Blog

Ranch House Construction Update (grading)

Grading for a building pad was chosen over other methods of construction due to the setbacks, the height limit, and an advantage of acquiring yard space around the house.

Some large boulders were removed for keying & benching of a new embankment.

Archaeologists were monitoring to see if there were any significant native American artifacts.  Luckily, nothing was discovered.

 

 

A keyway was graded.

 

 

The keyway was about to be compacted by a drum roller machine.

 

 

The pad was completed.  It was over-excavated by 3 feet to overcome differential settlements, as the transition line between the cut & the fill was running through the building footprint by the civil design.


about wood coating

Wood has distinctive characteristics as evident in its various textures and many different shades of colors, as it is one of the most beloved architectural materials from ancient time universally.  Its light weight and durability enables for structural applications.  They can be a sustainable material, especially if you stick with lumbers from certified yard (i.e. The Forest Stewardship Council).  However, its vulnerability against harmful UV rays and moisture remind us of utmost care for certain applications.

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On “Shikinen Sengu”

October 5, 2013

“Shikinen Sengu” is a Shinto ritual held every 20 years to rebuild the Grand Shrine at Ise in Japan, and the finale of the ritual was completed today. The ritual takes 8 years to complete, and this iteration marked the 62nd score. The two identical shrine structures (“Naiku”-Inner Shrine & “Geku”- Outer Shrine) stand on two adjacent sites. [Read More]


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