Week 1 - Moisture Test and Locates

Here are a few things that happen first before construction begins on our house:

Install a water meter box. This is the main valve box where water comes in to my property from the city. For my property, the water meter box was already installed. This is one of the first things that needs to happen because before anything is built on the property, the dirt needs a moisture test. So a sprinkler is hooked up to the water meter box, and water is sprinkled on the lot all day long to pack down the dirt. Shortly after, a moisture test is performed and passed.

Install temp pole. This is a temporary power pole for the contractors when they begin construction on the house and need power for their tools/machines during construction. 

Mark the outline of the house and property. The city comes out and puts in 4 orange pins that outline the rectangle that is my property, and 4 blue pins that mark the 4 corners of where my house sits on the property. They look like this:

And they are placed like this:

Another thing that needs to happen is the city needs to come out do locates. This is where they mark where the main gas, power, sewer, and water lines are that come into my house from the city. This is done like this:

Gas:

Power:

 Sewer:

Water:

As you can see in the last picture, a number is also drawn on the curb to show what the address of our house will be.

A few more lines are painted and flagged on the property that show more power and internet cable lines underneath the dirt.

Now the house is ready for the next step, which is putting in forms, rough plumbing, and pouring the foundation of the house. This is all scheduled to happen within the next week!