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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 9/11/2008 5:01:48 PM
As it is Sept 11th, I would like to say I am thankful for all service members protecting us in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all the other hole in the wall places around the globe as well as those stateside. I retired from the Air Force after 22 years recently, and I can really appreciate what those men and women do for us here in the U.S.A. Thank you all for continuing on. I would also like to thank the people who stand guard here at home, the local firefighters, policemen, and medical responders, so many of whom we lost or were injured in the 9/11 attacks.
Finally, those on Flight 93, who so bravely took back their plane even though it cost them their lives, I salute you. You few who stood against evil in the face of death are my personal heroes, and you make me proud to count myself as an American. Again, I salute you.
Now to the task at hand: We got the windows and doors in and the inspection was today, and we PASSED! Another close one, tomorrow was our 6 month deadline for getting another inspection. Now we have until March 10, 2009 to get another approved inspection, and it will probably be electrical or plumbing. All we have left for inspections are electrical, plumbing, and framing, and then our finals!! Yet there's SO much work left to do...I guess we'll make it. I find I have to look at it one 2x4 at a time, as long as I keep putting up one more 2x4, one more stud, one more item...sooner or later it will be done. Probably later. The below pics were before the second floor windows were in.
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| Bathroom window, double hung. |
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| Casement window (required for egress codes for the bedroom) |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 9/4/2008 3:18:53 PM
Just as the title says, we got all the first floor windows in. Need to install three windows and one door on the second floor, and we'll be ready for the windows and doors inspection. Good thing, too, we only have until Sept 12th to get an inspection or our permits run out. Here's a couple pics, the 4 windows in a row are the lakefront view, and the other is the kitchen door and window.
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| Kitchen door and window |
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| Lakefront view |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 9/2/2008 7:15:46 PM
Went up and got both entry doors and 2 windows installed. Not too bad working under the eaves, away from the sun. Still hot, but at least it's tolerable. We should have all the bottom floor windows installed by the end of the week, and this coming weekend (assuming no hurricanes) we'll get the 2nd floor windows in, and be pretty much dried in.
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| Front door and windows |
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| Kitchen door |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 7/17/2008 2:27:57 PM
We got the rest of the cement coating on the outside of the dome on July 10th. The dome structure is now more or less complete, just need the inside of the entryways and window dormers cemented, but that has to come after the installation and inspection of windows and doors. We will be working on that next, and the windows and doors will make for a real change, so there WILL be pictures of that. After windows and doors, we will be putting in a window A/C so we can work inside the dome in comfort. Next, after the windows and doors will be the second floor joists and first floor walls!
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 7/6/2008 12:40:40 PM
We are trying to finish the cement on the dome, there's only a little left but we can only work from 7am-11am, and 5pm-8pm. It's SO HOT during the middle of the day it's just impossible to work in the sun. I got so overheated I got sick and was probably close to passing out and falling off the ladder. Whoa...That was enough for that morning.
The next day we cemented 7am-11:30, then took a break and napped or did work out of the sun until 5pm. It started raining around 7pm or so, and caused some of the fresh cement on the side of the large walk-out dormer to loosen and slide partway off the dormer. Not sure how I will fix that, but we're going to let it cure and harden and see what stuck and what didn't. I'll have to chip off some of the damaged cement I'm sure, but maybe I can patch the "crater". Here's a picture of the sliding cement, and a couple pics from our security cam of some visitors to the property.
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| I have no idea who these people are, wandering around in our driveway. Good reason to have a security camera. |
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| This little deer is fast. The camera is set to take 2 pics 3 seconds apart, and he was gone in the second pic. |
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| Sliding cement. Great... |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 6/22/2008 8:53:01 AM
Went up to the site most of the day Saturday and while the kids rode minibikes around the property with the dogs, we threw cement. Got one entryway 2/3 finished, and ran out of time due to rain earlier in the day. It was rainy, but after the rain it was nice and cloudy so it wasn't too hot, but so muggy and wet I was soaking wet by the end of the day, and we only worked maybe 4-5 hours on it.
We did find some of the finish cement had not adhered well to the top of one of the window dormers, and I had to chip off about 3" from the edge where it had cracked loose. NOT good. From now on, I will use PLENTY of bonding agent. We were trying to just keep the cement wet and make sure it bonded well that way, but apparently it was SO hot in the sun that day it just couldn't stay wet enough. Bonding agent, bonding agent, bonding agent.
Kudos to the local sheriff's office... we got up there and one of our neighbors called the police to tell them "someone, might be the homeowner, is running around on the property." They came out to check things and make sure it was us. I am glad we have neighbors who watch out for us!
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| Inside the dome, near the kitchen entry we were working on. You can see the kitchen door, the first floor bath window, and the second floor bedroom window. Why the company used some white drywall and some green drywall on the inside, I don't know. |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 5/13/2008 7:50:42 AM
Actually, we're only about one or two day's work away from having all the outside of the dome concreted except for underneath the entryways and dormers. Once all of the outside (anywhere rain would hit) is concreted, we have to wait 30 days for the concrete to cure and let rain wash off the alkalinity, and let it weather a little so the concrete primer-sealer will adhere properly. Fresh cement is too alkaline at first. Anyway, here's a couple pictures, they look bad since it was pretty dark. Only one more weekend needed... and it's getting really HOT here.
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| Fresh cement on the upper door dormer |
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| Main entryway seams and finish cement completed. |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 4/11/2008 8:13:44 PM
We took four days out of spring break and worked on the finish concrete on the seams. Finally got all of the seams done, and some of the window dormers are started. Makes the dome look a lot smoother and, well, finished! Next trip up we'll be working on getting the window and door dormers done, as well as the bottom seams between the foundation and the riser walls.
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| Main entry and southeast side |
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| South side window dormers |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 4/4/2008 4:47:06 PM
Had to show this, we went to look at door models to order, and ended up buying all the doors we needed! Two were on sale, a "special buy" at Home Depot, the other we bought since they had the right one and we were there... here's the nice front entry door. The other two are boring, so you can wait to see those until they are installed. The pictures are a little funny, since the door is inside my Suburban and I took this with my cellphone camera.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 3/31/2008 7:52:35 PM
Up for one day, trying our hand at concrete finishing. The seams were really a lot easier than I thought they would be. We got 25 seams or so done in 6 hours, and these were the hardest (most vertical) seams. As you go higher on the dome, the seams are flatter (easier to keep the cement from sagging), but harder to climb up to. The ones on the sides will be hardest, where a ladder gets in the way but the surface is not flat enough to stand on freely. We'll be working on this for a few days next week too, we're going to get things moving!
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| Seams |
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| Closer pic of seams |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 3/20/2008 12:14:50 PM
I sent out requests for bids to 6 stucco subs, and I only got one bid back. The guy seemed to be experienced, but since we're trying to save money we're going to attempt to do the finishing of the concrete ourselves. Not sure just how THAT will turn out, but hey, I'm willing to at least give it a good try. We'll start on the seams at the top, where you can't see them, and hopefully when we're down to the side seams near the ground we'll be good at finishing the concrete. Here's my first attempt at a "sand" finish to match the dome panels, can't tell until it's dry whether it's flat enough or not...but since that area needed an extra coat of cement, I figured I'd try it. Doesn't look too bad!
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| Another view of the dome |
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| My attempt at a "finish coat" |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 3/13/2008 8:01:57 AM
The Hoskens were at it again, worked all Saturday together and then Sunday through Tuesday I took leave and worked at the walls. Got all the wall outer insulation done (2" rigid Styrofoam), all cracks and crevices filled with expanding foam, and all the exterior covered with welded wire mesh, ready for the first coat of stucco on the outside. Our county inspector is SUCH a nice person! She spent a few minutes talking to me about the structure, and asking how things were going, and then she looked over the framing and strapping to make sure I did it correctly and approved our wall sheathing inspection! Good thing, since our permits were to expire on the 18th, in only a week. Now we have another 6 months to get the windows, doors and flashing in. It better not take that long.
I wish there was a way to put a sound file on here. You should hear the echo when you stand in the center of the dome, where all the sound is reflected back to you! Everyone who comes to see the dome gets to stand in the middle and talk, and all their reactions are the same, a big grin and a "wow!" I think it's neat now, but I hope that goes away with the addition of the second floor, walls, carpet, etc.
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| Main entryway |
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| Lakefront entryway |
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| Kitchen entryway |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 2/29/2008 8:36:01 PM
I'm working hard to get our wall framing and sheathing done so I can get an inspection before my permits expire... up for a day and a half, got two framed in, one to go and need to do three more windows and a second floor door to the balcony. I will try to get them done next week.
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| Dome with framing in the kitchen entryway |
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| Kitchen entry framing |
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| Lake view entry with door dormer above, that will open onto the balcony above the entryway. |
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| Lake entry framing... all windows. The small window on the left is due to have a countertop there. |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 2/22/2008 11:39:41 AM
The Hosken family spent almost exactly a year putting up the riser walls (first row) and the second row of triangles and the entryways. Then with the two guys from American Ingenuity (Kevin and Joe) and the boom truck, we put up the last three rows of panels, and all the window dormers and finished the WHOLE dome in LESS that four days! The crew was my family and the two A.I. guys. Now, I wish i had hired them from the start. What took us a year to get done COULD have been done in four days with the proper equipment and help.
There are a LOT of pictures, but for now here's a few. Next step is to contract with a stucco team to do the final coat and make everything smooth and straight.
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| Boom truck, getting started |
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| Joe on the dome panels |
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| Panel in the air, en route |
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| Slapping concrete in the seams, fourth row |
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| This is how you support the panels as they are set and concreted in. |
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| Only two panels left to fit. |
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| All closed in, only a slight gap which closed up as the panels settled in. |
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| Complete except for the concrete on the window dormers, Kevin taking a picture |
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| Another view of the almost complete dome. |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 2/11/2008 12:03:07 PM
After moving very slowly for a while, we're going to leap ahead. Since I have been having a hard time getting labor and working weekends coordinated, I called the company, American Ingenuity, aidomes.com and I'm going to contract with them to help me finish the dome. For $3K or so they will show up with a boom truck, mortar mixer, scaffolding and two guys to help and we're going to get the shell of the dome up in a week. We're tentatively scheduled for Feb. 17-21 so I should have a LOT of pictures in a couple weeks to show you all!
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| What the dome will look like... keeping the dream alive. |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 1/25/2008 6:21:14 AM
We're working hard to get something done for an inspection by March 15. If we don't, we have to beg for an extension or our permits will expire... it will be interesting to see how much can get done before the deadline.
I set up the anchor bolts in the entryways and cementing over them, finishing the entryway's structure. I also got the two first-floor windows cut and framed in with 2x4s, there will be a 2x6 frame inside of that 2x4 frame you see in the pictures. Lots of wood and cement, that's the way I like to build. If you can't park a car on it, then it's not strong enough.
In the pictures, the first one is the entryway from the underside, and I have 2x4 blocks holding the anchor bolts in place. Next, is the top of the entryway before cement and after, and a pic of the window frame bucks in place. And another, you can see the cement being put on, and the window frame 2x4 sticking up through the Styrofoam with nails in the end... those nails will end up embedded in the cement and holding the frame very tightly.
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| Underside of entryway anchors |
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| Top of entryway anchors before cement |
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| Up close anchor bolt from the top |
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| Entryway with cement. Notice I am not a skilled cement mason. |
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| Puppy inspects the window frame |
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| Cement in progress, with window frame anchor point visible |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 1/3/2008 8:20:57 PM
Had three days to work at the property and get some panels up... first day we had to stay home with a sick child. Got up there for day two and three, and a freak cold spell (low of 21F) meant that we couldn't make concrete, so we measured and talked about windows and looked things over. Kind of a fun camping trip. You can see from the pictures our youngest got a minibike for Christmas, and I left the sprinkler on overnight (knowing it was going to freeze) so I could show the kids a little "winter wonderland." Hey, in central FL you don't ever see snow and very rarely see ice overnight.
The other picture is our "scary magnolia." This tree is a good three or four feet in diameter, it's HUGE. Really big beautiful tree, and in front of it is some of the collapsed house (75 years old).
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| Fun with sprinklers |
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| Christmas minibike |
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| Dogs in the main entryway |
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| "Are we there yet?" |
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| "Scary" magnolia |
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Melbourne, FL
on 11/22/2007 8:44:45 PM
Well, we PLANNED to work on the house all of Thanksgiving break, but things kept coming up, and we ended up only going up for the day on Thanksgiving Day only. Still, we got the panels for the windows removed and got the window dormers placed and cemented (mostly). Next trip will be to place the window frames and finish the cementing on the dormers, and also place the framing for the entryways and finish cementing them, too. Here's a couple pics of the window dormers. The pics look a little wierd, because it was almost pitc |