Day 18

Sunday, May 31, 1998

  Today we got a late start due to the massive storms that rocked Michigan early this morning.  Especially being that dad IS the fire chief in Lexington!  No big deal, Rich & I checked out the damage in the surrounding towns, had lunch and listened to part of the wings game.  (GO WINGS).   Today we had to drill holes in the beam for the anchors for the joists, cut the beam, and put the beam up.   Anyways....  Here's Rich sitting up in the garage waiting for directions on what to do next regarding the beam we put up.     Here's Dad welding the post to the beam (gotta have some support in the middle of the span, just in case).  This will be the only pole in our basement, and if it works out it will be at or in a corner wall.   Now, you may be wondering about the post... its not your average basement post.  As dad told us, those come in 'cardboard boxes', (i.e. not very heavy duty.)  This one is MAJOR heavy duty.   Don't believe me?     Here's how thick it is.. this is a piece dad cut off to make it the right height.  Bigger than the natural span of my finger nail!  That's heavy duty!     Here's what it looked like from the front of the house when we left tonight.  The beam spans the entire basement, and the post is 16 feet (approx) from the north wall.  The stairs and the furnace will be to the South of the post, so it has wall support on that side.    If you haven't looked at the plans... go here:  PLANS Or see another day's activities: Day One - May 12 Day Two - May 13 Day Three - May 14 Day Four - May 15 Day Five - May 16 Day Six - May 17 - NOTHING (no work done) Day Seven - May 18 - NO PHOTOS Day Eight - May 19 Day Nine - May 20 Day Ten - May 21 Day Eleven - May 22 Day Twelve - May 23 (May 24-25th Vacation - days won't count) Day Thirteen - May 26th -& Day Fourteen - May 27th NO PHOTOS Day Fifteen - May 28th Day Sixteen - May 29th Day Seventeen - May 30th Day Eighteen - May 31st Day Nineteen - June 1st Day Twenty - June 2nd Day Twenty One - June 3rd Day Twenty Two - June 4th Day Twenty Three - June 5th   We've begun buying tile and have our carpet picked out:  INTERIOR