We’ve had snow over the last couple of days. So far none of it is sticking!

I have been slow to post updates the last while … so lets see.

In mid-october we backfilled the exterior walls. The walls are now ten tires high (8′) and bermed on the outside right up to the tenth row. The exterior walls are very stable, but the interior walls (which are currently unsupported) are wobbly when you stand on the top and hit them hard with something. Most of the construction accounts I have read describe this instability. When the walls are restrained by the bond beam and roof they are very solid.

Before we bermed to the tops of the walls we had some heavy rain. At that point we had not sloped the ground behind the building site away from the building. Runoff pooled behind the wall in the kids’ bedroom and flowed through the tire wall. Not something you want to see! When we backfilled in October, we also contoured and sloped the land behind the building so that runoff moves away from the building. We have since had even heavier rain and the walls looked great. It is always nice to see things work the way they are supposed to!

Since that time Sandra and I have been winterizing the property and getting ready for winter.

At this point we do not think we will make significant progress on the house over the winter, but we will take things as they come. The next steps are pouring the bond beam and starting the roof.

I have been thinking and doing more about electrical generation and heating systems, and I will start posting some of my thoughts and work in these areas in the next little while!