Doing a little landscaping...with a Dozer!

[JoeRainville]

After much work, blood, sweat and cussing with jackhammer, sledhammers and chizles, I am pretty sure this cistern could have been a bomb shelter instead of a water tank.

With it nearly removed, I've taken out over 18 tractor bucket loads of rocks and cement. What fun! I just keep thinking "John Deere rooom...John Deere Room!..."

[400brian]

You sure that wasn't a crypt?

[Matt]

You sure that wasn't a crypt?

Wouldn't that be a surprise!

[JDT]

James Hoffa??

[WinnipegStPaul9]

[JoeRainville]

Hi Guys,

After winning the "Battle of the Cript" the excavation could continue. Unfortunately we did not find Hoffa, the Wildfire or anything else cool in there. The forms were FINALLY built in early Oct. The cement truck arrived Friday, Oct 2nd and poured the new footer.

Then we could finally start building walls...

[JoeRainville]

Once the footers were in, progress was swift. After doing the take off for the block supplier, all the needed materials were delivered the Tuesday following the footer pour.

My contractors provided me a mason to put up my walls, so I got to be his helper for a few weeks. Lugging around 10" blocks also helps with getting in shape for snocross and cross country racing this winter.

-Joe

[pjr]

My lower back hurts just looking at all those concrete blocks you had to lug around... Sheesh!!


pj

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Man Joe, that's gonna look great when you're done but then when you think about how long you've been getting your 340/S ready for the 2009 HOF ride I can only hope to live long enough to see the house done...........................

[Funrover]

WOW!!!!

[JoeRainville]

Hi Guys,

Once the walls were built and the house was dropped onto it's new foundation, there was much more work to do. The earthen jacking supports needed to removed, and the back wall of the cript was removed. The little BobCat 316 was put to work under house house scouping dirt and rocks into the 4030's bucket.

Water boy came over and helped me perminently install the cut down steel beam that was used to jack the back wall of the house originally. Now it's holding the up the middle of the house where the back wall of the cript supported one of the main beams.

[JoeRainville]

Finally on Tuesday, December 15, nearly 6 months after the dozer first broke ground, the cement truck brought the new floor. Before that doors were installed, as was full internal drain tile, a sump bucket and floor drain. What a relief to finally be making the new basement useful.

[JDT]

Joes looks like someone is ready to do some staining. You better get to work!

[JoeRainville]

And here are the last pic's take today. Although most of the big work is done, there is wiring left to install, and a lot more concrete work is needed in the original basement. The final pic shows where the "crypt" cistern used to be. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of the two plus weeks of work it took to get rid of it...

-Rainville

[Sprailfire340]

I can see why you like to drive to MN every few months. With "honey do's" like that at home it must be a relief to sit on your duff for a weekend. Very impressive project. Now which end do you drive the sleds in?