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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 7/26/2010 2:31:13 PM
Cleaned up a bit in the dome today, checked on the trees to make sure the drip irrigation was working. They are alive and well albeit a little droopy, but with 93°F weather, I am droopy too. Got the last two pieces of subfloor down; now we have a complete second floor. It was SO hot. 93°F, but the heat index was 104°. We worked inside the dome until around 5 pm, then ventured out to cut back some brush and get another tree planted. This one is only a foot tall, but it's a yellow poplar/tulip poplar, should be 100 feet tall or more, and it's supposed to grow fast. We put in a drip line to it, too.
Photos
The new maple trees are the ones with the red line above them.
The baby yellow poplar
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 7/5/2010
Short trip up today, met Will from First Choice Plumbing to finish up the rough-in and install the water heater. Short, fat thing, maybe I shouldn't have asked for a 50-gal... oh, well. It fits perfectly and will go in the back of a closet anyway. Will also got the gas line stubbed in, and Roy the Tree Guy delivered and installed (planted?) 6 beautiful red maples. I planted three little apple tree sticks, and I forgot to take even one picture of them. I'll get it next time. Also set up a drip irrigation system for all the trees.
Photos
Not much to look at, but there's the gas line and overflow for the water heater
The big kid near the closest of the three trees to the south of the main entryway
The other 2 trees to the south and Will the Plumbing Guy.
The three trees to the north side of the main entryway.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 6/20/2010
It's been three months since we were last up at the dome. During that time we have been busy, but were able to get a final on the septic.
This trip we installed the toilet and it DOES work (we're flushing it with a bucket of water). We permanently installed the window A/C unit in the through-wall hole on the second-floor balcony, where it will stay. The dome is so well insulated and so tight a single 12K btu window A/C will cool the whole place. And we got almost all the rest of the plywood subfloor down, only two little pieces of plywood to put down, so it's basically finished. Here are a few pictures.
Photos
The toilet. We decided not to install the water line until the walls are drywalled, so we flush it with a bucket of water (the bathtub faucet works, so the water is right there).
The boy lays down Liquid Nail while I nail-gun the last plywood down.
A couple pieces of overhanging plywood to trim and then it's done!
All-completed area
Boy threatens with sledge as Mom looks on. The blurring is for security, I don't want images of my kids out there on the Internet if I can help it. Behind him and Mom in the wall is the newly placed A/C unit.
Comments (1)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 5/3/2010
Hooray for Florida Septic!! As you may have seen below, our septic permit expired before we could get a final inspection. Per the health dept., you must have the septic system hooked up and the interior piping and wall finished at least to the point where they can tell where rooms are, and verify the floorplan when you have a final inspection. The permit is only good for 18 months, and when it expired we didn't even have a foundation poured yet, much less a house with identifiable rooms! We didn't realize this until the plumbing inspection, when the county mentioned they did not get a final for the septic yet. To make a long story short, the health dept. would NOT help us out. No amount of begging would get them to open up the permit again and give us a final inspection... even though I offered to pay any expiration fee or penalty for overdue inspection. I even called Tallahassee main office to beg/plead/express my displeasure. NO JOY! They required us to pull a NEW permit including fill out ALL the paperwork again and submit all new drawings, site plan, floor plans for the house, make all measurements, etc. As if we'd NEVER had a permit in the first place! I was going to pull out my hair (or the health dept. guy's) when I called Florida Septic, Inc. to ask if they could help me with the drawing since they installed the septic system. Trish in the front office asked me for the original siteplan and floorplans, and I mentioned that I lived 2.5 hours away and couldn't meet them on site just ANYtime. She said she'd talk with the guys there and see what they could do... well, I didn't hear anything for two weeks. Getting nervous, I emailed Trish to see what was going on...
I was AMAZED when I found that not only had Florida Septic done ALL the drawings, site plan, gone out to the site and taken all measurements needed FOR ME, they ALSO pulled a new permit, submitted all needed documentation (which they prepared), scheduled the final inspection, and made sure it was completed!!! I cannot say enough about the fantastic, over the top customer service Florida Septic, Inc. I am VERY happy I decided to go with them instead of the other septic installation company in the area. Add to the equation the fact that Florida Septic had installed the system almost FOUR YEARS ago, yet they provided this level of service like it was yesterday! I have to say if you need a septic system installed, I am SURE you will be pleased with Florida Septic, Inc. and make sure you tell them I sent you. I owe them BIG.
Photos
The great guys at Florida Septic, Inc. getting it done!
Comments (1)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 3/7/2010
Another day, another 10 sheets of plywood! We're a little more than halfway finished with the second floor plywood. First pic is most of the floor, second is where the water heater will be (up against the sloping part of the dome roof). Next weekend First Choice plumbing will be back again to do the HWH (hot water heater) and the gas line we decided to put in. My youngest kept putting band-aids on my knuckles, I guess I forgot how to use a hammer. At least I didn't hit myself with it. We got a lot done and stopped by Daytona BikeWeek area to get some t-shirts.
By the way, we got a three-foot piece of 3/8" rebar and bent a 2" hook on one end, and bent a handle on the other end, so there was about 2.5 feet of rebar in between hook and handle. Holding the handle, you can put the hook under the edge of the plywood and pull up and drag the plywood anywhere you need it without bending over. It worked GREAT!
Photos
Most of the flooring we put down
Where I wore out... and just far enough to put in the water heater.
Comments (2)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 3/1/2010
It's interesting how you see things. We have been working for months on the second floor joists and support structure. This weekend we got the joists finished and started putting down plywood. Although there's only a few sheets put down, I suddenly realized there was a second floor now, when there was NOT a second floor earlier that day. We got four sheets of 3/4" plywood put down, and both of us pulled muscles in our backs... there's got to be an easier way to move plywood other than bending over and tugging at it...
Photos
Joists finished, tossing some plywood up
The last few joists we finished
Nailing the subfloor down
Some finished subfloor. Everything from under the blue air line and farther away is finished, glued and nailed down.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 2/11/2010
The good news! We have an approved inspection, and that gives us another 6 months to get something else inspectable/finished (like the electric in the walls, or gas line). The BAD news is when I called to make sure our inspection was okay, they said that they never got a final clearance inspection for the septic system. That was three years ago... I called and the health department wants another $450, and for us to resubmit all the paperwork for them to issue another permit, just to do a final inspection... ouch! Luckily, the septic we installed exceeded code, because recently the codes were changed. We would have had to dig up and add onto, or upgrade the septic system to meet code had we not gone a little bigger when we installed it... it still meets code, so all we need now is the new permit.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 2/5/2010
Just a short note about the ReStore... go often, and look through the store. We just got all the kitchen cabinets we need (we're doing a really small 8' counter and will expand later) BRAND NEW for less than $200! They are particle board, but nice oak fronts, and they should last a few years until we decide to upgrade. They had a BUNCH of cabinets, but they were literally walking out the door and I was lucky to get the ones I did! Shop early and shop often.
Photos
Needs a toe kick cover, but that's the only problem! A perfect 8 feet of cabinets for the kitchen.
New kitchen cabinets. Happy Valentine's day, honey!!
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 2/2/2010
Met with the inspector on February 1st, 2010 and she looked over the plumbing and said it was all okay. She was impressed by the PEX, I don't think she'd seen PEX supply lines used in a house yet. She answered a bunch of my questions and gave me some tips, too. Very nice lady. I am glad we're building in Putnam County. The building department is VERY helpful and understanding. Patient, too. We have been building for 4 years now. We're getting closer! Here's a pic of the second-floor joists, the open area next to the ladder is the only joists we have left to put up, only 7 left. The other is the toilet. For some reason it's really hard to get on and off... hmmm. Anyway, the toilet flange is a "no glue" type, you twist the flange and the black rubber seal expands to seal it to the PVC drain. Easy to remove and reposition, so we can set the temporary toilet and remove it without cutting PVC when it's time to put down tile. There are also non-wax type sealing rings for toilet-to-flange seal, so you don't have a big wax mess when you want to remove it.
Photos
The only remaining joists to be done... should be done next trip and then we'll get some floor down!
One of the most welcome sights EVER. The plastic camper toilet is getting old. The wood underneath is a spacer (to allow more pipe to remain up from the floor), I glued that to the floor with expanding foam, and I will screw the toilet flange to the wood so everything is removable when I get a real floor covering...
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 1/18/2010
It's a beautiful thing to see running water in the house for the first time. There it was, water running into the tub and down the drain into the septic system, all hooked up. The VERY next thing to do is get a toilet installed. The plastic camper toilet is okay, but there's nothing like real porcelain. Here are a few pictures of the main wet wall and PEX piping we had placed. Thank you, First Choice Plumbing! The crew was very professional, friendly and did great work. Ran into a few unexpected problems, most generated by me, the inexperienced homeowner/builder, but they overcame and conquered. I highly recommend First Choice Plumbing, LLC., they have branch offices in Pt. St. Lucie and Gainesville. Tell Joe and Will I sent you.
Photos
Main wet wall from the kitchen
Main wet wall from bathroom
Our nice Jacuzzi brand tub from Habitat for Humanity's ReStore.
Got more joists in while the plumbers were doing their thing.
Second floor window and joists.
Comments (2)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 1/10/2010
We got over half the second floor joists up, and now it actually looks like a second floor! We will be working on it next weekend as well, I think... and may be able to get the rest of the joists up and some of the 3/4" tongue and groove plywood subfloor laid down. Here's some pics. Eric (see the below link), you better hurry. I'm catching up. ownerbuilderbook.com/blogs/users/Schrammelot.aspx
Photos
Across the second floor toward the lakefront balcony door
From the second floor balcony door toward the second floor bath window
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 12/27/2009
Got 6 more joists up today, the perimeter joists adjusted for the right height and Loctited in place. Cut off the extra threaded rod, so now we don't have to worry about banging our head on those things any more. Removed the center point of the dome, so we don't have a piece of rebar sticking up in the center of the dome any more. Lots done in just a few hours! Hopefully we'll get back up within a couple weeks and get the rest of one side of the second floor done so the plumber can come in and do his thing in January.
Photos
Me and boy hanging a joist
The boy up on the new joists.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 12/5/2009 8:35:41 PM
Got the perimeter joists completed and up, and got ONE floor joist put in. Only 68 more to go...:-) The picture of the balcony is what we got done last time, all the cement is complete (all the light gray is new cement) and the little white rectangle in the bottom corner is where the window A/C is going. The white is a styrofoam "hole blocker" until we get the A/C mounted. It looks like we will be able to cool the whole dome with a 12,000 Btu window A/C. If we need a little boost, we can put another 5,000Btu A/C in a small window to help out. The whole dome is R-28, walls and ceiling, and that's 7 inches of solid EPS Styrofoam, not fiberglass. It really keeps the cool in! The other picture is where 3 beams of the perimeter joist system come together and are suspended from the dome shell. The single 2x8 joist near it is our first actual floor joist, we got all the perimeter joists made, put up, glued, nailed and lined up and then only had time to put up one joist. That's OK, it's all downhill from here.
Photos
Finish cement on the balcony, not painted yet
Main perimeter joists triple intersection, plus one joist
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 11/24/2009
This has nothing to do with construction, but I think it's important, so here goes... please consider going to children.org
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 11/8/2009
We've finished the cement! All patching and final cementing is complete... and, of course we didn't take any pics. Next time... anyway, here's a short video from one of our security cameras we have set up around the property. It's amusing...
Videos
Comments (1)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 10/12/2009
Little by little, it's getting done. This time we got the pantry wall finished and three smaller joists put up. We only worked for five hours or so, but it was nice to talk together, work together and just visit. Family time is PRECIOUS, everyone! Try to have more of it. Anyway, here's a couple more pics, and we got a couple of bids on the "second rough" for plumbing... first in was $5,300, second bid was $2,500! Also, the lower bid was using PEX, which I wanted to use. That should help us get on track for the next inspection!
Photos
Older boy checks level.
The joists come together here, and are supported by the threaded rod from the dome shell.
The pantry wall. Hey, we were only there for five hours... we got done what we could!
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 9/21/2009
It's probably getting boring for some people, looking at lots of pictures of wood. We are working on the walls, and there IS stuff happening, just not as easy to see in these pics. We got the door openings framed in with headers, and all the walls squared up and straight, and we shaved 1.5" off the balcony door so it would fit the threshhold correctly when the second floor is done. Here's a few pics.
Photos
Bath doorway with bedroom to the left
Complicated corners in this dome...
Doorway under the stairs and bedroom doorway to the right
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 9/13/2009
Once again, we got up late (and LOVED sleeping in), got on the road late, but all went well. We got the bathtub loaded up and went to take a look at some solid-pine doors that someone was offering on Craigslist for about 25% of their cost new. They are almost exactly what we were looking for. I really wanted a light-stained solid-pine door, but the price new was WAY more than what I wanted to pay... so I was going to settle for regular, boring, hollow-core painted doors. But NO, a little searching on Craigslist (and you might want to try searchtempest.com , that will search multiple Craigslists in your area, just enter how many miles radius you want to search in). Anyway, long story short, we now have beautiful SOLID-pine doors for the dome! The doors also came with all hardware, knobs, and frames, and they're already finished!
Photos
One of our nice new doors
Closeup of door and hardware
Comments (4)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 8/30/2009
We went shopping at garage sales, and went by our local Habitat for Humanity "ReStore". This place is where builders, remodelers, and consumers donate both used and new construction materials, and Habitat for Humanity sells some of the donated items to help finance their housebuilding projects for the poor. Habitat renovates and builds homes for disadvantaged people all over, and provides them with a reasonable mortgage. They have to qualify, which means having an income, they must provide hours of work on site for a house being built before theirs is started, and other qualifications. Habitat for Humanity is a really good charity, they are sort of like "Extreme Makeover - Home Edition" but not extreme, and not free. They give families a step up into a decent (if small) home they can afford and gives them some "sweat equity" in the home right off the bat.
ANYWAY, there are ReStores all over the place and ours had JUST the corner bathtub we were looking for! It was installed and then removed, but looks really in great shape. Here's a picture (not the same one, just a stock photo). New, $800+... At the Habitat ReStore, $125. Helping a charity AND getting a deal... can't ask for more!
Photos
Jacuzzi-brand tub, "Tara" model. This is a stock photo, not the actual one we got. Ours is a little dirtier and not installed in someone else's house...
Comments (1)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 8/21/2009
We were up again for just the day, and after a late start we arrived at about noon, and left again about 6 PM. Even so, we got the bedroom walls finished, and the bathroom wall up. All we need now is a small stairway wall, a couple doorways, and the walls are done! I forgot the camera so Cindy got a couple pics with her phone... and they are not bad!
Photos
Bedroom walls
Bathroom (with red sheet as curtain)
Comments (2)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 8/10/2009 3:29:57 PM
Thanks to Eric from Pierson, FL, we have some interior walls. Eric is also building a dome, and he's done his framing already. I asked him over for a day to help with my layout, and wow, it took shape quickly. He has obviously framed before because he laid out the walls like a pro! I would still be measuring...
Anyway, I need to thank him and also Greg who is building a dome near mine, and let me wander through his and look at plumbing and such. He may be helping with my plumbing in the future, as he did all his own plumbing and electrical.
And, of couse, a few pictures... and I didn't fall off any ladders this time.
Photos
Perimeter joist for second floor supported by dome shell
A really neat-looking lizard
Another joist picture
Bathroom and bedroom wall
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 7/4/2009
Thanks to Eric and Gina who are also building a dome, I got some VERY helpful hints on the second floor joists system. I was up Friday and Saturday, and got some housekeeping done as well as almost all the perimeter joists made up. They are all lined up on the floor, waiting to be lifted into position. Once the perimeter is up, I can start on walls. I will probably be up again in a couple weeks, even though it's incredibly hot right now. In the pictures, the places where the joists come perfectly together are where they are supported by a threaded rod cemented into the dome shell, and where they just overlap is over a load-bearing wall. Over a wall it doesn't have to be perfect.
Photos
These window A/C's made it bearable to work inside
Joists layed out on the floor. You can see a threaded rod support in the forefront, with a piece of styrofoam shoved on the end (keeps me from banging my head on it).
Joists coming together with a hole for the threaded rod in the center
Luke and Leia guarding the empty Liquid Nails containers
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 6/16/2009
Not much to report. We came up for a day and it rained off and on all day. That made the mosquitos VERY active, and we spent the whole day in the garage trying to clean up (needed) and doing inventory. We basically hid indoors from the mosquitos all day. I did venture out to meet the plumbing contractor for a site visit and interview, and then right before we left I was changing the memory in the digital security cameras and fell off the ladder about 6-7 feet in the air. I was fairly undamaged, but the security camera I was holding as I fell was not so lucky. It was damaged and has to be fixed by the manufacturer. The security camera is a nice little unit (although not very impact resistant) called a ScoutGuard 550. It takes a 10-30 second video clip or one to three pictures when it is triggered by something moving in front of it. It lasts three months or so on a set of AA batteries, so it's pretty handy. Some of the pictures are really nice, deer and other animals on the property and people who wander in to look at the dome. It's nice to know what's going on. Anyway, the camera is mounted in a 3"x5"x1.5" steel box 10 feet up a tree, angled down so it's not easily seen or reached.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 3/15/2009
Well, we got the dome primed (mostly) a couple weeks ago, and finished the priming Saturday. And we completely painted the dome on Sunday. It was not that hard, but I am glad we got it done before the hot weather really sets in... here's a few pics.
Photos
Almost fully primed
Completely primed
Front of dome fully painted
Kitchen entryway fully painted
Comments (2)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 2/23/2009
There it is, with a coating of primer. The primer/waterproofer is tinted to be the same color as we will paint, so we can see the color on and decide if we like it. I think it's just fine. The interior of the dormers is newer cement and can't be painted/primed for another couple weeks, plus it will be a darker mud brown. Pics below.
Photos
Just starting
Halfway done
Primer done
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 2/8/2009
It seems like forever, but we are almost finished with the cement. We have the inside of one dormer to cement, and some touch-ups on the underside of the window dormers where I couldn't get the cement to stick, and it fell of on my head. I decided it's a LOT easier to patch those pieces, because if you try to get the cement to stay, it usually takes MORE off when it falls off for the second time, or third time... and I was wasting a LOT of cement on the ground. Soooo, I will do ONE MORE BATCH of cement next time, finish the dormer and patch the "holes", and we'll be DONE! Pics below.
Photos
Kitchen entryway, finished dormer above
Lakeside entryway, dormer above to be done. Last one before finished.
The other window dormer, showing the cement missing underneath. That cement is down my shirt.
Dad and kid putting the sand finish on the cement.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 1/25/2009
Yes, it finally happened. Someone broke into the shed we use to store most of our cement equipment (scaffolding, cement mixer, tools, etc.) and stole a few things. Wouldn't you know, it was the one time the security cameras were down for maintenance... our good freindly neighbors saw the entry rope down and checked, and found the shed door pried open, splintering the door, frame, and deadbolt. Not much was taken, but the door was propped shut with a shovel so I assume they were going to return later to get the rest of the items. We only lost about $250 worth of stuff... as I have said before, the Lord watches over this project. We moved the important stuff to the garage (the big steel building) since it's a lot more secure. We also added a couple of security cameras, called ' game cameras'. They have a passive infra-red sensor that senses warm things in front of the camera, and takes a short video or picture. We put a couple up this time and will put a couple more up next time. It takes time to get them lined up, tested and make sure they are pretty unnoticeable. Here's a few more pics, one of the lakefront entryway (done) and one of the kitchen entryway. Now all we have to do is around the three upstairs windows (you can see one above the entryway being worked on in the picture) and one door-dormer, for the walk out balcony above the lakefront entryway.
Photos
Finished lakefront entryway
Me, throwing cement
Kitchen entryway, done.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 1/2/2009
January 2nd, 2009 and we're throwing cement at the dome again. Got another 15 feet of bottom seam, a window and the front entryway finished in cement. It's really nice to see a finished SOMETHING. We got about half the dome's bottom seams to go, two more entryways and four more window dormers. It's really fun to try to get cement to stick to the underside of a window dormer. You should try it sometime. And make sure you are looking up when it's falling off onto your head, and going down your shirt. Oh well, not much left. The goal is to get all the cement DONE by the end of January, that way we can paint the dome in the first part of March. Also, the cement has to cure for 30 days before you paint it.
Photos
Front entryway
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 12/28/2008
It's the day after Christmas and we're up to work on the dome again for a day. At this rate it will be finished sometime in 2015, or at least it seems like that. We got some of the bottom seam of the dome finished, and one window dormer finished completely. The small nooks and crannies around the window dormer are a pain, thus it takes longer. Also, trying to get the cement to stick to the underside of the dormer and NOT fall right off (as it did several times) is very time- and cement-consuming. Here's a pic of the dormer in progress and one of the finished dormer, and you can see the bottom seam as well. We have vowed to get up here more often to work on it, while it's cool and nice outside. I am secretly thinking of subbing out some of the framing, plumbing, and/or electrical work...
Photos
Half done dormer
Completed dormer
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 9/11/2008
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. Thankyou 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.
Photos
Bathroom window, double hung.
Casement window (required for egress codes for the bedroom)
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 9/4/2008
Just as the title says, we got all the first-floor windows in. We 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 of pics, the four windows in a row are the lakefront view, and the other is the kitchen door and window.
Photos
Kitchen door and window
Lakefront view
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 9/2/2008
We went up and got both entry doors and two 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 second-floor windows in, and be pretty much dried in!
Photos
Front door and windows
Kitchen door
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 7/17/2008
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 Dome-ville, central, 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.
Photos
I have no idea who these people are, wandering around in our driveway. Good reason to have a security camera.
This little deer is fast. The camera is set to take 2 pics 3 seconds apart, and he was gone in the second pic.
Sliding cement. Great...
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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!
Photos
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 Dome-ville, central, 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.
Photos
Fresh cement on the upper door dormer
Main entryway seams and finish cement completed.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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.
Photos
Main entry and southeast side
South side window dormers
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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.
Photos
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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!
Photos
Seams
Closer pic of seams
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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!
Photos
Another view of the dome
My attempt at a "finish coat"
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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.
Photos
Main entryway
Lakefront entryway
Kitchen entryway
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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.
Photos
Dome with framing in the kitchen entryway
Kitchen entry framing
Lake view entry with door dormer above, that will open onto the balcony above the entryway.
Lake entry framing... all windows. The small window on the left is due to have a countertop there.
Comments (2)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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.
Photos
Boom truck, getting started
Joe on the dome panels
Panel in the air, en route
Slapping concrete in the seams, fourth row
This is how you support the panels as they are set and concreted in.
Only two panels left to fit.
All closed in, only a slight gap which closed up as the panels settled in.
Complete except for the concrete on the window dormers, Kevin taking a picture
Another view of the almost complete dome.
Comments (3)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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!
Photos
What the dome will look like... keeping the dream alive.
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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.
Photos
Underside of entryway anchors
Top of entryway anchors before cement
Up close anchor bolt from the top
Entryway with cement. Notice I am not a skilled cement mason.
Puppy inspects the window frame
Cement in progress, with window frame anchor point visible
Comments (2)
Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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).
Photos
Fun with sprinklers
Christmas minibike
Dogs in the main entryway
"Are we there yet?"
"Scary" magnolia
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, 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 pitch black by the time we finished cementing, and it WAS pitch black when I took the pics! Talk about using all available time...
Photos
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 11/14/2007 8:03:53 AM
Took Veteran's Day and the next day off, and got the last entryway finished. That means the first two rows of panels are finished... two more and the top to go. The top is considered a row, but it's only five panels so it's really not a "row". Also, the higher the dome goes, the more it tilts inward. The more it tilts the harder the panels are to brace into position... but as you get closer to the top, the "rows" have fewer panels since you are closing the circle, getting closer to the top. Imagine half a soccer ball and you're looking down on it. If the soccer ball is 6" tall, I have the first 2" done. As you go higher, the soccer ball curves to the top, where there there's a single pentagon (consisting of five triangles on the dome) at the top.
Now is the time to pull out the panels on the first floor that will have windows in them, and put up the window dormers, and maybe get going on the framing for the entryways. Once the entryways are framed, I can put temporary doors and plywood on there to at least semi-secure the area inside.
One of my helpers caught a coral snake (yes, a real coral snake, not something that looks like one but isn't... I checked) crawling into the garage building... happily, I won't have to worry about that snake any more. I will have to watch out where I stick my hands, now that I've seen that! Ahh, the wonders of being out in the country. Below are two pics of the entryway we just completed. It's a "high-profile" entryway, taller and angled at the top where the others are flat at the top.
Photos
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 10/26/2007 5:27:43 PM
I have some extra leave time from the Air Force I need to use, so I
am taking a week off here and there to get things going. I am
realizing I am NOT going to be able to complete this project in a
timely fashion without help... and maybe a lot of it. This trip,
I paid two neighbors to help me with lifting and moving, and I did set
up and getting things ready, and finish work after they left. It
worked very well! Got there Monday (late), got things ready for
Tuesday, they showed up and worked about half a day, I finished what I
could and then we were rained out on Wednesday. I spent the day in the
garage, looking for leaks (found two or three, very small but fixed
now). The garage uses plastic washers on the bolts to seal, and some
were not tight. They are NOW... Then the guys came back on Thursday,
we worked five hours and got the panels up, so I could spend the rest
of the day cementing and cleaning up. Got dark too quickly, and I had
to finish "mudding" the next morning. The Lord smiled on this trip, we
were scheduled for rain all day Friday but it sprinkled a little in the
AM and stopped for the rest of the day... just so I could finish
cementing. Very nice to have help from Above.
Anyway, we got two entryways constructed and cemented in, and the
panels in between them. 13 panels went up this week. I think there's
about 90 panels total, and we now have 30 up. See pics. As you can
tell on the last picture, we had some stability issues... as evidenced
by the excessive bracing on that entryway.
Photos
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Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL
on 10/15/2007 12:14:22 PM
We're going up for the weekend (the kids and I) Oct. 20-21, and we should be able to get a few panels on the dome. I'm starting to realize that I will have to hire some help to get the shell completed, there's just not enough time.
I got the camper back, and the quote was $550 for refrigerator repair, $300 to replace the gas regulator on the water heater, and $150 for extras. I replaced the whole water heater myself for $200, and I replaced the refrigerator with a little dorm refrigerator ($50 used). After this weekend, I will start working much more often on the dome, since it's cooler now and MUCH easier to work outside. More pictures on the way...
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