Trees and Foundation

Big tree that was removed

            After we bought our lot last spring, we've been working on getting our house plans exactly the way we want and the way the house will work with the lake and the shape of the lot. We found our builder and began the paperwork to secure a construction loan and then a mortgage loan when the house is complete.

            With all that in place, we’re moving on with building a house. We began mid-March in getting our lot ready by working with our builder to decide which trees need to come down to allow room for the house. I might pause to say, it was tough to mark many pretty trees and know they had to come down.

Trenches and rebar

One afternoon we met with friends on our property and blessed the land and thanked the trees before their removal. There was a peace in this process before the excavators arrived. In the midst of trees coming down we decided to keep quite a bit of the trees for firewood. There was one large beautiful tree that we reluctantly gave up but we've kept part of its trunk to make it into outside benches and possibly a table top.

House foundation

            We love nature and wanted to preserve as much of it as possible. Trying to stay environmentally friendly and to work for high energy efficiency are concepts we have researched and believe to be part of the integrity we wanted in the construction of our house. With all that said, it also had to be affordable. We worked with our builder, Blue Moon Bay, who also shares our concern for the trees and for high energy efficiency.

            So, after the trees came down the lot was cleared and the subcontractor began with foundation work. Trenches were dug and rebar was laid in the trenches before concrete was poured.

Garage Foundation

Interior piers

Months ago we learned we had to elevate our foundation five feet so our house would be out of the flood plain. So, five feet of foundation around the perimeter of the house and front porch along with interior piers was laid with split-face 12 inch-blocks reinforced with steel rebar and poured solid with concrete. We have a detached garage with the concrete floor poured along with our front porch.

            We’re so excited about our progress so far. We've had a few rainy days, but construction is moving along well. Please give us a call if you have questions about our construction at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310.