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

[Scotsman Hosie]

they appear done carving on the wall

If that's their idea of how to build a retainer wall, you have to suspect there's some serious Dunning–Kruger going on — at the engineering level.

[Frank S]

If that's their idea of how to build a retainer wall, you have to suspect there's some serious Dunning–Kruger going on — at the engineering level.

One of the reasons why I questioned the bracing on the wall forms I know OSB is supposedly stronger than plywood but At 14 ft in height to me at least there appears to be a lacking in bracing. We'll just have to wait to see how many through ties they put to hold the inside form to the outside form

[jdurand]

They seem to be putting in the rebar for the foundation, but is the floor really going to be that thick or will they pour a thin floor and then build more forms to make the foundation on top of the floor? Several contractors I know wait for each day's pictures to try to figure out what these guys are doing.

[Frank S]

If I had to make a guess I'd say they are going to pour a unitized floor foundation and basement walls.
I would hope they pour the floor then set the forms for the wall/ foundation wait a few days for some curing to take effect then pour the walls.
I've seen contractors try to make a pour of the walls and floor all at once but that hardly ever turns out well.

[jdurand]

They have these 4 pits, one on each side of the building. The rectangular area slopes down and then there's the pit in the moddle. Odd piles?

[Toolmaker51]

14' deep! They intend a daylight basement and lower level?
jdurands 9 [and counting] posts are solid evidence, all contractors are not created equally. It also proves the lot owner is spending all he can to save a complete fail. Likely too, he'll incur tremendous liability to adjoining properties when his is not allowed to complete.
If my neighbor, guess who'd be at the permit office examining [and photographing] their project,

[Toolmaker51]

Mysterious construction to say the least. I laughed out loud, reading 'they appear finished carving the wall'.
Maybe goal is creating a visual element for the interior. Reminds me of Balbec in Lebanon.
Or preserving a demonstration; what not to do, for the next civilization.

[jdurand]

Mysterious construction to say the least. I laughed out loud, reading 'they appear finished carving the wall'.
Maybe goal is creating a visual element for the interior. Reminds me of Balbec in Lebanon.
Or preserving a demonstration; what not to do, for the next civilization.

I like that they put down the gravel, all nice, clean and level BEFORE they started cut'n, hammer'n, and generally bashing at the wall.

Seems they consistently stick to the plan. HAHAHahahahaha.


By the way, for contrast here's the progress on OUR new house.


We DO have one issue with our house the contractor is working on, the structural engineer wants the kitchen window moved away from the corner of the house. The problem is the kitchen is somewhat long and narrow as kitchens often are. Moving the window puts it over a counter or makes the window a lot smaller. The contractor said it should be sorted out by Monday and until then that particular wall is paused below window sill height.

[Crusty]

I like that nice brickwork.

[jdurand]

I like that nice brickwork.

The contractor gets a bonus when he's done, assuming we sell this house without problems. I guess if we fall into The Pit then the people next door bought it for retail.

Please Universe, no falling into the pit until we have a house to move to.

Here's what the bricks looked like in the showroom, but the contractor changed brands to get a better quality.