Joe vs. Red Alder

Here's Joe

taking down a 50ft Alder.

Check out the textbook

wedge cut,

and 'run for your life' technique.

Excavation

Excavation!

This is the start of a temporary road

which will allow

well drilling rigs

to drive down the hill.

We will need to strike water

before the construction loan

can finalize.

The site looks very different

already.

Here's the drill rigs in position.
The well sub-contractor went down 242 feet

to find an aquifer that meets the required

flow rate.

10gpm (gallons per minute) is average

for city water - we will be at around

12gpm - all good!

40 foot tall - impressive.

Still amazed that there is water

flowing underground that we can tap into.

Found this image that illustrates the concept.

Glad we hired this "dowsing" professional

to help us strike water.

Timber

"Felled" about 25 trees

mostly Red Alder

from 4" to 14" diameter

Much thanks to Joey B. who helped

all day Saturday

and took some great high speed shots.

I watched

"how to cut a tree down safely"

the night before

on the web.

Which came in handy -

Only a few trees veered off course

and smashed the construction fence.

We decided to leave the larger trees

for the pros.

The Permit

The building permit came through!

After a 4+ month battle with the City

It's a go....Now we can build.

The House

Here's the front elevation

.

working on colors/finishes now

.

Entrance is on the upper floor

accessible from the street

with a footbridge

.