The Bricco Blog

I spent the weekend working on the pump system with a friend.  It turned out being a lot more work thank I had anticipated.  The electrical is done except for the pressure switch to the pump controller and the float system in the tank.  I have all the plumbing done except the 1 inch PEX from the tank to the Pump House.  The biggest challenge was the rain.  What a muddy mess.  I had Dean with me Sunday afternoon.  He played with the shovel redirecting the river of water running down the dirt road away from the work area.  He had a great time. 

Funny story.  I was about 200 feet away talking to Ron through a water pipe (we were trying to figure out which of two pipes in the pump house came from well.  The other one goes to my future pole barn and is capped and burried in the road).  We get it figured out and Ron says, “Hang on your kid is stuck.”  When I got back Ron is helping Dean get unstuck but he did get a picture first.  I think its time for hip waiders.

Sorry, no pics.  Just an update.  Rough Electrical is in.  I boarded up the open doors and started the dryout process.  I rented a large fan and a commercial dehumidifier.  They have been running for about 24 hours now and there is a noticable visual difference.  No more darks spots next to the walls.  I passed the time this afternoon sweeping and cleaning.  The septic pump control system is mounted but were still waiting for the rest of the system.  Tomorrow we’ll be working on the well and should have running water at the house by the end of the day.  We have to wire the well pump controller and finish all the plumbing in the pump house.  Thats about all for now.

Houston, The Eagle has landed! We had Plumbing and HVAC contractors here today. The plumbing is topped out. They did a fantastic job. The HVAC contractor installed the air handler unit and ran all the feed and return ducts in the attic. It looks like the Apollo landed in the trusses!!

Here’s a big catch up post.   The framer finished the under floor framing the beginning of November. The plumer came and installed all the under floor plumbing.   As soon as it passes inspection they will sheet it and start framing walls. 

Around the 18th of November the floor had been sheeted and the first walls started going up.  Construction moved very quickly after that. 

The framer told us that of all the houses he’s built ours had the worst weather.  It kind of ended up being the running joke during the framing process.  It seemed that when it was sunny the framers were working elsewhere and when they came back to our site the rain would pour and the wind would howl..  LOL!  It was Novermber 23rd when it snowed inside our house.  How many people on the Oregon Coast can say that?

They were troopers though.  David, Jim, and Steven didn’t let the bad weather slow them down.  Thanks guys.  My family really appreciates your efforts.

Getting the trusses down to the site proved to be a big challenge.  For those of you that didn’t already know.  We have a challenging road down to our site.  Paul, the foundation contractor called it a Witches Castle Driveway and the name has stuck.  We did manage though thanks to John Moser from Busy Bee Excavation.  John made it happen!!  He shuttled the trusses down the driveway on his equipment trailer behind his excavator and set them on the plate.  Thanks John.

November 27th.  A beautiful day to set trusses.  They are all on the plate ready for David and his crew to move them into position. 

Code requires the end wall be framed up to the vaulted ceiling.  They had to set the end truss and hand frame up to it.

They are getting ready to sheet the roof the same day.  The roof sheeting has a foil backing on the inside to reflect heat back down.  Our house is either the first or second Energy Star certified house Adair has built.  I can’t wait to see how efficient its going to be.

All sheeted and ready for the roofers.  Waiting on delivery of the roofing materials.

Two roofers showed up on Saturday December 4th.  They hammered out most of the roof.  One of them came back Sunday and had it finished up in a few hours.  The roof is done.

I’ve been working on the Pump House.  I worked Saturday insulating and sheeting most of the walls and the ceiling.  Sunday I started mounting the well equipment so I could make a final list of plumbing supplies.  We should have running water next weekend.  Its a fairly complicated water system.  Our water has a PH of 6.5 which is a little acidic.  We will treat it and then filter it.  On the way to the house it will pass through an Ultraviolet Light tube called a Sanitron that kills bacteria.  We had the water tested by the same company that tests the municipal water supply.  They didn’t find any bacteria but we wanted to be on the safe side anyway.  We’re using Grundfos pumps and controller.  My Pump guy says that I should have 70 psi at the house no problem.  And if I’m in the shower and somebody flushes I’ll never feel a bump in the pressure.  Its a 1 horse, 15 galon a minute, 125 psi pump.

Maryann, Megan, Dean and I spent 2 hours this afternoon picking up the site.  The windows have been delivered and the siding subs are supposed to be here Monday.  Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC crews are all scheduled this week.  Once the windows are in and the siding is on I can start the dry out process.  Adair monitors the moisture content of the house and won’t schedule insulation and sheetrock until its at a certain level.  Its work for me drying it out but I’m happy about not having mold when its done. 

That about does it.  You are all up to date as of December 5th.  I have a new iPhone App so I can update the blog easier.  I’ll do a better job of documenting this now.  Merry Christmas everybody.

There has been a lot of progress since my last update. Here is a current picture. The roofers finished today. I’ll make a big post soon and get everybody up to speed.

Dean started 2nd grade this year.  He had to draw a picture of a memory he had from summer vacation.  I think this is perfect!!

Maryann and I signed the loan documents today.  Funding is secured.  Now the fun really starts.  There’s nothing holding us back now except the rain.

Runions Construction finished up the footings as per Adairs foundation plan.  Unless the foundation contractor has any changes we’re done with that project.

Set to grade and ready for footings.

Adair corporate finished up with the drafting.  Josh prepared the permit package for Lincoln County and I delivered it this morning.  As soon as we get through the Planning process the loan will fund and the real fun will begin!!

We’ve got a bunch of things moving right now.  I’m working on the Septic application.  Josh sent the package to Adair Corporate for Drafting.  Gary Hamilton at OSU Federal handed off his package to the appraiser.  As soon as Adair Corporate returns the drafting I can officially apply for the permits.  OSU is waiting on approval from Lincoln County before they will close.  We’re getting close.