Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Garage Part 1 : May - September 2019


After finally deciding to begin construction of our much discussed and much needed garage this year we began the arduous task of establishing and preparing the chosen location - the largest, flattest spot we had where the cabin had stood for 10 years. This entailed moving the small tool shed and the cabin on that area below the solar panel array before work could begin to level the ground - breaking rock, bringing in tons of earth and gravel and cutting trees. We went with a local, upcoming company, Chalets des Appalaches, formed by the son of the owner of the Domain and his partner to do the work, with subcontractors leveling the site, supplying the gravel, pouring cement and a crane to lift the trusses and headers. We had met up with Mathieu and Charles in 2018, agreed on a tentative plan and date and early this year drew up the final blueprint. After a few misunderstandings and delays some prep work got under way in early July but it wasn't until September, after we had returned from our two week vacation in Ontario that we actually got the footing done. Work started in earnest then and, as fall approached, we began keeping our eye on the calendar, aware of how much was yet to be done before the cold weather became a factor. Now the question was would we get it completed before winter settled in? Check out part 2 to find the answer!   gws


moving shed to make room for garage in May
moving cabin to make room for garage in July
breaking rock

bringing in truckload after truckload of fill in August

placing plywood and insulation

ready for construction of slabs

laying slab insulation

Marie thinking, "finally!"

view from house, fall not far off

pouring cement for footing

sand and leveling begins

September and fall quickly approaching

PEX placed for radiant flooring



floor cement being poured


first slab done, weather getting cooler