Dateline: 8 February 2017 a.d.

In late 1990, as we awaited the arrival of our second child, our modest 868 square foot home felt increasingly cramped. With only one small bedroom, the impending winter made expanding our living space a pressing need.

When our first child was born, my wife Marlene, left her job to become a full-time mother and homeschool our children. We prioritized this decision, and while its weight may not be fully grasped by our children right now, we wouldn’t change a thing.

Supporting our family on my income as a building contractor was challenging, marking a period we refer to as the “Hard Years.” As a self-employed home remodeler, I was constantly occupied with the demands of managing the business.

My business partner, Steve, and I were a highly effective team. Looking back, the projects we tackled, particularly the light-commercial ones, still impress me. We likely undervalued our work, often charging less than we should have, leaving us in a perpetual struggle for financial stability.

The photo above holds a certain poignancy for me. It captures not only Steve but also a young boy in red, bundled up against the cold, clutching a plastic hammer. This is my eldest son, who shares my name (passed down from my grandfather). A wave of sadness washes over me as I realize how swiftly time has flown by and how consumed I was with work and finances during those “Hard Years,” potentially missing out on precious moments.

The addition was largely possible thanks to a generous gift of $10,000 from my Grandmother Kimball earlier that year. To our surprise, Marlene’s father, Jay, gave us $1,000 for windows. This was completely unexpected, as Jay, though comfortable lending money, rarely gave it away. His decision to contribute financially was truly significant.

I envisioned a basement for the addition, a space to house a larger water heater, replacing the inadequate one crammed in an upstairs closet, and a well pump.

Steve’s father, Al Bossard, was an experienced excavator. At the time, Steve and I had one employee, Dan, from whom we had purchased our land years earlier. I paid everyone involved to ensure the addition was completed swiftly.

Our plans were met with an unexpected obstacle. As Steve and I began building forms for the concrete footing after Al dug the basement, we encountered extremely wet and sandy soil. The ground yielded with each step, our feet sinking deeper into the sand. The excavation resembled pudding, constantly shifting and collapsing—we were dealing with quicksand!

Fortunately, I had a connection with Alfred Muscari, a successful engineer and a loyal client. I had worked on his notable property, Fallbrook Point, on Skaneateles Lake for several years and considered him a friend. I reached out to him immediately, and he provided clear instructions.

Alfred’s guidance involved digging a drainage trench to the gully behind my house, then having Al Bossard remove as much loose, wet sand as possible from the excavation. We laid a layer of robust geotextile fabric (which Steve’s father readily had available) followed by a foot of coarse stone delivered by a stoneslinger. Finally, we were able to build the footings on this stable base, permanently resolving the quicksand issue.

This image showcases the fabric, stone, and poured footing. Drains were also incorporated into the trench leading to the gully.

The subsequent picture captures the construction of the basement walls. Although it was a compact basement, I opted for sturdy 10" concrete blocks, laying them dry, applying Quickwall parge on both sides, and filling the cores with concrete.

The removal of the two piers that initially supported the 10’ x 10’ addition was possible because one wall of the basement provided the necessary support.

As shown in the image below, the addition’s ground floor was not expansive. However, the second floor promised a much-needed spacious bedroom.

The next installment in this series will detail the framing of the addition before the onset of winter in 1990.

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the conclusion of this series.

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