The slab for Dragonstone was poured in October, but we still had more concrete work to be done outside of the building – the sidewalk and the apron that connects Dragonstone to our existing driveway.
We could have requested it to be done earlier in the spring, but we were waiting to see if COVID-19 affected our finances at all before having the work done – it didn’t. Then we waited long enough we were like “err, we really need to get this done so we can easily get the mower out of the garage, and so the brickwork can be done on the facade!”
So on June 11th the contractor came and framed out where the concrete would be poured.
We’ll put hostas in the open spot that the sidewalk goes around
On June 13th, we installed the radiant heating tubes. We were short 20′ of tube and Steven had to go buy a 300′ roll! Gah!
Cactus!
But our install was successful and the tubes held pressure when tested that day and several days later.
I’d like to say I learned so much the first time we installed the tubes that I was a pro this time, but I really stunk at unraveling the roll of tube, until we got toward the end of it. Oh well. I’m a boss at installing zip ties!
And somehow, it was cool enough to do the radiant tubes work in jeans and a t-shirt, in June. That was amazing.
Yesterday the contractors came back out to pour. Ha, we could not get the mower out of Dragonstone the entire time the framing was up so… our yard looks amazing! I’m thankful we live in the woods and don’t have to care about anyone seeing our yard. Moving on.
It’s always exciting to see a concrete mixer truck in your driveway:
They spent a few hours pouring, then did whatever else they needed to do (<— very technical),
then during lunch break they said it was ready for us to write in! Woot!
Ha, this is one of those pics I saw later and was like “that is what I look like?!”
Isn’t it beautiful?!
Right after they finished some JERK STICK had the nerve to fall on it and leave a gouge! WHAT A JERK! The contractors left some tools for Steven to smooth out any other JERK STICKS that decide to do that. So he diligently checked it all day yesterday.
I am guessing like with the slab pour, the concrete gets 95 or 98% of its strength in the first three days, then takes 30 days to fully cure. So, we can get the mower out in a few days, and bring the Datsun home soon. Boo yah!
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That looks so nice!! But the jerk stick, ugh. Sticks can be SUCH jerks. 😉
Side note: did you know the door on the side is called a “man door”? I did not, but my dad recently referred to the one we had in the house I grew up in as such. I suppose now it’s called a person door…
Right?! WHAT A JERK!!! GRRR!!!! ha
I did know that! We call it that to distinguish between it and the garage door. We do call it a person door when we are being funny, but the industry still calls it a man door for now!
Oh man, what a nuisance about the tubing! With all that spare tubing, you should just tear up the rest of your driveway and radiant heat the whole thing. No shoveling for you guys, ever! Though I suppose that would be a bit of an added expense 😛
That’s the long term plan! But we will need A LOT more tubing than 300′!!! We’d like to tear out the driveway and the garage slab and install radiant tubing and repour, and do the rest of the driveway (which is currently gravel). Someday!
So my mother-in-law always is always mad that the deer eat her hostas and jokes that the dog is in cahoots with the deer and lets them right into the yard. Will you have that problem? I can’t remember if you have deer in your area, but it wouldn’t surprise me, given how wooded your yard is. (Jerk sticks!)
I’m surprised you didn’t write “I’m wet cement!” in the wet cement. 😉
Ha! The dog just watches? For some reason, the deer aren’t in our yard as much as our neighbor’s! We have a ton of hostas now and they thrive until we mow them down in the fall 🙂 JERK STICKS!!!
OMG. Mica! Now you suggest it when it’s too late! CRY!
Jerk stick – ha! I thought you meant a person and was just calling them a “jerk stick”, LOL! But then I was like, what person would be in your driveway and would fall on the cement? Duh, Amy…but this is going to be my new go-to insult from now on…
And I LOVE hostas but can never keep them here (except in pots) because the snails eat all their leaves. They are going to look great in that spot – I don’t think Illinois has snails like we do here – in Champaign-Urbana all the homes have the most gorgeous hostas in their landscaping. I was so jealous last time I was there.
Dang snails are just JERK STICKS!!!
Ha ha ha! OMG that is too funny! Yes please use that as an insult to humans! YOU JERK STICK! And to the snails eating your hostas.
What is up with all the snails there?! Do you guys have an abnormal amount? I had no idea snails eat hosta. We have so many around our house. If I remember I will send you a pictures of them! I am so grateful for the person who lived here before and planted them!
Just thinking of calling someone a jerk stick is making me giggle.
I have no idea why we have so many snails here…I couldn’ find an answer to that question but apparently they are endangered in the midwest: https://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/Snails/iops_fct.html Crazy, huh? So maybe it’s you guys who have an abnormally low amount of snails? So it’s good you have snail friendly yard!
More interesting snail info https://www.snail-world.com/garden-snail/ – I guess I have to take back calling them JERK STICKS, poor little guys…
Oh my gosh! I had no idea! They are definitely not jerk sticks, I take that back too. Thanks for sharing this. I see snails sometimes on my runs… I wonder what kind they are?! If I see them in the yard they can def stay 😉