Basement Framing

We started framing this weekend.   We had to build the knee walls up to the first floor.  We are going to have a 10' finished basement to accommodate a tractor and other vehicles.  We decided we didn't want a separate building for the garage which is why we decided on this design.  We had a bunch of great help this weekend.  Thanks to my buddies...Tim, JP and my brother Rocco for all their help.

That's Tim and Rocco

Garage Floor is in....

The garage floor has been poured and looks great....

Basement Plumbing Installed

My buddy Todd and I installed the basement plumbing this weekend.  The ground was layered in rock and we had to use a pick axe to get through it.  It took all day and part of the next before we finished. The concrete floor is ready to be poured.  I have scheduled the guys who did the foundation to pour the concrete.  Hopefully that gets done this week.  Next weekend we need to build the knee walls to get the finished basement and first floor rafters in....

Outside trench to septic tank....

That's Todd.....

Foundation is Installed

Foundation has begun.  We decided on a 2-Car garage in the basement with a 3-bedroom loft style cabin.  This cabin is going to be stick framed and not with logs.  We've decided to do all of the construction ourselves with only the foundation being contracted out.  We staked out the property for the cabin location and where we wanted the drive to be.  The excavator used the excess material to build up our drive and turn around.

Next Season...We'll Start the Build

We planted grass to minimize the erosion and runoff until we could start the build....

Clearing the Lot

We used a bulldozer to push over almost all of the trees....

Access Road Needs Help

Our access road leading up to our drive needed to be rebuilt in order to handle the heavy traffic for our equipment.  We ended up grading and graveling about a 100ft of road up to our lot.  We ended up using about 50 ton and stone after bulldozing the road.

Out House Build

My neighbor back home wanted to tear down an old playground in their yard so we decided to do it for them.  We then recycled the wood for our outhouse. We built the outhouse for temporary use but in the end I think this will be permanent.

Placing Our Camper

 Initially, my buddy Tim and I bought an old camper that we modified for hunters.  We needed to cut down some trees to make a drive for our temporary home.

This is our temporary drive for the camper.

Temporary home for the camper.

2005 - Property Purchase

After years of hunting on public land and other peoples private property, my wife and I purchased our own.  In 2005 we bought 86 acres in South East Ohio in Monroe County.