I couldn't sleep last night. So much going through my mind. I can't believe this is finally happening.
While we did break ground today, the work was off to a soggy start. It was a wet Half Moon Bay morning with the fog so thick, it falls from the sky. While standing in the drizzle, the first hour or so consisted of introductions, inspecting the site and making a work plan. The plan was to start clearing the site which was covered in knee high weeds, but there was concern that the big truck would get stuck if driven onto the saturated clay soil. When I left to walk to my job at the park, they were still debating how to proceed. I was surprised to see upon my return that they had gotten a good section of the lot cleared of weeds. They decided to use the small grader on the site to scape the dirt and to keep the truck on the street. They piled the weeds and dirt in the middle of the lot to move later. They also located the corner survey markers.
One thing that is unique and special about my situation is that I have a front row seat to the construction as I'm living in the house next door. I put a fence up to separate the 2 parcels but left the fence boards off the section by the kitchen porch and so I could see out. This would have worked great had I not gotten a rescue dog, Juno, last year. Juno loved to run and dig in the vacant lot, but once the work was to start, I had to keep her from going there, so I put up every other fence board--enough to keep her from going through the fence, but open enough to see the work going on. She seems unfazed by the work, workers, noise, etc.
One thing was accomplished, however, the delivery of the Honey Bucket, AKA port-a-potty.
Day 3--After a mostly dry weekend, the surface of the ground has dried out some. There were a few puddles, but it was definitely workable. It was a very noisy and busy day with more dirt removal, loading and hauling away. The downside of being so close to the action is the noise. I have to keep the doors and windows closed to muffle the sounds.
While dirt is being moved around, other workers are locating more precisely where the buildings will be with their survey equipment.
Day 4--The last of the dirt was finally removed today. I'm glad to see that part over with. I was told they were moving something like 50 tons of dirt. I can't imagine how much it would have been had we done the original foundation plan. Then, of course, they have to bring back material to replace the dirt. Truckload after truckload of base rock is being dumped, spread with the graders and by hand, soaked with water and compacted with a small tamper and large roller. They only do a shallow layer at a time so the process is repeated over and over again.
This afternoon Hendrik (my younger grandson) went with me to Firewood Farms. It is a local business that deals in reclaimed lumber from deconstructed buildings, milling of falling trees, wood carvings, etc. I have been talking with them for several years now about using reclaimed lumber for my floors. It is probably the greenest flooring option there is. It is re-using something that would otherwise go to a landfill or be burned, it is locally sourced, is free of chemicals, and so on. The only real choice they have for wood flooring is 2x6 and 2x8 tongue and groove Douglas fir. Yes, it is a soft wood and it will scratch, but it will add warmth and character to my already unusual house. I plan to sand it and finish it with tung oil which is natural and worked great on my son's floor.
They also have gorgeous big slabs of wood. I thought that nothing could be more fitting with my California heritage than a Giant Sequoia countertop for my kitchen island. I put down a deposit for flooring and countertop--2 big decisions out of the way!
Also, today, James sent me pictures of the containers he had picked out for me. I was surprised that there was no writing on them, but he tells me that "Shipping companies plaster their names on the side and reuse the boxes until they are beat up. Leasing companies do not. This is how we get new, 1-way and clean boxes." 
While the site work is going on, the fabrication of the containers will be done in the Sacramento facility.
Day 5--
The noise is incessant and is starting to get to me. Today it didn't even stop for lunch. While some workers took a lunch break, others were dumping, grading, rolling, etc. On and on and on. But by the end of the day, they had finished this phase of the process. They loaded up their equipment and left. I will enjoy the quiet as I wait for the next step.
While all this work is going on, we still do not have the final approval on the changes we made. It makes me nervous, but I keep telling myself, it isn't my problem. This morning I got the latest corrections printed at UPS and dropped them off at the HMB Planning Department. I have my fingers crossed that they will be approved....and soon. It is the final piece of the puzzle.
https://youtu.be/5-Nyh5boygU
Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment