Garage has a roof

One garage floor, scored and two windows

All three windows were installed though only three showing in photo.  Changed from a full light door to a steel door without windows as it is more secure and light is no longer needed.  Won't look as attractive but sometimes security function trumps decorative appeal.  The scoring for expansion also does not show in photo, but it is necessary where concrete may experience wide range of temperatures and humidities.

Garage floor is now wet concrete

When the concrete mixer truck showed up, the dye was added into the mix from the top and the mixing speed was sped up so the color would go all through the 6 and half yards.  The speed and load meant the truck was rocking side to side as if it was a boxer getting ready for the next round.  The color I choose is gray so right now it looks much like ordinary cement.  When it cures and gets a sealer, the color will be much darker and match better to the stamped concrete.  The workmen also had this nifty machine to smooth the concrete down.  It has about a 10 foot piece of metal bent at a 90 degree angle and a motor that vibrates the metal imitating how you smooth concrete by hand.  Saves time and the workmen's backs.  The workmen will be back for final smoothing after the concrete cures a bit.

Garage floor has sand layer ready for concrete

Side yard looks like gravel stream bed this morning

We have had very little rain here for the past 6 weeks so the gravel in the side yard around the new garage was packed hard.  Yesterday the gravel was all loosened as they backfilled around and in the new structure.  Last night the rain started and will continue all day as squalls roll through with heavy downpours.  Consequently, the side yard has deep channels as the water finds the easiest route downhill, hopefully not undermining the new garage foundation.

More progress 3 hours later

The back wall of garage will have two windows and the area above the garage door will have one window.  The garage sits east to west, with the door on the east side.  The window above the door is reusing a replacement vinyl window from the original part of the house and the two on street level are partially screened by evergreen trees.  Those two windows were to go into the jack and jill bathrooms but I had them pulled and put in the glass block instead.  So re-purposing makes money sense and adds light in the afternoons.  I may have to put blinds or curtains if too easy to see inside from a car.

Frame from 8am to about 11am

Garage sill plate and tar coating went on today

The tar coating smells awful but keeps water away from the block foundation below grade level.  The sill plate has a foam liner between the wood and the cement block and is held in place with bolts in the cement going up through the wood with a heavy not racheted on to hold it place.

Foundation block for garage complete

They started at 6am and finished at 6pm.  It was a warm, dry day but not sweltering hot.  The next step after the mortar cures is to apply tar below the ground level.   Then it has to be inspected before they can backfill and pour the garage floor.  Unfortunately, the next day for inspection is Tuesday, almost a week away. 

Garage footings larger and have more concrete

Not much happening here.  I am recuperating from the big push to get the house ready for a visit from my son and his wife and a family gathering to celebrate Mother's Day early.  The back shower stopped working just in time for my overnight visitors and today the plumber was out to fix it.  The problem was a spring that got caught and then he discovered it was missing a clip.  That is a special order because I have a Moen fixture and that is not what they carry parts for normally.  So, it will be a few days and the plumber will be back to make it all hunky dory.  The plumber also looked at the weak stream of water from the front shower hand held and discovered a wad of plumber's putty in the inlet filter along with sediment that had stuck to it.  That was a easy fix and the hand held works properly.

The excavator was here in the morning to dig out the extra dirt needed to get the proper size then someone else was here to measure again to make sure it was okay.  Later a concrete truck showed up and now there is additional footing curing.

Thought I was going to post photos of guys building up garage foundation

So I am not, at least until next week some time.  The workmen were here at 7am and went immediately into conference, measuring and muttering.  It turns out that the man who came with his digger was supposed to use the outside of the markings as a guide for his bucket.   Instead he used the markings as the middle of the bucket.  So the outline of the garage is too short by more than a foot on two sides.  The digger will be back on Monday to fix this.   Urgh