Chris has a neat system for basement water mitigation. Corrugated pipe is placed in each window well, the back walkout patio, and all throughout the basement sub-floor. Then the footings are filled with 1o inches of gravel (more where we had to go deeper for the South walkout wall). Later the pipe will be connected to a sump-pump in the central part of the basement.


The "rock chucker" is AWESOME. A gravel truck, with a swing-out conveyer-belt boom, that is ALL operated by REMOTE CONTROL. Yeah, I know what I'm asking Santa for this year. The operator would hop out of the truck and then back the truck into position. While he was standing in the hole the driver/operator would manuever the truck and boom and shoot gravel at his own feet. I wish I'd gotten better video.

I was surprised by how fast the concrete is poured. As much as we hang around, we've yet to see a concrete truck -- they are in and out too fast.


Roof cement is used to paint the portion of the foundation that will be buried, and window wells are attached. Cory Bodily is putting in our basement drains, and "grinder pump" in this photo (if you use your imagination and/or X-ray vision). A grinder pump takes the sewage from the basement, and grinds/pumps it up to drain out to the septic system. We need this because the septic system is above the level of the basement drains. We will now incorporate "please don't let the grinder pump fail" into all of our family prayers.

It took two days to dig out the foundation. We excavated about 4 feet down in the back, and 4.5 feet in the front (our lot has a gentle slope). The ground appeared very dry all of the way down, despite a wet spring, but the water level supposedly hits 48" on a very wet year. Water in basement = bad. It looked like a huge amount of dirt once it was all piled up. And a really big hole. However, it is overdug in each direction ~four feet (something I'm sure to point out to concerned neighbors).

Next, they marked out and placed the footings. Our plan was entered into a machine that uses a laser/reflector to mark very precisely where each footing and wall should be placed. Very cool. Especially after the initial staking out of the rough shape with measuring tapes and string turned out to be just a little challenging.


Once the footings were poured, the wall forms went up. Jen was surprised by how much this involved (people, rebar, crane).

Broke Ground!!!

Finally we have a hole. We bought our land in December of 2007. Sheesh. Our plans are a revision of the Utah House in Kaysville. The house was originally designed by Larry Hepworth of design west architects in Logan, UT. Craig Martindale worked with us on the redesign. The plans were completed a year ago springtime. Unforturnately, our house in American Fork didn't sell until last October, and then with Winter, etc...

So, beginning of May we broke out the old boy scout compass and with Chris Thurgood and his son Jared, Jen and I helped stake out the perimeter. I was a little nervous about messing up the orientation. The home only "works" if it is oriented within about 10 degrees of "true South". After a half a dozen double checks I think we're ok. I think.

Trying Harder

I gave a lesson a few Sundays ago on keeping a journal. Ever since then I've been feeling a little guiltier than usual for not keeping one myself -- particularly with so many things going on right now. If I do it on the computer then it must be fun, right?

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