Pilings are In!

Wow, it only took 4 hours for them to drive all 54 pilings. I figured it would take all day! They started at 7AM and finished by 11. They told me there were no problems getting any of them in. That's good, because I figured they would run into roots from the old trees.



I had them adjust the height up because I want the front door of the front garage to be at base flood elevation. Then the rest of the house and rear garage will be 8-1/2 inches higher. This is because the front garage is 5-1/2 to 8-1/2 inches lower than the house. If I left the house at base flood elevation and left the garage lower, then I'd be required to add flood vents in my foundation for water to drain from the garage. I didn't want that.



Here's a picture of the pilings in progress (click for larger view):

Stakes in the Ground... And the Tree Limb Fiasco Begins

The stakes marking the location of my pilings have been placed! I know it's a small thing, but it's exciting just to have people working at the lot and showing signs of actual progress!

But alas, there has to be a complication. The pile driver says he can come do the job anytime now. That's great! There's just a minor issue over a tree limb that snakes across the corner of my property from my rear neighbor to the side neighbor (see graphic). The side neighbor has always indicated she would like to keep the limb for her yard, while her adult son has said he'd be fine with us cutting it down. The pile driving equipment cannot get to the piling in the corner of my garage with the limb in the way.

Tonight, I went to the neighbor as a courtesy to ask if they'd mind me cutting the limb because of the problem with the equipment. Now, the limb would have to go eventually anyway because it not only poses a danger to my fence (it hangs low), but also to the roof of my garage. After a discussion, the lady told me she wasn't willing to lose "her tree", and that I would have to get an attorney!

I believe I'm well within my rights to cut the limb because it crosses into my property. I'll verify that on Monday. And I reminded her it's not "her tree" at all, but it belongs to my rear neighbor.

When I first bought the lot and considered where my house and driveway would be, there was a shaggy-looking pecan or elm tree close to the street. It was just on their side of the property line, and some of it's knobby roots spread out into where my driveway would go. I asked her if she would consider letting me pay to have the tree removed so that the roots wouldn't interfere with my driveway. She thought about it for a day or two and called to say it was okay.

Tonight, she conitnually returned to that event saying that she did that for me when she didn't have to, and now she regrets getting rid of that tree because she loves trees. And she's not willing to give up "her tree" in the back yard. Yes, it was nice of her to let me remove the front tree. I acknowledged that and reminded her that she did not object but gave me permission. If she had felt that strongly about it, she could have said no then. However, it's a completely seperate issue. The front tree was "hers" and she had a choice. I appreciate her cooperation in that instance. This time, she doesn't own anything, and it's my right as a property owner to trim or cut a limb that hangs into my property.

It's ridiculous anyway because there are several limbs hanging into her yard from the same oak tree. Only one runs through my property. Her landscape isn't going to be drastically transformed if this one goes away. There's also more going on here than just being a plant lover. There were several untended shrubs and plants growing on my side of the property line when I had to build my chain wall. She had commented that she hated to see the plants killed. I gave her ample opportunity to dig them up and transplant them if she wanted, and she never touched them.

The First Signs of Construction??

The slab contractor I've chosen says he should be ready to skate out the piling locations this Saturday. I'm supposed to get confirmation tomorrow. He also promises that I'll have all of his insurance documentation before any work begins. We'll see.

Today I bought some piling stakes. At least, I think they're piling stakes. They're 1x2 inches and about 12-18 inches long. So I'm ready if he does show up.

I also called the power company today to see if they're received the permit from the parish to install my temporary electric. They have not. My electrician friend says it has been called in to the Parish for them to inspect the pole. But something must be holding it up. I have to call them tomorrow.

I recently went to take a closer look at the Pella windows. The jamb liner seemed like it was cheaply made (a thin, fuzzy strip). I'm going to look more closely at the Marvin and Allenco windows before making a decision.

Brain Dump of Important Tidbits

After a couple of days of making calls and gearing up for my next tasks, I've accumulated the following pieces of information that I wanted to record here. They should prove useful to many readers. Remember, this info is specific to South Louisiana:

• Builder's risk insurance policy is available from State Farm. They're not including damage from wind or hail in new policies, so I'll need to get the dreaded (and ludicrously expensive) citizen's insurance


• The builder's risk policy won't cover any thefts until the house is able to be locked and materials are secured behind lock & key


• Nothing special is needed before I sign up for the policy, but I'll wait until I'm about to start construction so I don't waste money


• They "recommend" that I sign up right away to cover the full expected value of the home instead of slowly increasing it as the project progresses. This is because I might "forget" to increase it later. No thanks. I think I'll raise it incrementally as I go to save money.


• Get lien waivers signed by everyone who physically does work on the project and everyone who sells materials for use on the project (either purchased by you or a subcontractor). This includes any employee of any of your subs that works on your house.


• Open a separate checking account in order to carefully track house-related expenses. Have checks printed with lien waiver verbiage printed on the back near the endorsement area. Something along the lines of "Endorsement and/or deposit of this check is an acknowledgement of payment in full for all amounts due and signifies a waiver of any lien rights against the property."


• The vibration method for driving pilings is apparently against parish code for building a residence. If they know you used vibration instead of traditional pounding of the pilings, they're not supposed to approve it.


• Pump sand is the best thing to use when building up the ground under the slab. Not clay or soil as I had inquired about


• Write full specs out for each subcontractor. Don't depend on the plans to tell them everything they need to know.


• I bought books on wiring and plumbing from Taunton's For Pros by Pros series. I plan to review them so I can be knowledgeable about directing and inspecting the work of these subs.


• I got more contractor recommendations today from friends and family connected to the construction business.

Here are my next upcoming tasks:

• Get plans stamped by the engineer who works with my designer (2 copies)


• Go to the parish permits office and start the permit application process. The best time to go there is at 7:00 before they open and put your name on the list at the desk. Then wait for them to open and start seeing people.


• Contact Entergy about the new utility pole they said they would put in at the front of my property. This is the best way to get the power line from across the street and not hang down over my front yard.


• Mark out the boundaries of the house and garage and get enough sand dumped there to build up about 1 more foot.


• Get sand spread


• Get temporary electric pole setup. May include digging trench to go ahead and run electric to south side of house where meter will be.


• Get pilings driven


• Get plumber to rough in the stuff that goes under/in the slab


• Get slab formed and poured