Creating an Entrance

[EddieWalker]

Originally I put in concrete sloped ends. TXDOT stopped and made me take them out because of the liability issues if somebody hit them. I was forced to buy the metal ones instead. I asked about concrete and was told not to.

Funny thing, I've seen others use the same concrete ends I had and I see some add concrete to their metal sloped ends. All in the same county. I don't have any idea what the rule is, but nobody has said to do anything more to them. If they do, they I will. Hahaha

 

[EddieWalker]

The tree is too heavy to move without cutting it down in size. So I just covered up the stump and cleaned everything up.

By spring, it will be impossible to tell it's even there.

 

[EddieWalker]

I recut the drainage and smoothed out the tracks.

This shows the drive coming into my place now with the tree out of the way.

 

[EddieWalker]

The second cap came out allot better. Dummy has it right about doing them dry. I still had to take off the sides of the form, but then it came out real easy. I did break off a corner as you can see in the photo.

Any suggestions on how to put it back on? If I get good and the others come out perfect, then I'll just make another, but I think this one is salvagable.

 

[GerardC]

Silicone /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. Gerard

 

[jinman]

Eddie, I guess hindsight is 20-20, but if you had used deck screws to hold your 2x6s together, you could disassemble your mold's sides and probably simplify the process. Also, the longer the concrete cures, the more it shrinks and this can also help. In that regard time is on your side.

Last Saturday when we talked about your project I didn't realize the full scope of what you are up against. I think you've made some great progress and things are looking really attractive.

I'm sorry you lost your tree. How long from the time you first noticed problems until the tree actually died? You can always plant some Crepe Myrtles along the front to dress up your entrance. They are fairly low maintenance plants and give you blooms all summer long and into the fall.

I really enjoyed your photos. It's obvious you have the right equipment to get things going. What kind of water and sewer system are you planning?

 

[EddieWalker]

Hey Jim,

The pines in the tree started turning brown about two months ago. Just one branch, then anther branch. Now its just about everybranch and the bark is falling off. It's really sad when they get that big. I have a couple dozen more that size on my land and a few oaks that are even bigger. In the future I'm gonna stay 50 feet from every one of those trees.

I have an 8 inch water line in front of the land and across the highway is a sewage plant. I will have to road boar under a state highway, but it's not that bid a deal.

Those two utilities are what made me buy the land.

 

[EddieWalker]

The trouble I have with good advice, is being smart enough to listent to it.

My first cap totally fell apart, so I made my second one 3/4 inch thicker. Then I rushed to take it apart and cracked off a corner.

Now I've decided to listen to that good advice, and I wait two days to take the cap out of the form, and the last two caps came out perfect.

I still need to clean up the edges, and mount the hardware.

The lights are from Home Depot and your standard aluminum post lights. I wanted more than one bulb so when it burns out, it won't be so obvious that a light is out. These ones have three bulbs each.

The little short piece of tubing in the packaging includes a light sensor to turn the lights on and off automatically. Previous experience with these has been very good.

 

[EddieWalker]

All it takes is a little grinding and I'm ready to go!

 

[EddieWalker]

The caps sit on a bed or morter and I ran the electrical wire up through the middle.

 

[EddieWalker]

This is the finished column!

Thanks to all those kind enough to explain the best way to do this. I woldn't have been able to do it without you.

 

[DocHeb]

The whole fence and column system looks very nice. Good job, it looks professionally done.

I don't know if you have much in the way of freezing temperatures, but I would suggest a couple coats of concrete sealer to prevent water intrusion and spalling. Without a troweled surface the concrete will really absorb water and will increase the chance of water damage.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Thanks for the trip through your great project. Really nice columns. John

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Hey, you've topped your own work. Nice post.

Cliff

 

[EddieWalker]

Chris,

The concrete sealer sounds like a good idea. It does freeze here in Jan and Feb. Even snow sometimes. I don't know what "spalling" is, but is sounds bad.


Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

I went down to make sure the lights came on tonight and noticed these guys trying to get into my barn.

I've always been told that if they are around, there are no snakes around, since the snakes like to eat them.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't know what "spalling" is, but is sounds bad. )</font>

Spalling is when the surface flakes off or gets soft because of freeze-thaw pressure where the moisture infiltrates the surface. Driveways do that a lot in the north especially where salt is used.

Cliff

 

[EddieWalker]

This is what the lights look like when they turn on.

 

[txdon]

Very nice job Eddie Walker! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Nasty135]

Good job Eddie! Nice choice of lamps looks sharp in a classic black with the gray cap and mixed stone.. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif