Day 53 - SIPs

Yesterday and today we installed a total of 15 SIP panels.  So far it is going pretty smoothly with 3 people. Today it was Dad, Briana and me.  I think it would be doable with 2 people.  The skytrak makes things much easier.  We figured out that we can drill a hole in the panel and put a chain through to pick up the panels with the skytrak, then put the panel in place.  Level, square, nail and screw.  Once we figured out the process it went pretty quickly.

More to come.  Come back and check out our progress frequently.  If anyone is really interested in helping or seeing how these SIPs work, speak up now because it is moving pretty fast.

Pictures:

delivery day

First of all, a huge thank you to Tony Belmont and Step Morgan. Without their help yesterday, none of this would have been possible. Thank you!
I arrived at the site yesterday with a 18 wheeler with curtained side wall right in front.

I knew right away something wasn't quite right before I got there. It turned out that the SkyTrac "arms" weren't long enough for the 8' panels. They were only 4' long. The rental company had ordered the arm extensions the day before and they didn't have them available. So, with some wrangling and lots of straps, they very carefully unloaded the panels.

I'm pretty sure I didn't breathe until the first set of panels had been set down. I realized, for my sanity and blood pressure, that I couldn't watch. I was a nervous wreck. It took 1.5 hours to unload and about three hours to sort and organize them. Garage panels on the garage slab, upstairs panels are on the back patio, first floor panels are scattered around waiting to be put up. All the panels are numbered and they correspond to the plans. Basically, a giant puzzle.

If you'd like to help out or get a better idea about SIPs, let me know and I'll give you the information to our site. We will be out there this weekend, July 30-31.

on the truck

There is excitement in the air today, our SIP wall panels are on the truck and will be delivered this afternoon. The skytrack has been delivered this morning and we've got two septic people coming out, as well. A busy day, indeed. Of course, I decided to stay at the shop and make a batch of soap. Now I'm waiting for the temperature of the lye to go down so I can finish up here. I'm so excited, I can't wait to go out and see all 89 (!) panels!

Day 46 - Sole plates.....

DONE!  Ready for SIPs to arrive.

A

Getting ready.....

The SIPs will be here Wednesday around 1pm.  I have reserved a SkyTrak to be delivered Wednesday by 10am.  That will give me time to, first, learn how to operate this machine and second, move the lumber around that is currently there.  This is when things start getting very busy.  We will have as much work as we can handle.

The last few work days have been used installing the sole plates.  This morning I got almost all of them bolted down around the house before I ran out of washers and nuts.  I'll finish that up this evening and get starting doing the same thing on the garage/shop.

Day 39 - Lumber, etc.

No pictures this time, but we have been working on cutting and intalling j-bolts, sole(sill,base) plates.  It's been very hot, so we have been going out for a few hours in the morning and again in the evening.  I feel like we have gotten a lot accomplished, even though it doesn't really look like it.

More later!
A

Day 36 - All concrete is poured.....

The slab for the main part of the house was poured Tuesday morning!  That pretty much completes the foundation portion of this project.  We will start installing base plates this weekend and maybe even frame a couple of the interior walls.  Our SIP kit will start arriving at the end of next week, so exterior walls will start going up next weekend!  This is the part where B and I will do most of the labor ourselves.  We will require some extra muscle at times if anyone wants to come play.  Food and beverage will be provided on group friend/family work days.  We will announce work days soon.  We will also provide the menu for the day.  Stay tuned.....

A