Several possible titles occurred to me for this blog issue, but I thought that one had a nice "ring" to it. I enjoy mentally re-playing last lines of media-scripts sometimes, because I have to wonder if they really "hear" what they say. One favorite from a couple years ago: "Kosair Childrens' Hospital is supported by the Childrens' Hospital Foundation." Yep, the whole place would fall down if not for that.
Having watched (and helped a little) with the foundation and lower-structure of our house project, I'm absolutely certain that "it ain't going nowhere." I've seen a fair number of foundation and block-work projects, and have been a little surprised at the depth of footings and the amount of re-bar used here.
"Ready, mix cement" was another possible title, and as you'll have already guessed from the bag-cement and bulk sand/gravel deliveries featured earlier, our concrete didn't come out of a drum-truck; these guys could imagine that happening, but it would just be imagination . . .
The sand and gravel was delivered at the street; the best way to move it
to the mixing area is one bag at a time.
It is carefully spread in layers with Portland cement in between, and the
whole pile is double-turn shoveled to mix it evenly; then, a crater is made
in the top, and water is added while the "dry" outside is continually scooped
towards the center. Result: even, thoroughly mixed "mud." It's not far
different from making pie-crust or pancake batter.
Concrete transport system. (Nothing abstract, here.)
Walking the "straight and narrow," 50-pounds or so in each bucket.
Each load is dumped where needed- here at a corner-footer pad. Each
concrete post for the house will be poured on this type of "footer-pad,"
about 32-inches square, 3-feet deep at the bottom so about 12-inch thick.
It is cross-laced inside with more re-bar which is tied to the post-fab re-
bar (vertical) and to re-bar lying horizontally in the wall-footing trench.
The wall-footing has been poured (also 12-inch thick) and below-ground
"hollow-block" is beginning to go in place. NOTE 4-inch thick 3-hole
concrete blocks are standard, here. Re-bar between blocks of this course
will be in middle-hole of the next course. All voids are filled with concrete -
"solid." Below-ground each course has re-bar above and below; above-
ground, every-second course will be re-barred.
Cement posts of this house are at corners and wall mid-points. They are
kept as "gaps" with anchored re-bar-fab in place. When the walls are full
height, these will be wood-formed and cement poured in-place to make the
posts; at the same time, re-bar-fab will be in place on top of the walls, and
formed and poured to make a solid concrete "bond-beam" around the top.
Top o' the wall; bond-beam metal in place, with the outside of its form behind
it. The form for this side is ready to go on. The vertical post re-bar-fab is visible
and will be formed and poured as a unit with the bond beam. Vertical post
concrete already poured below this is still fresh and will bond completely with
the new pour on top of it. ("Monolithic.")
I wasn't sure I could "get to the top" in just one blog-issue. Next issue will probably
revert to another topic, as I've been doing. The following "construction" issue will need to go back and show a few details left out of the story, here. But I think I can "get the roof on" with that issue.
I hung onto this issue for a few days because I got it done early. I kinda lean towards releasing them overnight before Friday because I hope that's a good day for people to look, or else they can read it over the weekend. Seems to me like next issue would be a good time to start looking at "Market" and food.
Hope you all have a fine and blessed weekend! Tim Larson, Philippines
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