We are GO for launch!

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!!

 

What a long strange summer it's been....I haven't posted since June because, frankly, there was nothing to say while things ran the gauntlet of permit approval.  We got a VERY particular plan reviewer who provided comments and set expectations for additional information back in June.  It took 2 months to prepare the response - meeting their requirements involved special inspections arranged in North Carolina where they had to take some of the manufactured panels out of the storage truck to validate, of all things, nail sheathing.  The first of many inspections to come but fortunately a great team of professionals leaned in, problem solved and got it done.

The building permit was approved on August 30, exactly 8 months from the day we filed the application, and we will start excavating this week!

By way of update, we didn't sit idly by all summer, so let me regale you with what has been done to prepare for the tasks ahead - I didn't want to post about too much of it, waiting for the permit to clear before elaborating on the site prep we went ahead with.

So...thus far, we have trenched (both by hand and equipment) the water line from the water tank down to the house site - which required running the line under two driveways, one unpaved, one paved.  Now have water available there for the site work that will ensue.  We also put in a french drain to move water away from the house site as there is a natural flow of water under this hill that needs mitigating.

A glimpse of the digging from the tank

 The trench down to the site

The other projects we have completed (at least we've taken them as far as they can go before PG&E gets in the mix) is to install the power pole that will be the location of the meter and panel and we trenched conduit down to the house site also - it's ready to go when PG&E activates the power, which should be within the month as I have already qualified for express activation.  We shall see!  It was wild to watch these guys work....as you can tell, I'm geeking out over all of it!  Check out this process of drilling, installing and setting the attachments for PG&E:

 

And, the electric trench and conduit are in - ran that line on the other side of the oak tree...requires not only digging but filling with layers of rock and sand.  

SO...we are READY!

This Thursday and Friday (9/14-15) we will begin to excavate the footings for the foundation and compress the soil for the slab.   Next Monday, the concrete/foundation dude, Steve, will start measuring and laying out the form boards and off we go.

I'm meeting with my contractor on Friday now that we have approved and stamped plans to work with to set the go forward plan so as to reasonably estimate when we can send for the shell.  

It feels great to move from the waiting lane to the doing lane...and I know more waiting will come but really happy to enter this phase!