It has been 8 months since my last post on the construction of our beach cabin.  My computer died and I was unable to get to my blog to do an update.  I now have a new computer and I am able, once again, to gain administrative access to my blog.  So let me bring you up to date on our construction.

 Ian cutting out doors and windows

Plywood siding going on the front and back of the cabin

Interior walls and mezzanine floor joists shown below

Installation of the metal roof panels below

Framing of the front upper deck above

 

Installation of the building wrap below

Installation of the waterproof vinyl on front decks 

All doors and windows are installed

We are now attempting to get the exterior siding on before the rains begin.  More later...

 

 Ian and I have made a little progress on our beach cabin.  Here is the latest:

Installing the drain line from the home to the septic tank

 The steel I-beams are in place on the concrete piers

Placing the floor joists

                                              Tarp in place and ready for the rain

 

Steel ribs in place and ready to lift one side

                                                             Raising the ribs

Raising the 2x6 walls

That is today's update.  More later...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Evolution of a Project

Three years ago Lisa and I purchased a small, run down, dilapidated ranch style home in one of the few beach communities on Whidbey Island.  The community is called Lagoon Point.  An older widowed women occupied the home.  After her husband passed away she was unable to maintain the home and it fell into disrepair.  We bought the home a few months after she passed away (in the home).

Our intent in buying the home was to renovate it and then rent it out.  Little did we know the restrictions the county had placed on renovating homes in shore-line communities (beach communities).  The biggest restriction was limiting how much money we could spend on renovations.  The home structure was assessed at $42,000.  As such, we could only spend $4,200 in repairs.  That was not possible given the condition of the home.  

After the county gave us approval to demolish the home and replace it with a new structure, we took the house down.  Although, tearing the house down was not inexpensive.  The asbestos inspection, asbestos abatement, and the demolition came to $20K.

After a couple of years of indecisiveness (Do we sell or do we build?) we finally decided to build.  Ian has been helping with the construction, and once the project is complete, Ian and Kaylene will buy a 50% share in the cabin.

The process of getting a building permit from the county was a long, long process.  We waited sixteen weeks to get our permit, essentially losing most of the summer building season.  The rains have begun which will slow construction.  We work a couple of days per week on the cabin.  I guess that is what we will call it for now, the cabin.  The other three days in the week are devoted to Ian’s business.

The pictures below show the progression of the project.

House demolition

 

Cleared lot

Septic excavation and install of tanks and drain field

Steel and structural framing arrives


Excavating for the foundation

Building the footing forms and installing rebar

Pouring concrete for the footings

Framing the columns

Pouring the columns

Backfilling and grading

 We saw a submarine going by on the waterway one day

More to come later....