Anniversary

As we approached the end of September, we dreamily clinked our beers together over dinner as we realized we had reached our one year anniversary since moving back to Montana.  I was raised in Columbia Falls, and met Tanner in Whitefish in 2006.  We briefly left our beloved mountains to nurture Tanner's career in the Midwest.  After a couple of short years, we happily returned to our mountains of Montana, with the bittersweet sting of missing our great friends back in Wisconsin.

As our anniversary passed with little fanfare given to that particular milestone, we cruised passed some big accomplishments on our house. Our dear friend, Mark, helped to advise and teach Tanner how best to do our plumbing and drainage for the house.  After much digging, and placement, it's looking good.

Panels were dug out to hold more concrete in-slab for post support

Buddy, wishing we would bag it and play ball with him.

Gravel truck, shooting gravel into our house

 Once all the plumbing was set, and Tanner had all of the slab preparations ready, we had Montana CAD come bring gravel to fill for our foundation layer in the house.  Two loads of big rock, followed by a load of pea-gravel.  All of which needed to be leveled out to a depth to accommodate an insulation layer, and then concrete slab.

Giant truck, operated by this guy, via remote control.  Amazingly, he can operate the entire truck from his belt remote control.

 Adding pea-gravel to the foundation layer

www.montanacad.com
 Needless to say, this truck, and the service it provided, was super cool.  It was worth the investment to have the gravel delivered this way, as Tanner and I could then continue with leveling out the gravel ourselves, rather than needing more machinery to move the gravel.  Unfortunately, over-estimations caused us to need to haul gravel out of the slab area, in order for the gravel to be at the correct level within the house.

digging the gravel down to the proper level

Left of the orange line=level.  Right of the orange line= lots to haul away.

 Tanner and I, once again proved that we can make a great team; once I got over being crabby about having way too much gravel.  When I completed my first section of leveling gravel, Tanner enthusiastically claimed that I was good at it, and hence my job was established.  Tanner continued shoveling away excess gravel, as I raked, leveled and smoothed out gravel to the appropriate level for our slab.

All level, with our notches for support posts

Day two, gravel leveling.  Once we were level, we crossed our fingers that the insulation crew could arrive the same day.  Winter weather was threatening to arrive, and if we missed our window of opportunity, we could be delayed for a few days, as the insulation needs to be applied to a dry surface.  We decided to go with spray insulation foam, which is sprayed with what looks like an airbrush sprayer.  The spray foam cures in a matter of a few minutes, and is waterproof and sturdy enough to walk on. 

It doesn't look like rain...

The professionals used their laser level on our gravel layer, and we nailed it! 

 Sure enough, as soon as our insulation team was finishing up, along came rain.  Thankfully it only sprinkled as they were getting tools put away, and Tanner and I scrambled to get tarps on piles of insulation, firewood, kindling, and various tools.  After a month of no precipitation, we were happy to see the rain, but also so relieved to have the insulation sprayed before more severe weather hit.  Apparently, the insulation barrier sprayed will lie just below our concrete slab to the house, in the meantime will hold water just like a swimming pool.  Here's to hoping we won't have our own little redneck jacuzzi in our soon-to-be slab.
Cheers!