Garage/Appartment finally getting started

[norcalstew]

This has been almost a year in preparation. I'm thrilled to say I passed my first inspection and will pour concrete next week. I'm doing 99% of the work myself on my weekends with a quick check in from friends in the know. I've never built anything larger than a fence or a small deck so this has been quit the learning experience so far. Here is some of my progress to this point.

The Septic. I hired out. Last fall
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The Plan. I drew a plan of what I wanted and the engineer made it better and stamped the plans. It's a 24x26 garage with a 640sq ft apartment upstairs. The lot is pretty small and on a spring fed creek. 24' was a squeeze on the width due to the narrow lot and where I had to put my septic system. I originally planned on a 22' wide. I played around with a scale model plot plan I made and fit everything in like a puzzle. I tried to upload a pdf of my plans but the file was too large. I might try again when I have time.

I borrowed a tractor from a good, good friend. Thank god for good friends!
View media item 52356Laid some water lines/ hydrants
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Squaring things up!
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Painted ground... If only it would dig like the lines on the ground
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Plenty of rocks!!!
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Some wouldn't move... So we used them
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Foundation work *****. I would NOT want to do this for a living! Many said to hire this out but it would defeat my plan to as much as possible solo and save the cash. I'm on a budget man!
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Boards went up and rebar went in. Not an easy chore alone. I scabbed the long ones to make 26'ers. Pretty heavy and awkward.

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Center footing

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My wife insisted on grass down by the creek. I was hesitant. "We got bigger fish to fry". But I'm glad she talked me into it. Nice place to cool down and dip my head in the ice cold water. She's smart.

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Concrete next week!!!

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[matt_i]

I think you are wise to pour the large concrete wall. An idyllic stream like that can turn into a raging river with something like a 50- or 100- year storm, really any storm that's in a line which the entire line passes over the same fixed point in relation to the ground will do it.

 

[norcalstew]

Thanks, I have to pour the wall because it's a slab floor downstairs and the lot slope dictates the back wall height. I'ts about 40" tall at the back. Concrete is ordered for Thursday!!!