We’ve almost completed framing of the basement. Marvin worked with our electrician Carlos to move the existing electric access panel closer to the wall – we’ve installed it between two studs so it will be flush with the future wall (we’ll of course create a little door for fu[...]
Archive for July, 2010
French door opening
Here are before and after pictures of the door opening. Marvin will be framing for and installing the new ThermaTru french door on Monday.[...]
Retaining wall and patio in Lexington
The 500 s/f Allan Block retaining wall has been completed. We’ve excavated the land at the back of the house to make room for the new french doors and a new patio and terraced retaining walls. We’ll be using the Cambridge MaytRx wall system and Sherwood Ledgestone IV pavers. We uncovered[...]
Wall framing begins
Marvin began framing the bathroom walls. It’s a little challenging because the existing concrete walls are not plum. He’ll install the windows tomorrow…[...]
Plumbing work
The plumbers have been working this week. They took out the old bathroom plumbing (including sewer) and replaced with new. The layout of the bathroom has changed as well as its size. We’re also upgrading the water lines per inspectors request. The home had 3/4″ lines and 1/2″ hot w[...]
Retaining wall progress
We’re making progress on the Allan Block retaining wall. We’ve begun setting the block over a bed of compacted 3/4″ stone. We placed the first course of geogrid atop the first course of block. Each course of block is filled with 3/4″ stone and 12″ of stone as backfill. [...]
Concrete floor poured
Today we poured the basement floor. We finished it smooth and will be staining and sealing it in 28 days. Prior to pouring we inserted a waterproofing membrane along the perimeter and up the walls. We also laid a moisture barrier along the floor.[...]
Openings in concrete walls – windows, doors – Lexington
The openings have been cut, bathroom plumbing complete, floor prepped for concrete pour… Tomorrow we’ll be pouring the floor. The windows have arrived at Harvey Building Products and we’ll pick those up tomorrow as well. Who knows, maybe we’ll get to start framing for them to[...]
Allan Block Wall Construction, Lexington
Once the massive tree was removed we were able to dig our trench. The trench will be 70 feet long and 5 feet deep to accommodate for the wall block and back fill. Because this is a larger wall (6′ high) we’ll be using geo grid to reinforce the soil. Once the trench is dug […][...]
Tree Removal, Lexington
On Monday we removed a large tree in the center of the back yard. Marvin climbed the 70 foot tree and started cutting the top branches. He moved his way down (sharing sporadic monkey noises as he cut) until only the tree trunk was left. He then tied a rope and Alex pulled while Marvin […][...]