Back Filling

Lots going on in the last couple of days as we try to stay on schedule. The excavator is only booked here for a set number of days which means the work we need it for has to get finished. No matter what. Unfortunately, that doesn't take into consideration things like tools breaking down. Tools getting misplaced. Horrific winter snow storms. Those things slow us down which is not fun when you are on a tight schedule. Well, it's never fun, really. We have to keep reminding ourselves that this is our first time building a house. It's kind of learn as you go. The next house will be a piece of cake. Kind of like the second child. I'm kidding. But you are more confident the second time you do something. So we move forward. Cautiously. Stopping occasionally to dig out a shovel or two. Buried under a bucket load of dirt. Left unattended by someone who shall remain nameless. It wasn't Phil.

Hey, it happens.

We decided to go with dimpled membrane instead of spray on for moisture protection. For those interested, you can read more about it here.  For the rest of us, it just looks like we wrapped the house up before we buried it. Which is essentially, what we did.

The inside of the foundation still needs to be dug out.

A layer of gravel covers the drain tile to keep it from getting clogged.

The excavator then starts moving the big piles of dirt back around the walls, the process, for those of us just learning the industry jargon, known as back filling.

Almost done this side.  Those tall walls don't look so intimidating anymore. It's an easy step down off the top now.  From this side, anyway.

You have to be pretty skilled to operate such a big machine in here, maneuvering between the sono tubes and around the walls. We had a great operator. Thanks, Craig.

The sono tubes are just barely sticking out of the ground now.

The dimpled membrane is cut at an angle at the back of the house because the ground here will slope away from the house to allow for the basement entry.

This will be the front porch.  I am trying to picture it.

Matt is following behind with the compactor.

As the surrounding piles of dirt get smaller, I'm starting to see the footprint of the house a bit better. This is the front of the house and the entry level but it is actually the middle floor. 

The next step is to put the floor in.  Little by little. Bit by bit. The next thing. It all adds up. 

Progress.  It's happening.

Thank you, Lord.

So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Romans 9:16