As I mentioned in my last post, the first two containers are now officially on the slab! As quick and easy as that was to say, the task wasn’t quite as fast or as simple.

It was a multi step process that lasted from 7:30 in the a.m. till dark. With lots of help from family and friends our bottom story is coming together. A special thanks to those valuable helpers: Grandpa Charley, Fred Hill, Larry Yates, Keith Kelley, Steve Waller, Mark Mcguire, Wade Leslie, Sheilah Bright for capturing our moments on film, and of course our MVP Kent Bright, who makes this project possible.

The first step in the process was to rotate the containers on their side and spray foam the bottom. Yet again, a lot more difficult than it may sound. In order to place them on their side, we needed two crane trucks, thanks again to Fred Hill for getting those for us. The crane trucks were located at one end of the container and hooked onto the container so that it would rotate when lifted. Here are some pictures to show the process:

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Once the containers were on their side, the next step was to spray foam the bottom, which adds more insulation between the containers and the slab. Tyler geared up and was ready to go. And, just our luck, the nozzle was broken, and the spray foam went everywhere, including on our brand new car, the camera and in mine, Tyler’s and Fred’s hair. It took a couple of showers before it all came out of my hair, and as Tyler said, it looked like I had large lice. The spray nozzle was replaced and all was good to go. Tyler sprayed a couple layers on the bottom making the spray foam an inch thick.

Here is Tyler geared up and ready to go:

The moment everything was foamed…

All finished:

The containers were then rotated back to normal position and placed on our modified container trailer. They then drove the containers to the build site, and maneuvered around the trees, until it was ready to be picked back up by the crane trucks. Getting the large equipment close to the slab proved to be tricky. With lots of trees and small passageways, they had to be creative to keep from damaging any trees. The crane trucks were placed opposite of each other on either side of the slab. In order to get the trucks close enough to the slab a hole had to be dug for one of the trucks to fit in, and on the other side a ramp was built.

The first container on its way to the slab:

The container was then lifted and adjusted above the predicted destination. The container had to placed on the slab within less than half an inch, since there were cut outs for some of the conduit and plumbing that were on the slab. The first container went fairly smoothly, the second… not so much. Some conduit was broken off, which isnt too big of a problem, and it took quite a bit longer and needed additional cutting before it could be placed completely on the slab.

Preparing to lift the container and move the trailer underneath it:

Place Container Here:

Tyler helping guide the container to its mark:

Grandpa Charley manning the other side:

Here is a picture to show just how precise the container had to be placed.. not even an inch from the plumbing and downdraft vent:

Multipy all these steps by two, and you have one full and trying day. All the hard work paid off though when both the bottom containers were set on the slab.  Here they are: