Framing is in full swing!

Keith Wharton and his right hand man and several other experienced framers and some helpers hit it hard today. Parr Lumber delivered the wood and they gave us a smoking deal on it. Parr also gave us brand new windows for free. Truss Way truss company donated some trusses that they had laying around and they just so happened to be exactly what we needed for our patio cover. So do you think that was a coincidence? NOT! But wait there's more. A forty yard drop box showed up for our trash donated by Waste Connections, thanks in part to Dean Large. Praise God!!

Getting sand

Dan Jones sent one of his CAD trucks out to shoot some sand around the foundation to help keep the mud down. If you haven't seen on of these trucks in operation you will have to check it out. It's amazing. I have two video's of it in operation, so check it out.

Monday and Tuesday

My dad and father in law put the rain drains in on Monday, and Tuesday John Wollam came out and back filled the foundation. John did a great job and fortunately the major rain held off till we got the major dirt work done.

The foundation has been poured

The foundation guys with Hi-Mark Concrete, Inc. showed up at 8 this morning followed by the pump truck from Liberty Concrete Pumpers. They got set up and then a concrete truck from CALPORTLAND showed up. They jumped right into action and by 9 O'clock they where done. I even recognized the gentleman that was running the pumper truck from when I was in construction back in the day.

Day 1 of foundation

Hi-Mark Concrete Inc. came out today and set up the forms for the foundation. The city inspector approved it so they will pour the concrete tomorrow.

Day 2 finished up the dig for the foundation.

A big thanks to Skip the owner of Dan's Tractor for providing me with this machine to dig out for the foundation. 

We got it all ready for the foundation guys which are planning on coming in the morning to set up the forms. Things are moving right along. From what I hear the framers are planning on starting a week from tomorrow.

First day of construction.

The first day was very fun, but wiped me out physically. We had people show up and remove the handy-cap ramp and moved plants out of the way. They took down a fence, and then we started removing the concrete. The stairs leading up to the front door proved to be a challenge. But after much sledge hammer work it finally gave way.

It was good to get back in the seat of an excavator but when your muscles have gone to pot from being ravaged by ALS, it was a work out. My back and neck muscles are so sore. I will give it one more try tomorrow as we finish up the digging for the foundation, and then I can go back to retirement.

I had given thought to trying to name everyone that shows up each day to help but I’m not sure if that’s possible because so many people came and went today that its hard to keep up with who came and went. So if I mention some names in the blog and you helped out but your name didn’t get mentioned I apologize. I know today while I was inside getting warmed up and using the bathroom some guys showed up and did some clean up and left before I got out to see them.

Well thanks to everyone who pitched in today to lend a helping hand. I will post a few pictures but will post a bunch to the picture tab. Just remember that when you go to the picture tab and you click on the slide show of pictures click on it again and it will take you to our flicker account where you can view them in a better format.

We are on TV!

KPTV12 came out today and shot video of the beginning work of our remodel! It should be on tonight and tomorrow morning and afternoon. We are so blessed! What a wonderful Christmas gift!

I need some help

On Tuesday I am going to need to take the wooden handy cap ramp apart leading into the front door. We then will need to bust out the concrete stairs leading to the front door and remove the side walk up to the stairs.

I would like to get two or three guys to help me. If you would like to do this you need to be one of the first three people to comment on this post. I don’t want 30 guys showing up. I can’t manage to many people at one time. So the first three people that comment get it. I think around 10 AM would work well. Our Address is 204 SW 13^th St. Battle Ground 98604. 

Thanks, Brian

Update

I need to update you all but so much is being talked about right now my head is swimming. Our contractor friend Curtis is taking the bull by the horns and seriously running with it.

At this point what I know for sure is that I am going to dig out the dirt, (the first part of next week) so the foundation can be poured.

There are so many more things I would like to share with you but they are not quite to the point where they are ready to go public yet but stay tuned, it is exciting.

Thank you, Brian

This is a post from my Dad

Landis Epp

We got the plans for Brian and Jennie's "Battle Ground home makeover" house addition into the city for review. They said the plans look good (thanks to Chuck Smithfield and his partner Ed). We should have them back later this week and they said we could go ahead with the project to make their house liveable for Brain with a bedroom and bathroom on the main floor. All we need is - funds, materials, and skills to put it all together. God is able!! The Reflector, our local paper is doing a story on this project for which we are so grateful. It is exciting to see how God works!

Start date

Looks like the permits should be done by next week. So I will plan on excavating for the foundation very soon. It will be good to get in the dirt again. Hopefully it won't be to cold because I'm kind of a wimp now.