Rat's Minnesota Homesteading adventure: Final update page 12 - Page 6

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Rat's Minnesota Homesteading adventure: Final update page 12 (Page 6 of 12)

Posted: 7/30/2017 12:09:19 AM EDT

[#1]

What a day. Just finished up for the day. Will post a pic in the morning, when there is daylight.

We have a hole

Posted: 7/30/2017 10:12:56 AM EDT

[#2]

Did this last night

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Posted: 7/30/2017 12:48:39 PM EDT

[#3]

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Did this last nighthttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/165887/KIMG0116-266525.JPG

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Looking good! Does the chicken approve?

Posted: 7/30/2017 6:21:48 PM EDT

[#4]

She does, very much so

Posted: 7/30/2017 11:24:20 PM EDT

[#5]

I bet she does!

That's one heck of a dust bath right there.

Is that Lady McCluck?

Posted: 7/31/2017 12:01:19 AM EDT

[#6]

Nope, one of the meat hens.

Got the hole all but finished tonight. Just touch ups once I actually setup the sight strings.

Hopefully the forms for the footings are in tomorrow, see if the weather holds.

Posted: 8/1/2017 12:29:35 AM EDT

[#7]

Well today we ended up meeting grocery supplies and things in town so didn't get anything done in the hole.

From getting up at 6:32 not getting home until 10:30 I got an arrangement to stuff on the trailer today. Some chicken feed and hay for the cows. Got the supplies I needed to put in the concrete forms for the footers for the basement.

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Posted: 8/1/2017 11:39:48 PM EDT

[#8]

Brought the hole down to final grade tonight, discovered there is a sand and gravel deposit on our property. I mean you can dig the sand out with your fingers.

Will be making the forms for the footers tomorrow..

Posted: 8/2/2017 7:59:04 AM EDT

[#9]

Hey rat. On your flooring. Have you seen folks doing the plywood floors?
Could be a lower cost option for now. Some of it don't look to bad and seems to hold up well.

Posted: 8/2/2017 8:02:49 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Brought the hole down to final grade tonight, discovered there is a sand and gravel deposit on our property. I mean you can dig the sand out with your fingers.

Will be making the forms for the footers tomorrow..

View Quote

Sounds like you won't have any drainage issues

Lookig forward to seeing the progress!

Posted: 8/2/2017 10:52:26 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Hey rat. On your flooring. Have you seen folks doing the plywood floors?
Could be a lower cost option for now. Some of it don't look to bad and seems to hold up well.

View Quote

Have not.

I did a quick search. I'll show it to the Mrs.

Posted: 8/2/2017 3:25:04 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

Sounds like you won't have any drainage issues

Lookig forward to seeing the progress!

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I will do what I can.

I'm taking video as I go, but I really don't have time to process any of it right now. I'll try to keep posting pics here as I move along.

Once things get a bit less crazy, I'll get some videos up. Until then, its been from dawn until dusk almost every day.

Posted: 8/6/2017 10:02:03 PM EDT

[#13]

Finished the footer forms a mere hour before it started pouring rain. I have the country inspector scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9, hope I pass.

If I do pass, should be able to put footers on Wednesday.

Posted: 8/7/2017 4:48:42 PM EDT

[#14]

Pic of how it sits right now.

I passed my inspection this morning, so I am just waiting for concrete and we will pour on Wednesday morning.

My new little bobcat is hard at work in the hole

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Posted: 8/7/2017 6:28:14 PM EDT

[#15]

Looking good! That little bobcat will be worth every penny!

Posted: 8/7/2017 11:19:50 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Pic of how it sits right now.

I passed my inspection this morning, so I am just waiting for concrete and we will pour on Wednesday morning.

My new little bobcat is hard at work in the hole

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/165887/KIMG0122-274238.JPG

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That bobcat came at a great time for you!

Posted: 8/7/2017 11:45:18 PM EDT

[#17]

Finished the electrical system in the little bobcat tonight. Now I can run it from the cab instead of opening the back and jumping wires and alligator clips

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:52:15 PM EDT

[#18]

Seems a bit under cooked. What do you think?

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Posted: 8/10/2017 6:58:45 AM EDT

[#19]

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Seems a bit under cooked. What do you think?https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/165887/KIMG0128-276224.JPG

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Howd the footer pour go?

Posted: 8/10/2017 9:17:51 AM EDT

[#20]

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Seems a bit under cooked. What do you think?https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/165887/KIMG0128-276224.JPG

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I have that same grill with the side box

Now.
Inject that bird with moscotto ..and rub down with that seasoning I gave you and low and slow that bird....

Posted: 8/10/2017 10:14:37 AM EDT

[#21]

Got rained out yesterday. Footing pour re-scheduled for Friday morning AM. Very, very AM.

Posted: 8/10/2017 10:17:48 AM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

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Now.
Inject that bird with moscotto ..and rub down with that seasoning I gave you and low and slow that bird....

View Quote

Sunday should be bird butchering day. Since the birds LOVE styrofoam, I have to have them all contained before I can put up the ICF forms.

Freezer seems a good way to contain them all...

Posted: 8/11/2017 5:48:23 PM EDT

[#23]

Poured the footers this morning. Truck was here at 7am sharp, took us 3 hours. Used the little bobcat in the hole to move the concrete instead of a wheelbarrow, of which it worked wonderfully.

I know, I know, pics/vids. I took some, haven't had time to upload.

OK, here is a quick pic. Yup, me in the bobcat.

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:

Posted: 8/12/2017 10:44:38 AM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
Poured the footers this morning. Truck was here at 7am sharp, took us 3 hours. Used the little bobcat in the hole to move the concrete instead of a wheelbarrow, of which it worked wonderfully.

I know, I know, pics/vids. I took some, haven't had time to upload.

OK, here is a quick pic. Yup, me in the bobcat.
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/165887/KIMG0135-277692.JPG:

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Looks good! Skid steers are great for hauling concrete to hard to reach spots and cheaper than a pump truck. We use them a lot for that at work to get concrete to spots in the plant a concrete truck won't get to.

Posted: 8/12/2017 11:16:54 AM EDT

[#25]

As it sits

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Posted: 8/12/2017 11:44:30 AM EDT

[#26]

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As it sits
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/165887/KIMG0138-278285.JPG

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What is the short footer in the middle that's not tied into anything for?

Posted: 8/12/2017 12:10:30 PM EDT

[#27]

Load bearing wall goes there.

Posted: 8/13/2017 12:13:30 PM EDT

[#28]

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Quoted:

What is the short footer in the middle that's not tied into anything for?

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I was wondering the same thing!

Posted: 8/15/2017 11:05:45 PM EDT

[#29]

Rain Won't quit.

Got some rock down there tonight, about half done, ran out of daylight.

Washout the next 36 hours. Yay.

Have to pour walls by Tuesday or we will be behind. Still possible though. Getting tight on the schedule..

Posted: 8/15/2017 11:06:59 PM EDT

[#30]

Random pic

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Posted: 8/15/2017 11:08:35 PM EDT

[#31]

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Posted: 8/15/2017 11:10:06 PM EDT

[#32]

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Posted: 8/15/2017 11:11:09 PM EDT

[#33]

What I'm building

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Posted: 8/16/2017 7:44:00 AM EDT

[#34]

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https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/165887/KIMG0114-281510.JPG

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Aeromotor?

Posted: 8/16/2017 9:41:57 AM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

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Aeromotor?

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View All Quotes

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Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/165887/KIMG0114-281510.JPG

Aeromotor?

Taking down the old windmill. It was where the house is going.

Posted: 8/17/2017 6:01:42 PM EDT

[#36]

New House Part 1: Excavation and footings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUySTPsIyik

Posted: 8/19/2017 10:15:26 PM EDT

[#37]

ICF blocks going in today. Really only started about 4pm, this is about 3 hours of work.

The little bobcat refused to start to drive itself out of the hole. She did what she could, which was just enough. Too low of compression to start... Picked it up with the full size and carried her out. Little bobcat, we thank you for your service. Take a breather, I'll get to you when I can.

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Posted: 8/19/2017 10:18:24 PM EDT

[#38]

This style of building is very diy friendly, and I recommend it. Putting up the forms is easily a weekend project for two people,, and overall light work.

Posted: 8/20/2017 10:23:47 AM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
This style of building is very diy friendly, and I recommend it. Putting up the forms is easily a weekend project for two people,, and overall light work.

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ICF is great stuff! Nice and easy.

Posted: 8/20/2017 10:42:56 PM EDT

[#40]

Got done at last light. Inspection tomorrow.

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Posted: 8/21/2017 1:26:21 PM EDT

[#41]

Passed inspection with flying colors this morning, pouring walls at 7:30am tomorrow!!

Posted: 8/22/2017 8:04:59 AM EDT

[#42]

So last night when we were getting ready for the cement trucks to come in the morning my brother and I all the sudden here chicks peeping coming from the woods behind us and we don't have any chicks that small. Now we have been letting all of our chickens free-range for the last month or so. So we go back into the trees and the brush and all the sudden we find 7 little black things running around. Sure enough one of my Barred Rock hens went Broody and hatched out some eggs. Now these chicks aren't more than 5 days old they're small. So I'm wondering where in the world the Henny is she was nowhere to be found. Sadly after 5 minutes of looking for the mama hen I find her half-eaten very fresh within hours. Because we're frantically working before Sundown to get everything ready for the pumper truck that's now sitting outside I put my son to work catching them all. Sadly one of them died last night it just got too cold. For some reason the heater bulb base for my chicken brooder stopped working not the bulb but the base itself. So I grab my second heater bold base that was in the chicken coop and sure enough that one's broken to. So the only option we had was to put our remaining six chicks and with are significantly older 25 chicks that were raising right now and hopefully they became friends and were able to huddle in. I haven't checked on them this morning yet but I'll report back when my son does chores and see if any of them made it.

Posted: 8/22/2017 12:01:17 PM EDT

[#43]

Got the pour done, only took 1 hour.

Had one blowout, some seems separted. Overall, not bad at all!

Took some vids, will try to get something online.

Posted: 8/22/2017 3:16:59 PM EDT

[#44]

One chick survived the night, another doesn't look good.

We will see.

Posted: 8/22/2017 3:18:16 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:
Got the pour done, only took 1 hour.

Had one blowout, some seems separted. Overall, not bad at all!

Took some vids, will try to get something online.

View Quote

Good to hear! Glad the blowout wasn't bad. When ICF blows out it can get ugly in a hurry.

Posted: 8/29/2017 5:58:04 PM EDT

[#46]

So we poured the floor slab this morning.

Sorry the updates are slow going, last night we were out until midnight getting ready, up again at 6am for the pour. Been nuts, but ALMOST THERE!!!

The house will arrive on Friday morning, sit in the yard over the weekend, and be placed on the foundation on Tuesday.

Almost done, still have some things left to do:
finish removing/clearing trees in front yard
make small approach off driveway
put on sill board
put on sill seal
finish waterproofing basement
basement outside tile
backfill at least 1 wall
load bearing walls inside

All I can think of at the moment. Getting close to having it here!!!!

Posted: 8/30/2017 8:12:32 PM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
Passed inspection with flying colors this morning, pouring walls at 7:30am tomorrow!!

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Woot!

I know nothing about ICF. I need to learn.

Posted: 8/30/2017 8:14:58 PM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:
So we poured the floor slab this morning.

Sorry the updates are slow going, last night we were out until midnight getting ready, up again at 6am for the pour. Been nuts, but ALMOST THERE!!!

The house will arrive on Friday morning, sit in the yard over the weekend, and be placed on the foundation on Tuesday.

Almost done, still have some things left to do:
finish removing/clearing trees in front yard
make small approach off driveway
put on sill board
put on sill seal
finish waterproofing basement
basement outside tile
backfill at least 1 wall
load bearing walls inside

All I can think of at the moment. Getting close to having it here!!!!

View Quote

So excited for you!

Wow, you've made this happen fast.

Meanwhile I can't even get a foundation started down here where the weather's been nice. (waiting on foundation guy.)

I love seeing your project happen.