Living is Suspence

Over the past 9 days, we've had backhoes, skid-steers, masonry saws and lots of activity around the house.  Putting a basement under the house is in full swing!  I'll try to explain what the contractors have done the past two weeks.  Bear with me, it's from a female perspective and with female terminology!!

Last Monday the excavators dug out a swatch under the center of our house, 9 feet high and about 7 feet wide.  They began by digging a ramp at the end of the house from ground level down about 8 feet.  Then they broke away part of the foundation and continued to dig the trench.  It was amazing watching them work.  The ground is a very hard clay and made for difficult digging.  (On occasion when the kids were not being their normal angelic selves, I suggested I was going  to give them a pick and shovel and have them work at digging the basement!)  The only delay was a hydraulic cylinder that broke and  the job was complete on schedule!  A bonus for the kids was a huge pile of dirt to play on!!  My bonus - seeing how well my laundry detergent REALLY works!!  Borax is the key!!



The swatch under the house.


Over the weekend, Chris and the kids worked to prepare the house for phase 2.  In the process, I had to do the laundry a few days early because there was the possibility that we would lose our sewer pipe for a time (that would stink!).  Bilco doors were removed, duct work was adapted, water tank was moved, sewer line was located and by Sunday evening, we were all ready for a massage, but no one had enough energy to oblige. 



Two of the support beams on the back of the house.



On Monday, phase 2 began - putting beams under the house.  These beams will support the weight of the house so in phase 3 the rest of the dirt and existing foundation can be dug out.  They would dig a hole next to the house, use a sledge hammer and pound through the foundation, slide a 30' beam in the hole and repeat 5 more times around the house.  There are also 3 - 53' beams running the length of the house - two near the outside walls and one down the center.   They finished phase 2 today!  They are to start next Monday to dig the rest of the dirt and existing foundation out. 

The swatch down the center under the house was to put crib piles to support the main beam.

So now, the house is no longer sitting on its original foundation.  It's resting on 9 beams - suspended so to speak!  We have piles of dirt all around the house; holes all around; busted up concrete; and very busy vacuum cleaner.  But, as the contractor said, "A temporary inconvience for a permanent solution - that's what my dad always said."  I like his dad!  Puts things into perspective.