Proof of concept

So my last post was about figuring out a solution to some challenges. Little did I know that the elevation change would be the least of my worries. Because the house is being built where the slope levels out nearer to the water, the ground stays really soft. The piers / pilings go past this, as much as 15 feet into the ground where it gets really firm. But at the top layer, it’s like jello. We found out that a tracked vehicle was the only way to maneuver, but that limits the types of equipment that can lift containers too. The road base and rock to build a pad for the heavy equipment, in this case an excavator, had to be brought in and built up. This added significantly higher costs. This is normally done when you are building a slab foundation or other traditional structures on a slope, but this isn’t being built like a traditional structure. I have / had no need for the rock base in the long term, but had to have it for the excavator to have a stable foundation and to be able to lift the containers into place. Why an excavator? A few reasons, but mainly because it has heavy lifting capacity, is tracked, and is more readily available. All-terrain cranes are harder to find with tracks. Plus with their weight, it could be a challenge to get it back up the slope, in addition to the base pad having to be bigger and more substantial.

Once the realization for the need for a substantial base was had, the pros went to work making it and moving it as needed. I was intentionally stingy on bringing in mass quantities of rock because I knew it wouldn’t be needed for anything else in the end plan. What has been brought down can be moved to the “parking pad” near the entrance to the house, once the heavy equipment is no longer needed. I did have to bring in an emergency load of additional rock though, as the contractor couldn’t get enough delivered in time and pending rain for the upcoming week was putting pressure on getting some of the containers set. It was another costly expense that was not planned. But with it, we finally got the first and heaviest (due to storage) container set in place on the piers. It took a couple of attempts and holding my breath more often than I realized, but once it was in place, the three of us knew the rest could be done. It was the single biggest accomplishment to date.

After the first container was set, the second went much better. Still not a perfect process, but definitely better than previous attempts. Now we have the next one to be stacked, set up and prepped to bring down. We just have to get it down the slope when it isn’t rainy so the remaining ones can be set. It rained again overnight and we can’t continue work today. At least we know it can be done, so that’s a huge relief. I’ll post the next progress after the rain subsides and they are all set in place.