Setting the Containers

We had a beautiful couple of days here in eastern Oklahoma and managed to get a few things done. We were supposed to get a dozer in, but at the last min we received a call saying they wouldn't be able to deliver the equipment, instead they sent us a mega-sized forklift, which Tom says turned out to be a blessing.  Tom and Ronnie got started moving the containers onto the concrete runners. They had to fine tune it a bit to get the containers lifted onto the concrete because there is a half foot drop to the ground. They decided to use old logs and planks.  Ronnie lifted the containers with the forklift while Tom pushed the logs under the container, which they then used to roll the containers into place in front of the footings. Then Ronnie began pushing the container back onto the runners with help from Tom and his tractor.

The Equipment....A mega Forklift

Push Me, Pull You...Ronnie is dragging the container while Tom helps by pushing the other end over the humps and bumps.

Lining up the containers so they can be lifted onto the footings, they placed a log under the container and then Ronnie rolled the container until it was lined up.

Success!

Lifting the containers, Tom placed planks under the container on each side and in the middle to keep it raised up and level with the footings.

With the container lifted onto the footings, Tom and Ronnie can now work it down to the end of the footings.

Putting a vapor barrier into place before the final shove to the end of the footing.

The first one in place, only two more to go.

It took Tom and Ronnie 4 hours to set the first container, 1 1/2 hours for the second and 45 minutes for the last.









Both Tom and Ronnie worked very hard to get the containers set into place in one day. It was dark by the time they finished. But they did a fine job. Next we move onto the welding part of the project.

The Road Home

We had two loads of gravel delivered.  This is the beginning of our new road to the containers from the entrance of our property.  We'll need to add a couple more loads of gravel after we have the containers in place.  The man from the power company came out and put up his flags for the poles to the containers. Tom will be working on moving the containers this coming weekend, so I should have another update soon. We are also in the process of prepping the containers. Tom has been sanding them down in the areas where they have been showing signs of rust. I've been helping him a bit by painting them with rust proof paint.

The Foundation...

Hi, it's been a few months since I've last posted.  Tom and I were on the road but we are now officially retired from the road! Woo Hoo!  We can start in earnest creating our container home.  We have been trying to get the foundation poured since Aug of last year.  First it was too hot, then too wet, then too cold, however, we've gotten a break in the weather, so we had the foundation poured today.  Next Tom will be working on removing the rust areas on the containers and then using a foundation and roof coating which will waterproof the tin cans.  Here are a few shots of the foundation being poured from earlier today.

The Septic is In! Hoorah!

     While Tom and I were out running around the country, my Teri and Ronnie were keeping the home fires going and taking care of business for us. They say you can pick your friends but not your family. However, every now and again one gets lucky, and you get a great family to go with your really nice friends. So I just want to say a big Thank You to both Teri and Ronnie for doing all that you do for us.   
     We have a rock shelf, so they had to dig through that to get low enough to set the tank in place.  Ronnie took some great pics of the process. According to Teri, it took them all day long, to dig the trench, lay the pipe and drop the tank in.  Next is laying the foundation, sanding the containers, painting them with rust resistant paint and sealing them to keep them waterproof.

Nothing much new to report...although I have a new swimming pool

We did manage to get back to Oklahoma for a few more weeks.  But Tom pinched a nerve in his neck and it still hadn't cooled down enough to really do much work on the containers.  However we did manage to contact the Septic guy and he's going to come out and put in the septic for us.  That is if it dries up, my sister in law and brother in law, Teri and Ronnie reported massive down pours which is how I ended up with a swimming pool.  The area Tom and Ronnie had dug up is now filled with lots and lots of rain water.  Ronnie took his ATV out and got some pics for us, since we are now back on the road and in Las Vegas picking up something for the musical Billy Elliot.  I asked Tom if maybe we should put some pontoons on the containers so that we can float if it rains again like this after we have the containers put where they need to be.

Here is a shot, taken by Ronnie of our 'swimming pool'.

A Small Snag....

My husband, Tom and brother in law, Ronnie had started digging the area to set the containers in, the well digger was drilling our new well, they had the forms ready for concrete man and then the well came up dry!  We have a well on the property that we put in for my sister in law almost two years ago, but isn't a strong flowing well, runs about 3 gals per minute.  And while it is possible to share this well, it would not be possible to use the containers in the area we'd need to be in to access the current well.  So we had to rethink our decision to put containers onto the property.  Tom was bummed, we started coming up with alternatives.  However, there is city water available, so we waited til Monday morning and headed for Porum, Ok to see if it was available to us.  The head of the Water Dept came and spoke with us, told us he'd come and look over the situation as their main line is about 700 ft from our property line.  He'll have to put in for a permit with the state, we'll need to apply for access to Porum's water and have the septic approved. And then if they can dig a trench 24 inches down into the ground and  rock, we will have access to water.  But our plans will be put on hold until all of this is accomplished.  Everything happens for a reason, I always say, so I'll wait to see how things go.  It could always be worse, I could have no where to live!
The first two shots are of the hole for the containers, the second two shots are of the building of the forms for the concrete footings needed for the containers and the last if of the well digger.

The Plan

My husband and I are so looking forward to getting started on this project.  We are starting with the floor plan that we worked on together.  I did a mock floor plan in Photoshop early this morning, then we sat down together and hammered (pun intended) out our differences.  Then Tom, my husband,  with his engineering background went to work with a blue print program.  We intend to tile the floors, add a product called cement fiber backboard because it is mold and mildew and moisture resistant, seal the outside, berm the dirt around the containers on three sides and lay a slab of "Lite Crete", which is light weight concrete on the roof.
The lines coming out of the sides of the front view are concrete retaining walls.  We also hope to add a patio eventually with a roof and screened in to keep out critters and insects.

Here is the floor plan and a drawing of the front which is the only area which will be exposed to the elements.