March 07, 2008 Progress Report
GT Builders
After framing the walls of the elevator shaft (on the first two levels), completed the floor structure and exterior wall of the Big Horn master bedroom. This hadn’t been completed previously because the elevator shaft wasn’t ready, but through lots of careful planning and field measurements, everything it tying together nicely.
Nearly finished with roof structure over Big Horn and Ruby. Likely will need part of Monday to tie a few loose ends together. Week-by-week, thanks to all this roof framing, the five-plex changes so dramatically.
It should go without saying that the roof structure of this five-plex is among the most complicated any of us have ever dealt with, especially given the fact that it has to be separated internally for fire codes. It was also a deliberate design by Keith Beck to ensure that the roofline wasn’t just a boring, continuous line across the top, that it varied in height and slope and direction. Otherwise, only the lower portion of the building would have been beautiful and interesting, capped by a big, boring roof. The flip-side to that approach lies in the challenges faced by the framing crew. Thankfully, we have a very experienced and talented crew in G.T. Builders, and although it meant a slightly slower pace, the finished product is right up there with everything else in Bear Dance: creative and unique. Even the roof of this place will be talked about!
Flathead Masonry
North end of Yellowstone is finished, and it looks fantastic! Masons spent two days just cleaning the stone and doors and windows, plus sealing of the stone and brick. Tent unveiled from north end just in time for the weekend.
Began applying brick veneer to recessed areas under arches and around concrete window surrounds. The brick and concrete combination looks every bit as good as we had hoped, and the excitement just keeps building for the final unveiling of the Yellowstone Unit. The masons have really done their job well, but a lot of credit also goes to the design team for guiding the process and giving very specific instruction to the masonry crew.
Final numbers are in regarding the stone from Crane Mountain: All total, the masons sorted through approximately 540,000 pounds of rock! On average, about 25% of each truckload was either backfill material or rocks that were too big to use, so at a 75% rate of usable rock, that means the Yellowstone Unit will have more than 400,000 pounds of rock on its walls! Thank goodness for the grade beam footings (and yes, they’re plenty strong enough to support that weight)!!!
Touris Plumbing
Finished the plumbing and gas lines in the Swan Home. Now the building is ready for Arctic Heat and Gran Central Vacuum, and those stages will begin early next week.
Arctic Heat
Met on site with John Mark to review and establish locations for all air conditioning supply vents, return vents and exhaust vents. This part was very critical in certain locations because of how much care is going into the craftsmanship and wall textures and surfaces. Obviously, these homes aren’t just cookie-cutter, plain-Jane style, and even in this area, much care and deliberation are being taken.
JK Electric
Continued to run wiring in the Boulder Unit. Should be finished with Boulder on schedule to allow for a crew to follow and install TV, phone, sound and security. After that, it’s insulation, and after that, it’s drywall!
Ron Incoronato & Co
Met with Russ from Home Technologies to come up with a game-plan for phone, TV, sound and security in each unit. Through lots of questions and ideas and brainstorming, decided on a setup that will give the greatest flexibility for prospective buyers while saving money up front on needless options. Each unit will be fully operational with TV and phone, standard. But with regards to sound and security, each unit will be pre-wired only. This pre-wiring will be mapped out and left in the walls, then the buyer will have the option of installing the highest-end sound and security systems. The up-front cost for this pre-wiring will only be a few hundred dollars per unit, compared to a potential cost of ten-to-twenty times that amount!
Organized and hosted an instructional session for all workers on the jobsite during the lunch hour on Thursday. The instructor was Mike Rocchio with the Montana Building Industry Association. Mike is the director of jobsite safety for the state, and he travels throughout the state giving seminars and training. The topics discussed were fall protection, first aid, CPR and heart attacks. Everyone sat around him in the sunshine, and in all, 22 workers were present for the training.
Coordinated schedules between G.T. Builders and High Ridge steel to make sure the steel structure at the top of the elevator shaft was able to be completed during a time that didn’t conflict with the framing progress. Framers will build the second floor structure of the Gallatin earlier than planned, which will provide the work area for John Morris to construct the top portion as one piece. The crane will lift it into place on Friday of next week, and John will show up on Saturday to weld it in place when no one is in the way.
Received bids from different Insulation contractors and expect to begin as soon as the low-voltage wiring is completed, in 3-4 weeks. The whole process was very educational and informative, and the amount of effort will produce a fantastic finished product, as well as making sure the most qualified personnel are working on this one.
Next Week’s Agenda
GT Builders
Beginning the framing above the main floor of the Gallatin Unit. First priority will be to frame the floor structure of the second level, which will give a work space for High Ridge Steel to come in an assemble the final upper cage of the elevator shaft.
Going through the roof structure of the four units on either side of the Gallatin and building all chimney chases, crickets, cleanup framing, etc.
Changing the floor design of the Ruby dining room to match the serpentine design specified by the Camel Committee. The framing in that area had originally been left undone, so a temporary wall was built underneath pending the final design.
Aquaseal Waterproofing
Will be on site Tuesday to finish waterproofing the tops of the converted-septic-tank-boiler-shed-root-cellars (anybody got a shorter name?). Once this is completed, the plumbers can begin setting up the boilers in those vaults that will be used for the radiant snowmelt.
JK Electric
Continuing to prewire the Boulder Unit, then moving on to Yellowstone.
Rainmaster
Expecting to receive the shipment of cedar shakes for the Boulder Unit and begin installing the finish roofing product.
Flathead Masonry
Finishing the entry area of Yellowstone.
Grouting the brick in the recessed arches on the Yellowstone west wall.
Setting the stone on the columns bordering the recessed areas and getting ready for the stone arches connecting those columns.
Selections/Decisions Needed
Old: Colors and finishes for units in the five-plex have been discussed, and we have a good start and direction now. Our meetings in the coming weeks will focus on ironing out all those details. Also will go through the five-plex and, using these decisions, pick out trim styles and sizes, flooring styles, and any final design details.
Old: Need cabinet drawings from Carol Nelson Design for five-plex, beginning with Missouri, since plumbers will be starting soon. Also plan on commissioning a local cabinet company to take Carol’s preliminary drawings and begin designing cabinets for construction.
Old: Need to meet with garage door manufacturer to begin process of getting bids and drawings, as well as knowing how to match exterior trim with door (Yellowstone in particular). Also an agenda item for Camel Committee to select styles and finishes for doors, since this is a key design element to overall look. Ron has found a source of design ideas for Old World-looking garage doors. We’ll use these ideas to finalize our designs and get them to Montana Garage Door, who will then build them.
Old: Need to pick out scupper style for Marilyn’s upper patio overflow drain.
Old: Need to decide on exhaust method for Marilyn’s vent hood.
New: Need to make decisions on how we’re going to disguise all mechanical vents and roof penetrations on Building B. Standard materials are quite unattractive, so it’s up to the Camel Committee to find a way to make them look okay.