House Building Journal -Part 9

Walls and floors are emerging from the cellar hole that was once a pile of rocks. The basement interior walls are studded in and the staircase to the main level is taking shape. Frits, the master stair builder, is creating a winding staircase around a center concrete core above which will soar an open light shaft. Hard to imagine? For me, it is impossible to get my head around the construction of such a complicated piece of architecture but I know the end result is going to be fantastic! Frits is not normally this well dressed for work but he had to take one last look before we headed off to a wedding.

 

To form the circular header that supports the cupola, many thin layers of wood must be bent around a form, each epoxied to the one before. This must be done before too many walls have been constructed, for obvious reasons. Positioning it overhead and then building walls to support it will be a challenge. Our team of framers is strong but not very tall. If one stands on another's shoulders they may equal Frits' height. This could prove to be problematic. Fortunately I will probably not be around to watch.

The time for ordering of windows and doors is coming up fast. One thing I learned recently is that the doors with the button type locking systems will not be going in our house!

Very recently I was showing a house in a fairly remote location. I entered with my key through a side door and opened the front door from the inside. After touring the house, my customers exited through the front door and I stepped out with them to say goodbye. The door closed behind me and yes, I was locked out! It gets worse. All good Realtors leave their shoes at the door and mine were carefully tucked inside the side door and I was barefoot. Also inside were the keys, my purse and my cell phone. I couldn't even call for help.

The house was built into the hillside with a large deck on the downhill side. I knew the sliders onto the deck were open but the deck rail was a good 12 feet off the ground and if there was a ladder around it was locked in the garage or toolshed. To make matters worse the driveway surface was made up of sharp stones almost impossible to walk on without shoes. Not knowing how I was going to get myself out of this pickle I sat on the grass with Lily, my Yorkie, in despair. Within minutes a truck came into view. Seeing a woman of considerable years hobbling barefoot down the driveway, waving frantically and yelling, was enough to get the driver to stop. He and his passenger were workmen in the area and quickly offered to go in search of a ladder. In no time I had scampered up that ladder, climbed over the rail and I was in! And so very thankful to those two nice men who had the good manners not to laugh and also wouldn't take payment.