Washing...It's the Pits!

[cadman]

Hey Guys,

Thought I'd share a pic of the MCM project in progress. Here's a shot of the washer "pit" that Ben and the gf have been helping with. There's probably 14 tons of rock at the top of the pit that we've been shoveling down the hole. Then more block to stack. I'd estimate it's around 15 feet deep...I wanted to make sure that the system could handle all the washers I could throw at it, just in case some friends drop by : ) -Cory

 

[gansky1]

Are you building your dream house? Did I miss that announcement? If so, congratulations!! A poured concrete foundation is the best, you'll never be sorry to spend the extra $$ now.

 

[southernmdgeguy]

That is awesome! No problem meeting code with that! We have to have a special nitrogen removal system here for our septic systems, since we are right next to the Chesapeake bay, however they do nothing to the farms dumping manure right on the fields next to the water.
I have been looking into a special exception for "gray" water only in this area, but no luck so far.

Scott

 

[petek]

Looks exciting, nothing like a construction site. Is the pit you're digging solely for gray water with a seperate septic field? Doesn't the green and yellow company make little bobcats to do that heavy work? LOL. How about a panorama shot of the site, are you located in a treed area or on the bald ass prairie like me?

 

[swestoyz]

Pete,

I hope Cory doesn't mind if I answer this one. What you see in the picture is the 'ground breaking' for "The Lodge", aka garage, and the pit for the washers that are going to be in the lodge and the basement of the future house. The loaction is now a retired corn and bean field, butted up against a natural reserve, and mostly dormant train tracks to the west. I don't think he could have found a nicer plot of land, with the river 10 minutes away by foot! I'm sure he has some overhead shots of the plot.

BEN

 

[pdub]

What a beautiful description of the area. My Mom grew up in a town called Washington, IA and I rememer the whole area as very scenic and restful. Congrats and good luck on the whole project. Patrick

 

[petek]

Ben, Cory, I'd love to see any arial shots. I should find some pics of my place when it was built on an alfalfa field to show you what it looked like then, not a tree, shrub or bush and just a whole mess of construction mud to wade thru in the rain to get in the house. LOL. I remember one time my car got stuck coming up our long driveway and even the tow truck that came to pull me out got stuck in that mess. Looks nice now though, I rototilled about 2 acres and planted lawn grass around the house, we went into the rockies and dug up lots of small pines in a permitted area for free, plus planted scores of lilacs into hedges etc. Finally 12 years later it's starting to look like something. No I don't have a Deere, I have a Kenmore,, er Craftsman and it hasn't busted on me in that long, but it's getting time for a new one so if you have any big discount coupons or family discounts I'm your uncle. HA.

Oh. speaking of arial photos.. a guy came to the door a couple of months ago and had taken arial photo's of all the properties around here including mine. He would then have them enlarged and framed for about $100.. unfortunately he took the photo of my house and property from the "wrong" side for a good arial photo of the house so I didn't get it. Too bad because other than that they are really nice to have.

 

[westytoploader]

WOW guys, looks very impressive. That pit is certainly big enough to handle as many machines you throw at it! Might have to visit and take a few with me when it's all said and done...;-)

I see some heavy equipment/trucks in the background...does MCM stand for Modern Contemporary Mansion?

Keep us updated on the progress!

--Austin

 

[cadman]

Hey Guys,

Wow, where to start? This is phase 1 of the project...the "garage". They poured the foundation Saturday morning, so the forms should be stripped early next week, then the backfill and prep for the floor. At that time I can order my steel columns and beams and get started on the framing (just in time for the snow! LOL)

In the pic you can see the front of the garage; it's not flat, but actually angles in from both sides. The crew had a helluva time- placing the pins in the wrong spots, having to come back and add to their already poured footings that were off (mind you the pins had been fixed), and having to shift their forms to get it to line up. For the record, I'm doing everything else myself (Save $$$ & only need to do it once!)

The garage is done up in the Mid-Century-Modern style. It's a two-story (inside it's 1 1/2) with a shed roof and clerestory windows in the backhalf above a loft, and a roof I can only describe as the rear of a '59 Chevrolet in the front. Then to top it off with stacked vertical brick and a pair of inverted cone lights.

Phase 2 will be the Drive-In Theatre and Phase 3 will be the house on the hill : ) And YOU ALL are invited! -Cory

 

[petek]

Something here I had never heard of before until my neighbor subdivided and built his new house last year on the sectioned off parcel was wood framed foundations rather than concrete. Apparently many of the new houses are being built that way to cut costs. His new place is a roughly 2800 sq ft hillside bungalow with a walkout basement in the back so in actuality only the front and portions of the sides are below ground level. Not sure if that makes a difference or not. Have you ever heard of that method?

 

[cadman]

Hey Pete,

I have read about the increasing popularity of wood framed foundations, though I think it's more popular in areas that don't see such a drastic climatic shift. I would hate to imagine something like that near a sloped lot in an area that sees occasional thunder storms ; ) Everything around here (midwest) is still poured concrete. Quick setup and tear down.

By the way, they pulled the forms today so I'll keep everyone posted with a new thread later! Cory

 

[rickr]

Great pictures Cory! It looks like this will be a grand place when it is done! Will wait for more pictures. Good luck with this mega project!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hey Cory, looks like you can drain a lot of washers into that pit! Another fun washer museum in the making.

 

[jetcone]

Fascinating Cory

I've always thought how much fun it would be to build a dream home from scratch and you're doin it! I would love to see it when its open for business.

Whats the Drive In theater part? Are you opening up a business on the property?

Jon

 

[bethann]

How exciting Cory!

I know it's a lot of work but, isn't it fun? Sometimes I think it's a lot smarter to build from scratch than to try and change everything in a existing home. Most definitely in your case. Can you explain how the pit works? I was just curious because of the configuration of the block. Is it corbeled out? I can't tell from the picture.

 

[cadman]

Thanks for the compliments guys! I'd love to hold a wash-in here, I just need some nice vintage machines ; )

Jon, the plan is to build a "personal" drive-in on an acre or two out here. Complete with speakers for a dozen cars, a snack bar with seating area and BBQ and the white perimeter fence. Hey, You! Lights Out!

Bethann, the pit will be for graywater only, the blocks are spaced to allow water out from the center between them and through them. The large gravel will keep the pit from eventually closing in, but man is it tough to get a shovel-full.

Because of the construction schedule, and despite the snow advisories : ) we stacked the column almost 8' high tonight and filled it practically to the top with rock. Snow was blowing in, temps were dropping and thankfully the generator kept plugging away. Tomorrow after work..the pipe, final rock, and a high in the 20's!

 

[Cybrvanr]

Glad to see the new place coming along! It's going to be really nice! If you need a video projector for the drive-in theater, let me know. I work at an audiovisual shop, and may be able good deal on one for you! I can't wait to see the pictures when it's all finished. A Mid-century modern home will be quite a dream home!

I have a friend that's using the concrete foam bricks for his house on the Rappahannock river. These things are quite neat. You stack the foam blocks, which are hollow, and then you pump concrete into the void between the foam blocks. The concrete hardens, and you have a instant concrete wall that's all insulated and ready to use! A rather inexpensive, but sturdy building process. This is a custom home though. I don't think that any mass-builders making subdivision style homes would use this stuff unfortunatly

 

[jetcone]

Wow

Your own personal Drive In! That is too Cool for words!