This is a recap post of the last 2 months of many started but incomplete projects. We initially kept motivated with the cold weather and hoped to at least finish a few projects before it got too cold and snowy. The key word is HOPED and it seemed reasonable to think we could finish. But that didn't happen. We started several projects only to be delayed or stopped by one thing or another.
First, we STARTED to connect the conduit from the power trench to the exterior of the barn foundation. We made a mistake with the trench that has caused some serious frustration and delay. We were told that the trench could have a gentle curve to it coming off the barn and then run straight to the road. While this is true, we should have just made a straight run. It is incredibly frustrating to connect the conduit in the curved area. They are moderately easy to bend when you use some sort of lever against them BUT solidly connecting them together, while bending them, with 30 seconds before the glue hardens is an exercise in marriage strength. We spent way too long at the bottom of the cold wet trench with Mr. Dometastic yelling "PUSH and TWIST! WHY AREN'T YOU PUSHING?!" Did we get them connected? Nope! We decided to special order conduit sweeps to make the bend. We received them but it took 3 weeks and by then this happened.
The second project we started but had to give up on was the installation of the automatic livestock waterer. We decided we could at least get the cement culvert placed in its spot and the rough plumbing and power conduit placed. Below is an example picture of one installed in a field. Ours will be installed in the barn. It is a cement culvert with the waterer set in the bell end. The power and water lines run down to below the frost line in the tube with insulation.
We measured the depth and it was going to be too high because the cement contractor put a footing where he wasn't supposed to. See this post of our horrible cement contractor experience!
We had planned to just dig a bit more if we needed it lower. Now we are forced to cut the cement culvert. Mr. Dometastic first thought if we just scored a line around the end we could break it off. After spending way too much time trying to score a line he went out and bought a tile blade for his circular saw. It struggled a bit but it was still way easier than chipping a line in the cement.
We spent several weekends starting projects only to be delayed by something small and frustrating. Every time we got stuck with a project Mr. Dometastic would drive the skid steer around and backfill the foundation a bit more.
Unfortunately, even that became pointless. We had some high 30's rainy weather and he was just making mud pies on a very large scale. Don't get me wrong.... he was very much enjoying himself but it wasn't very productive either. Tracked vehicle + Mud = FUN! Fun as it may be, driving a heavy skid steer back and forth over very wet dirt is not the best way to landscape.
Now we are just waiting for spring again. January and February in Connecticut are not outdoor friendly in my opinion. At the end of February or early March we will start back up again.
First, we STARTED to connect the conduit from the power trench to the exterior of the barn foundation. We made a mistake with the trench that has caused some serious frustration and delay. We were told that the trench could have a gentle curve to it coming off the barn and then run straight to the road. While this is true, we should have just made a straight run. It is incredibly frustrating to connect the conduit in the curved area. They are moderately easy to bend when you use some sort of lever against them BUT solidly connecting them together, while bending them, with 30 seconds before the glue hardens is an exercise in marriage strength. We spent way too long at the bottom of the cold wet trench with Mr. Dometastic yelling "PUSH and TWIST! WHY AREN'T YOU PUSHING?!" Did we get them connected? Nope! We decided to special order conduit sweeps to make the bend. We received them but it took 3 weeks and by then this happened.
The second project we started but had to give up on was the installation of the automatic livestock waterer. We decided we could at least get the cement culvert placed in its spot and the rough plumbing and power conduit placed. Below is an example picture of one installed in a field. Ours will be installed in the barn. It is a cement culvert with the waterer set in the bell end. The power and water lines run down to below the frost line in the tube with insulation.
We measured the depth and it was going to be too high because the cement contractor put a footing where he wasn't supposed to. See this post of our horrible cement contractor experience!
We had planned to just dig a bit more if we needed it lower. Now we are forced to cut the cement culvert. Mr. Dometastic first thought if we just scored a line around the end we could break it off. After spending way too much time trying to score a line he went out and bought a tile blade for his circular saw. It struggled a bit but it was still way easier than chipping a line in the cement.
We unfortunately never got to set it in place because our geriatric excavator clearly doesn't like cold weather. Yet another store trip to get starting fluid was needed. We did get the rough water lines in but without the culvert in place we can't do much with it. The frost free hydrant took several weeks to arrive and it was the wrong one! We ordered one that would put the hydrant 3 feet above the ground and they sent us one that would put it 7 ft above! We returned that one and had them reorder. Hopefully they get it right this time. We are still waiting for it to come so we are delayed yet again.
We spent several weekends starting projects only to be delayed by something small and frustrating. Every time we got stuck with a project Mr. Dometastic would drive the skid steer around and backfill the foundation a bit more.
Unfortunately, even that became pointless. We had some high 30's rainy weather and he was just making mud pies on a very large scale. Don't get me wrong.... he was very much enjoying himself but it wasn't very productive either. Tracked vehicle + Mud = FUN! Fun as it may be, driving a heavy skid steer back and forth over very wet dirt is not the best way to landscape.
Now we are just waiting for spring again. January and February in Connecticut are not outdoor friendly in my opinion. At the end of February or early March we will start back up again.
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