After overcoming yet another hurdle (finding even more capital to pay for the foundation and labor ourselves) we were finally able to move forward and take the first step in building our home. Our misfit building crew included my dad, uncle, father in law, (husband on weekends), a master carpenter who is a family friend and my dad even recruited our new neighbor who happened to also be a master carpenter/cabinet maker.
It was thrilling to see progress. The thrill out weighed the extreme stress and anxiety. Excavation took a week. We breathed a huge sigh of relief that we didn't hit any ledge. You never know what you may find underground. Blasting ledge can get costly.
Before we we knew it the foundation footing, rebar and walls were poured and we could see the outline of our home. Within two weeks we had a fully completed and inspector approved foundation. Just in time for the holidays and the snowiest winter on record.
We knew it would be tough building through the winter but we weren't prepared for how much snow we would get in the month of February alone. My dad and his crew lost at least a month of framing progress between mid January on because they were shoveling more often than actually framing.
Progress had moved so quickly when we started and it was frustrating to see it slow down to almost a screeching halt. There are so many unknown's during building, weather one of the largest. Until your house is fully framed and "winterized" (roof, windows, and exterior doors are on) you are at the mercy of mother nature.
Living in New England most of our lives we were used to crazy weather. One day it may be 80 degrees and the next 30. There is a local saying "if you don't like the weather wait a few minutes" True New Englander's are the one you see wearing shorts and flip flops when it hits 50 degrees!
Not only was the winter snowy but it was bitterly cold. There were many weeks where my dad and the crew were working in below 0 degree temps. Covered from head to toe all you could see were their eyes. My dad borrowed a friends wood burning stove and dragged it into the now basement of our house. The stove served three purposes; it ensured that the foundation didn't crack, it kept at least one area of the house warm for the crew to take breaks and it was used as a stove to cook on. My father in law became the head chef and he cooked everything from pork chops to omelettes on that stove! It was clear from the beginning that our family was making this our home.
Framing dragged on and on and on. We thought it would never end! What was supposed to take a couple of months ended up taking 4.5 months! The second floor of our home consisted of engineered trusses. We had to spend an insane amount of money (out of pocket of course) to rent the largest crane I had ever seen. At the time we were very fortunate we were able to rent it. With all the snow every crane within 60 miles was booked for commercial roof snow removal.
To watch the crew work together to stabilize and nail on the trusses was amazing. The crew demonstrated great team work and focus. I was very proud! I am also happy no one was hurt. It's scary to watch your family members dangling 40 feet from the ground.
Once the trusses were on the real building happened. My dad and the crew framed 9 different pitches around the house. These pitches consisted of custom ski slopes that our new neighbor designed and crafted in his workshop. All this effort did not go unnoticed. Many people would drive by and stop and stare. My dad even had another builder come by and ask him how he built the pitches. To this day my dad will still drive all the way down the street so he can see every angle of the house when he leaves for the day!
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