The house next door...or how to NOT build a house

[jdurand]

The pounding from compacting the dirt in The Pit is getting louder, they must be closer to the surface. Remember it sounded like a helicopter hovering? Now it's landing right outside my door. My mouse is bouncing in my hand.

[Jon]

Wasn't me either! I will note that this thread has received an unusually high amount of views. You've essentially provided a high-value and well-documented free construction analysis service to the unfortunate home buyers.

[jdurand]

Today's dirt delivery. They also fixed the fence and cleaned up the piles of junk!

[IntheGroove]

So, what did you get delivered today? Dirt...

[Frank S]

now that the fence is repaired you might need that drone

[jdurand]

Someone want to tell my wife that I NEED to buy a drone?

A couple of more pictures...

[Frank S]

Someone want to tell my wife that I NEED to buy a drone?

A couple of more pictures...

You are keeping such a good progress record the perspective home owner want to may buy one for you

[2002Hummer]

Very interesting thread. Shows how not to build a house. I hope this does not affect the price of your house when you decide to sell. Hello Wife Hubby needs a drone to keep up this thread until the neighbours house is built. It must be able to carry a good camera.

[jdurand]

Well, Zillow does show our house has gone down about $100,000 in the last 6 months or so, but all the houses have gone down a little in this area. Still, not too big a deal as long as it doesn't go down a lot before we sell next year. We can't sell until we know the move-in date for the new house and that, of course, depends on winter weather. Last year was VERY wet so our new house wound up with piles under it. The ground wasn't actually soft, but the water table was too close to the surface with all that rain.

I was just discussing our inside staircase with the builders, "no, we do NOT want pretty wedge shaped stairs, we want straight steps, a landing, and more straight steps up to the second floor." I drew up a quick 3D sketch for them, sure handy having a good CAD system. They now appear to understand and even confirmed my stair count (21-22 total steps to get up to the 2nd floor, 3.24 meters rise). They also understand that the top steps should >just< clear a dividing wall on the first floor. They're not used to home owners who can actual caluclate stuff.

Only hassle, there's an 11 hour time difference between here and there, so when I'm going to bed they're up and asking questions.

[jdurand]

Today's Pit Picture. Not sure why the bobcat is down where they've been pounding dirt. Anyway, looks like they've reached the top of the vapor barrier, now for the 4 foot thick garage floor. Actually, looking at the vertical area that rebar covers, it does look pretty deep.