New garage time!

[fried1765]

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.

I guess it all depends on where you live.
I have seen MANY block walls not tied to the footing.
That is all in the past however.
NOBODY builds block walls where I am from (in NE) anymore.
Everything is formed and poured.
MUCH better than blocks!

 

[747driver]

I guess it all depends on where you live.
I have seen MANY block walls not tied to the footing.
That is all in the past however.
NOBODY builds block walls where I am from (in NE) anymore.
Everything is formed and poured.
MUCH better than blocks!

Yes...you don't see many block foundations anymore, but as you say it depends on where you live. . Its all poured in place or ICF blocks. Block walls are just cheaper to build compared to poured in place. When i lived in TX it was all slab on grade. They still use alot of block here in Tenn. I always put rebar in my corners and then fill with concrete. I don't want the chance of the corners shifting.

 

[fatjay]

The pad will be 6" thick with mesh and 3'x3' grid of rebar.

The footer was drilled and rebar placed in it, then concrete poured in the block. It isn't holding it down, just preventing lateral movement. The j-bolts and all-thread going beneath the slab will hold it down.

Got most of the parging done today and a load of stone to start spreading, but then the rain hit.

 

[747driver]

Lookin good ! These overhead shots really show the progress. Sometimes i will stuff newspaper or plastic in the block voids on the top course . Then fill with concrete.... i have a thing with overbuilding things !! It always rains when you are hitting your stride....

 

[fatjay]

It's so hard to properly capture it without the overhead shots, I guess due to it's size.

I'll be filling more of the block with concrete, 6 deep, for the all thread that will tie to the second floor all the way down to the poured concrete under the slab.

 

[fatjay]

Lazy saturday, attacked that mountain of stone and got it spread out. It was a bit tricky, that stuff is very loose and I was digging in left and right. Managed to get it done though.

 

[airbiscuit]

Nice work. As nice as that garage is, maybe it's time to treat yourself with some equipment that is less than 10 years old

 

[fried1765]

Nice work. As nice as that garage is, maybe it's time to treat yourself with some equipment that is less than 10 years old

I like the flavor of his old stuff.
Absolutely NO PAYMENTS!

 

[fatjay]

Nice work. As nice as that garage is, maybe it's time to treat yourself with some equipment that is less than 10 years old

Maybe if I was building garages for a living, but I'm not going to spend $30k on a bobcat or backhoe for around the house. Although I never imagined how useful bobcats are, and i'm really glad I found it by accident when looking for a tractor with loader. It's the most useful machine in the world, able to get into and out of small spaces, quick attach forks or bucket. This project has been made infinitely easier because of the bobcat. They're worth their weight in gold, I may consider picking up a diesel with hydraulic movement down the line now that I know how useful they are.

Oliver 77 backhoe: $2400
Bobcat M600: $2500

 

[airbiscuit]

I'm just trying to help you get a new toy err, tool. With a little patience, $10k would get you a Bobcat 753 or newer (and sell your Bobcat 600 for what you paid for it).

 

[shovelmike]

Thanks for sharing your project in this thread, it's looking great.

 

[ovrszd]

Clean gravel is easy to spread, hard to stabilize.

Gravel with more fines is harder to spread, much easier to stabilize.

My concrete guy used gravel with fines and a packer.

 

[EddieWalker]

Nice job on the gravel. When you pour the concrete, will it go above the 12 inch block to anchor them down in place?

You mentioned that your rebar will be on a 3 foot grid. Is that code there? What size rebar will you use?

Here, we use 3/8 rebar, also called #3, on a 2 foot grid for most things, but I personally like to go 18 inches. It gives me a better sense of security knowing there is more rebar then needed, and it's not all that much more money for the extra rebar. 18 inches is also enough space to walk around the rebar so it doesn't come off of the chairs.

Remember the biggest lie from concrete crews is that they will lift the rebar up while pouring the concrete. They might do it for pictures in the beginning, but when they start really working hard, they are walking all over it and pushing it back down to the bottom of the pad.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Good progress, I'm watching too.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[fatjay]

The stone will come up to 2" under the 12" block, then 2" foam will go on top of that. The 6" pad bottom will be the top of the 12" block. I"m picking up steel mesh tomorrow and will have it pinned up 2" and then pex tied on top of it for the floor heat. After that a 3x3 grid of 1/2" rebar, then ready to pour. Now that you mention 2' I may do that. Cheap insurance and strength.

 

[riptides]

If you do not mind...what is your projected budget for foundation and building skeleton?

 

[fatjay]

If you do not mind...what is your projected budget for foundation and building skeleton?

I don't really know. As much as it takes I guess.

So far this is the breakdown:

$2500 for the concrete footer
$1200 for 8" and 12" block
$1500 for stone (3 trucks @$500 each)
$150 for a pallet of concrete
$200 for rebar
$2200 for insulation and J-bolts

Estimated expenses are:

$8200 for 6" pad with 3x3 grid of rebar
$400 for 1000' pex type A

I'm not sure about the steel mesh, I'll get the price when I show up to pick it up.

 

[ovrszd]

I still don't understand the purpose of the steel mesh?

 

[fatjay]

I still don't understand the purpose of the steel mesh?

I think it's to tie the pex to, since it needs to be anchored to something.

 

[ovrszd]

I think it's to tie the pex to, since it needs to be anchored to something.

That's why they make plastic "staples". They hold it in place laying on the pinkboard.