Oct 6 - today both stone water table and siding are to be installed
Oct 6 - putting in the metal strip that will form the lower edge of the stone
Oct 6 - putting up weep screed
Oct 6 - mortar going up to make a base for the stone
Laborers hand mortar to masons one trowelful at a time. In this case the mason is Bobby Nothstine, boss to all the stone crew.
Oct 6 - putting trim around the east family room windows
The stone work area
Detail - corner pieces of stone
Stone detail with reference lines. The stones go up according to their position in the design.
Stone placements look rather random at first, but they're all part of the layout in Bobby's head
Another piece of stone is ready to go up
It's amazing how the pieces all end up fitting in
Cutting stones to fit
Stone saw
Cut stones
The sand pile
Oct 6 - the east wall is almost done
Oct 6 - the "wall" stone is mostly in place. Water table "sill" stones will go up next, across the top. The big block is for the electric meter.
Oct 6 - the first "sill" has been placed by the back door, at left. The stone layout blended nicely around the concrete doorsill under the now-gone porch door (center, under the large window).
Detail of a sill. Note the piece of scrap holding it level while the mortar sets.
Oct 7 - mortar underneath stones has set overnight. Today mortar goes in between stones. It's applied from a big tube much like a cake decorator's sleeve.
Squeezing mortar under a sill stone
Oct 7 - mortar is now between all stones and needs a finishing touch to remove the excess. This particular technique is called scratch-glove, and was chosen to match the existing water table.
Oct 7 - brushing off excess mortar after the scratch-glove pass
More scratch-glove work
Oct 6 - putting up the siding trim
Oct 6 - siding trim
Oct 7 - measuring to fit siding around the block for hose bib and patio gas line
The saw used to cut the concrete-based siding
Siding saw detail
Oct 7 - siding
Oct 7 - siding and stone
Oct 7 - siding and stone at end of day
Oct 7 - siding is now complete on this side. Note the four sample exterior colors at left of back door. Also note that the new exterior crown mould perfectly matches the old.
Oct 7 - four sample exterior colors on front porch paneling. Jeremy made two trips to Creative Paints and painted patches in several different locations. The finalist color is halfway between the two darkest tones.
Oct 6 - electric meter innards
Oct 6 - Jason cutting sheet metal for HVAC ducts
Oct 6 - cold air return in family room
Oct 6 - cold air return port in family room
