Polystyrene

Under the concrete floor will be heat pipes, under the pipes will be two inches of extruded polystyrene. After years of calling this stuff styrofoam, I learn that Styrofoam is Dow Chemicals' brand name for their blue polystyrene. For this project, I am using Owens Corning's polystyrene, Foamular, which is pink.

                                                      Of course, these two piles came on a truck and were dropped here...

  but need to be there:

  This time, though, foam is light so two people can pick up each of the piles.

So, the sand has been leveled and the foam placed. Next will be the plumber with the heat pipes followed by the concrete, and then, we will have a basement floor.

Owens Corning Foamular

Notice the pattern--some people like patterns and symmetry. However, one area has the pattern at 90 degrees to the rest and a few smaller pieces follow no pattern at all because symmetry hidden under 5" of concrete is not worth $30 per sheet.

Nature is alive and well out here. Wood ticks join us any time we step too close to tall grass--wet spring tends to bring them out in force. The deer wander through frequently. Sometimes I think they're inspecting the project.

To keep us entertained, we have

our resident woodpecker.

In this case, checking out the old Allis Chalmers.

This is an interesting bird. But, what does pecking on the metal hood of a tractor do?  After leaving the tractor, I hear the tapping on an empty fuel barrel, then a metal building and finally a tree in the woods. Musical bird.

Incidentally, the weather has been mostly hot and dry. Working in 85 degree weather isn't bad if the humidity is low and there is a slight breeze, which is what we have been having. However, working in a white basement is another matter.

No breeze. The sun reflects off the white walls, raising the temp quite a bit. "Not to worry", he thinks, "the dirt floor absorbs a lot of that excess heat."

All I can say about that is it's a good thing I had help. A hired hand worked with me a couple days, then my sister came through for two more days. Couldn't have finished without them.

But, pink polystyrene reflects it all back to anyone in the oven basement...me! 

Some of Grandma's flowers are blooming:

And, I have a tomato:

Next, I hope to have a floor in the basement, and maybe the garage.

More Stub Walls and Sand to Move

Busy week (or two, or so). Working on the final four stub walls. When that is finished, the last of the back fill can be done.

Drain tile are in, sump bucket is placed, water and geothermal lines are run.

Now I need to order another yard or two of sand...

                                                                                                         ...actually ten yards, and here it is!...

...but, but, but...it needs to be here!






I have two good arms, but only one shovel! Oh well, so it will take a while.

As it turns out, my concrete guy, plumbing guy, and sand and gravel guy, are all retired (teaching, plumbing, sand and gravel). They see this retired solder and teacher in need of a little help, so they send a second  shovel. They even said I could drive it tonight if I want.

We might have concrete by the end of the week or early next week--Lord willing and the creek don't rise, that is.

I've been in touch with the floor joist folks. They are working up the order and cost for the next step. Electricity has been here and once the floor is poured and the basement capped, he will run electricity and internet to the house. Progress?

I'm Back

Back at the site. This year I was greeted by Grandma's lilacs in full bloom.

Lilacs west of where original house stood

South edge of the yard, notice the white flowers                

The white flowers and lilacs

Asparagus surrounded by weeds

The flowers from her garden survived, both those relocated and those left behind. No flowers yet, but the plants are looking healthy.

All is not well

We arrived ready to start assembling the domes.  We had been tipped of that the concrete had not been placed in the walls and foundation, yet, but that shouldn't take long.

When we arrived on site, all the walls and foundation were standing tall, waiting for concrete.

But then, upon a closer look and discussion...the sun set that day with the construction site looking like this:

We disassembled the garage the first day, then rebuilt it and began work repairing the link and finally the house. We poured the concrete in time for me to leave in mid August.

I just received a couple more pictures of the form work in progress.  This is the house taken from where the garage will be.

As I look at the preparation from this angle, I envision what is to come:

My new dome home!

Basement Walls

The forms for the basement walls arrived this week.  We are using Logix ICF (insulated concrete forms).  There are a number of companies making ICF, but none of them have an easy system for non-regular corners.  They all seem to be set up for 90 or 45 degree corners, but nothing to handle any other angle.  Another company, ARXX showed me a system, but when it came to the final planning stage, I was told that they no longer make that block.  So, we will stay with Logix.

They look like man-sized (grunt-grunt) Legos and I still have another week of teaching before I can go.  They will be all done before I get to the sandbox job site...*sigh*

Pictures coming when I get them.

At long last, the building has started.  

Well, at least there is a hole in the ground...

and some 2X4s in the hole...

and monster machines dumping...

mud between the 2X4s...

The footings are a bit slow at getting finished.  We have a lot of experience in construction.  However, this is the first geodesic dome any of us have worked on...what did our geometry teacher say about angles x and y being congruent adjacent hypnosis if the square is made of steel...?  There are no square corners!

Speaking of experience, (around 100 years worth, one of us with many years working with concrete, the rest general construction) we have seen what the cold winters will do to houses built on the recommended footings sizes up in the soils and climates of northern Minnesota.  So, we decided to beef up the footings by about two inches in each dimension.  We have a healthy respect for Mother Nature and we know that no man-made object can defeat her, but we hope to at least show that we can put a good fight.