From the Flout dosing tank.
Into our new d-box
Then into the perfectly balanced raised bed gravel.
Category Archives: Chris Gould Photographs
Deck framing details
Blocking between the i-beams to provide structural reinforcement and air sealing above the sill and below the floor decking.
Blocking boards pre-cut in quantity.
Blocking installed between the TGI i-beams.
Reinforced blocking around glulam support base.
3/4″ Avantech flooring glued and screwed in place.
Sealing the soffit under the deck
The deck extends over the edge of the foundation, overlapping the 10″ blocks of Neopor insulation that that will attach to the foundation wall below. 
The underside of the cantilever is sealed to make the shell of the house airtight.
The underside of each beam is glued with OSI SF-450 adhesive. The bead runs along the perimeter of the connection point. The screws go through in the middle to avoid breaking the bead seal. 
The two-by-four lumber under the soffit is an attachment point for the Neopor blocks of rigid foam insulation. The blocks will be notched out to fit. All gaps will be filled with spray foam insulation.
Installing the curtain drain
This drainage trench will help to keep the gravel dry in the raised bed septic system. It will catch and divert water from the house site so it runs away from the septic field. 
The trench is drained by perforated pipe bedded in stone. The clay soil makes drainage more of a challenge than anyone expected.
Deck details and the first interior framing
Interior space
Blue tarp effect.
The client (me) in my future studio space.
Building the deck
Installing the septic gravel
Our soil does not pass the perk test with its very high clay content. We needed to haul in 36 truck loads of gravel that drains adequately and will support our septic distribution.
Each load is distributed by Ted on his dozer.
The almost finished raised bed septic field along the front of our hay field. The slightly darker material towards the back is the imported gravel.
Finished Swale
Work begins on the deck
Rain has caused delay, so work on the deck began immediately after the slab was poured.
Our first LVL beam in place.
The vertical metal straps cast into the foundation will attach to the future glue lam frame of the house.
Detail showing the sill sealer gasket between the sill plate and the foundation. Also, the LVL beam above is glued in place. From the beginning of construction all joints and connections are carefully glued and sealed air tight on the passive house.
Connection point on an i-beam glued and sealed in place.
At the end of the first day, 14″ LVL and PSL beams installed.