Post #9: The Drains...Very Important

A few homeowners in the area have learned about the need for drains
the hard way...after the house was built.
Sometimes history doesn't have to repeat itself.

Holey Drains


















...and the exterior insulation is going up on the inside by design


















A slice of drain, foundation, and insulation


















View from the southeast


















Insulation, drains, foundation, as seen from the
SouthWest corner. Where's the dog?

Post #8: The Noble Home Assembly Book Arrives!

The Assembly Book Arrives!


















Step Number One!


















The Walls! Nice!


















The Roof! My favorite part of the Noble Home!

Post #7: The Second Pouring

We're starting to say "the studio is
over there" rather than "it's somewhere around here..."

Approaching the front door


















As seen from the southeast


















No, it's not a swimming pool for you, Ella.


















View from the South West corner


















The front door

Post #6: The First Pour

Cement and rods poking out as seen from the approach.





View from the North East.


















Bermed wall as seen from the NorthEast


















The big picture looking North


















View from the South West corner

Post #5: The First Dig

Dog tired, we approach the hole.


















CAT in the East


















House Hole


















Smell any oil down there?


















The Southwest Corner


















Columbia County Shale


















Monsters at day's end: Tired Hands and Tired Feet

Post #4: The Site Clearing

Looking North from the
soon-to-be bermed walls
Where am I?
After one day's work the site looked completely different
and the sun came streaming through the
woods along the existing driveway.





Looking south from the
soon-to-be leechfield









Dozers and Hoes in the living room









Pine piles near the driveway









Remains of a giant









Wood chips: Too bad you can't smell
this one

Post #3: Where Should We Put It?

First proposed site as seen
from the studio.
Zeroing in on the location:
The existing house was built on the top of one of the many round and gentle (who said "gentle"?) hills of Columbia County. Here's some history about this patch of land: Lincoln bought 30+ acres in 1978 from John Colbert. Colbert's family purchased the land in 1865 from Samuel Allis. The deal between Lincoln and Colbert was discussed and drawn up on Colbert's front porch: so much down, 6% interest, pay off in three years, payments made directly to John. The two gentlemen drew up the agreement together, signed it, and shook hands. Interesting how things have changed, ain't it? It's something to think about in these worrisome times when the deals we make get sold and passed around until we don't know who we're dealing with. There's something refreshing in hearing the story about business that's handled face to face, conscience to conscience.

Anyway, the winding driveway leading from the main road to the house is a half mile up. It's too interesting a drive in the winter, so we decided to place the new studio at a critical turn halfway up the drive. Noah and Gerry helped us with placement by considering sun, aesthetics, energy efficiency, and sound proofing. The predominance of shale forced us to push the studio location up the hill about 120 feet from the proposed site. Richie, the guy putting in the septic, drive, and foundation (and the the person who has spent many hours at the site) advised us to move back 50 more feet for many good reasons. The septic/leech field tested best in our original location for the building. I like the new location since the structure will be less conspicuous from the drive and will get even more eastern and southern sun.
Lessons learned: get input from all sources (face to face advice!)when determining location: the architect, the builder, the people who will be putting in the septic, well, foundation, friends-family-neighbors, the electric company and/or solar company, and shake up your own thoughts with these varying perpsectives. So far the person who has spent the most time at the site is Richie who is putting in the foundation, the drive, the well and the septic. He has been working everyday, seems without a break, from 7AM-4PM. Two weeks ago he proposed that we move the site even further back to catch more sun, gain more distance from the leech field, and have access to a better driveway approach. He was right. However, some perspectives will be less than objective: for example, parents who think your site should be closer to their house or your neighbors who think you should consider a permanent site in Brazil.
View to the house from the leech field









The leech field









Pink surveyor's flags mark out the new site which
has been pushed uphill... further south.
Driveway and leech field are now below.