After all the walls were poured the activity slowed way down. First came Thanksgiving, then a big snow storm and lousy weather. But some work did get done in December. As of this writing we are planning on pouring the basement slab just after Christmas.

I had asked the builder that, if at all possible, I would like to use genuine Dow Styrofoam since my Dad, Ted Ehman, a Dow engineer, was one of Dow's experts on the manufacture of Styrofoam and retired from Dow's Styrofoam Technical Center. Alas, that didn't happen so Owens Corning pink foam instead of Dow blue foam.

Also I elected not to put in in-floor heating. But I did ask for 4" of foam under the slab instead of the normal 2" for energy efficent homes.

Back filling in the snow. The short wall closest is a retaining wall.Side closest to road. The part with no foam is retianing wallSlowly the big mounds of sand are being put back into placeThen it snowed a foot. Everything was covered with thermal blankets but a big job to uncover and remove the snowFar drain (orange) is for sauna, one with bucket over is a shower off of changing room. One is back is toilet, and on left is for bathtub & sink.Laying vapor barrier and foam.4 inches of foam - proof!!And they over lapped the layers when possibleKitchen sink drainPowder room toilet & sink drainsPlumbed for future washing machine and laundry sink.View from main floor level. The part with no foam is the screen porch.Finishing up laying the foamAll ready to pour the slab after ChristmasCorner of old cottage and West Lake in the Winter