Finally Started

[sqlbullet]

Two years ago we started working on plans to increase the size of our home to provide more appropriate space for our six children, as well as a nice apartment for my parents.  My father has failing mental health, and my mom increasingly needs the support.

This is what the home looked like two years ago:



Monday, we finally kicked things off on our home expansion.  First steps were demolition of the garage, dining room, kitchen and attic.

End of day Monday:



And last night:



By tonight I expect the roof will be completely gone, as will about half the front of the house.  Thursday I expect they will clean up and pull up the concrete, and Monday excavation will start.

So far, no big "Oops" moments.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

It is certainly a strange feeling to be effectively "homeless".  We are living in a condo nearby, but still really odd to drive by my house and see it like this.

[REDLINE]

A plan in motion.  Nice.  I hope it turns out better in the end than you planned.  I know what you mean when you say;  "...really odd to drive by my house and see it like this."

[The_Shadow]

Good luck getting things built, damn cost are rising daily for materials!  Mostly due to higher fuel cost which is past one to everything!  Thanks Obama...

[sqlbullet]

Good luck getting things built, damn cost are rising daily for materials!  Mostly due to higher fuel cost which is past one to everything!  Thanks Obama...

No kidding.  First bank fiddled around forever with our construction loan app.  After several months we pulled the loan and sent it to another bank.  They approved us in 48 hours and gave us better terms to boot.

But, during that time costs rose 25%.  Very frustrating.

Here she is as of last night.



Hopefully they will wrap up demolition today.

[sqlbullet]

excavation is finally done.  Footings start on Monday

[Harleycolt]

That's a mighty big under taking but for a great reason, Praying for all!

[REDLINE]

Happy to see the progress moving right along.

[fuzzytek]

Hopefully the expansion was approved with underground vault. LOL. Congrats on the start. It will be well worth it when its done.

[sqlbullet]

Hopefully the expansion was approved with underground vault. LOL. Congrats on the start. It will be well worth it when its done.

Actually it is.  Under the front porch will be a concrete storage room with rebar reinforced wall, floor and ceiling.  Unfortunately the vault door is not in the budget at this time, so I will probably weld something up until I can recover from the cost of the addition.

The vault room is labeled 'fruit storage' on the plans so as to not raise eyebrows at city hall.  The room is 8X37, so it has plenty of room for not only guns, but long term supplies of canned good, water, grain, etc.

[The_Shadow]

Wishing you all good luck and smooth construction of the building!

[FACE]

 So  how's it going?   Curious to see more pics.

[sqlbullet]

The basement floors were poured on Thursday.  I don't have pics of it yet as I am in Florida visiting my grandfather.

By the time I get back the suspended slab for the garage should be in place, and most of the basement framing done.  I will grab some pictures then and post them up.

[sqlbullet]

Here is the shot from night before last:



As of last night they had the rest of the sub-floor down and one garage wall up.  Progress was slowed yesterday with the lumber company delivered 2X4 instead of 2X6.  The exterior walls are all spec'd 2X6, and they couldn't get  a second load out after it was discovered.

Hopefully today they will get most of the exterior walls up.

[The_Shadow]

Looking good...I have done some construction work in my younger days, I use to enjoy working in many of the old historic  homes in New Orleans' Garden District. 

[sqlbullet]

And...now some walls are up:



I am hoping they are setting attic trusses by the end of the week.