August 3: Floor Joists

Jeffrey got the bottom plate and floor joists in place today, helping us to better visualize the footprint of this place. Tomorrow the floor goes on and perhaps the beginnings of some of the walls. As other commenters have observed, now might be the time everything begins to looks smaller. Hmm. I’m thinking that when that gable end is extended and overhanging a couple feet west beyond the edge of foundation, it’s actually going to look bigger (and the backyard is going to look smaller).

Below is what the crawlspace looks like now…the last day of daylight on this spot. The post in the middle is a brace for the roof and will go away, leaving a pretty big space for the canoe and a few other items. Grading of this space still needed some work…it’s hard to see in the far back, but the trench excavated for the footing hadn’t been filled in. Granted it will be completely covered by vis-queen, but it’s a very uneven space. Since the time for filling is now before the lid goes on, Marie and I spent a couple hours tonight moving rocks and dirt around to fill and flatten out the grade to make the whole space more usable.

July 27: Footings In

It is incredibly hot in Portland at the moment, and forecast to get hotter. The temperature in the backyard, measured under the eave up high near the top bracket where the temp sensor is, was 106 degrees. Inside the house it is 89 degrees. Quite uncomfortable. Fortunately we’ve been away camping in the woods for the last four days. But progress continues despite the heat:

July 27, 2009: Footings in. The orange chalkline marks the outer edge of the forms for the foundation walls. I’m betting the guys will get an early start tomorrow…just too hot to be back there in the afternoon. The plan is to pour the foundation walls this Friday. Joe has helped the crew plan for an opening in the foundation under the stair landing, about where the electrical comes up in this picture, so we can slide the canoe under the addition.