The "Blog" - Part 2
August 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003

Prior Journals 

Wednesday, December 31, 2003

• No work today. Pre-New Year Holiday I guess.

• Yesterday we found 2 stainless steel sinks with drain boards/counter tops at a used restaurant equipment place. The two units we found are absolutely perfect for the greenhouse (high humidity area) and the roof deck (severe sun exposure). I ordered them this morning and they've been delivered about 2:00 P.M. With new faucets and a little elbow grease and Barkeepers Helper they'll look wonderful.

• Happy New Year!!!
  

Monday, December 29, 2003

• Main level black pipe plumbing continues.

• Talked with the Underglass people about the greenhouse today. Revised plans should be ready this week.
  

Saturday, December 27, 2003

• Because of the long holiday weekend, there was no work done on Friday.

• Tried doing framing cocktails on Friday, but it was colder than snot. Burrrr!

• I'm working on do lists and project plans to help insure that everyone's on the same page and to try and expedite the completion of this puppy.
  

Wednesday, December 24, 2003

• The block work for the front retaining wall is completed and green tagged and ready for grouting. Pictures

• Other than the wall work, not much has happened this week. The plumber was up today to do a little more drain pipe work. Seems like every place he needs a hole, there's a glulam beam in the way.

• Enjoy the Holidays!!!
  

Thursday, December 18, 2003

• The plumber started installing the drain pipes on the first level and adding the extensions to the 2nd floor.

• The footing for the front retaining wall was poured.

• Still trying to get the damn deck tile situation squared away. Arrrrgh!!!
  

Wednesday, December 17, 2003

• The framers are in doing a little touch-up. They've correct the columns in the shower. We're still short soffits in the kitchenette and over the laundry counter.

• The front retaining wall steel got green tagged.

• Still no sign of the plumber.
  

Monday, December 15, 2003

• Sometime last Friday, the rebar gnomes showed up and added steel to the footing for the front retaining wall.

• On Sunday, Randy started to install a little PVC pipe to bring water to pots we may want to put on the upper lanai. Needed a couple of extra tools so the project didn't get too far. We'll try again on Tuesday.

• Spent another Hour and a half picking out plumbing fixtures. We're getting close.
  

Aloha Friday, December 12, 2003

• We spent 3 very long hours yesterday picking out plumbing fixtures and we're still not done--getting close, though.

• As you can see from the interior camera, we had a little rain last night.

• Turns out the bridge is going to be quite a bit longer than shown on the plans, so we're adding a center support column. I love "design on the fly."
  

Thursday, December 11, 2003

• Rumor is that the nail/shear inspection passed, but the City's permit website says "Carry Over." I'm not sure what that means.

• Had an on-site meeting to discuss the shower enclosure and lanai railings. The shower enclosure will be suspended over the rock mosaic tile. We're looking at glass "railings" on the upper lanai. This should provide a very cool look and it won't obstruct the view.

• Started excavating the footings for the front retaining wall and bridge. To reduce the required truss size, we've decided to add a center support column to the bridge.

• The two columns in the master shower that support the shower heads were built 9" wide and 12" deep. Should have been the other way around. Fix in the works.

• Framers are wrapping up the structural blocking of the roof deck.

• Off to meet with the plumbing fixture supplier this afternoon. I have a feeling this is going to be an expensive trip.
  

Tuesday, December 9, 2003

• The HVAC crew wrapped up the duct work on Monday afternoon. The bar soffit seems to have become "vent central" with openings blowing north, west and two south.

• Word has it that the framing inspection is scheduled for Wednesday. Cross your fingers.

• As part of the new camera installation, I had to 'tilt' the pole on exterior camera and redo a little wiring. While the camera was accessible, Laurel used paper towels and spit to clean the Plexiglas screen and now the picture is MUCH better. The pole camera survived a rather brutal summer.
  

Sunday, December 7, 2003

• The HVAC crew worked on Saturday installing duct work on the main level. Looks like they're about 30% done with the ducts.

• Live camera #2 was installed today. It'll be a traveler. Still have a couple of little tech issues to work out, so don't be bothered by an occasional picture with little dots at the bottom.

• Picked out the tile for the roof deck, stairs (rear) and 2nd floor lanai on Saturday. We also went and look at more granite samples.

• The tie down brackets, straps and bolts are huge. I don't think we have to worry about this baby blowing away.
  

Aloha Friday, December 5, 2003

• The HVAC crew is installing the duct work, vent fans, dryer vent and coolant lines on the lower level. They were able to get all of the duct work in the trusses on this level, so we won't have to lower the hall ceiling.

• The framers are installing tie down straps and they added sheeting to the south and east walls of the dining room. We've got little busy bees all over the place.

• 2nd camera's up in local test mode.

• I woke up at 3:00 this morning, thinking about all the house-related stuff we have to do. Couldn't sleep, so I designed light fixtures--they also cover a flaw in the slab--for the lower level hall.
  

Thursday, December 4, 2003

• Met with Mary at S. M. Services again and tried to make some decisions on counter tops, wood flooring, tile and carpet.

• Testing the new hardware needed to add a live camera to the Hale Nani interior.

• I've said it before and I'll say it again, trying to build a contemporary house in Arizona is like trying to build sand castles in the Arctic.
  

Tuesday, December 2, 2003

• Met with a cabinet vendor on-site today. Estimate should be available in a couple of days.

• No work on the framing today.  It looks like the guys are addressing a few issues with the sheer walls and tie downs. They sheeted the north wall of the office.

• We're at revision 3 of the main level lanai box beam, but it's still not right. Ladder bracing is gone, but it's smaller than the width  is smaller than the 18" column on the south end.

• Last night, Laurel and I attended a presentation at Cooking with Class that was put on by Dacor, one of our potential appliance brands. It was interesting, informative and included a great dinner prepared in Dacor appliances!
  

Saturday, November 29, 2003

• Got another cabinet estimate today; this one from your basic "Big Box" DIY store. Made the first estimate not look that bad. It's still not close to our allowance, though. Got us wondering where the allowance number came from.

• Going back to review the appliance selections.
  

Aloha Friday, November 28, 2003

• Much to my surprise, the metal duct work was delivered today.

• No framing work today (long Thanksgiving holiday

• Barb, Herb, Rick, and Chris joined us for cocktails and hotdogs on "the frame."

• We've been trying to get the box beam on the upper lanai framed so that it'll enclose the sunshades. Getting closer, but it still needs a little work.

• The soffit over the bar looks great!
  

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

• Met with the sunscreen vendor on-site. We're having shades installed between the columns on the west side of the upper lanai and on the two northwest-facing windows. They'll be automatically operated by sun sensors and there's also a sensor to retract the shades if the winds kick up--they're basically 11'x8' sails.

• Climbed the ladder and made the first visit to the almost complete roof deck. WOW!!! The view is fantastic.

• Discussed a problem with how the gables and the greenhouse main structure interface with the house. Someplace along the way, I think the ball got dropped here. This has to get fixed.

• Worked with the framers to make sure the wet bar and the soffit above it got properly dimensioned.
  

Monday, November 24, 2003

• Had to change the size of a couple of doors today. The 9' wide by 8' high doors (9080) in the dining room are too big to just have two segments. We're reducing the dining room door to a split 8080. The door in the media room is being changed to a 3-part 9080.

• Got the design for the box beams on the top of the lanai squared away.

• We putting sheeting over the great room and working on framing the top section of the stair tower.

• Spent Sunday playing with flooring samples.
  

Saturday, November 22, 2003

• On Friday night and this morning we began the granite/tile selection process. I think we made an amazing amount of progress in that we have finalists for the lower level baths and kitchenette, the kitchen and the bar--almost all within the our allowances. We schlepped home tons of additional samples, too.

• Framer noticed a big discrepancy between the plans he was working off of and the tie-down bolts in the footings.  This all goes back to some early problems with some shear wall analysis and a little re-engineering. I'm sure Mike and Herb will get it sorted out.

• Had another marvelous sunset cocktail hour on the upper lanai.
  

Thursday, November 20, 2003

• Stairs got built today.

• Part of the stair tower got sheeted.

• 1-1/8" sheeting didn't show.
  

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

• Changed our minds (imagine that) and switched the black windows to mill finish (aluminum). It should go nicely with the greenhouse structure and should look good with the dark house exterior.

• Met with the HVAC contractor and made a ton of decisions. They include:
  -- Switched from gas furnaces and water heater to a heat pump and electric water heater. This was done because of problems venting the systems and the requirements for combustion air vents in the equipment room. I just doesn't work in an air conditioned space
  -- Moved the second air handler to the roof over the kitchen. This simplifies the chases and duct work requirements and should be hidden from view by the parapets
  -- Specified evaporative cooler vent locations for the lanai
  -- Lowered the pantry ceiling to 9'-0" to accommodate duct work
  -- Dropped the equipment room ceiling to 8'0" to accommodate lower level return air duct
  -- Lowered the kitchen closet ceiling to accommodate the duct work for the greenhouse evaporative cooler.

• Great room and dining room ceiling details are being framed.

• Soffit over the garage door is complete. It looks great.

• Herb decided he didn't like the look of the roof over the Juliet balcony in the master bedroom (it slopes slightly), so he's redoing it.

• Greenhouse knee wall is pau (done).

• Mike got the rest of the details for framing in the dumb waiter shaft.

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

• Met with the window contractor to select sliding doors and all windows. After much deliberation, we've decided to with a black finish.

• Master bedroom wall units have been framed.

• Making progress on framing and beam structure for the staircase from the top of the main stairs (interior) to the roof deck (exterior). Herb came up with some fantastic solutions to some tough problems.

• Waiting for back-ordered 1-1/8" plywood to finish the great room roof sheeting.

• Told Mike to plan on little architectural jig-jogs in the lower level hall to cover up a little plumbing placement problem.

• Added soffits to the downstairs  kitchenette and deleted them from the kitchen.
  

Saturday, November 15, 2003

• Met with a kitchen designer at Home Depot to get another take on cabinetry. Glenna, the designer was most helpful. It'll be interesting to see what the bid is. Our only bid from Thursday's meetings was quite a bit over budget.
  

Thursday, November 13, 2003

• Raising the master bath floor and doing other framing details.

• Spoke with two cabinet companies. I think we're getting closer.

• Laurel and I spent a very stressful, but productive evening picking out appliances. That kitchen's going to be way cool.

• Friday night slab-tales have been renamed "frame-tales."
  

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

• Rain day. Not much going on.

• Met with Mike (General Contractor), Herb (Framing Contractor) and Nathan (Stair Contractor) to discuss stair design and resolve a problem with a beam over that supports the stair to roof deck transition.

• The columns on the upper lanai are finished. They really have very little impact on the view.

• Most of the roof sheeting, except for the Great Room, is in place.

• Tomorrow, Laurel and I are going to talk with two more cabinet builders.
  

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

• Roof trusses are going up. It's amazing watching these guys work.

• The frame to raise the master bath floor has been installed.
  

Thursday, November 6, 2003

• Herb's crew raised the lanai today (out of camera range) and I missed it (dang!). It went up without a hitch.

• Roof trusses were delivered on Wednesday. They should be installed on Friday.

• Fixed the MBR window heights, and did some other framing detail work.
  

Monday, November 3, 2003

• Roof trusses and the new glulam beam that supports the great room trussing should be delivered on Wednesday. I doubt we'll see any work before then.

• I'm starting the design process for camera coverage on the inside of the structure.
  

Spooky Aloha Friday, October 31, 2003

• The past few days have been, at once, some of the most exhausting, exhilarating, frightening, perplexing, frustrating and delightful times I can remember. After years of planning, watching this baby come together in three dimensions is truly exciting, but there's always a little second guessing going on and hoping we've made the right decisions. Anyway, it's looking marvelous!

• Had another on-site meeting today with Mike and Herb to work out details for raising the master bath floor. We're also making a 'major' change to the wall behind the bar. We're opening it up from to expose the views from the kitchen and dining rooms. This is a great change. Don't know why we didn't see it sooner. It involves a new glulam beam and hanging the great room trusses off this beam.

• In the meeting we also established soffit heights, removed a little wall in the kitchen to expose the greenhouse door, relocated the MBR closet door (centered), adjusted several door heights. and a few more details.

• Herb trimmed the oleander that were getting in the way of the live cam. What a guy!
  

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

• Framing the exterior of the main level. It really goes quickly. pictures.

• Made an emergency trip to the site to adjust some window locations.

• Found out they're going to raise the lanai level by using jacking the entire thing up and putting in spacers. I want to see this.
  

Monday, October 27, 2003

• Beginnings of the main level exterior frame have begun. Lower level exterior framing is wrapping up. pictures.

• Met with Mike and Herb to discuss main level framing details including coffered ceiling design, plant shelf details, door heights, and the dumbwaiter shaft.

• I think we've decided to raise the floor in the master bath by 4" to accommodate proper slopping of the shower floor and permit us to do this really sexy design for the tile on the shower floor.

• After months and months of permits and hearings and dirt work and inspectors and tags "rouge" and writing enormous checks,  this is really getting to be FUN! Our baby's coming together.
  

Sunday, October 26, 2003

• Framing continues on the lower level.

• The 2nd level lanai problem will be fixed by raising the west (rectangular) portion of the lanai decking to match the level of the trapezoidal inset section.

• A meeting is scheduled for Monday to discuss framing details with Mike and Herb (the framing contractor). We've spent the weekend putting the final touches on these details.
  

Thursday, October 23, 2003

• Framing continues on the lower level.

• Main level lanai sub-flooring has been set, but there's a problem. The trapezoidal set-in section of the lanai--really, an extension of the dining room--is not at the same level as the rest of the lanai. It's about 4" higher. This will NOT work. Mike assures me he's on top of it.

• Provided Mike with a change drawing for a little overhang that will extend from the east (street) side of the greenhouse to the corner by the master bath.
  

Wednesday, October 22, 2003

• Framing continues. The sub-flooring is being installed on the main level. The tongue and groove sheeting is being secured with about a zillion screws. pictures

• We can finally see what the view looks like from there and it's really cool.

• "Juliet" balcony has been added to the bedroom.

• Laurel's waiting to get the steps framed so she can come up and see what things look like. Ladders are not one of her favorite inventions.

• The beam structure below the great room lanai door is really complex. There's a photo of this in today's pictures.
  

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

• Lumber for framing the second floor was delivered.

• Brought in a big crane to set the glulam beams in place and move building materials from the street level to the building site. Pictures. Actually, this was the second crane brought to the site today. The first one couldn't handle the slope of the street, so we had to get the heavy duty "ATV" model.

• Started installing sub-flooring.

• It's really amazing how quickly this process is moving along. Nice to have some real action.
  

Monday, October 20, 2003

• Truss and beam installation continues. A crane will be onsite tomorrow to set the new glulams.

• We had noted a problem with a truss being in the middle of the dumbwaiter shaft. Now there are three trusses in the shaft.

• Southwest column on the lanai needs to be rotated 45 degrees.

• The guest BR closet wall and guest bath door still seem to be in the wrong place.
  

Saturday, October 18, 2003

• The remaining lower level beams and the sub-flooring arrived on Friday. Framing to continue on Monday.

• Had nice sunset s on the lower lanai on Friday night. Maybe by this coming Friday, we'll be on the second floor!

• Checked out jet tubs for the guest bath.
  

Thursday, October 16, 2003

• Trusses arrived on Wednesday afternoon and not without a little excitement. Word has it that the load fell off the truck and completely blocked the street in front of the house. The city came out and put up barriers, the driver finally managed to get the load moved to the sidewalk and the framers moved them all to the lot this morning. It just goes to show you, it's always something...

• Most of the trusses not requiring connections to glulam beams were installed today [pictures].
  

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

• Trusses are suppose to be delivered today and glulam beams tomorrow. We'll see.

• Even after all the engineering and redesign, a couple of issues surfaced when it was time to order beams.

• From the two meetings I had to discuss sunscreens, I've gotten one bid. The meetings were a week ago. Some of these folks seem to have way too much business.
  

Monday, October 13, 2003

• Still no sign of Glulams or trusses. :(

• After a scant 4 hours on Saturday, we managed to select the wall sconce lights for the lower level hall; bath vanity lights for all but the powder room; fixtures for above the bar and a really cool sconce for the main entryway. This is going to be a very l- o-n-g process. I think we're already over budget.

• Looks like someone ripped off a stack of wafer board on Saturday.
  

Wednesday, October 8, 2003

• Meeting with two sunscreen vendors today to get bids on coverings for the west exposure of the upper patio and the two northwest-facing windows.

• You can't see it on the live picture, but the porta-potty decided to relocate to the bottom of the hill again.
  

Monday, October 6, 2003

• Reworked trusses have should arrive next Monday.

• Redesigned beams have been ordered and should be installed on Thursday.

• Decided to reduce most of the first floor doors from 8'-0" to 6'-8".

• Interesting news from the surveyor. Details to follow.
  

Friday, October 3, 2003

• Truss re-engineering is still in the works. Think we'll get to do more framing next week? This process is very 'serial.' :(

• Waiting to have the lot corners staked (again) so the silt barrier--orange netting--can be installed.
  

Thursday, September 25, 2003

• The majority of the 1st floor framing is complete and it looks fantastic! It's reassuring to have the real live product mesh with what we imagined while drawing plans. Wrap up pix.

• Ran into some span/size problems while engineering the floor trusses. Story is that when the truss companies bid jobs, they basically guess. The actual design revealed some spans that were just too big, so we're re-engineering. This process requires redoing the architectural drawings, engineering analysis and COP review. The new design may also require new load bearing points and therefore entail cutting the floor and pouring new footings. This should all be wrapped up early next week. I guess it's not how big your truss is, but what you do with it. Bummer, dude.

• Met with COP building inspectors to discuss debris issues.

• Enjoyed a sunset, the evening view and an adult beverage on the lower lanai. Pictures.
  

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

• Framing day three and things are moving right along. The exterior walls in the garage, laundry, and rear of the house were erected this morning (before it was light enough to capture the activity on the web camera) Framing days 2 and 3.

• The framing is really looking nice--quality work.

• Thanks to Herb for a little "ride" on the forklift to allow me to adjust the camera position. Request for hazardous duty pay has been made.

• Engineering drawings for the greenhouse have been ordered.
  

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

• Framing is moving right along. Most of the outside walls are complete and should be raised tomorrow.

• Met with our framer, Herb, on site to discuss minor plan changes.
  

Monday, September 22, 2003

• Framers, albeit a half crew, showed up and started framing. They're hauling the lumber down from the sidewalk a stick at a time. Framing pictures

• The framers drove down to the lot and had quite a time getting back out. See the POD.

• City of Phoenix showed up to install the water tap. I guess the main makes a 90 turn right in front of the house and they had to get a supervisor out to decide what to do. Nothing's easy with this project. Water pictures
  

Sunday, September 21, 2003

• We're suppose to meet with the framer and the general contractor at the site tomorrow to discuss framing issues and any changes.
  

Friday, September 19, 2003

• Work stopped in observance of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Arrrrr! It makes me shiver to think me timbers are laying in a pile and not going up.  Abandon all hope, ye who plan to build a house.

• ITLPD Resources:
  ITLPD website (may be overloaded)
  Pirate Gear
  Dave Barry Article
  

Thursday, September 18, 2003

• Lumber arrived today. They moved a few of the glue-lam beams down on the lot, but the rest is in three stacks on the sidewalk. There's also an enormous glue-lam beam on the adjoining lot.

• Current story is that the framers will arrive on Monday.
  

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

• Latest story is that the lumber package will be delivered on Wednesday.
  

Monday, September 15, 2003

• Looks like the lower level dirt work is finished.

• Porta potty got moved back up the hill (yuk!)
  

Saturday, September 13, 2003

• Framer is finishing another job. He's suppose to be finished by Monday, Tuesday at the latest.

• Still playing in the dirt at the bottom of the slope.

• On a related topic, while playing in the dirt to remove the barriers, it looks like the sewer connection suffered a little "scoop rash."

• We'll probably be redesigning the roof drainage system. Goal is to remove the west-facing scuppers; direct the runoff east and down piping on the west side.
  

Friday, September 12, 2003

• No lumber today.
  

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

• Crane arrived and barriers have been removed. Whole boatload of pictures here.

• No sign of the City of Phoenix and the scheduled water meter installation.

• Want to make book on when we'll see lumber?
  

Tuesday, September 9, 2003

• Work on the dirt at the bottom of the slope continues.

• Spoke with Under Glass Manufacturing today to reconfirm initial specs for the greenhouse. This one I'm really excited about!

• Water meter is scheduled to be installed on Wednesday.  Also, the crane is suppose to be here to lift out the barriers.
  

Monday, September 8, 2003

• Working on the dirt at the bottom of the slope to prepare for the removal of the temporary barriers. All this activity is out of camera view. Still pictures are here.

• The mini-track hoe was driven across the slab. Very glad it has a rubber track!
  

Friday, September 5, 2003

• On Wednesday the Bobcat showed up; today it left. Must  have been suffering from extreme boredom.

• Another week has passed and other than a little lookin' and scratchin' on what it'll take to remove some construction barriers,  there's been NO forward motion. If you click here,  you'll see something that's moving almost as fast as this project.
  

Wednesday, September 3, 2003

• The Bobcat got delivered today. Stated reason for not starting on Tuesday and working today was that the access path we were going to use to get rid of the excess dirt was blocked. Dirt work is now scheduled for tomorrow with lumber delivered on Friday.

• Our new web server's up and running. The change should be transparent to everyone. This new server will help us keep the status more up-to-date, make blog maintenance easier and allow us to do a bunch of other cool stuff.

• Added a "days since groundbreaking" counter to the status frame.

• Looking at our web logs, we've just seen visitors from Poland and Japan.
  

Monday, September 1, 2003 - Labor Day

• What I'd like for a Labor Day gift is to see a few laborers putting up lumber. Still waiting to get dirt cleanup done. It's been 2-1/2 weeks since the slab was finished. Tick tock, tick tock...
  

Friday, August 29, 2003

• The saw cutting of the well-cured concrete is complete (550 ft.). It looks quite nice. They concrete cutting company ended up using a small, hand-guided saw for the job because the couldn't get their large, self-propelled unit down the steep drive.

• The inspiration for the concrete floor with saw cuts came from Flo's Asian Restaurant in Scottsdale. Turns out the guy who did our cuts did Flo's too! Pretty cool.

• Still no dirt work.
  

Wednesday, August 27, 2003

• Still waiting for saw cuts and dirt work.

• Framing is suppose to start next week.
  

Monday, August 25, 2003

• Finally got a couple of bids for the architectural  stair system. The stair column is going to be way cool!
  

Saturday, August 23, 2003

• Not a lot happening with the dirt, but we did make a few interior design decisions (among the first) for the master bath floor. For the floor of the shower, we've picked a mosaic that is made from actual river rock. The pattern we selected has a soft green cast. For the bath flooring we've chosen a tile that almost matches the rock and for the walls of the shower we're using a similar tile in a putty color. See the pictures

• Laurel came up with a design for the interior shower wall that raises it above the rock tile. This allows us to carry the shower tile out into the main room for about 6". Very cool.

• Tropical storm Ignacio is coming ashore over the Gulf of California. Hopefully, the remnants won't bring too much rain to Arizona (but we can use the rain).
  

Friday, August 22, 2003

• The marking for framing and saw cutting is complete. Saw cutting is scheduled for Monday.

• Reason for all the cross-hatch lines in the slab is that we're leaving the concrete exposed in the media room, hall and office. The concrete will be treated with an acid stain and coated with an epoxy finish. The saw cut lines just add a little decorative pattern.

• Remedial patching of the concrete in the media room is scheduled for today.

• The lumber package is on the way.

• Dirt work cleanup is scheduled for Monday.
  

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

• The framer's laying out the lower level walls in chalk lines to prepare for the start of framing.

• Had a little more rain yesterday. Temperature didn't even break 90°.
  

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

• Not much happening.

• Behind the scenes were looking at stains and coatings for the lower level floor and trying to find someone to sell us stairs. Out of 4 requests for call-backs, I've received 1. Been working on this since September of 2002.

• Added Rick Carter's party pictures to the site. View
  

Friday, August 15, 2003

• Celebrated the completion of the foundation and slab. See the pictures.

• A little remedial dirt work is up next along with some concrete touch-up.

• Prior to the start of framing we'll be making saw cuts in the concrete floor in the media room, hall and office. We're leaving the concrete exposed and will be treating it with stains and coatings.
  

Thursday, August 14, 2003

• The slab is done and it looks great. Pictures will be up soon. Hard to believe, but it took Over 40 cubic yards of concrete to complete the footings, stem walls and slab.

• Had our second monsoon storm last night. This one was a biggie.

• A couple of weeks ago, we made a small design change in the lower level lanai. We added planting areas around the columns and at next to the wall. Control joints connect the front and rear planting openings. They're aligned to match the angle of the media room door. They look great!
  

Wednesday, August 13, 2003

• Pouring of main floor was completed. It took 3 truckloads  of cement to complete the job. With the pour starting at 11:00 AM (extremely late by Phoenix standards)  the 109° heat made it hard for the workers and the cement really set up quickly.

• Poured the radius corner stem walls in the garage.
  

Tuesday, August 12, 2003

• Fine grading completed. Except for some forms and irrigation pipe on the lanai, we're ready to go. The pour will take two days.
  

Monday, August 11, 2003

• Copper plumbing passed inspection. The fine grading will be completed tomorrow, along with the forms for the patio. Pouring is set for Wednesday and Thursday.

• Having problems with the phone line for the web cam. It's quite intermittent. Qwest is sending the cable team out tomorrow, to try and locate a ground leak.

• Blue stake folks from Southwest Gas and APS were out to do the mark things so the city can dig for our water connection.

• It's hotter than hell out here!
  

Friday, August 8, 2003

• A re-inspection was scheduled for Friday, but the inspector failed to show up. Ergo, we can't do the fine grading on Saturday or pour concrete on Monday.
  

Thursday, August 7, 2003

• The copper was red-tagged. City of Phoenix code requires that all copper be wrapped, which it is. Seems that we have a requirement for all runs through a bearing footing also be sheathed in ABS pipe. Both our plumber and our contractor have over 20 years in the business and for both of them this is a first. Live and learn.

• The plumbers are making the changes today, so we should be up for a re-inspection tomorrow.
  

Wednesday, August 6, 2003

• Copper plumbing is complete and ready for inspection. With a hot water circulation system (eliminates the delay in availability of hot water at the tap) and the soft water loop, there's copper everywhere.

• Forms for the radius corners in the garage, the areas of the main floor, the outside of the lanai (patio) and one column footing on the south side are set and ready to go. We added some artistic detail to the floor of the lanai and that needs to be formed. See the work in progress.
  

Tuesday, August 5, 2003

• Grading for the slab is complete. On the live picture, you may be able to see the difference in height between the main floor and the garage floor and even the slope of the garage floor (about 3" front to back). This is pretty exacting work, considering it's being done in dirt.

• Now that the base for the slab is all smooth--the work of people we call "the puter-iners",--it's time for the plumbers to come and dig for the copper plumbing and to expose the bearing wall footings. These are "the taker-outers." If the puter-iners can get significantly ahead of the taker-outers, then the house is complete.

• Door opening in the stem wall for the #2 bath is being relocated a little south.
  

Monday, August 4, 2003

• Grading for the slab continues, but work was cut short because the tractor failed again. The operator commented on how challenging this house is to grade.
  

Friday, August 1, 2003

• First floor plumbing has been covered and work was begun on grading to establish the slab level. Unfortunately, the tractor broke down. We've broken a lot of hardware on this project.

• AB Gravel was delivered late Friday. This will be graded to form the base for pouring the slab.
  

Prior Journals