Step 2: Foundation & Excitement

Our cabin foundation has been completed. We contracted the excavation and foundation work. The foundation is using ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) that consist of an 8" poured concrete core which is reinforced with vertical and horizontal rebar with 2.5" of insulation on both interior and exterior. Since we have no plumbing in the basement the basement floor has also been poured.

Prior to pouring the basement walls and floors we completed connecting our septic line to the cabin. That seemed like a fairly simple task ... we only needed to trench 10 feet to connect to where the basement was dug out and then it would all be backfilled along with the cabin. Easy peasy ... Wrong! We started digging using a bobcat on loan from a friend (Thanks Wayne!). Eventually we had dug as deep as we could with the bobcat bucket and after a couple of bobcat head stands we decided that was as far as we could dig with the machine. No problem ... only a foot to go ... except ... we then hit ... you can probably guess ... ROCK! It took 1/2 day chipping away with a pick ax (which I finally managed to break the metal end off) but eventually we had the septic line installed and ready for the ICF's and basement floor. 



Running the septic line was intended to be a day trip but after having our derrieres kicked we decided to spend the night and wake up at 0500 for our drive home.  That allowed for a bit of R&R by the fire at sunset. 

The other items installed prior to the basement walls being poured was to run our well water line and electrical into the basement. Installing the CEE (Concrete Encased Electrode), aka Ufer, more commonly known as a grounding rod, into the foundation footing and up the poured concrete wall. Thanks to Mr. Ufer's research during WWII we have an appropriate electrical ground for our rocky soil. If you ever have difficulty sleeping read the NEC code article 250 on Grounding.

We are now finally ready to start our cabin framing!! Materials are scheduled for delivery this Friday. Mkay and I will spend the next two weeks up north framing the cabin. We are blessed to have some awesome friends who have volunteered to come up and help!! Although we have a sequence of framing that needs to be completed we are not marching to a predefined schedule ... we're going to take this "one nail at a time ... ".

We will be off the grid while building and we'll keep you posted with updates when we are able to connect to the rest of the world. 

We hope you enjoy following our cabin adventure.

M&M