of cake for him.

I'm pleased to say the lift went without a hitch. Owner Phil is on site when lift occurs and remedied the faltering concrete block wall situation. We were also told that block "missing" at northwest corner of crawlspace foundation will be replaced. What a relief that is!

Monday's schedule should be to finish filling/compacting holes around exterior and filling those in crawlspace, install four wall anchors on west wall of big room, and the clean up of yard/garage (tools, concrete, plywood, etc.).

It's coming along ... the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter!

A Well-fed Crew!

The crew worked later today, so there are no pictures for Day Nine until tomorrow when I have natural light to take them!

I would like to share that they are a well fed bunch of young men! On cooler days they have had bowls of homemade chili or ham/bean soup to compliment their sack lunches. They are also receiving a fresh cup of coffee upon arrival, mid-morning they are served sweet rolls, etc. and for afternoon break there are cookies! They really seem appreciative of our hospitality ... and we are appreciative of their skills!

It was a long day, still no water heater and water was shut off most of the day so last pier could be installed. We're still calling it "camping"!

Scarey Sounds

This was by far the most unpleasant of days. Vibrations, bumps, crunching sounds ... icky pooh!

After crew left for the day I found out why I got spooked so many times. Living room foundation was r-e-a-l-l-y bad.

All of the push piers have now been installed. Living room crawl space and basement foundations will be lifted tomorrow (Friday). Foreman hoped that wall anchor installation would also be done tomorrow. He also commented that the crew would be on site Monday to finish up their work.

Work began today refilling all of the holes on south side. A lot of manual labor along with a compactor - that decided it didn't want to work today, probably the mid 30's temperature? The south side yard is looking better ... only half the dirt remains. We can also exit the garage through patio door and not fall into a hole! There was a lot of structural damage to concrete blocks and mortar on the garage foundation. Really sickened me to see ... means more repairs may be needed in the near future.

Still doing without the hot water heater, amazing how we adapted to the situation. Boiling water to do the dishes and showering in the camper ... well it's almost like camping!

Here's to tomorrow ~~~

OMG!

Day Eight - Wednesday

Oh my goodness ~~~ today was an "uplifting" experience! Thought we had felt/seen it all ... but oh, no ... there was more! Crew installed push piers beneath living room foundation today. A lot of shake-rattle-and rolling going on, I actually felt a bounce! The last push pier will be installed tomorrow in furnace room. We will be without hot water for the next two days - but that's okay we'll pretend we're camping! Interestingly enough crew members are: Foreman Matt (who steps in where needed), "chislers" Dillon and Jake, "installer" Dustin, and "capper" Mitch. Nice that all crew members are names we are familiar with! Shouldn't forget Phil who is the owner and whose foot appears in laser picture below.

 

Late this afternoon we got to observe the actual hydraulic lift on the garage. It was a good and a bad experience. Totally amazing actually. Hydraulic manifold looked to small to handle such a big job. But it did it. They used a laser light and the good old tape measure to watch how lift was going.



After pictures are disturbing ... alot of foundation damage because of deterioration of concrete blocks.

Also noticed how concrete pad at garage door was "lifted" leaving a noticeable gap which will be closed once soil is returned to hole. Another indicator of how much lift was done is soil in hole had separated, an eerie feeling.

We've also noticed that garage door opener struggles opening the door. After all the work is completed a service call will remedy that ...

Thanks to our little chrysanthemum I'm still reminding myself that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That we will soon be through the installation process. We can begin the "clean up" phase and get back to a near-normal.



Duds for my machine!

You can kick me out of my sewing area, but you can't keep me from projecting!

My BabyLock Quest sewing machine sits out without a cover. I decided my current quilting down time was perfect for this machine cover mini-project. Quilted fabric was just perfect ... brown circles on a black background with a reverse of smaller circles on black AND it was already in my stash. Perfect!!!

Day Seven

Today was pretty much the same as yesterday (Monday). Foreman thinks that the garage is ready for "the lift" tomorrow (Wednesday). Goal is to still be finished on Friday ... living room lift on Thursday, with basement on Friday. Somewhere in there will be the installation of four wall anchors on west basement wall and possibly three on north living room crawl space wall. Each day there are more "sounds" ... so far they have been "friendly".

So until tomorrow ~~~

Week Two; Day Six

Today I awoke to an overcast and misty morning. I wondered how wet the ground was and whether the holes were dry enough to work in. Foreman Matt calls every morning to let us know they are en route ... today that call came in at 8:46 a.m. Crew set right to work ... chiseling away at unneeded concrete ... hydraulic ram installing push pier pipes. It was a very noisy morning, so no t.v. viewing for me, I sewed instead.

After their lunch break they began setting pipes in crawl space beneath living room. The room really started doing alot of creaking ... gave me the heeby-jeebies. I immediately stopped sewing and cleared out of the room. I had convinced myself that the brick face of the fireplace was indeed going to fall on me! Talk about a sissy ... nothing fell, no new cracks appeared, but my grandfather's clock had been removed from the mantel ... because, well, you never know!

No pictures to post today ... if you've seen one hole, pier bracket or installed push pier ... you've seen them all.

So tonight I'm enjoying the "peace and quite"!

"Slash-a-Stash" Quilt ~~~

On one of the many riverboat cruises I did with my sisters I purchased a quilt kit at the "Follow Your Heart" quilt shop in LaCrosse WI. To be honest I don't remember the year. I do remember that it was aboard the American Queen (or was it the gaudy Mississippi Queen?). IF I remember correctly it may have also been the trip when Michael's family brought nieces and nephew to see their Aunt Debi after we had docked there for a shore tour. I digress ... at any rate I remember a river, a big boat, some kids, my sisters and a quilt shop visit!

My next big project is the t-shirt quilt for Ty. I wanted to "warm up" on a smaller project so decided to "whip" this one out because it was so "simple" ... slash a block, mix and match the pieces/parts, and off you go! Of course, in the interim we had the heat pump/furnace replacement, then the foundation issues, and I was forced out of my sewing room(s).
Hmpf ~~~

I claimed a corner of the living room for my sewing station ...

... and was able to complete the quilt!

As I was preparing the fabrics, labeling, cutting, etc., I was thinking "I thought the shop sample had more pink?" However these colors/fabrics work just fine for me. Goes to show you when enough time elapses you don't remember some things as well ... and I don't think it has anything to do with age either!

(tried a different type of label for this one)



TGIF!!!

Day Five, Friday, October 19th

Today we saw something new!!! Crew are still prepping each hole to accept the push pier bracket - which needs to be bolted onto the wall. Still alot of "dust" ... but not as noisy. Today it was the actual installation of a push pier system ... exciting!!!

prepped hole

peeking in through basement window ... Dustin has begun the installation of the first push pier

installed wall bracket

hydraulic ram - pushes pipes through surface until it hits bedrock - about 40 feet

two installed push piers - 27 more to go!!!

As push piers were being installed we could "hear" the house talking to us. It was not the gut wrenching sound you hear when it's settling. It was more of a sigh - like it was telling us "thanks, I needed this"!



... the promise of hope ...

At the end of the fourth day I was feeling a bit low. It's been a noisy, dusty four days. I had just walked around outside the house, surveying "conditions", taking pictures ... noticing the piles of dirt, the multitude of holes and all the contractor gear ... and I became even more "blue".

I looked out the front living room window and this little chrysanthemum had survived ... a reminder that everything would be okay.

Day Four

Day Four - Thursday - October 18th ... wind-wind-wind

Work day was cut short due to high winds. Cement dust was blowing back into faces. Can't say I don't blame anyone for calling it quits.

Backhoe work was completed, meaning all exterior holes are dug. In all we lost a dogwood, a variegated something or other, a red barberry, a spirea and several hostas. While it was a tough decision to make it was easier to let them go than to try saving them through the winter months. Oh well ...

Crawl space beneath living room, I think, would have been the greatest challenge. Crew were at least six feet tall, and hunching over to dig must have been a real challenge.

I've taken many, many pictures of this process and will not bore everyone with all of them. If you've seen one hole you've seen them all ...

... and I'm sick of all the dirt ...

Day Three

With everything that has happened over the past three days (and previous week-ends) you gotta wonder if you thought things through thoroughly! While we thought we had removed all of the obstacles we still needed to dismantle or remove more stuff ...

The front deck framing and some of the railings needed to be "taken down". Foreman Matt and Larry made swift progress so backhoe could have proper access.

The "Dan/Mitch Walkway" had to go ... south wall of garage had settled ... it was sad to see it go as our sons-in-law had done the work for us.

The covered patio on the south was also under attack on day three. This is where underground pipes run from well to house ... fortunately we did not have a "water fountain"!

Brother-in-law Michael, in Alaska, works for Caterpillar. Unfortunately backhoe used here is a John Deere. OH NO!!!

There are piles of dirt EVERYWHERE! This is the smaller pile "growing" in front yard ... much more to come on Day Four though.

We are to have a total of 29 push piers when job is finished. Holes being dug vary from 2x2 to 2x4 depending on position of pier. Depth also varies from 2-5 feet. Now that's some hole!

So, day three is over. Alot of progress ... most of basement "digging" is nearing completion. Outside work has begun. There is a thin layer of gritty dust all over basement, some on the first floor and I'm sure second floor has not been spared. How do I know? Kleenex ... blowing my nose and I could smell a hint of concrete dust! Is nothing sacred?