Decking the Roof!

Even though our class was on break between quarters we were still hard at work on the house. We spent all of yesterday working on the front porch and applying the OSB to the roof. We had a nice system working, we have several on the roof, two on the ground cutting, and one person handing the material up. We are now at the point where we can get the plumber out there to rough in the lines. It wolnt be long before were installing exterior siding and roofing. I will update more pics soon.

Framing near completion!

The wall framing is almost completed! Today we received the OSB for siding and as soon as the weather clears up we will start framing the roof. Hopefully by Wednesday we will have all of the exterior and roof decking installed. Once that is completed we can start with the MEP(mechanical, electrical, and plumbing). Everyone in the class has been putting in 30 - 40 hours per week out at the site. We are starting to pick out roof shingle and exterior paint colors. Within the next week we will be working on the front and rear porch decking.

Foundation Complete

It is amazing how much progress we have made since we got the Sonotubes backfilled and the cement poured. Today we finished the joists and started putting the sub-floor down. I have been out at the site working almost every day. Not only am I trying to put 100% into this project, but I'm also planning a wedding and recently started some design work for an addition to a home here in Ruston, La. We are waiting for our permit to be approved so we can begin wall framing and then roof. By Thursday we should have our permits approved and be able to begin.

Breaking Ground!

Today I went to the site to help begin setting the batter boards. All of the strings are set where the footings will be dug for the piers. The afternoon site work group will be finishing the batter boards today. Tomorrow is our official groundbreaking ceremony. We will have our shovels spray painted gold to kick off the construction with a bang. Brandon and I have been working on the AutoCAD details for the operable trellis system that covers the rear porch. It was exciting to see the nylon strings on the site where the actual Big foot systems will be used. It was nice to see the project from a physical perspective rather then digital.

Fixing the model & prep. for AIA Monroe

The AIA Shreveport meeting went extremely well. There are a few things on the boards that need to be tweaked as well as the model before the upcoming AIA Monroe meeting. I went to the site on Thursday and met a man from Scott Construction Equipment and signed off for an excavator to help level the side and dig the holes for the footings and piers. Over the weekend Dj and I added some thickness to the base of the physical model to account for the joists. We cut the pieces for the girders, but are waiting until the 8pm class meeting tonight to ask the class if they think we should add them. Monday we plan on picking the foundation permit up and getting the temporary power pole set up and hope to set up the batter boards and silt fencing.

Permits Approved

Now that the permit documents have been approved it seems that we will finally be getting our hands dirty. I have been working with Brandon and Dj on designs for the front and rear porch as well as a louvered shutter system that will move along tracks. There are currently two designs being worked on and we hope that the class will come to a decision by Monday. Today Jordan, Daniel, Dj, and me went to the shop to build the base that our final model will sit on. Tomorrow Jordan and me are going to Builder's Supply to place an order for the construction materials for phase one. Our class is trying to coordinate getting dirt brought to the site from one company and getting another to come out and clear and level the site at the same time. We were hoping to have that done by Monday, but after hearing an update and the meeting tonight it sounds like it could be as late as Thursday. We should have the model base completed tomorrow and then we need to use the CNC Router to create the contours for the model. I thought as we got closer to construction that things would become less hectic, but it is exactly opposite of that.

Pier and Beam Foundation

For the past week my group and me have been working on getting the plan and section details for the pier and beam foundation together. Today Jordan and me went to the site and located where our water and sewer line would tap into the city's connection. We also went to the City of Ruston zoning office and met with Mark Joiner, who is in charge of permits. We showed him the foundation plan as well as the details for the piers and footing and said that they would work, but we need an engineer to sign off on them. Tomorrow we are submitting all of the permit set drawings for review. Once everything is checked over and we have a stamp of approval from an engineer it should only be about two to three days until the drawings are approved and the permits are issued. I'm looking forward to actually getting onto the site and working. I have also been researching possible exterior materials. There is still a huge amount of design work that needs to come together for the interior and exterior of the project to actually bring it to life. It has been an intense week and I don't see the process slowing down anytime soon. We also spoke to Mrs. Archie while at the site and showed her the floor plan and did our best to show here where exactly things would be on the site. It's great to have a client who is as excited as we are about the project.

Phase 1 Research

Over much debate we have chosen a new site to build Mrs. Archie's home. Instead of Line Ave. we will now be building on Jones St. I was in charge of researching pier and beam foundations and the methods of constructing them as well as codes, concrete types, soil typologies, and footings. Today I will give a power point presentation to the class after another group gives a presentation on site prep. Jordan and me will be presenting our research and Bradon, Kyle, and Dj also have research that they will be presenting. Our new site has some issues with an existing flood plane, so we have to clear the site before Friday so that we can get a survey crew out to find out exactly where the flood plane is. Tonight I have to start further research into pier and beam foundations more specific to our floor plan.