25 Jan, 2022
SNOW! January 2022 update-Frame done, windows and doors in...
As we enter the new year, we are looking forward to relocating and starting our new life in Idaho…plan for this trip: meet the plow guy, meet our project manager, get another 20-foot shipping container, switch registration for car and box trailer to Idaho, snow removal, critter shelter, and?
Winters for the past few years since we bought our bare land have been mild. This year, there has already been several feet of snow in the Pacific Northwest. Lake Tahoe has had record breaking snowfall and North Idaho has had several snowstorms. We have been watching the weather reports and forecasts and following local traffic cams in anticipation of our travel. North Idaho had below zero temps for a whole week straight just the week before. Tentative plan was for both of us to drive, but with the questionable road conditions, we decided that it would be safer in the 4x4 (we only have 1) with the box trailer. It was the right decision…
Driving north through California was no problem, even coming through Bend, OR was a breeze, and Spokane, WA was alright also. The last snow was just before we left, but we were driving in freezing rain and into another snowstorm. As we entered North Idaho, the main roads were all well-groomed and drivable. It was when we drove off the main road and onto our non-county-maintained road that we ran into sketchy road conditions. We put our tire chains on, but with the heavy box trailer, we slid and almost didn’t make it. Good thing Art was driving…if it had been me, for sure, I would’ve ended up in a snowbank.
Upon arrival, I immediately noticed that our plow guy (who we secured on our last trip before the snow) had been plowing our driveway as promised. However, it was 9pm and we had to shovel our way into the RV. Good thing we had the foresight to stop and buy a shovel at Home Depot on the way here. Snow is 3 feet high all around and even higher at the house in spots, and I see that workers laid a 4x6 plywood to make a bridge from the driveway to the garage over a snowbank to access the house. We are going to have to get a snow blower. I already made plans to meet my plow guy in person in 2 days so there’s that also. Following the local Facebook forum, it seems pretty clear that I was lucky to have made a connection and have a plow guy on retainer.
Once in the RV, it was cold, low 30s inside and out. Drinks and water jugs we had left inside were frozen solid…canned drinks had burst open with tops blown off and chunks of ice strewn on the floor (not even melting) Oh Nooo….and then we saw that our water tank had exploded…Oh Noooooo….no water…good thing we travel with some. Well, extra stuff we didn’t anticipate doing, but got to do. And, propane tank is empty, battery is dead, not charging…it is almost 11pm, sleep under layers of blankets and figure it out tomorrow.
STORAGE. Prior to traveling to North Idaho, I called, emailed, researched storage units and found none. Last trip in October 2021, I had inquired about a 20’ shipping container and I received a quote for $6500 delivered – too much! Just the year before in July 2020, I had purchased one for $2500 delivered! I found a few on Facebook marketplace, but they turned out to be scams – Beware! If the seller asks for payment sight unseen, be weary…I asked to visit the lot and pick out my box and they blocked me. Always make sure you are dealing with a reputable dealer/seller. I bought my last shipping container from Drybox, so I contacted them again and I received a quote for $4400 this time…still expensive, but better, and I have no choice. We opted for 20’ containers and not the larger 40’ because they are 20 feet long x 8 feet wide = 160 square feet and anything less than 200 s.f. does not require a permit in my county. This is something to research before dropping a bigger one on your property to avoid fines. A private landowner does not have to allow city/county/government officials on your property, but they can see what is on the property by satellite/drone so there is no hiding a big structure unless you bury it…which is something I am thinking about also…bunker? (A story for another time) pool? (maybe) We visited the Drybox lot and looked at several containers and picked ours out. There seems to be the idea that North Idaho is completely free, and you can do whatever you want on your private land. Well, depending on your county, that is not entirely true. There are rules such as no living in your RV for more than 30 days unless you are in the process of building your house...If it is in a barn or under cover, then I would think it would be less obvious. Check your local county's rules to see if they are in line with your plans. My county is not the strictest nor is it the most relaxed, it is acceptable to us, but you may have a different idea of what is acceptable.
Went to several RV stores and Camping World and Blue Dog RV, both RV chain stores, had their entire Parts department crews out sick. Great. Started calling around and found All Seasons RV and she knew exactly what we needed (we aren’t the only ones with this problem) …got a new RV water tank!
Next, went to several stores including Lowes, Home Depot, North 40, Tractor Supply, and more to find a snow blower. Many stores were sold out. Finally found a store that had three: 1 already sold, we bought one, and the other sold while we were there. Cub Cadet 2X 30 Pro…the most expensive one they sell…but the few cheaper ones that were available looked like they would break and would not be able to handle the amount of snow we had and there were no middle price options. So, I bit the bullet and charged it on my Home Depot credit. The gentlemen at the store took it apart enough so that it would fit in my SUV, and it took 4 guys to lift it in. How are we going to get it out? Our plan is to pack snow up to the back of the car like a ramp and roll it out…
Snowplow, CHECK! Shipping Container, CHECK! RV replacement water tank, CHECK! …making progress…
Next day, car registration. Previous DMV visits were long waits, but this time, we were 2nd in line! Yay! This car came out to be about the same as California with special plates.
SNOWPLOWING. Tim the plow guy came on time as promised. He proposed opening up our driveway more and pushing the snow back to make room for future snowstorms with his brother-in-law in an excavator. We have the shipping container coming so just in time. $100/hour – totally worth it! Job was done in 2 hrs. I also had them widen our road so deliveries would not be a problem and for our neighbors. Earlier this day, our windows were to be delivered and the driver said he couldn’t access our house. He probably saw the big hill of snow at the start of my road and didn’t want to chance getting stuck. Now, he will have no excuse.
Drybox delivered as promised. We picked out our box 2 days before and 2 days later, it was delivered and set. Love it! Instant storage, future shop? We have been priced out of a shop for now, but I have ideas on how to get it done…I’ll share once it works out…
Things on my mind as we prepare to relocate…do I quit my job? Do I stay on on-call and commute once a month? I have picked out some appliances from my CA home and have committed to bringing some that I already have. Partly because I have heard of problems with supply chain and the inability for some people to get new stuff in a timely manner and in the case of my washer, it is the very first side-loading washer made by Kenmore over 20 years ago, bought for my very first house. This washer has sentimental value to me, and it may not be pretty, but it still works fine!
SNOW! This trip turned out to be perfect timing even though we were told work on our build was 3 weeks behind. We made plans with Guy, our project manager, to go over electrical on-site and once he saw how we had cleared the snow, he made arrangements and workers started coming back. We walked through the house room with him room by room and discussed electrical outlets, switches, and fixtures. This was great because when you are looking at a flat paper plan, it is hard to imagine some things and as we progress, our plans also have evolved. We ended up taking out a wall that would have divided the 2-car and the 1-car garage, moving the outlets that would have been on that wall, adding a 50 amp plug for welding, adding an outside plug for a future spa, deleting a chandelier and opting for can lights instead (so we would have options on where to place a dining table), and then adding electrical boxes for ceiling fans in the vaulted ceilings of the living area. In the future, we will add ceiling fans ourselves in the bedrooms. To have the builder add the ceiling fans would be cost prohibitive, so we will add the actual fans ourselves later. As much as possible, it is best to group the changes and keep ‘change orders’ to a minimum because there is a fee each time.
Over the next couple of days, HVAC, electrician, window installers, and siding people came. Had we chosen to not come, these things would have been delayed even more. These skilled workers come to do their work, not shovel snow! Having a plow guy on retainer was such a great thing. His services not only benefitted us and our build, but all of our neighbors on our road. Buying a big snow blower was also such a great choice. That machine can throw snow! Our Cub Cadet snow blower has been able to move so much snow in a short amount of time. Had we tried to use only the excavator and hand shovels, it would have taken us days more than the snow blower. We cleared about a 6 feet radius all around the house for the siding and window people to be able to do their work. Lucky, we came while the snow was fresh and soft. The longer it sits, the harder it gets, and requires more muscle to break it up so the blower can pick it up and throw it.
Seeing our house coming together is exciting. The frame was completed during our last trip (2 months ago) and since we have been away, the roof has been mostly completed, exterior doors, and rough plumbing with tubs and shower have been installed. Being able to interact with each skill set is very important because they each have their insights that affect our house. HVAC crew installed the ducting and it just so happened that the ducting was run over the future fireplace. Well, we missed that one, but it is something that we brought to the attention of the woodstove people so that they can divert their ducting. The thermostat was also set on the wall behind the woodstove. Good thing we caught that so we could have it moved. This is something we would have not caught had we not been here.
ELECTRICAL to HOUSE. Permanent power & electrical. Meeting the electrician was also a great thing. He was supposed to walk through the house with us on the day our project manager came, but he couldn’t make it, so we met him separately. He pointed out some things that we didn’t think about when walking through with Guy. We made a couple of changes. Last trip, we trenched and laid empty 3” conduit from the main power supply up to the house for future permanent power. The 3” width is easier to push wire through. From the 3” conduit, a 2” conduit piece is added which will go to the box. We capped it loosely, not glued. The electrician sets the house breaker box, and this conduit connects to that box. Each step of the way must be inspected by Idaho Building & Safety Dept. Normally, we would trench, lay the conduit and leave it open for inspection. We were leaving the area and I didn’t want to leave an open trench for safety reasons, so I took multiple photos to show depth and conduit and sent them to our inspector. He said we could bury it. We left the area near the house unburied so that the dirt could be moved, and the conduit could be moved to meet the box. Bought 4/0 aluminum wire for the job. Same wire also available in copper, but copper wire is much, much more expensive. Inspection request placed, inspection was completed and passed the following day.
SIDING crew due to come next. I did not realize how siding is placed is affected by whether you use concrete or decking around a house. Clearing snow around the house, we found 4 piles of siding and trim which were completely buried under the snow. Again, if we had not come to clear the snow, work would have been delayed even more. We had to leave before we saw the siding people, but the materials are all uncovered and ready to be used.
INTERIOR DRYING. We were asked to provide a few box fans and (2) 240V heaters and (2) 110V heaters to help dry and circulate the air once drywall starts. Windows and doors are now installed so the house is grossly sealed. Electrical boxes, switches, and wiring in the works. HVAC mostly complete.
FUTURE. Next job for us is interior paint. I have an idea of the colors I will choose. We will do the job ourselves using an airless paint sprayer. Exterior paint is in the schedule, but with it being so cold, the paint will not dry properly. We have 6 months from the time of siding install to complete the paint.
Questions I had for my builder were:
(1) Can I pre-paint trim before install? Answer: No, because extra material is ordered and what is not used will be used on another job.
(2) Can the wall texture people leave the window coverings since that will save me a step? Answer: No, because taping and prepping for paint is much more meticulous and detailed than for wall texture. I was told that windows have been ruined before so now texture people will not leave their coverings, they are required to take them off.
(3) should I install gutters? Will the snow come down and rip them off? Will they create ice dams? Should I get those gutter heaters?
…Check back for updates, next trip will be in a month! Work that still needs to be done are septic and well pump…
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