New garage time!

[EddieWalker]

There is a lot that is going into creating this building!!! Since I've never seen a building done like you are doing it, which I'm guess in a regional thing. But just to be sure, is this a common form of construction in your area of the country? Do they build houses this way if there isn't a basement? All I know is slab foundations. If you need more strength for the walls, you just dig the footers deeper and wider.

 

[fatjay]

There is a lot that is going into creating this building!!! Since I've never seen a building done like you are doing it, which I'm guess in a regional thing. But just to be sure, is this a common form of construction in your area of the country? Do they build houses this way if there isn't a basement? All I know is slab foundations. If you need more strength for the walls, you just dig the footers deeper and wider.

It's how my house is built even with a basement. Poured footer with rebar to give something solid for the block to sit on, 3 course of block to bring it up to level, slab poured, and since I'm doing stick construction, 3 course of block on the top side, then 2x8" plate horizontal on the top course of block that the walls will sit on. If it wasn't stick, the block would just keep going up, which is how my house is built. Block construction is slower, but a lot cheaper than just pouring endless concrete.

 

[Macinnis]

For me, I'm sticking a screw driver into the dirt, pulling a steel tape out from that screw driver to where the next corner is and putting another screw driver into the ground there. I have one straight wall that's all done. Then from each of those screw drivers I measure out how far I need to go and place a screw driver there. Once I have my 4 corners, I measure diagonally for square and adjust until it's square. I set my forms off of those screw drivers and then dig my footings with the forms in place. For me, this is fast, accurate and easy.

This is exactly how my Morton crew did it. It took them maybe 5 minutes to lay out a 60x60 building.

 

[fatjay]

Another day, back wall up. Tomorrow is 90 blocks, big day. Bobcat has paid for itself 10x already, moving those blocks would be a killer otherwise. And since it's so maneuverable I can put the blocks exactly where I need them.

 

[dragoneggs]

Great shot of the plot and progress! :thumbsup: Must've been approaching 'golden hour' and photographers call it. Nice lighting.

 

[fatjay]

Tore the old fence down to put gravel in. Will need a way for the concrete truck to get to the back and my best idea is to pull along side, since the chutes are only 15' and once steel is in wheeling concrete will be difficult. Installed anchor as well. Mixed up 40+ bags of cement to put down the holes then pushed 18" J bolts in. Those will hold down the sill plates. Picked up 6' all thread as well, that'll go in tomorrow. They will be all the way down, encased with concrete leaving only a foot exposed. They will be joined with other all thread from the second floor, anchoring the second floor with the footer.

 

[dragoneggs]

Wow... lots of progress. Is it code that you have to go so deep with the all thread? Seems at some point in length, it is a waste.

 

[fatjay]

Wow... lots of progress. Is it code that you have to go so deep with the all thread? Seems at some point in length, it is a waste.

The concrete has to go down through all 6 layers of block. The bottom 3 layers are lipped under the concrete floor. And it's $6 per rod and $4.50 of concrete. I have a 30' high wall 44' long that's going to catch wind, even if the upper floors are heavy i'd still like everything properly anchored.

 

[EddieWalker]

How thick will the concrete be?

 

[747driver]

Lots of progress and looks nice ! Still don't understand the thinking of not anchoring the wall to the footer. You have the walls all tied together but then the walls are not tied to the footer, unless i missed you doing that with rebar. Never have seen a block wall not tied to the footer without rebar.