This past September my wife, Dotty, watched a show on the DIY satellite channel. It was called "Some Assembly Required". The show featured a home using pre-built wall panels and trusses that are trucked to a site and erected with a crane. The homes appear to be round but actually has equal length sides. We own 20 acres on a private runway and decided that a round home - tall ceilings, lots of windows - would be perfect for our dry lake bed runway. The manufacturer is Deltec Homes and is located in Asheville NC. We selected a basic size, laid out interior walls, and placed our order. On May 13, 2007, the factory called saying our home had been loaded on two full-size semi trailers and was on its way. Delivery was Wednesday, May 16th.

The pictures, below, show the actual progress by days. They are labeled "virtual days". In this context "virtual days" are those days that work was actually done on site. Any days that are spent waiting for the inspector, correcting errors discovered by the inspector, preparation days, days delayed due to weather, and days used to purchase materials - are excluded from "virtual days".

The first photo is labeled Day Minus 3. The Minus virtual days count down to Day One, the day that wall panels are ready to install.

• Day Minus 3: Bare lake bed. Construction has not started.

• Day Minus 2: Foundation has been trenched, concrete forms installed, and underground plumbing installed.

• Day Minus 1: Rebar, sand, wire mesh installed and ready for concrete delivery.
    

• Day Zero: Slab is poured
    

• Day One: Truck arrives with Deltec home

• Day Two: Material is inventoried, placed, and first wall panel erected

• Day Three: All remaining wall panels - 22 - are erected

• Day Four: Center support set up to raise trusses

• Day Five: Start setting trusses
  Note: Between virtual Day Five and virtual Day Six the site was shut down for 3 weeks due to excessive wind. The center pole and truss shown in the Day Five photo, below, was blown over by the wind. The bundled of trusses on the slab was also blown over against one of the interior walls (which moved 2.5 inches from the impact!) Wind speed at that time exceeded 70MPH!

• Day Six: Pole is back up and some trusses are placed on the pole and walls

• Day Seven: The remaining trusses (88 total) are set in place.

• Day Eight: Roof sheathing (plywood) is nailed down.

• Day Nine: Roof sheathing is complete.

• Day Ten, Eleven: Interior walls done.

• Day Twelve: Center pole removed and stairway construction started.

• Day Thirteen: Stairs completed, loft floor done, and hangar foundation ready to pour.

Acknowledgements: Before showing the pictures of this amazing project, there are some people that I must thank

1. First, my wife and my son for their valuable assistance, support, and creative suggestions. 

2. Second is Deltec, the designer of this amazing "over-built" home. 

3. Third is Valley Lumber in Barstow CA. Jeff and his team at Valley Lumber fully understands the phrase "customer support". What a team!

4. None of this would've been possible without the fantastic cooperation of Julian, Suzan, and the gang at San Bernardino County that guided me thru the Building Permit and Inspection process. Their suggestions and guidance is very much appreciated.

Day Minus 3 - Empty Lake Bed	Day Minus 3 - Yes, it really is a runway. It is also the REAL inspector (my wife, Dotty). She is inspecting her own airplane before inspecting the construction..
Day Minus 2 - Concrete forms being set up	Day Minus 2 - Underground plumbing installed
Day Minus 1 - Foundation slab ready to pour	Day Minus 1 - Foundation slab ready to pour
Day Zero! Slab has been poured and ready to go!	Day Zero! The Supervisor's Station is ready for operation.
Day One: Truck has arrived with panels, parts, pieces, nails, trusses, and an Instruction Manual	Day One: One of 22 (yes, 22!) wall panels
Day Two: Trusses placed on slab	Day Two: First wall panel erected and braced. LOTS of wind so bracing is required.
Day Three: Final wall panels lifted into place.	Day Three: All panel installed, plumb, and level
Day Four: Scissor lifts used to raise center pole for trusses	Day Four: Two scissors lifts used to hold pole. 750 pounds! And, raised by hand. Good crew!
Day Five: One truss set. Those walls are 10 feet above slab so the top of the truss is 24 feet above the floor.	Day Five: View from the outside. Crane, with operator, is coming the next day to set all remaining 43 trusses. Yes, 43! Too high, too dangerous - leave it to the professionals.
Day Six: More than half of the 88 total trusses have been placed.	Day Six: View from floor looking up to center pole. Top of crane used to lift pole and trusses is seen in this photo.
Day Seven: Jorge gets a ride from the crane operator to the top of the trusses	Day Seven: All 44 main trusses are set. The compression collar (steel band to hold the trusses) is also shown.
Day Eight: Most of the roof sheathing is done.	Day Eight: View from inside. Note: the walls are TEN FEET high.
Day Nine: Roof sheathing is completed. What a view!	Day Nine: Exterior doors, paneling around the doors, and roofing material and the SHELL IS DONE!
Day Ten and Eleven: Interior walls started. Some work on stairway started.	Day Ten and Eleven: Interior walls are done. View is from great room thru kitchen posts towards Master Bedroom.
Day Twelve: Center pole has been taken down! Everyone held their breath - ceiling did NOT drop.	Day Twelve: View is from great room thru kitchen. Center pole is no longer in the middle of the kitchen.
Day Thirteen: Complete stairs to loft	Day Thirteen: View from fireplace area looking at edge of loft about kitchen.
Day Thirteen: View of kitchen looking thru counter area. Stairs are to the right.	Day Thirteen: Hangar (west of house) is ready to pour.

Last updated 09/27/07