After much preliminary work, Block 1 Section 37 Crace has undergone the first major procedure in its transformation from bare dirt to home. Although I have been negligent in updating progress, Tony has been busy making it. The past four days have seen an initial survey completed, bulk excavation and house pad cut, a further survey to identifed and mark out exertior house footings, and further detailed footing excavation. Leaving, as of the 27th October 2011, an impressive footprint in the clay.
Sunday 23rd October was the start of the transformation. Meeting the surveyor on site, a reference site was pinned, utilising several (5) check pointsaround the site and a Trig point - not sure which hill it is but useful nonetheless. Once the reference point was accuratley pinned, three (3) pegs where set out around the block. Two of these where set along the southern, high, side of the block and marked the start of the cut along the easement. Intially it was the location that was identified and once a peg was hammered in to the ground, a high measurement was taken. The peg was then marked - "cut", "how much" (mm from top of peg), "Height" (m at top of peg).
Monday 24th October - Excavator on site early to make this first cut. Beginning at the top pegs, 300mm was cut and subsequntly placed further down the slope. Although the site has a reasonable slope - fall from top to bottom of about 1500mm, the cut and fill only cvered 2/3 of the block. This means a considerable amount of dirt will be requried down the track. ON a positive note, less digging required for the footings where fill was not placed. Although visibly not much, a significant day in the race - a blank canvas.
Wednesday 26th October - After significant rain on Tuesday, Ian was able to attend site on Wednesday and perform one of the most critical tasks in the build. And, like the finest investigator, not a corner nor its height, was left unmeasured, recorded and marked. Although wishing to have seen and recorded the master craftsmenship, the care and precision will no doubt prove to have got the house off on the right foot.
Thursday 27th October - Wow!! a house in the dirt - and a significant one at that. The excavator was hard at it today and the results speak for themselves. The outside footings have been cut with the required piers cored into the clay along the easement side of the house. The initial bulk cut was not deep enough in places and therfore requried the footings to be cut the equivalent error deeper. An impressive site that has certainly begun to bring a sense of reality to the build even if the house is only in its embryonic stage.
