Beach: Foundation repair (2020)
After 33 years the southwest corner of the back addition needed some foundation work. When it was added Mr. Tenden was concerned about undermining the basement foundation so he put in a stepped foundation that was shallower on the west side. The regrettable result was that the foundation settled. After watching and measuring the change for many years we had the large maple tree right at that corner taken down (maybe part of problem) and five helical piers installed to 21 feet and tied into the foundation.
Excavating along wall (2020)
Driving piers SW corner back addition (2020)
Sealing west wall, tops of two piers visible (2020)
One of two piers on south side just visible. Note stump of large maple (2020)
Two of three piers on west wall just visible
Gravel to improve drainage will be covered with landscape cloth. note main waste pipe that exits basement turns and runs under family room and water and power that wrap around addition and continue down driveway to garage. (2020)
Stones covered with landscape cloth (2020)
Backfilled (2020)
Beach: Cistern (2026)
After Years of nursing our water supply from the well, the hole in the line from the beach to the house got to the point where we decided to install a cistern rather than move all the boulders to run a new line up to the house (the big storms can shift the boulders and we were concerned a new line might not be a long term solution). We installed a jet pump by the deck with a suction line through the top of the well and connected the pressure side to the foot wash line to back-feed water to the house until the cistern could be installed. This will also serve to provide outside water in the future but needs to be removed every winter. The pics below show some of the steps in the cistern project.
First came a big hole in the hill along side the driveway.
Then a truck with a crane very carefully lifted the cistern up off the truck and navigated it through the trees and power-lines.
After many very slow adjustments the roughly 8x15x6 ft 3000 gallon cistern was lowered into place.
Then a trench was dug for the waterline up to the house. This shows the path after the waterline and electric for the low water switch have been installed.
Then we moved a lot of sand to cover the end of the cistern on the firelane side that stuck up above the slope of the hill and had pallet full of blocks delivered to build a retaining wall to enclose the cistern.
Here is the new retaining wall wrapping around the cistern. We raised the wall along the driveway and wrapped it around so we could back-fill to properly insulate and cover the cistern. Some how those blocks seemed much heavier than they did 35 years ago when we built the first walls.
Then came the fun part. I had the contractor who installed the cistern run an electric line so we could install a low water indicator light in the basement. Then I wired up a step down transformer and installed a light triggered by the switch. The problem was the cistern was filled as soon as it was installed so we had water right away to the house. Then we had to wait until the water level dropped so someone could go into the cistern to properly install the float switch at the correct depth. Here is that someone praying to the cistern gods.
Luckily I had a narrow ladder that would let both the ladder and me fit through the access lid of the cistern.
Here I am dropping into the cistern with only 18 inches of water in the bottom. I'm wearing my headlight as it is quite dark, particularly with Pam watching carefully from above blocking the light. I appreciated the moral support and extra hands.
Mission accomplished. Happily I'm not particularly claustrophobic.