Just Placed An Offer for Land

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by emers382

Looking nice Robert, can hardly wait to come visit, won't even need directions, found you on Google Earth! That place up from you on the cul-de-sac looks pretty large too.

Adrian

Wow, that's scary Adrian. Maybe I'm too easy to find? [emoji23]

[Ron in BC]

Looking good, love seeing the construction details.

Ron

[rbryan4]

Another shot a bit closer.

[emers382]

Robert are you going to have big windows overlooking the creek/creekbed below you? You're so close to Canyon Lake. The couple we were beside (from MO) in the Rio Grande Valley three years ago loved camping at Canyon.

Adrian

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by emers382

Robert are you going to have big windows overlooking the creek/creekbed below you? You're so close to Canyon Lake. The couple we were beside (from MO) in the Rio Grande Valley three years ago loved camping at Canyon.

Adrian

Big ones, yes. 8 ft header height, and they will go almost to the floor. Here's a snip of the back wall to show you where. The master will also have three of them. The covered back patio will have the best view.

[emers382]

Looks great! Love that big covered patio. I wondered why the floor area looked so much bigger than 2500 sq feet in your photos, now I know why.

Adrian

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by emers382

Looks great! Love that big covered patio. I wondered why the floor area looked so much bigger than 2500 sq feet in your photos, now I know why.

Adrian

Yep, it's deceiving. The house is 2701SF, but the patio will be pretty big. 36 feet long and about 14 feet deep in the wider part. They're supposed to do some tile treatment on the patio with a couple of outdoor ceiling fans.

[rbryan4]

A few more photos close up, with the workers off today. They haven't finished tying the steel or inserting the standoffs, but it's getting there. You can also see some of the circular pillar forms at major intersections that will also be filled.

[Ron in BC]

Very interesting for me to see the evolution of slabs.

In the mid 50's, around here, a lot of subdivision housing was ranchers on a slab. The slab didn't have much of a perimeter footing and probably lacked any rebar. Lots of those houses still exist but I doubt that a single one of them has an unbroken and level slab. And they lacked any vapor barrier under them so rot in the bottom sill plate wasn't uncommon.

When I built my house much later I put in a perimeter that went much deeper, rebar and a central trench similar to yours that carried the load from the main load bearing wall.

But yours shows evolution in progress, a 3rd gen slab. Using sonotube at the trench intersections to create piers takes it to an even higher level.

Keep the build photos coming.

Ron

[Brian B-P]

This "slab" appears to be essentially a structural floor with beams and columns, supported by a gravel form which is left in place. Interesting.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

...yours shows evolution in progress, a 3rd gen slab. Using sonotube at the trench intersections to create piers takes it to an even higher level.

Yes, but the piers aren't very common. They are usually only seen in the higher end construction, or on sites with surface rock and considerable slope. None of the tract house builders do it that I'm aware of.

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

This "slab" appears to be essentially a structural floor with beams and columns, supported by a gravel form which is left in place. Interesting.

Yes, essentially it forms a sort of gridded box, with a smooth top, in this case supported by the bagged pilings and piers. "Slab" is a rather simplistic name.

[rbryan4]

Some nice drone shots today. They've added a few more inner forms for areas where the slab will change levels, and the pour should occur on Thursday.

[cpaharley2008]

Robert,
Are you taking these pictures or the builder, love the aerial views.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Robert,
Are you taking these pictures or the builder, love the aerial views.

They're mine, not the builder's. I think he's a bit busy for flying. I use a DJI Phantom 4 Pro. The videos are much nicer than the stills, but they're a bit large to share here.

[rbryan4]

We have a slab, finally. RV garage slab too.

[Greg A]

kewwlll!
You actually won't be long now once they are out of the ground like this.

[War Eagle]

Any mesquite on your new property? If so, you're likely to be even more popular come meat grilling/smoking season!

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Any mesquite on your new property? If so, you're likely to be even more popular come meat grilling/smoking season!

This area is mostly Live Oak, Post Oak, Spanish Oak, and the Cedar which I don't care for. There is a smattering of Mesquite, but generally Mesquite like to grow in the flatter areas, particularly as you head toward the valley or toward west Texas. A little Mesquite goes a long way with Barbecue, because it produces a very strong flavor. My favorites for Barbecue are a mix of Oaks, Pecan and maybe a little Mesquite thrown in. For pork or poultry, no Mesquite at all, but fruitwoods like apple or cherry instead, and a bit of hickory.

[rbryan4]

Just got the figures back from the pour yesterday. 330 cubic yards delivered, or a total of 33 trucks with 10 cubic yards each. That's a fair amount of concrete.

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Just got the figures back from the pour yesterday. 330 cubic yards delivered, or a total of 33 trucks with 10 cubic yards each. That's a fair amount of concrete.

Glad you are on bedrock!