ON SITE VISIT

Sailing vacation down in the US/BVI gave us the chance to stop by the site and review things with both Dan (contractor/neighbor) and Heidi (architect).  A few tweaks were made in a plan that seems to (finally) be settling.  Progress on forms for slab and back wall are slow but steady.  Dan is hoping to have the complete structure framed and closed up by the time he goes on vacation for  month or more beginning July 21.  I write this down to have a reference.

Welcoming Committee chair and co-chair Olive Oyl (Great Dane) and Eeyore (Bassette Hound) hold fort in the beach shack.

Forms for 12' concrete wall with rebar and plumbing almost all installed.  Front forms are next and then ready to pour.  Block out on back wall is for door outside from upstairs bathroom to outdoor shower.  Washer hook-up is below that.

Family reviews prints with Dan and Heidi.

Plan has kitchen/living/dining/bath/master bedroom downstairs and three small bedrooms and a bath upstairs.  Both showers are connected to bathrooms but outside to save space and take advantage of the climate.

STILL PREPPING FOR SLAB

Debating the height of the back wall (to be poured).  Growing the footprint 6 feet in the back has put us deeper into the bank (and closer to it) and what was going to work as an 8' back wall before is likely going to wind up at 12'.  Also looking at "battering" the wall- leaning it into the bank about 1.5" to try to balance the pressure of the bank.  Fortunately the earth is relatively stable there, sort of a shale-like ledge that can be broken but not prone to shifting.

While soils are stable, plans are not.  The change in size and shape of the footprint have caused much last minute adjustments and it appears we are almost completely abandoning the original plans for something that better fits the added space.  First floor is now the main living area and plumbing drains have been laid in... written in stone, as they say.  Second floor is still tbd.

2 tons of rebar coming over from St Thomas.

2 tons of rebar getting humped up the hill to site on Dan's Toyota truck.

Laying in the drains.

No more changes to drains.

PREPPING FOR A SLAB

Another week n the dirt... forming up to pour the slab and cistern cap.  We'll also be pouring a back wall.  Initially this was going to be but out of blocks on top of the slab but the success Dan had with the cistern pour has encouraged us to try the faster and more rugged option.  We have also grown the footprint from 24' deep to 30'.  The initial excavation created plenty of space and Dan was looking for more room for mechanicals- batteries, pumps, etc..  Growing the footprint seemed pretty straightforward and cost effective.  We are playing with different floor plans to best take advantage of the change.

Dan is also working with DPNR regarding best barge landing location.

Cistern capped and ready to pour.  There will be a 4" step down from the main building on to the porch (top of the cistern).

40' wide and 30' deep main cottage area will be built on a slab.

Trying to determine the height of the back (poured) wall.  8', 10', and 12' heights for reference.

We've created a flat lawn area to the east of the footpint.

BACK TO DIRT MOVING

The trac hoe arrived back on Lovango this morning to backfill the cistern and begin grading for the slab.  Dan also brought over the aerobic septic system that will be laid in place, as well.

The trac hoe and Dan's truck (R) loaded with the septic system arrive on Lovango this morning.

Trac hoe moving into position.

The cistern backfilled.

STRIPPING DOWN

After letting the concrete cure for a week the crew returned to pull the forms.  Dan was pleased with what he found.  The vibrating worked to settle everything tight so there were no honeycombs.  Once all forms are stripped, the inside of the cistern will be made water-tight with multiple coats of sealant.  The outside walls will also be sealed and drain pipe installed around the perimeter before we back-fill and grade for the slab that will connect the cistern to the rest of the cottage and cap it.  The aerobic septic system will also be installed at that point.   Prevailing winds from the east dictate placement on the west/downwind side.  Aerobic systems are efficient and compact and don't require leach fields.  The sterilized effluent is great for fertilizing gardens or crops.  We hope to grow great crops of dental floss.

The big reveal.  Pulling off the forms.

Inside the west cistern.  The reservoir is more than 8' deep which you can see bythe seam that was left at the top of the 8' forms.  Multiple coats of sealant will be applied before pouring the cop.

IF IT WERE EASY...

 ... everyone would be doing it.

There aren't many buildings on Lovango Cay and today helps explain why.  The logistics involved in getting concrete to the site were incredible.  Not to mention the forms!  Thanks to neighbor and contractor Dan Boyd for pulling it together so gracefully.

Showers in the morning were a nuisance but didn't slow the progress.  The texts started at 8:30 am with the photo below confirming the first concrete truck had made the beach.  By 2:00 pm the final text and a photo of the General packed up with the pumper and concrete trucks casting off from the beach, headed home to St Thomas.

Not sure how you pour the footings, floor, and walls in one session but that was the plan and it appears to have worked flawlessly.  Next steps once the walls cure and are stripped will be to back-fill the cistern and form the first floor slab including the cap for the cistern.  No word on timing... still basking in the glow of this progress after so long a wait.

On a side note- based on the evidence that we might actually have a place to visit someday, we've ordered the dinghy from Harald Tapp at  Offshore Marine, based in St. Thomas.  It's a 15' Walker Bay Generation 450 inflatable with 70 hp Yamaha that should show up in early April.  Though small, it's exceptionally seaworthy and Coast Guard certified to carry up to 8 people... about the same as the cottage.  Also, beginning April 1, we have secured rack space through Ben Beer at the aptly named East End Boat Services in Red Hook- a very convenient location on the east end of St Thomas, as close as possible to St John and Lovango, and right across from the only/biggest supermarket in Red Hook.

8:30 am - concrete truck is backed off the barge and on to the beach, ready to feed the pumper truck.

The barge backed to beach with concrete truck on the deck and the pipe up from the pumper truck.  Romans have nothing on Dan Boyd.

Finishing off the floor of the cistern which will hold over 20,000 gallons of rainwater captured from the roof in two compartments.  One hurricane season should fill this and provide more than enough water for a year (assuming cold Navy showers!).

Back wall filled (Capt. Phil's place in background).  Once forms are stripped, this wall will be back-filled and the first floor slab will cover the cistern and connect it to the area to the left.

Front wall filled.  This will be the forward edge of the downstairs deck/porch.

2:00 pm - pumper and concrete trucks packed up on the General and headed home to St. Thomas.

READY FOR THE FIRST POUR

The forms and pumper truck are ready for tomorrow's pour.

After more than six months of waiting for hurricanes, barge repairs and coast guard certifications we are ready to pour tomorrow morning- Monday, February 23.  If you look closely, above, the pumper truck has already been brought over to Lovango and parked on the beach to the left of the Love Shack.  The white hose is laid up up the hill to reach the formed cistern/foundation which is about halfway up the hillside.  Dan is looking to bring 5 concrete trucks over in two runs which will keep the barge light enough to ride right up to the beach (within reach of the pumper truck) and also give the concrete in the footers a chance to activate and set a bit before pouring the 9' walls on top of them.  It'll be a juggling act and interesting to see how it all plays out.  More tomorrow.

Pumper truck brought on to the beach today and ready for action tomorrow.