My Barn..... Finally !!!

[jdmar]

Be careful thinking a dozer compacts well. I have a Case 550 (not much bigger than that JD450). It only puts about 5.5 lbs/square inch of ground pressure--that is the same as a normal walking human.
It would be worth going over the area with at least a vibratory roller with the area moist but not soaked--the bigger the roller the better. A jumping kack would also work but is very tiring over a large area. You can rent one of the larger rollers from the bigger equipment rental places (Volvo, Cat, etc) but sometimes hiring it done is about the same $$. I would just hate to have you build a great new building and have one corner/side settle on you. If you water it regulary for a while it will settle faster also but I think compacting is still recommended. Good luck

Peter

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin Guys,
I thank all of you guys that have concerns about the compaction issue !!!

Im also concerned, and have a call into my contractor to get a better idea of whats being done on that front ! I did question him once on it, and he stated that he would be dumping the gravel on the barn floor base and then compacting.

At this time Im not sure what type of compactor he will be using, but will hopefully find out more in the near future.

My problem right now is that Im in Ct, and all the work is being done 176 miles from here, so its a bit difficult, other than asking my Uncle Dave who is just up the road, or putting calls into my contractor !

What I do know is that he is very reputable and done many such jobs as this, so that fact alone makes me feel a bit better...

As the pad is staked out, and forms erected, and stone is delivered I will updating with pics and commentary...

Thanks all again !

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Guys,
Well last week I had a call into my contractor on the compaction issues and he assured me that he was addressing my concerns, and that he was spreading gravel with the tractor and using a large vibratory compactor, not only on the inside of the barn footprint put a few feet out in all directions !

It made me feel a whole bunch better about this whole project !

Here are some updated shots from this past week and some of his progress !

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Guys,
I got a bit of bad news durring the week, that the tractor trailer carrying my trusses was unable to make it up my driveway !

So they dumped my trusses down at the bottom of the hill ! :confused2:

The lumber company that Im using sub contracted the trusses out, but they have told my contractor that when they do some of my lumber deliveries that they will get them up on top of the hill to my building site !

My contractor coverred them up and did an inspection also !

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Guys,
My neighbor Neil was good enough to come over today and dig the trench for my floor drain, with his little JD !

Thanks Neil, nice to have good neighbors, and took care of my puddle problem !

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin Guys,
Well here is this weekends work...

Poured the concrete yesterday, all went well other than all the trucks showing up about the same time ! :confused2:

We used the power screte and the power trowel to make work a bit easier...

I did the J-Bolts and helped with assorted other stuff !

Im quite happy with the pad, and this morning we cut the floor with the concrete saw into 9 sections about 3/4" deep...

Of course the beer tastes better after all the work is done ! :licking:

 

[wmonroe]

Looks good. It's always nice when the concrete is complete, now walls can go up and it will really start taking shape.

 

[EddieWalker]

Scotty,

Congrats on your slab. Looks like a heck of a basketball court!!!!

I'm enjoying your progress and seeing your dream turn into reality. It's been a long time coming, and you have done a heck of a job in making it happen.

Eddie

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Bill and Eddie,
Yes thanks guys !

We will be starting to frame up the long wall closest to the driveway this weekend...

Here are a couple of more concrete pouring shots !

Do you have any idea how long it took me to save for this project ?

 

[crazyal]

Looks good. How thick is it? Looks like maybe 6"? I'm building a garage but doing most of the work by myself. It's going to be 28 by 32 two floor gambriel with a steel I-beam down the middle so the first floor will unobstructed (no posts). I'm going with an Alaskin slab with the outside edges being about 18" think with a 5"ish center slab (6" plus where the two post lift is going). I've got the spot leveled and the 3/4" stone down to improve drainage under the slab down but doing by myself it's slow going with this weather. I'm kind of jealous on how fast yours is going.