Friday, September 7, 2007

Cascading Issues

We have a number of tasks to accomplish in getting the house built, and it feels as if most of the next ones are complicated with cascading requirements. For instance, we'd like to get the house waterproofed and bermed. We can waterproof for sure, but to protect the waterproofing, we've got to put down the insulation layer, and then that's vulnerable from the sunlight and from wind, so we'd need to backfill and berm. And of course, we can't backfill and berm until we do something about the french drain. We also can't backfill and berm until we've addressed the issue of getting water, propane and electricity to the house. These utilities need to be buried, but we have issues with digging a trenches. The main trench that is an issue is the one to pole where the electrical supply line will be. Our current driveway is in that path. there's also a water line to the pasture that is in that path. There's also the phone line in that path.

We'd like it if we could use directional (horizontal) drilling equipment to run these utility lines, especially the electrical line. This would allow us to run these lines trenchless. However, I'm told that with our rocky ground, that this might not be possible. However, I've called around and haven't yet found a company that will do the work for us. The equipment exists, but not for rental, and I haven't found someone yet that will do this for us. They do it for big industrial jobs, but so far, not for individuals.

Okay, so until I resolve that, can I get an electrician in to get started? It's preferable to get the plumber in first, because the drain lines that he runs have to take priority over anything else under the slab. These lines require specific slope for the proper flow, and so we can't have anything in first that would require the plumber to detour around (such as an electric conduit that the plumber would have to route a drain line around).

So we need to get the plumber in before an electrician. However, I feel I need to get more gravel in first. If the plumber comes in, he'll tell us that the gravel isn't required and that he can work without it. In fact, he can work more easily without it because he wont have to dig trenches in the gravel for the lines. However, once his lines are in, then we will still have to bring in the gravel, only then, I wont be able to do it with the tractor, because I wont be able to drive over those lines. So the gravel needs to be in first... but, we need to secure the site from sightseers (for their protection and our's), so that has to be first.
What a mess!

See the cascading issues. It's not as simple as it sounds. And bear in mind, we're doing all this as well as keeping full-time jobs.

No comments: