"Duck House" How To Tips Part 1

Knowing that all of you deeply regret that you cannot participate in this project, but I will endeavor to keep you informed so you too, will feel that you are a part of this important project. Also, in the event that you want to build the same type of facility in your backyard, this will also serve as a "How To" help topic so you do not fall into the same pit fall as I did. You can learn from my errors. As a matter of economics and conservation, you should seriously consider the development of such a project in your yards. This facility will save you from 200 to 300 gallons of water a day, money flushed down the drain each time you pull the handle on your new fangle "flush toilets" That is a savings of 2,400 to 3,600 gallons of water a year.

First thing you will want to do is select a site that not only is soothing to the soul in natural fauna and floral, but also has a good base for drainage. We were fortunate to select such a site. Early into the excavation, a very good quality of sand and gravel was struck enabling the excavation to go to a depth of seven feet and provide instant draining of liquids.

The first error occurred by not covering the site and allowing rain to saturate the area, eroding about three feet of top soil into the excavation site.
Today, construction began in earnest with the removal of the original foundation base and excavating around the perimeter of the excavation.
Referring back to my engineering notes as well as the building plans, the site was further excavated to including the entire perimeter of the building and deck structure, to insure the ground was level, well drained for building construction.
Although a lot of material had to be moved by hand in the excavation process, the site came out level and should drain well. Additional back filling around the pit entrance will take place at a later stage in the project. Water repellent material was then added to the substructure above and below ground level.
Additional fabric was placed on the substructure to insure that water was diverted from the site, allowing it to saturate into the sand, gravel, and not drain directly into the excavation creating a second erosion problem. Additional back fill will be placed around the substructure to bring the foundation of the building level with the top of the substructure.
It was a beautiful day to work at the HITW today, some sunshine and shirt sleeve weather. Weather permitting, tomorrow, the soil abatement cofferdams will be built for installation inside the substructure, the messican excavator will be on the job site to extricate the excess debris from the bottom of the depository. Although primitive, I believe that with one on the digger and the second on the five gallon bucket, it should be a simple task to take it back to the original depth or perhaps a little deeper. Once completed, the foundation for the building can be completed before another trip to the lumber yard is required. I did spend a little time in the bottom of the pit today, only to extricate my engineering calculator that had slipped out of my shirt pocket as well as the level that accidentally drop into the hole during the process of leveling.

In the event you are wondering, I am having fun! As a side note, now I do not want to start a major "rush" to stake claims, but perhaps I have discovered "Arnie's Vein". I excavated a rock today, about half the size of a football. I was totally amazed by the amount of "gold" that is showing in the rock, perhaps the most I have ever seen show in one rock. It is safely stowed away in my safe, however, next spring it will be on public display in the new "Duck House", under very tight security. Having plenty of time to think today while shoveling, you can look forward to some innovative improvements to Duck House II.