“It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; its the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.”

-David Allen Coe

An Update on the Retaining Wall

Since our last blog about the retaining wall we have done a little landscaping! Along each slope of the wall we have placed erosion control mats. These mats are used to help stabilize the soil, which in turn, effectively decreases erosion and allows for proper vegetation to take root. Made of biodegradable coconut fiber and straw, the erosion control mats are designed to degrade over time. While degrading, the mats will enrich the surrounding environment and contribute to extended vegetative growth.

Along with laying the erosion control mats, we have added some landscaping to the wall. The addition of blue stone to one of the slopes of this wall looks amazing, but the addition of mulch to another slope really starts to pull it all together. With this wall already looking so good we can’t wait to see it completely finished! We still need to work on adding more landscaping to the wall along with some outdoor decor. We will also be working on staining the retaining wall a gorgeous grey color which will look spectacular!

Retaining wall at The Inn
Retaining wall at The Inn

Digging Ditches and Playing In the Dirt

Along with working on the retaining wall we have been busy with other landscaping and installing the water line. Using a trackhoe, we dug out the ditch for where the waterline would run; ensuring we picked the best route of course. Once the ditch was dug, the water line was under construction! Using Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipes, the plumbers started laying the route of the water line. The pipes are connected using push-on joints along with a primer solution then a cement solution to hold them together with a strong, air-tight fitting. When the water line was finished being installed it was checked over to ensure everything was correct then covered.

We then made sure to lime, fertilize and re-seed the ground. Using lime helps to reduce the acidity of the soil and improves the fertility levels, while fertilizing creates healthy dense grass that maintains a deep green color and gives weeds a run for their money. By liming, fertilizing and re-seeding we should have some amazing grass here before long! Next we will be working on the septic system and waiting for that luscious grass to grow.

Water line installation at The Inn

A Little Plumbing and A Little Parking

In addition to everything else we have been working on we have more to share with you! We have also been working on the radiant floor heat in the addition to The Inn as well as putting in some temporary parking. All the plumbing for our radiant floor heat has been installed by our wonderful plumbers. Radiant floor heat is a very interesting way to heat a building. It works by having invisible waves of thermal radiation rise from below the floor that warm all objects they come in contact with, which in turn, radiate that captured heat. With this system you stay very comfortable due to the surrounding surfaces not stealing your warmth away from you, along with the air temperature staying relatively constant. The radiant floor heat system we are using here is called a hot-water or “hydronic” system. This system circulates water from a boiler through 1/2 inch polyethylene tubing which are going to be embedded in our poured concrete. Using this method of heat is the most popular and cost effective way to heat an entire house.

On top of installing the radiant floor heat we have also put in some temporary parking. With putting in the temporary parking we will get a better idea of how we want our parking area to be, as well as giving a designated and better place to park for the time being. Once we figure out exactly how we want our parking to be we will be sure to bring in the asphalt and make it happen! In addition to finishing the parking area we will soon be pouring the concrete slab for the addition to The Inn as well. With so much going on around here be sure to stay tuned for updates! We love sharing our progress with you!

radiant floor heat at The Inn
temporary parking at The Inn