October 31

Oct 31 - Mike Eger starting to fill the utility trench

RKB management watching the trench-filling

Oct 31 - Mike and Jim (brothers) working on the pole end of the trench

Oct 31 - the trench is filled down to the pole. AEP will inspect all this before reconnecting power at the pole.

Oct 31 - roof drain excavation has begun! Rick and Jeremy are watching closely for the point at which the existing drain tile is exposed.

That's the existing drain tile. New drains will connect to the horizontal portion of this run (which is further underground).

An ornamental crab tree by the corner of the house was removed at the start of the remodel. Some of its still-underground roots seem almost as large as its trunk.

Mike's ubiquitous cup of coffee

Oct 31 - the drain trench has been dug partway from northwest corner to family room. Here a branch is dug to connect the next downspout.

Mike picks PVC sections from the load delivered two days ago

PVC sections on their way to being laid

Cutting PVC to length

Cutting PVC to length

Applying PVC cement

Applying PVC cement

Tapping the drain into alignment

Double-checking the trench's slope

Oct 31 - beginning the drain trench by the back porch. The dual sump pump drains will be tied into this section.

Depth gauge remote

Depth gauge master control & laser

Carefully reaching on the back-porch side of the temporary drain line

The temporary drain line has been separated

The expanded south side of the house is a larger area to drain, so this downspout was added to an existing gutter run to share the extra load. The 'spout is already connected to its portion of the new drain and the trench has been backfilled with leftover gravel.

Oct 31 - the upper end of the new gutter-and-downspout system. From the downspout at right, the drain runs south a few feet past the sidewalk, turns west to pick up the sump pump drains by the back porch, then turns south again to go around the family room.

Oct 31 - the sump pump drains are now neatly shortened and head straight down after exiting the house

Oct 31 - Brian scrapes off leftover sand (from the stone mortar) and begins to smooth out the much-squished ground next to the driveway

A load of sand and soil en route to be dumped

Skid loaders are soooo handy

Oct 31 - all the roof drain trenches have been filled. Mike is about to begin some rough grading between family room and master bedroom.

Oct 31 - this area's grade built up considerably due to the various excavation activities over the last three months. Mike pries up the packed earth to loosen it for removal.

Oct 31 - Brian does rough leveling on the way to fill each shovelful

There's still quite a bit to remove -- enough to make a new temporary dirt pile

Oct 31 - rough-rough grading is complete. The ground level between master bedroom and family room has been lowered to accommodate the patio foundation.

Oct 31 - check it out: no more sump pump drain hose...no more swamp!

Backing the excavator onto the trailer. A Turkey Vulture just happened to be landing on the neighbors' utility pole.

The Egers' toys are ready to head home

Oct 31 - the auxiliary furnace runs are now built

Oct 31 - auxiliary furnace runs, wide-angle view

Oct 31 - auxiliary furnace runs extending into existing basement and crawlspaces. All the old well and water-softener plumbing have been removed from the well bay at right.

Oct 31 - this former window-well opening in the existing foundation was recently lowered one block row to provide easier access to the new crawlspace

Oct 28 & 31 - HVAC rough and framing are conditionally approved and roof drains are approved. On to insulation!