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Building a Home

Utility trenches dug and back filled - plus the family got bigger

16 years ago

these are a few weeks late. everything went well. we ran into some scheduling problems with the backhoe operator. we then rented a backhoe and my guy got real sick, so i jumped on. it was fun and i picked it up pretty quick. we still need some backfill brought in (we stole a bunch from the woods (= and the road definitely needs to be redone.

i have been finishing off framing, plumbing, and garage walls. I also did elect and lighting layout and have started drilling holes for that.

we also had a new addition join on on March 25th. Mom did great with an all natural birth (2nd one). Both mom and Liam Henry are doing great! Owen (our 3 yr old), our zoo of animals, and I are smiling too.

now to the pics;

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Comments (14)

jaymielo
16 years ago
See, you can't post rocks and babies together, because as "into" the house and all aspects of it as I am, the kids are way cuter. Congratulations. They are both beautiful. j.
luckymom23
16 years ago
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing the picture of your sons, along with the house pictures. All the best to you and your family!
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ponydoc
16 years ago
I am with Jaymie....... the house looks great, the rocks are impressive..... but those two cuties are - well........way better than any house! Too cute.

Your house is going to be great!

(Love their names- I have a Henry.... and he was almost an Owen)

PD
acountryfarm
16 years ago
Beautiful children, congratulations to your family.

The rocks were pretty cool also !!
ajpl
16 years ago
Your lines look like ours! All nestled among the rocks!

Now onto theimportant stuff... the last photo with the two boys is just so sweet! Congratulations!
dixiedoodle
16 years ago
Congratulations on all of the progress! But most importantly the little one...What a doll! :)
I would definitely frame that last picture...the expression on Owen's face is precious!

BTW, all this time I thought your house was out in the middle of nowhere...all by itself (I guess because of the views and all the trees.) I was surprised to see that you are actually in a neighborhood!
amyks
16 years ago
Gorgeous, just gorgeous! Perfect in every way. The house isn't bad either....

Amy
davidandkasie
16 years ago
congrats on the new family member!

now, i have a a couple questions concerning the lines.

1. if that small line is for you telco, you will want to move it. running that far right next to your AC lines and it WILL have problems. needs to be at least 18" separating them.

2. how deep is that trench? around here the lines would have to be at least 12" deep in conduit, but they prefer 18". i looks like you may be a little shallow in a few places, or at least the pics make it seem so.
brutuses
16 years ago
Congratulations on everything. Sorry, but the kids take the prize. They are beautiful!!
kelntx
16 years ago
Congratulations on your new little one! They are both so beautiful :-) They kind of stole the show on this thread! I love your names as well. Your big man looks so sweet holding his little brother. Makes me want another one....for a brief second anyway!

Good luck and enjoy this wonderful time!

Kel
mikeyvon
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks for the kind comments. Life with the new one is going great.

Our house is "behind" a older subdivision. It is really cool as in three directions we have thousands of acres of forest land, much of it being Lassen National Forest. We have seen bear, foxes, lions, eagles, deer, elk, and more. I am still able to walk to work and stumble home from poker night whom ever is hosting that night. We are a small town of around 3000 folks. We can walk to the park and when the kids get older they can walk to school.

davidandkasie - my lines that will go in the conduit is (from right to left) power, telco, cable, and sewer. The white line is water and is on top by about 12" (in most places). Gas line also goes on top next to water. According to my inspector, electrictian, and the telephone company, I need 4" seperation between my lines. Not a huge concern for me as we have no use for telephone lines. We are putting it in for resale. We have between 36" and 8" of coverage. We are bringing in fill for parts that are short. 12" is required.
bungeeii
16 years ago
I got mad having to dig through good old Elba clay during our build using my backhoe attachment on the old Ford tractor. I'd take having to go down 5' deep into clay over having to bust through 12" of rock any day.

Congrats on your progress and on your newest family member. We added a 3rd in December. Owen was on our short list, but we finally agreed on Joseph.
davidandkasie
16 years ago
well, as long as you don't require phone it should be ok. i speak form experience though, i have installed miles of telco and running it close to AC is a gamble. 18" is minimum recommended separation.

who knows, it may be fine. then again it may be useless. just for an example, in our office building there are 2 25 pair cables that came off the same spool running from one end to the other. both are strapped up parallel to the AC feed the entire length. one cable has a few pair that have over 35 volts induced on it, the other has no induced voltage. i had to crawl the entire 200' run and move the cables over to get the noise off the one.

i recommend you use good twisted pair cable for the telco feed, it will help cut down on induced hum.
sierraeast
16 years ago
Congrats, Mikeyvon!
We had to go 48" deep w/ the water, 12" of crushed base over that, then the electrical/phone line. Lots of rocks/frustration for the excavator. We are in a community/ranch area known as greenhorn. Most excavator/foundation contractors refer to it as rockhorn!

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