July 29, 2005 - Day 20 of Remodel

Today the crew continued to dig the trench for the side yard retaining wall. No new photos, because the trench looks the same as it did yesterday (see photos from July 28, 2005).

However, I did take a photo of the hard dirt/rock the crew is having to dig through.

The dirt is a common kind of rock know as "SHALE." It's described as:

"Shale is the most abundant of all sedimentary rocks. It is composed primarily of soft clay minerals, but may include variable amounts of organic matter, calcareous material, and quartz grains. Shale may be any color, but is generally greenish gray to grayish black. It is relatively soft and has a smooth, greasy feel when freshly exposed, but is hard and brittle when dry. Most shales split into thin plates or sheets and are termed fissile, but others are massive (nonfissile) and break into irregular blocks. Shales weather very easily to form mud and clay."

July 28, 2005 - Day 19 of Remodel

Today the crew worked on the side yard retaining wall.

A deep trench is being dug, in which a concrete footing will be poured to ensure that the wall will be strong enough to hold the large amount of dirt (and the houses which sit on the dirt!) behind it.

To think about how solid that wall will be, think of the ancient ruins you see in Rome or China. When we are all dead and gone, our retaining wall will still be standing there!

To get an idea of the depth of the trench, take a look at the photos Terri took of me standing in the trench. Well over half my body is in the trench, meaning it's at least three feet deep.

Click on any photo to see a larger view.

July 27, 2005 - Day 18 of Remodel

The crew removed the wood walls around the foundation today.

They then filled in dirt around the foundation, and leveled and compacted the dirt.

Framing will begin sometime soon, we're told!

Click on any photo to see a larger view.

July 26, 2005 - Day 17 of Remodel

Day 17 of the remodel, and the concrete for the foundation was poured today.The crew poured quick-drying concrete in between the wood. The concrete will dry overnight, then the crew will remove the wood.

Framing may begin as early as this week.


Click on any photo to see a larger view.

July 25, 2005 - Day 16 of Remodel

Above is a panoramic view of the project as of today, July 25, 2005!

The crew today completed laying the rebar and then placed another wall of wood to "sandwich" the rebar between the wood.

Tomorrow, concrete will be poured between the wood. Our contractor has said that the concrete will dry in one day. That means that framing of the house could begin as early as Wednesday.

Terri also took some photos of David in the retaining wall trench, to give you some idea of how deep it is.

Click on any photo to see a larger view.

July 23, 2005 - Day 15 of Remodel

Another Saturday -- and another surprise. The foundation crew came out and spent a full day working on laying rebar in the trenches where the foundation will be poured.

Click on any photo to see a larger view.