Electrical Trenches

Rob has been overseeing outside projects like the electrical and water systems. Both required trenches be dug from the house to the electrical meter and to the well and water tanks. There were two parallel trenches one for the P G & E electrical and the other for water and gas. In the photo at right Rob is cutting a conduit piece in preparation for putting it in the trench. This is between the house and the oak tree by the garage. Its about to go around a corner, so connecting sections with bends went between several pieces. You can also see how deep the trench is since it come sup almost to his arm pits.

For weeks we had to squeeze around the trenches. Rob rented trench plates so it was possible to drive up to the house. In the last month, Rob's been working on covering the trenches. They've been covered up to almost where the electrical meter board is, however there's still the run from the well to the tanks and a bit more electrical to be covered. P G & E did pull the madible (sp?) through so they know they can get the wire through the conduit. They're just waiting for Rob to give the word that he's ready for them, hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

Is it done yet? No

Boy have I gotten behind on house construction news. A lot has happened since February's last post. Unfortunately, the house still isn't finished.

The house has been painted inside and out. I almost had a catastrophe with the outside green wall color. The photo at left shows the original color on the bottom and a lightened version on top. Both were too green. I spent a frantic weekend with new colors and mixing in white to come up with a new green, grist mill, that really looks nice. Its a grayed green so it blends well with the oak trees and the rock facade.

Speaking of rock, the manufactured stone decoration on the inside and outside looks fabulous. We were at the house on one of the days it was being worked on. The change to the house was dramatic. It just really adds a lot to the house. The style is called country rubble. Its installed the same as if it was real stone: the masons chisel and and break it to get pieces that fit together in the random pattern you see above. We also have used it on the inside of the house for the two wood stove hearths, the front corner of the outer kitchen island, and under the main support beams in the great room. It looks really cool on the inside.