The Subs

Number 1 Subcontractor

Gary has been working furiously to finish the electrical work before we head back to NC for Christmas.  The electrical inspection is scheduled for Wednesday and he is making up the last panel. Everything else is complete, except for the outside lights on the porches.  Before we insulate, the electrical work must be approved.  Montana is a funny state, no building permit required, no inspections on the building, but we must have the electrical work inspected.  The wild west has always been about upholding individual rights, with minimal governmental interference.

The plumbing and heating contractors have also been busy.  They should both be done prior to the insulation on Friday of this week.

Porches

The final grade will be about 3' higher

Hans and Trapp have been working on the porch this week, creating a place to enjoy the view of the Elk Rearing Range.  The surface is made of a composite material that should stand up to the intense sun on the west side of the house.  They needed to get this completed so that they can build the enclosure for the fireplace.  And the fireplace must be completed so that we can insulate the walls.  It's

FIreplace

all connected and it has to be completed in the proper  order.

Inside Work

Gary  is doing the electrical work, which is slow going when you don't have anyone at the end of the wire pushing it through.  This weekend, he had help, but they were pretty inexperienced and worth about what he was paying them.

While we were away, there was a lot of activity at the house, mostly inside the house.  Plumbing, heating, and insulation contractors all made good progress.  Also while  we were away,  we got our well drilled and the gas line run to the house.  It is wonderful that we can soon have water and gas inside the house, but not quite how we had hoped.  From the time we completed our application for gas, it took the gas company 2 months to trench in the line.  Unfortunately in that time, the ground froze.  Consequently  they needed to defrost the earth, which is not a cheap proposition.  Picture huge electric blankets with insulation covering an area 20 feet by 150 feet. 

The well was equally expensive, they drilled 410 feet and only got 3 gallons per minute.  The driller witched the lot and thought he found the best spot, but his magical powers must have been weak that day.   We will have enough for household use, but not for a garden.  Our choices are either to bury a cistern or dig another shallow well for irrigation.  We can wait on that decision till next summer.