Mike and Michele's Bigger House Project - GK

Started by glenn kangiser, September 14, 2006, 10:35:25 PM

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glenn kangiser

I started working on a bit larger house project and thought possibly there may be some items of interest or use here so thought I would post some of it occasionally.

This house is in the foothills of the gold country and will have 2' thick exterior rock walls with a foamboard sandwiched in the center.  Interior walls will be 1' thick rock - masonry - brick.

We are currently starting on the basement/utility tunnel.  The owners want to build on it as they get money to.  The last few days we have been excavating/dozing soft rock with a few hard places in it.



"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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Deana

"2' thick exterior rock walls with a foamboard sandwiched in the center"

As in Slipform masonry or something different?


glenn kangiser

#2
My understanding is that he has some real good mason to do the rock walls -standard masonry with steel reinforcing - ties from outside to inside walls - I think it was 2" of foam in the middle.  It is all engineered with  tons of steel and concrete.  I don't think he will be using slipform but will post updates.  I will be doing portions  of the work throughout the project.  His intent is to pay as he goes and take quite a while to do it.
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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glenn kangiser

#3
Here is an experimental Photobucket Video of me pushing a bit of rock and dirt out of the excavation with the D8 Cat to see if they are useful in our forum.  If you are game -- try it out -- let me know if it is useable or takes too long loading or playing. etc.

"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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John Raabe

Interesting Glenn:

You took that with the Panasonic digital camera?
None of us are as smart as all of us.


glenn kangiser

#5
Yes - I also set it to low quality video so that it will keep file size low.

Was it any problem for you? -- It looks like Photobucket converts it to a streaming video when it sends it out.  I don't know how it will do on dial-up.

That was me on the dozer -- actually --my assistant, Fred took the video with my Panasonic--- You remeber Fred?  I have his picture on here somewhere. :)

The video mode is available immediately - just turn the mode knob to video.  The videos download at the same time the pictures do with the HP software - others too.

The model I have has been upgraded to a newer model with more capabilities and higher quality video if desired.  For the web, 10 frames per second is recommended at 320x200 if I recall correctly, so this one covers it just fine.

"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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PEG688

Fred's the guy who needs suspender ::) Thinks he's a plumber ;DThe I-a-tolla of crack atolla, bad moon risin , crack a tolla east of java  ;D  
When in doubt , build it stout with something you know about .

glenn kangiser

Seem's he made an impression on you PEG.  Let me know if you want me to e-mail you a picture. :)
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

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PEG688

Ah , I'll pass on that offer Glenn.  ::)
When in doubt , build it stout with something you know about .


Sassy

http://glennkathystroglodytecabin.blogspot.com/

You will know the truth & the truth will set you free

John Raabe

Yes, the video played fine on my end (broadband DSL). With sites like Photobucket carrying the bandwidth these little videos open up some interesting (and fun) options.

My little credit card sized digital camera takes very watchable movies (with sound). At TV resolution (640x480) a 1-GB card will store over 20 minutes of video. That would be too much to upload at any rate.
None of us are as smart as all of us.

glenn kangiser

That's a lot for a baby camera.  Mine has an option for different qualities.  Maybe your's does.
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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glenn kangiser

"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

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glenn kangiser

Back to the original bigger house project and trying a little bigger video sample too.

I stuck my Gorillapod on a shovel and it became my photographer as Fred wasn't working today.

Our footings and walls are going in soft to very hard rock.  I'm not real fond of manual labor so I got out the Bobcat and my jack hammer to break out about 8 yards of rock from a corner where it was too hard for the excavator.

"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

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glenn kangiser

"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

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glenn kangiser

#15
In this project there are only two concrete stakes holding the forms in.  The rest is solid rock so we are drilling through the forms and braces and into the underlying rock with a 1/4 inch drill in a rotohammer and anchoring the forms with 60d spikes driven into the rock.

"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

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glenn kangiser

#16
Back on this one off and on for a bit.

Getting ready for a pour on the footings.  Passed inspection yesterday but am going to clean out more of a clay bank that keeps caving off before the pour (actually the left side in the above picture).  It is in an old fill area at the edge of the pad.  The rest is mostly rock.

Inspector wrote up three things for correction -- Since I know what the engineers want to see I wrote an RFI to the engineer (request for information) - drew the three items up and faxed the drawings for approval.  Actually it was just a detail left off the plan and a slightly taller wall than per plan so had to update drawings.  We substituted #3 rebar for 6-6 10, 10 WWM so took care of that by including it at the same time in the sketch - got it all approved at once.  Like congress, eh?

Engineer signed and faxed them back and I had them to county before the inspector was back from inspection.  Took a couple hours.  Inspector called to ask a couple questions but I know from his response that he was in dis-belief -- no one makes corrections that fast.  We do. :)

Take this as a tip --- if you know what you need, know it will pass code and can draw it for the engineer or architect, do it before you call him.  Many times he will stamp and sign your drawing and do it immediately to keep it out of his backlog. You will then be on your way.  At the worst he may only have to note a thing or two and then sign and stamp.

Here is my sketch as an example.


"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

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PEG688

Quote

Take this as a tip --- if you know what you need, know it will pass code and can draw it for the engineer or architect, do it before you call him.  Many times he will stamp and sign your drawing and do it immediately to keep it out of his backlog. You will then be on your way.  At the worst he may only have to note a thing or two and then sign and stamp.

[highlight]Here is my sketch as an example.[/highlight]




 Well where is it  :-? :-?   Or did ya just baffleum with B/S ;D
When in doubt , build it stout with something you know about .

glenn kangiser

#18
It's there -- maybe Photobucket had a brain fart.

Don't you see it?

It is as I received it after the engineer stamped and signed it with no changes - just added his letterhead and stamp -and signature.

Note that I am extremely proficient at baffling them with B/S also. :)
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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PEG688

I do now but it wasn't there before  :-[  Good job , your a regular legal beagle EH!
When in doubt , build it stout with something you know about .


glenn kangiser

I work on so many big jobs where we have changes to get through quick and that is the way that gets results.  Let them throw it on the desk until they get to it and many times it takes a while.  Like me.

I took a couple years drafting in HS so that helps -- I'm not a John Raabe, but I get the job done.
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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glenn kangiser

#21
Here is a pix of the forms in place.  The plastic seems to be a bit of a joke but we are putting it in then adding French Drains to be sure that the water doesn't get trapped and work its way through the walls.



Reminds me of kind of a bad Batman Cape --- or how about a Batgirl cape. :)



I know we've seen her before but I thought it was time for her  to make another cameo appearance.
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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glenn kangiser

#22
Concrete truck and pumper arrived on site before 8AM today -



We poured right at 300 lineal feet of footing - about 32 yards.

We had a few stepped areas we poured early to let them set a bit so they would be easier to finish filling later without slumping under the form.  



We came prepared for all kinds of problems - even expecting them in the conditions we had to work in -- most of the forms - about 90% were nailed right into the rock.  I was wondering for a while at first why I took this job - it was a struggle but we kept at it until we beat it.  Footings went in without a problem.  No popped forms - about 1 shovel full boil out - that was it - near perfect.



Note:  If the owner shows up, give him a job.  He'll love it.

"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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harry51

What's the next step on this job? Form and pour walls or lay up block, or ? Looks good so far! Are you in the area these days, or working out of town again?

Harry
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson

glenn kangiser

#24
Next step is to get the forms off then start on walls.  We think we will have to go in about 4' steps with vertical steel in to the top  but horizontal only to the top of the 4' until we get some waterproofing and French drains done.  The banks and rocks cave off once in a while so we may need to do it in steps - we dont want to remove and re-compact if we don't have to.  We have to inspect the sides for bad areas every trip.  We have no desire to be flattened.

OSHA regs don't cover us - we're owner operators -- still want to be safe but no gov. threats to worry about.

We are working around here now but need to go out once in a while and make some bigger money. :)
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

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