It has been almost a month since my last post. That is definitely longer than I would like, but it really took that amount of time before sufficient progress had been made to warrant a post. When weather permits, work continues on the footers and they are nearing completion. This turned out to be a truly monumental task for the workers as all the concrete is mixed on site and the footers for this house did not lack in number or size. And, as soon as they are done, they will be covered in compacted dirt and a concrete pad, never to be seen again.

While the last footers are being completed, some of the other workers were able to prepare for the pouring of the lower pad. This is the pad that will eventually support the bedrooms of my mom and mother-in-law, the guest bedroom, and the secondary living room. The first drains are also being installed for the two bathrooms on this side of the house, as well as services from the second floor.

Here is the drainage installation from one corner of the house. Starting on the left is the drainage tube for part of the gutter system. This 4-inch tube tube will be completely enclosed in the wall until it approaches the soffit of the house where it will leave the wall and connect directly to the gutter. Next is a 2-inch tube for the shower/bath tub, then a 4-inch tube for the toilet, and finally, another 2-inch tube for the vanity sink. This setup is mirrored on the far side of the pad for the second bathroom, with the addition of two more tubes that will be enclosed in the wall and extend upwards to support bathrooms on the second floor.

While all of this was going on, the driveway became impassable for the trucks delivering material. In order to alleviate the situation, Marco ordered several loads of rock to be dumped between the road and worksite.

So, as of the middle of last week, this is where we are. All but three footers have been poured, the first pad has been completed, and preparation is well underway for the pouring of the second pad. Hopefully rain will be a little less detrimental to the proceeding steps, and I will be able to share with you soon the construction of the walls!