I’m combining several entries together because 1. I’m lagging behind on the updates and 2. Rain, inspections and tests have caused delays so there wasn’t too much activity to report on.
After fixing plumbing and digging even more, we started to lay our rebar
Our 2 steel columns complete with impaling rebar rods were delivered by this truck that somehow fit in the alley.
I was wondering how were going to install the columns since we had no machinery or pulleys or anything around. Turns out we just get everyone to pick it up.
After delicate leveling with sledgehammers, we tied the columns into the grade beam with more rebar.
Normal foundation footing on the left, grade beam on the right and sand everywhere else.
After getting structural observation and inspection we were ready for a pour. A concrete truck with 3000 psi concrete and a pump came to pour the grade beam and foundation. Good thing we told them to bring a lot of hose.
Pouring concrete is not quite an exact science but it is pretty entertaining.
After passing a compaction test, we laid more rebar for the ground floor slab.
When I got there in the morning, there was no concrete truck in sight… because we had to hand mix and pour the slab. I only dropped the wheelbarrow twice. Also, I somehow ended up 3x dirtier than everyone else.
Once we poured the slab, we smoothed it out to a hard trowel finish. Most of the below ground work is finally done.
I just realized that I forgot to carve my initials in the foundation. I must have been too tired for any such carving.
What I Learned: Tying rebar is an art form and a potential competitive sport. Though steel has a higher density of 7.85 kg/m³ compared to concrete’s 2.4 kg/m³, concrete feels heavier if you end up moving it around all day. There is a reason why the warnings on cement bags say to avoid direct contact with skin or eyes. I should wear glasses and perhaps, long-sleeved shirts on concrete days. I need to work on my core muscles and/or my wheelbarrowing technique and/or use the wheel barrow with the properly inflated tire. Construction work makes you appreciate a lot of things.
