The weather FINALLY started cooperating this week! Woohoo- back in action!
Builders First Source made their debut on site Wednesday, dropping off the steel — the steel beams that will run horizontally the length of the entire house and 4 steel posts that will support the beam. The Bartley Corp. sent over the Gravel Cannon, a huge blue truck that launched several tons of gravel onto the basement and garage floors. The crew next installed huge rolls of plastic vapor barrier, which prevents moisture from coming up from the earth into the concrete. The areaway was prepped with gravel and wood forms to pour steps down into the basement. And finally, the garage was reinforced with two measures: trenches running from left to right to form two concrete beams running the length of the garage; as well as rebar placed from both from the back of the garage to the front and left side to right side.
We scheduled our slab prep inspection for Thursday. When the Inspector came over, the only issue was that we had no steel rebar or mesh in the basement. We explained that we were using fiber mesh concrete (concrete with fibers already embedded, which is a reasonable choice for indoor slabs), and he was good with that. Slab Prep Inspection passed! Love it!
Friday was super-duper exciting, as several cement trucks rolled on site to pour the cement up to a blue line that was drawn around the inside perimeter of the basement and garage. Five crew members wearing plastic boots up to their knees worked like crazy to pour, spread, level, form, edge and buff the garage, basement, and areaway steps. And the highlight of our day? Mr. Henry, our next door neighbor who has lived in his home with his wife Miss Jenny for 53 years, stopped by just in time to do handprints with our family in the garage. Life is good. :o)
Next week starts the framing!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear Carol, I’ve enjoyed watching your videos and seeing the progress you have painstakingly made. Congratulations! A perfect spot for you and family. Hugs, Antie M
It is really coming together well! Can’t wait to get another look from up close
Question: why did you need support in the garage?
Hey Evan,
Are you talking about the rebar in the garage slab? Because the basement slab isn’t load-bearing, the concrete doesn’t need extra reinforcement. But, the garage slab will need to withstand the load from cars/trucks being parked on it, so rebar is typically always used in garages (even with the fiber cement).
Love watching your progress. How exciting. And you will have documented the entire thing. The kids will love that when they are older
WOW!! Great progress. It’s looking good. Handsome bunch of boys!