It's been a few weeks since I have written about our progress. It was hard to keep writing when we were so stuck.
We have worked out our engineering problem but it isn't official yet until contracts are signed. We are STILL waiting to get formal proposals to sign. We are hiring two engineering firms! They are willing to work together to engineer the house. Imagine that....professionals cooperating and willing to learn from each other! I talked to more than one engineer that would "never use someone else's work". We are hiring one that is experienced in dome engineering (but not licensed in our state) to engineer the dome superstructure and then teach a firm licensed in CT how it all works. The second firm is licensed in CT and will need to learn from the first so it can take responsibility for all of it and be the "engineer of record". This CT firm will also engineer the basement and floor. We did end up choosing the company in CT that showed interest and initiative in the project even though it may not be the cheapest route. We have a range of how much this phase is going to cost us because it is so unfamiliar to the engineering firm that needs to take responsibility. It also seems like the contracts are more complicated to write since each firm needs to put in writing what they are responsible for in the plans. I will name firm names once we have officially signed proposals. They definitely need to be recognized for their willingness to learn new things, have an open mind and work together!
While we have been waiting for both engineers to have time for us we have been clearing trees. Our lot is mostly open where we are putting the house but there were 27 trees that needed to go. Many were very large hardwoods. One was a monster oak tree somewhere between 3.5ft-4ft in diameter at the base. It took us 2 full weekends and a week of evenings wrestling large logs and branches. Despite the poison ivy, cold rainy weather and ticks we got them all down, cut in lengths, stacked and all the branches burned. We had some impressive bonfires and we now have an even more impressive pile of fire wood.
The surveyor has set a date with the health department to redo the soil tests for the new septic location. Our date is May 25th. Between now and then we need to figure out how we are digging the holes for them.
Option #1- Let the surveyor hire someone to bring over a backhoe to dig 2 holes ~$500
Option #2- Rent an backhoe for a week and get some other digging done ~$2k
Option #3- Buy a 16 ton excavator from Mr. Dometastic's friend's uncle and dig everything we need for the whole project ourselves! Down side is it is a late 1970's behemoth. It has a 6 yr old rebuilt engine but will most likely need maintenance during the build and will use a lot of diesel. ~$5k (it is worth ~$3k as scrap but needs a full semi to transport it and you can't drive it over any paved ground without breaking the road)
Mr. Dometastic goes this week to check out the excavator. Everyone should place their bets on the outcome!
We have worked out our engineering problem but it isn't official yet until contracts are signed. We are STILL waiting to get formal proposals to sign. We are hiring two engineering firms! They are willing to work together to engineer the house. Imagine that....professionals cooperating and willing to learn from each other! I talked to more than one engineer that would "never use someone else's work". We are hiring one that is experienced in dome engineering (but not licensed in our state) to engineer the dome superstructure and then teach a firm licensed in CT how it all works. The second firm is licensed in CT and will need to learn from the first so it can take responsibility for all of it and be the "engineer of record". This CT firm will also engineer the basement and floor. We did end up choosing the company in CT that showed interest and initiative in the project even though it may not be the cheapest route. We have a range of how much this phase is going to cost us because it is so unfamiliar to the engineering firm that needs to take responsibility. It also seems like the contracts are more complicated to write since each firm needs to put in writing what they are responsible for in the plans. I will name firm names once we have officially signed proposals. They definitely need to be recognized for their willingness to learn new things, have an open mind and work together!
While we have been waiting for both engineers to have time for us we have been clearing trees. Our lot is mostly open where we are putting the house but there were 27 trees that needed to go. Many were very large hardwoods. One was a monster oak tree somewhere between 3.5ft-4ft in diameter at the base. It took us 2 full weekends and a week of evenings wrestling large logs and branches. Despite the poison ivy, cold rainy weather and ticks we got them all down, cut in lengths, stacked and all the branches burned. We had some impressive bonfires and we now have an even more impressive pile of fire wood.
The surveyor has set a date with the health department to redo the soil tests for the new septic location. Our date is May 25th. Between now and then we need to figure out how we are digging the holes for them.
Option #1- Let the surveyor hire someone to bring over a backhoe to dig 2 holes ~$500
Option #2- Rent an backhoe for a week and get some other digging done ~$2k
Option #3- Buy a 16 ton excavator from Mr. Dometastic's friend's uncle and dig everything we need for the whole project ourselves! Down side is it is a late 1970's behemoth. It has a 6 yr old rebuilt engine but will most likely need maintenance during the build and will use a lot of diesel. ~$5k (it is worth ~$3k as scrap but needs a full semi to transport it and you can't drive it over any paved ground without breaking the road)
Mr. Dometastic goes this week to check out the excavator. Everyone should place their bets on the outcome!
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