August 11, 2006

August dawned bright and clear -- better yet, it dawned DRY. With just a little backsliding from the weather gods, we managed to get this here shiny new basement constructed. Kevan was Designated Painter. First, we let him play with a garden sprayer and apply Radonseal to the entire outside. There was still some playfulness left in him, so we handed him a bucket of foundation sealer and a roller, and he went to town with the results shown here.




This is deep scary silty mud down the very narrow gap that was all the space Kevan had to work in. This will make a lot of you feel better when you can say "Huh! At least ours isn't THAT bad!!" Keep that phrase handy; you might get to use it more than once before we're finished.















Kevan's clever use of available tools to construct a Bridge to Nowhere, working dangerously over the roiling mud, so near mortal peril.












Perimeter drain, descending into Hell Hole.














Inside perimeter drain, just in case.














Essential tools for the Home Handy Man. I told Kevan he could buy whatever he needed to get the job done. I hadn't realized Volvo made excavators when he said "I'll need a Volvo.."




(With thanks to C.F. Barker of Stoneham, ME for dressing up our site, not to mention the excellent service.)




Outlet for perimeter drains. A busy inlet for the pond-to-be. Send ducks.













Now THAT's a basement! Dimensions, 16x40x8', with walk-out door and a window. Negotiations for space therein have begun in earnest.

Kevan says "negotiations for space were finished months ago and there will be no further talks."

He says.

On a serious note, we hope the long thin nature of this kit will be less apparent from the inside when the stairs, in the middle throughout the house, break up the view from one end to the other.


Kevan's going to push me to give you a weekly update, so keep a watch out. Feel free to respond with questions - I'll post comments, but for those who need details, we'll email you.