Dave Lotte

Jay Angler wrote: Your stack of foam blocks would have been very useful!

Yup.   When ya gotta cut em with a chainsaw, ya know there solid !

Radon gas fan is in !

Wanted to see what would happen to the humidity levels in the home, so i installed the fan, and turned off the dehumidifier.
After 12 hours, only a 3 point rise in humidity.  Not bad,  considering its not all sealed down yet.
Second picture - at 74 % - is the air being vented out.

Really glad i saved the foam for the window inserts, as the 8 inch thick, lite weight, solid blocks makes a great stepping stair too work on !

Another 4 hours in, for a 14 hour weekend, and the top of the pole is ready for inspection.

Now to dig a trench and install the wire into the house and i can call in the inspector.

Baby steps.

For my Friday and Saturday,  10 hours in and chocked full of " HOLY SHIT!!! " moments.  😁

30 foot hydro pole installed 6 feet deep, and ready to be wired.  Not very many pictures, as this is about the limit of my crazy ... 😲

Another 15 hour - 3 day long weekend, time to get more stuff done !  Pictures in order of operation.

1.  Realized i did not want a sump pump pit in the middle of my back room floor, and since i have to put in a new sealed unit anyways, time to move it.  
Capped the 60 gallon drum that has been dry for 3 years,  dug a small pit for the new pump pit, then dug a small conecting trench and inserted a small length of drain pipe conecting the two.  Ready for the pump !
DONE ✔

2. Installed the radon gas barrier in back porch.  Then air sealed every nook and cranny.  Back porch ready for radon inspection !
DONE ✔

Since the back porch was done, wanted to see how the floor Styrofoam lined up with the footings .... perfect fit !  ✔

3.  Finished installing the rest of the radon barrier in the main house,  then started to air seal EVERYTHING  around the main room.  1/3 of the floor area of the house - ready for radon inspection !
DONE ✔

4.  Installed the radon gas venting stack up to roof level.  Radon gas fan is now on order and on its way - then i can vent it outside.  Sucking out all the moisture under the plastic continuously.  ✔

5. Last but not least,  Keeping an eye on the humidity,  last 3 readings inside the house.  70 % down to 54 % down to 38 %. Cool ✔

After spending 5 hours crawling and sliding around on the floor..... time for a rest 😁

For those of you keeping track of the thermal performance of this house, here is an infrared thermal imaging update.

The first 3 pictures are for those who say " you don't need to insulate your floor - the ground will keep it warm...
# 1. - 7 inch- R30 foam sitting on the floor at a comfy 52 F.  Room temperature.
#2 - sheet plastic over radon venting ( little to no insulation value) - sitting at 51 F.
#3 -  gravel floor with sheet plastic on top - sitting at 48.5 F.

You HAVE to thermally isolate the entire house to be able to control the temperature !

Next 2 pictures is the reason why i bought this camera.  After running for more than a year non-stop...
One ceiling fan is running at 77 F ( good ?)
The other ceiling fan which has now been shut off was running at 113 F ( not good ).

Then there is the surprise heat plume from the dehumdifier blowing across the R30 foam sheet.  Not only did it heat up the foam as seen in the next 5 pictures, but it also warmed up the half pail of gravel 6 feet away ( see temp readings on pictures )

Last 2 are me in my work boots - after 10 seconds on the foam sheet.  Holds the heat nicely.

Matthew Nistico wrote:
I don't recall if this was a code requirement or just a recommendation; probably a requirement.

I have not bothered getting a radon test either,   building inspector says i HAVE TO install it, so i install it.
Are you getting yours inspected at some point ?   I would talk to your inspector if you are.
Easier and cheaper to install it now rather than later.

I know my inspector has an entirely seperate inspection - just for this step of the process.
He wants to see the gas venting system before anything else goes on top - no insulation, nothing.

Another point i would like to make - try not to upset your inspector any more than you have to.   He is the one person that can make your life miserable.....  
No radon system under your new floor ?  - rip out the floor and start again.

Another 15 hour long weekend in.

The 2  - 15 amp temporary circuits have been relocated out of the way of the concrete floor pour.
The kitchen wire pipe run installed in its trench.
With those 2 items out of the way, 2/3 of the main houses radon gas venting system is laid into place and ready to be air sealed around the footings.

Time to start shopping for a utility pole.  New 200 amp service has to go in before i can finish the radon system.

Finally getting to the point where the floor has too be clear.
Everything has to be moved out.... or so i thought.
Rainy day on Saturday made me realize that instead of moving it OUT in the rain ... i can move it UP !

Dont worry,  single screw at an angle to hold the hook in place, once a load is applied the hook digs into the wood.  Long 2x6 fits nicely above the beam and wall...

Last of the corner footings and the fourth post footing has been vaccumed clean.
Saved myself alot of heavy,  awkward carrying today by going up instead of out,  and after a 14 hour weekend moving, hauling and carrying looking forward to going to work 😃.

Wanted to check to make sure my measurements were good.

End to end, with about 12 inches to spare - now to cut to fit.