House Progress

We finally have a slab!!  The rain let up enough for us to pour concrete, and the framing package was delivered yesterday. So, here are a few pictures of the latest progress on the house.

Everything prepared for concrete.

I actually helped lay and tie some of the rebar.  Thankfully they have some nifty tools that make the tying pretty slick.

Our slab was so big we had to hire this big pump truck to come pump the concrete from the concrete truck into the house.  It was kind of cool to see.

The finished slab.  We will prepare the garage and porches for concrete and get them poured in the next week or two.  But, in the meantime we can start framing!!!  Hooray!!!

I'm not sure that the kids are all that keen on getting walls put up in here.  It has provided a great place to run and ride bikes.

They have also enjoyed jumping around on all the stacks of lumber and sheeting.  We have at least this many bundles at the back of the house as well.  A good week of progress for sure!!!

Rain Rain Go Away

Normally in Arizona we are over the moon about a good wet season.  We are so water deprived that we have been known to just sit at the window and watch the rain pour down with huge smiles on our faces.  But lately, the ample rain we have been blessed with has been a sad sad sight for me.

You see, heavy rain makes it impossible for the plumber to do his underground work, or for the concrete slab to be poured.  We were planning on getting all of that done last week, but the rain has caused us to push the slab back a full week.  If we keep having delays like this, I think it will be 2018 before we get into the house.  :(

On the bright side, it did dry up enough for the plumber to come and put in the underslab plumbing.

Remember that nice level lot?  It has now been trenched and the plumbing has been put in and covered.  It passed inspection and now we have to level it all out again.

I would never have thought a sight like this could bring me such happiness, but any kind of progress on this house brings me hope.

Now we just have to get it prepared for the concrete and pray that it does not rain next Saturday.