Infrastructure (driveway and drainage)

First things first.  Before beginning any construction, we had to take care of several basic issues that are easier to do up front, and would give us immediate benefits.  The gravel driveway needed more gravel, and grading to eliminate the small pond/ice rink that forms right where we park.  We also needed to improve drainage around the house, hopefully preventing a repeat of the mystery flood in the lower level last year.  Several ailing or overgrown trees needed to be cut down, and our big ash tree pruned. Finally the septic had to be checked- we certainly did not want to have a problem there after rehabbing the house, and potential added bedrooms might require an upgrade.

We started back in June, contacting the driveway guy (our snow plow guy), who also could put in a French drain between the driveway and the house.  The tree guy gave us a quote and agreed to come back in July.  The septic took a bit more work.  We did not know exactly where it was, so we checked with the town clerk to see if any records existed- no luck.  We tried the septic company that had previously serviced the house, but they also had no records.  “We don’t even have a computer!”  said the woman at the septic company, with a hint of pride. We called the former owner and he pointed us in the right direction, so an appointment was made with the septic guy, assuming we could find it and dig to expose the covers.  After extensive poking and digging we could not locate the tank…appointment cancelled.  Then all we could do was wait until the various projects began.

BEFORE

(looking left from the porch, at the garage)

Suddenly one day Kolbey was in the driveway, with a skid steer, Bobcat, and truck full of gravel- the driveway project was underway!  In no time the backhoe had dug a trench along the driveway side of the house, ripping out the remaining bush and fully exposing the window in front of Peter’s office. Gravel and pipe were laid in the trench, which curves around the side if the house to drain into the yard when we get big rains.  The driveway and lawn were regraded, and then a few loads of gravel spread expertly by Kolbey’s associate.  The next day, new grass seed was planted, and a layer of straw spread, and the project was done.  Slightly over budget due to an extra load of gravel, but now the drain is draining, the grass is growing, and a set of local Vermont pavers for the walkway completed the job.

AFTER

(looking right from the porch, with the new driveway

curving up toward the road)

Check back tomorrow for the tree felling chapter. :-)

-Peter