let the building begin ~ the barn

We've started putting our building plans into action! Our goal is to build the barn shell this winter, primarily for storage. Phase one is getting the flooring done:

My hubby & son prepped the site, by scraping off the top soil.
iphone credit: brad

The excavators dug the barn site out.
See Brad checking out their work, at the far end?

Thanks to my hubby, son and a few very kind co-workers who offered to help, our barn footings were set & ready to pour. These guys worked in the dark, in the rain, after long days...some of the kindest people I've ever met, work in the construction industry. 

I missed out on all the action. Had some back trouble that put me totally out of commission for one very long week. I am so happy to be mobil again & see the progress in person!

Footings are set.
I couldn't believe the difference in depth, from one end to the other.
The far end had to be dug out over three feet to make it level!

It looked like a big giant sandbox.
I wanted to run up & down the long maze-like rows!

The days are so short now.
We rented high power lights to get the job done,
 before Mother Nature could ruin it.

Center of the barn

It fascinates me that they know where to put what,
and make everything straight.
It's not like they can hit delete,
or pull out an eraser, if the concrete isn't dead on.

Front of the barn footings

Front corner view

Back corner view, opposite above 

Here is a 15 second video showing the building site, with footings:

The Belt Truck below has a long reach, they use it to pour cement. It saves a lot of time & makes difficult area's accessible with it's looong reach.

belt truck in action
iphone credit: brad

Stacks of wall panels were delivered
& strategically placed with a Boom Truck.
iphone credit: brad

The wall panels were set, poured and stripped before I had a chance to get back out to the land. Everything was picked up and gone. What remained were sturdy cement walls! While all this was going on, winter abruptly arrived.

walls make the barn look like a building!

sections that drop down are where the doors will be

center of the barn

see the cutout near the ground?
I learned it's called a jump, and is used for leveling
I still don't get it, lol!!

walls stand high above ground

corner view

Here is a 17 second video showing the building site, with walls:

Cold weather was moving in, the excavators wasted no time backfilling the walls. The very next day, the barn site looks like this:

 walls are buried

excavators extended our driveway up to the barn

Phase Two will happen early next year, most likely in February. Stay tuned for more Build-a-Barn!!

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