Have you been wondering what is going on up at the Coteau des Prairies Lodge site? You know we have been up to something, don’t you? Well then, its time for you to take a look and see for yourself…
The cement crew enjoys a great view of the prairie as they pour the footings.
Extra large footings are required to support the massive size of the lodge.
The cement pump truck boom reaches far across the construction site by remote control.
Mike Storbakken and his crew hard at work.
A cement truck unloads into the pump truck as the crew works.
Putting rebar in the footings where the wall will be poured.
Footings are nearly all done. Why is the footing so large in the northeast corner? Hmm...any guesses?
The wall forms stack together just like Legos. This is the cement crew's play time.
Laying the first row of forms.
Building a white foam fortress.
The crew setting the forms in the south wall where there will be three lower level bedrooms.
Patty Breker pumping some foam. Look at them pipes!
The crew standing on scaffolding that also serves as a support for the forms.
Taking care to make sure everything looks good before filling the forms with cement.
The crew inserts rebar as the pump truck arrives.
Wall forms are finally ready for cement.
Time to fill those hollow walls with cement! How exciting!
Looks like Mike may be concentrating too hard to enjoy the gorgeous view. Probably a good thing.
Another cement truck pulling up the driveway.
The man with the remote wields the enormous boom with grace and precision.
Mike fills the forms plumb full. Seems like he has done this before.
Gathering after a hard days work to celebrate a job well done. Friends also come to check the progress and join the festivities.
Calvin Jacobson and his crew dig in the underground plumbing.
This is the final step before the floor goes in.
On to the next stage...the floor.
Joe Breker mans the wheelbarrow to assist the cement crew in filling in the floor with sand.
The 'other' construction crew arrives at the site to inspect the progress.
Gideon Breker, Aden Kohler, Noah Breker and Benaiah Breker lend a hand.
Finishing up the filling and leveling process. The crew dumped sand with a Bobcat into the building through the middle window.
The crew tamps the sand to make sure to fill every nook and cranny and to make a nice even surface.
The crew lays foam on the sand as insulation for the floor heat.
Calvin Jacobson and his crew prepare to lay down the floor heat coils.
Calvin staples heat coils to the foam.
The crew works on what is beginning to look like a giant colorful circuit board.
Finishing up the floor heat installation process.
Rebar is laid down over the heat coils. Guess what happens next?
The cement crew hard at work turning a sloppy mess into a beautiful concrete floor.
Mike using a tool to make the cement nice and smooth.
Putting the last finishing touches on the cement floor.
The finished work of the cement crew. Great job guys (and gals)!
Tools of the trade.
Noah and Gideon's cowboy boots revealing the evidence of a hard days work (or play).
The view of the Coteau des Prairies is changing as a large white box has suddenly appeared atop the hill.
