Another outdoor project begins…

rev20090907 more pics gate

rev20090813 more pics below

rev20090817 more pics

I’m building a 10 foot gate to block the drive at the front of the duplex. The last time I set a bunch of posts was in 2003. After digging the hole for the 6×6 post I thought “Damn, I’m not 20 any more” then I laughed because I immediately thought “I’m not 40 any more” but I can say I feel better from the labor. Pedalling around town and the county is not the same energy burn as pulling two cups of dirt from a small hole with 25 pound vintage post hole diggers 150 times. Then there is the pile of 80 pound sacks of concrete. 10 sacks were used to set this post and I’m continuing to pour the entire perimeter of the duplex to deal with some drainage issues. Phase 1 – concrete strip along the drive and tornado shelter, Phase 2 –  concrete in front of duplex, Phase 3 – 4 yards of top soil re-grade side and back of duplex.

depth 3.5 feet

forms set, post plumb

the 8 pound shop hammer was made by Elves - it works magic on a stake!

When a good deal presents itself I try to act. This mixer was purchased from a punch sub on a previous job. If you have a choice then choose to let a machine mix your concrete.

and 400 pounds of concrete later

another 400 pounds tonight after work

…

rev20090813

#3 rebar pins in and starting to dig

5' formed up, expansion joint at foundation and every 10'

above we have a piece of canvas for a couple extra days wet cure on the post base, on the expansion joints I ripped some PT 1x for a cap which will be removed and I’ll use some SL1 or comparable Sika sealant on the joints and along the foundation.

start mixin

screed, start cleaning up tools

start tooling the edges and we'll broom in a little bit

another 10' done 29' to go

I went throught the mental gymnastics of pricing sand, gravel and portland, mixing myself, storage area, mix area and found the 80# bags were much more convenient and about 15 cents cheaper per every 80# quikcrete equivalent. I buy it when I’m pouring the next day, I move it where I’m pouring and mix it right there. With bulk materials I would have to move the mixer and wheelbarrow concrete or cart materials to the mixer – more of a mess, for sure. I’m trying to pour at least 1 5′ section every 3 days – this factors in time for two part-time jobs and working on the house’s interior, too.

Since I count at least 25 revolutions on each 1.2 cu ft batch I think the mixer will have a spiral painted on it pretty soon…

done

rev20090817 Ok, the statement above about pacing the work to 5′ feet every few days, well, throw that out. I had a little mania kick in and it coincided with two days of light work planned elsewhere. So, I brought home 42 bags and got my ass in gear.

oops, a little surprise in the last batch of flagstones. I saw the distinctive chaotic web and knew I would find a black widow. I kept a captive black widow in a 5 gallon cider jar for morethan a year when I was in my late 20’s so I have seen the beast in action.

you don't want the bite

clean the area ready to form, drill for rebar pins, just tool joint in middle of 10 foot section, set expansion joints

Sunday morning – the last 10 feet. The concrete stoop under the grey bucket is block and brick with a 3 inch concrete cap. I’ll have that out of there this week.

At some point there was an entry door here so I have to take out the concrete stoop. I thought it would be a cap poured over fill or blocks but it is half and half with rebar in the cast portion. Sledge handle starting to crack. In the next image this is the section just beyond the saw horse – DONE!

Of course, “DONE” refers only to pouring the concrete to the end of the duplex. Phase 1 will be completed when I strip the caps off the expansion joints, pack backer rod and clean top of expansion joints and apply the SL-1 into the joints. Phase 1 is “done” at that point. More images to follow on that process.

I’m happy with the way it looks at this point.

last section poured - now the gate

pickets on

another view

Top trim ripped 2x4 down 2" w/ 18 degree face and 1x4 cedar cap

first coat redwood stain No. 9 Behr

second coat of redwood stain on gate, pickets have dried out more w/increasing gaps. That's ok.

and now we play “what’s in my burrito?” (the pic of the habanero is not here but the pepper went in the burrito, too)

two of the bell pepper plants have nearly collapsed from the crop so I brought the dehydrator from the warehouse. Time for green pepper dust.

Mars out.