Numbers and Names

I realize it's been a very long building process.  In my contractor's defense, he told me at the start that it would take between 18 and 24 months.  Obviously it took the longer.  To clear myself of culpability, I want to state emphatically that I did not cause any delays by making changes!  We never undid anything done.  What I appreciated was that we discussed things before they were started, and agreed to adjustments as needed.  

I find the following numbers quite embarrassing--but mostly astonishing.  I had no idea how much material it took to build a house and create a landscape.  Granted, this is not a small one, but for the lot and neighborhood, it's not unusual.     Tap title to continue reading

First came the foundation.  It's two feet thick, with rebar every six inches.  I think I'm ready for any earthquake that might come my way.  Then came the walls.  They're double framed, and with the stone, they average 16 inches thick.  I wanted thick walls, but didn't think it through--there had to be an outside and an inside wall to create the hollow depth--and that meant two times the walls!

There's a lot of glass in the house between the steel windows and doors and the three greenhouse-like additions--but thankfully no definitive numbers!

The largest quantity in bulk, but surprisingly not in weight, is the limestone slabs for the exterior--at least 300 tons!  And when you think that it was all cut, lifted and secured to the walls by individuals, it's exhausting!  There's also over 60 tons of field stone used for the garden wall.  I was surprised to find out it's denser and heavier than the limestone.  The wall was built on a cinder block center, about four feet tall, with only three feet exposed above ground.    

Tons of heavy wet gravel was used initially to bring the lot to a level elevation.  Then a cleaner gravel was needed for a top two inches on the driveway and one patio--altogether over 1,650 tons!  On garden areas we first used soil that had been displaced when the basement was dug, but then both common and top soil were necessary, totaling about 530 tons! 

In a different category, is the number of names I had to learn.  The reason I had to remember everyone's names is that Skip referred to them by name instead of trade, so I was forced to keep up.  A good challenge for my old memory!  Very few subs were there the entire time, some came in the early stages and returned later for finishing.  So I was tested over and over.  Here's a sprinkling:  Skip, Ralph, Brian, Jeremy, Nancy, Jake, Rick, Randy, Paula, Joel, Derek, Shella, Wendy, Bruce, Alan, Larry, Jesse, Charles, Berkley, Willy, Bubba, Gary, Victor, Mike, Cody, Dino, Joe, Dana, Dennis, Jeff, Martin, Cam, Ryan, Lance, Ted and two Romans--what are the chances of that!