The Ceremonial Groundbreaking

On Thursday, January 31st we met with our banker, Christina Janecka of Citizens National Bank in Corsicana, and contractors, Zack Melton and his father Marcus Melton of Melton Builders in Corsicana, to close on the interim construction financing and to sign the construction contract.  (Thanks to our son-in-law Jeff Nydegger of Winstead law firm in Austin for reviewing the contracts on such short notice.)  We would be remiss if we failed to acknowledge how professional and accommodating each of these fine folks have been.  They have returned email messages promptly, answering all our questions.  They've worked speedily to approve the paperwork and make changes as necessary.  In short, they've made the process of building a home gratifying, and that is not what we've been lead to believe is normal.

With the papers all signed, we adjourned to the contractors' office to discuss some additional changes.  For example, using wood windows in damp shower locations or in attics and garages where the wood is an unnecessary expense doesn't make sense.  On paper a novice would unlikely consider such items, but then we don't have nearly the experience our contractors have.  I have often said to them that I expect them to be our agents - making sure we aren't wasting any money on substandard workmanship or faulty practices.  We are paying them to advise us smartly and I have no doubt their fees will be money well spent.

After clearing the trees a couple of weeks ago we returned with a tractor and box blade to level the resultant holes.  Our friend and neighbor Steven has been a godsend in much of the work so far.  He knows practically everyone in the community and has been invaluable in advising us.  With the lot cleared and smoothed we burned the limbs and stumps that remained after harvesting as much of the wood as possible.

The contractors set the corner stakes outlining the approximate location of the house.  They were able to place the house close to the remaining trees without encroaching too closely.  Hopefully with the erosion fences I placed around the trees I would like to save, the subsequent construction crews will not damage them.

Later Thursday afternoon we met with the first of many subcontractors to come.  Mr Jimmy Rash showed up with a laser transit to measure the lay of the land.  Within an hour or so he had all the calculations necessary to estimate how much fill dirt would be needed for him to prepare a pad on which to build.

The soil in the area is dense clay - black dirt.  It is difficult to smooth and expands and contracts with changes in moisture content.  To keep the foundation from shifting a pattern of piers will be constructed by drilling holes into the pad.  These holes, approximately one foot in diameter and ten feet deep will be flared at the bottom.  Steel bars will be placed in each hole and cement added to form a network of pilings on which the foundation slab will rest.  I have been assured by the contractors that this engineered foundation works well in this clay soil.