Preparing for winter.

Back filled next to the garage pad and relaid the side walk stones.


















Front steps are now in place and the front door has been painted to match.


















Back deck material has arrived but they failed to send along anchor clips. Deck top installation has been delayed until they arrive, Monday/Tuesday. We hope to finish the deck by the end of the week.

Parking pad - check

We have completed the parking pad in front of the garage. Kathleen can now wash her car on dry ground.




































Built the front steps, one more coat of paint and they are ready to be installed.

Deckers

Deck being built.



















We installed 3/4 inch spruce plywood over the 2x10 floor joists. The floor joists were installed with a 2 inch slope so that we obtained good drainage.

















































Applied roof membrane to the top of the plywood.
This method will make the area below totally waterproof. On top of this membrane we will install composite decking. Composite decking does not require refinishing which this south facing deck will require. I will install it on pressure treated sleepers which will allow space for water to run off the deck/roof.

In Case The Weather Ever Smartens Up...

Last Wednesday, the Air Conditioner was installed. Of course, we haven't had any warm weather to try it out and this will likely be the cause of an early winter. Oh well, maybe someday we'll hear it humming away.










Bob and Allan joined us for the weekend and there were great plans afoot to get the deck built. Alas, as usual, it rained so much on Thursday that the back still wasn't dry enough to get started until late Sunday. At least they managed to get the posts set. It really irks when you can't work the volunteer labour into the ground. Better luck next time.

Nothing Like Three Projects On The Go At The Same Time

Now that the floor in the garage is done, Jim is starting to get the driveway ready for its cement. There is a fairly significant drop-off on one side that will require a retaining wall before any more cement can be poured plus gravel, sand and re-bar must be positioned.









Meanwhile, the deck material was brought around to the back and the handy-dandy scaffolding has been assembled so that the deck construction can begin.













And the area has been graveled ready to take the air conditioner when it arrives.

Concrete, Beautiful Concrete

Bright and early on Friday morning, John from Hay Lakes Concrete, started working on our garage floor. By the end of the day, he had finished with the floor, the pad that will hold the front steps and the three piles required for the back deck construction. THANK YOU, JOHN!!!

He toughed it out on a very hot day with swarms of mosquitoes to fight off. This should put a stop to all the sand getting tracked into the house.

Jim-Bob, Is That You?

Yes, Jim is in his glory in the neighbours Bobcat. Finally, it is dry enough to fill in the hole holding the sonotubes (and corresponding big foot forms) that will form the foundation of the back deck.






No more grave-like structure at the back of the house.






When he was done with that chore, Jim came in and began assembling the raised "bar" that will finish off the kitchen counter. Jim the drywall mudder must return before the unit is finished.