Amazing how they can maneuver these huge pieces of machinery.
After only 3 hours, the trenches were dug. There were two boulders that the grader suggested Jeff rent a jackhammer and bust out over the weekend.
We'd started to wonder whether pinning into the boulders was a better idea. No, Jeff wasn't looking forward to jackhammering, especially when there was no guarantee it would successfully remove the boulders. How do we know which was the better option? Good question... Eventually by Saturday morning Jeff decided to trust the grader's judgement, and give it a try. He rented a jackhammer and compressor for about $180 for the day.
I was a little concerned, when he called me to say he was exhausted after just carrying the huge tool up the hill, which is no small feat in itself. He rested up though and once he got started, he said the hardest part had been carrying it up the hill.
Fortunately, he had talked our good friend Mike McCarthy into coming up to help jackhammer. I don't know how he convinced him, I guess that's just how good a friend Mike is ... So, once the reserves arrived and they traded off hammering, progress was made.
There were some second thoughts along the way, as Jeff wondered if this had been a dumb idea. By mid-day, they seemed to have reached a standstill and were getting frustrated. But, changing bits on the hammer gave it a second life and had made all the difference.
Fortunately, he had talked our good friend Mike McCarthy into coming up to help jackhammer. I don't know how he convinced him, I guess that's just how good a friend Mike is ... So, once the reserves arrived and they traded off hammering, progress was made.
There were some second thoughts along the way, as Jeff wondered if this had been a dumb idea. By mid-day, they seemed to have reached a standstill and were getting frustrated. But, changing bits on the hammer gave it a second life and had made all the difference.
I brought lunch and took pictures and the guys were back to work.
It took most of the day, but finally they were successful. The boulder was gone and the trench was cleared to the proper measurements. Whew!
It took most of the day, but finally they were successful. The boulder was gone and the trench was cleared to the proper measurements. Whew!
Coming next - Footing inspection by the soils engineer, building the footings, and traveling to Redding, CA to pick out logs.
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