New Home Begins

[tkappeler]

I've never seen that small of a pump truck before.

I see you used engineered wood beams. Were they significantly cheaper than steel? Around here steel beams are common.

I do not have a line item price breakdown for the beams nor a new vs surplus cost for the steel, so it's hard to say. There are some steel places around here where you could get surplus I beams at a significant savings. The architect specified these as the loads did not warrant steel and he was being cost effective, so I am guessing the steel would have been more.

 

[KennyG]

Here in the midwest, steel beams used to be common. However, they are seldom used in residential now, I suppose because of the advances in the engineered lumber components.

 

[sdkubota]

Here in the midwest, steel beams used to be common. However, they are seldom used in residential now, I suppose because of the advances in the engineered lumber components.

Wood has no where near the carrying capacity of steel beams as indicated by the number of support columns shown. Glue lam and microlam beams are better than traditional lumber.

 

[tkappeler]

Wood has no where near the carrying capacity of steel beams as indicated by the number of support columns shown. Glue lam and microlam beams are better than traditional lumber.

I think that the number of columns is on the high side as the architect and structural engineer really like to over engineer things. The columns are 4" schedule 40 with 1/4" plates welded to the top to form the U channel. Code does not call for that much. Most columns here are about 1/8" for the top and it's not a U shape to surround the beam.

I understand that codes have become more stringent as time marches on but I think this is a little overdone. But, hey, we live in a litigious society and everyone is covering their butt.

 

[Depmandog]

Thanks for sharing the pictures. That slump is VERY wet and the wire is on the ground. I'm at a loss as to what is going on here.

Eddie

I have used a pump truck a few times in the past (placing concrete in utility tunnels and crawlspaces to mitigate environmental hazards).
From what I have learned, the pump trucks can't pump a normal mix. The concrete companies will spec 2 to 3 times the amount of Portland cement ie a 10 bag mix, to offset the high slump needed to pump the concrete. The additional cement offsets the added water.

I am in no way a concrete specialist, just field knowledge. We plugged a pump truck once using "normal" redi-mix concrete. What a disaster that was!

 

[sdkubota]

They could have also used chemical plasticizers which will increase the slump dramatically although it "comes out" of the mix after a certain amount of time. If it was still in the pump it would be a big issue.

 

[tkappeler]

Yesterday's progress. All I-Joists are in and blocking was put in today. The subfloor will be done on Monday and walls will begin, weather permitting. We had lots of rain last night so more pumping. but not as bad as before. Backfilling begins tomorrow at least to make water shed away from the foundation.

 

[edlegault]

Please keep us informed when you install the Raycore panels. Am very interested in their installation ease, or not. Also could you tell us what size panels, thickness, width and length, and what price range they were in. Thx.

 

[tkappeler]

Please keep us informed when you install the Raycore panels. Am very interested in their installation ease, or not. Also could you tell us what size panels, thickness, width and length, and what price range they were in. Thx.

The wall panels are standard 2x4 thickness and 4' x 104 5/8" for a 9' ceiling and have an R26 insulation value. The ceiling panels for over the great room, since they will be ABOVE the 1x6 T&G, are 2x6 thickness and are 4' x 8' and have an R42 (IIRC) rating. They are secured to the 6" x 12" (true, not dimensional) rafters with 8" timberlok screws, 9 per panel.

The cost for wall panels are $4.10 /sf and the roof panels are $5.79 /sf. They run an April "discount" that brings them down to $3.49 and $4.98 respectively. The discount took a chunk out of the shipping cost from Idaho to NJ

They definitely added to the up front cost but spray foam insulation is not cheap either, so there is a cost offset also. We felt that in the long run, we will make up the difference in a few years if not 2-3 years, maybe sooner.

One thing I am a little concerned about is that the foil facing for all of my exterior walls could affect cell service and will not have a landline. I may have to add a cell phone antenna in the attic and feed the house from it.

 

[tkappeler]

Day one of three days of rain prediction. So far, no rain. :thumbsup:

Framers are starting on the walls. While they have never worked with the panels before, they are following the instructions to the letter. The panels are glued to all traditional jacks around windows. All seams are also taped with foil tape. The first wall took a little longer but they now have a rhythm going and it will most likely be faster.

The added weight of the foam is not so great as to prevent them from lifting a 30' wall without assistance.

More pictures to come, these were low quality from my phone this morning.