Ready to Set Blocks

We had Monday (Independence Day) off, followed by a couple of rainy days. That slowed things a bit on Tuesday and Bert didn't come to the site on Wednesday. However, I'll update on what has been accomplished.

On Sunday, Grandma Louise made a visit and got to see the project first hand. She gets some updates by hearing about it on phone calls and has seen the blog, but the in-person site visit was good.

Joel, Laura, and I spent a lot of July 4 holiday working at the former house site. The foundation has to be down below the soil line and the steps needed to be taken down prior to the excavation company filling the hole and smoothing it over. While they were knocking down the remains of the foundation, I salvaged a few more bricks, some brick landscape edging, and several clumps of daylilies. Prior to the move, we had dug hydrangeas, hostas, a peony, and columbine. They are all temporarily living at my house until they move to the 501 site.

Tuesday, Bert picked up the concrete blocks, sand, and mortar mix that he'll need to finish the foundation. Then he got everything ready to go for setting the blocks. It rained Tuesday night, so no work took place on Wednesday. Tomorrow should be good and we'll be moving forward again.

Sunday

Grandma makes a visit.

Monday

Back at the house's original site, the foundation has to be knocked down to below ground level. 

Rubble in the basement.

Tuesday

 At the new site, concrete blocks and mortar mix are ready.

 The new foundation will be four rows of split-face blocks. The block on the bottom left is what will show on the outside.

Ready to go. Blocks are lined up along the foundation, mixer is ready. Now we just need nice weather.

Bert lifted the house to make it level and about 2 inches higher than it will be when the blocks are laid. The distance between the sill of the house and the top of the poured walls is about 36 inches.