Foundation Phase 2

Once again, thanks to the springtime rain, phase 2 has been on hold.  Luckily the sun has been shining bright lately and foundation phase 2 began last week.  The first couple of days were dedicated to allowing the footings and trenches to dry out as they were completely filled with water.  This also meant more work for the sub-contractors as they needed to dig out the dirt that had washed into the trenches and footings before the stem wall could be built.  Thankfully, they were dedicated and worked hard to make sure this process was completed quickly and the building of the stem wall began.

Due to the proximity of our home to the marsh, our builder chose to construct a 5 course stem wall to appropriately elevate the home. Our final home elevation will be 9.55ft!  It seems so high but since the house is one story, the extra steps up to enter will make for a grander entrance and overall curb appeal.

The stem wall process began with setting rebar vertically along the perimeter of the home. These rebar posts will serve to stabilize the cinder blocks once they are laid to prevent shifting and sway as the concrete is poured. The  blocks were then placed for the stem wall and filled with concrete to set and provide further stability.

Today, the final preparations began for the slab to be laid.  The dirt was leveled and the wood framing around the stem wall was put up. Now we wait for the water barrier and slab...

Bringing in the stem wall supplies

Waterlogged.... rebar in place but rain delays cinder blocks

Water gone, dirt dug out, rebar and stem wall placed, and supporting concrete poured

Stem wall in place

Dirt leveled out, ready for wood framing

Wood frame going up around stem wall

Final elevation...so tall!

Floorplans

After several months of scrutinizing every detail of this home and carefully developing the home plan, I was beginning to visualize my one dimensional ideas in a three dimensional landscape. Many of you have asked me to post pictures of the actual floor plan, so here they are. We are building a 3/2 with outlined room to add on a fourth bedroom and pool bath at a later date. The outside will be faced with hardie board lap siding and shake shingles. It is a completely custom design created by myself, Adam, and Jamie Bryant from "Designing Dream Homes." This has certainly been a learning process for Adam and I who, as detail oriented people, never dreamed of the meticulousness involved with having your dream home drawn on paper. We certainly became a master on roof lines, window sizes, outlet placement, and bridge and header heights.  Some of our favorite custom features include: 

1. 8 foot doors throughout (As a 6'9" guy who has spent his life ducking through doorways, this was one of Adam's must haves).
2. His and hers walk in closets
3. Expansive front and back covered porches
4. Double sided indoor/outdoor fireplace (living room and back porch)
5. Large walk in pantry
6. Walk around attic above the garage
7. Lots and lots of storage!

Now it is up to our builder to take this plan vertical and help make our home dreams come true!

Floor Plan

Front Elevation

Rainy Day Inspiration

Well, Adam and I thought this blog post would be about foundation phase 2 however, the springtime rainstorms have struck Jacksonville again and so we are left waiting for the clouds, and the lot, to dry. Fortunately, my best friend, sent us the best gift ever.... two Coastal Living inspiration books and an "Our House Journal" to scrapbook this exciting first in our lives. 

Thanks Jen, Matt, and Harper Sheldon! Y'all are the best!

With no progress to stand in awe of and nothing new to snap pictures of, Adam and I have been flipping through the pages of our new books searching for southern seaside inspiration. Here are two of our favorites right now....

Perfect mix between southern charm and coastal chic: colors, metal roof, shutters, large windows, and of course the inviting front porch 

Sun porch with the most inviting porch swing and adult nap zone.  I could hide away here forever, and of course I LOVE the colors!

Before the rain began this morning, our contractor took advantage of the clear skies yesterday and was able to have the first level of concrete poured in the trenches and the next set of rebar set. Hopefully this rain lets up soon and we can get the base of this house completed. Until next time...

Foundation Phase 1

April 10th was a big day for Adam and I. This is the day I finally had the aha moment....the moment I told Adam was coming but had yet to occur.  With the fill in place and compacted, and the surveyor having marked off the house corners, the outlines of the foundation had been painted in the dirt and I could finally visualize where my home was going.  I could actually walk the property now and identify which room or area of the home I was standing in.  I spent a lot of time in the kitchen  and, with Adam, on the back porch that day.

View from our future back porch

I can see clearly now... look closely, you can see the paint outlines

The next step began friday April 11th. Trenches were dug for the footings, and rebar was laid. Adam and I spent much of that night on you tube watching videos of builders go through the foundation process so that we could have some clue of what was going on.  It amazes me how much calculation and foresight goes into this process.  Our builder will be using a 5 course stem wall to support our home. Before the stem wall can be built, trenches for the footing cavities were dug and rebar was placed. The rebar will provide support and structural integrity for the upcoming concrete (at least that is how Adam and I understand it). At every corner of rebar, you will note that they are all curved from one continuous piece rather than just ending them and tying a new piece. We learned that this is required and maintains the integrity of the foundation and the oh so important foundation intersections. The machine used on site to bend this stuff must be crazy strong!

Rebar corner in footing

Rebar in footing along left side of house

Foundation phase 1 complete. Stay tuned for phase 2...

Trenches dug for footings, rebar in place.  Foundation phase 1...check

Timberrrrrr!

The clearing of the property officially began March 13th and involved the tilling up of a significant amount of brush and the taking down of several trees. For all of you that gasped at the thought of those beautiful trees tumbling down, rest assured.  Trees that were not at risk of affecting the integrity of the foundation and were not where the actual home will be built, were saved. We could now see the clearing between the trees (literally and figuratively) and could finally imagine exactly where the home would go...kind of.  I told Adam that once the lot was cleared, I would be able to visualize our home. However, now that the clearing has occurred, I am telling him once the foundation is laid, I will see it....we will soon see if I rescind that statement as well.

The process was delayed slightly as Jacksonville Beach experienced the constant downpour of rain that signaled the beginning of spring. The clouds did eventually part and the bringing in of fill began. Adam and I were warned throughout the planning stages of this process that there would be a significant amount of fill required. However, it was not until we saw the massive dirt piles that easily dwarfed the seemingly equally massive excavator that we understood just how much dirt would be required to raise our home and properly prepare for the foundation. Luckily the last loads of fill were brought in and smoothed out today and we are now ready for the next step. 

Now that the lot has been prepped for foundation, the surveyor is scheduled to come back out on Monday and stake out the exact placement of the home. Maybe then I will be able to visualize it!