POLE BARNS RECYCLED

[mudcat]

Now that the topsoil was removed I could start building forms. The slab will have 16" monolithic type footings around. It is going to take about 60 yds. of fill dirt to bring it back up to slab height. Here is a picture of the back forms going up.

 

[mudcat]

Here is the form after backfilling and bracing. You can see the massive pile of topsoil in the back ground.

 

[mudcat]

I spent most of the weekend on the back form. The east form will be identical to this form. Because of th slope of the exsisting grade. I wiil be able to use 2X8's on the west side. I am going to leave the front open until all of the fill is in. I did manage to get a head start and build the forms for the east side, I just need to install them. Ran out of time this weekend.

 

[MotorSeven]

Nice....kep the pic's comming!

 

[mudcat]

It's been a long week. But I finally got around to the east form.

 

[mudcat]

And here comes the the fill. Now the fun begins, more seat time!!! Uh, I meant work not fun.

 

[mudcat]

The fill has a light mix of clay and packs hard.

 

[mudcat]

It has been a roller coaster ride up to this point. I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's a long tunnel. Much more work to do, so I better get back to it.

 

[mudcat]

It has been about a month since my last update. I have been pecking at it a little bit every day. Anyway I can not believe how hard the fill packed down I thought when I planned on 60yrds it was overkill and that I would have plenty left over. Boy, I was wrong! I wound up needing 22yrds more. Ouch! Dirt is cheap, it is the delivery that hurts.
The first photo is of the fill going in and things shaping up. In the second photo you can see how hard the fill was to dig out for the beefed up edges and front form.

 

[mudcat]

After I got the front form in it was time tofine tune the fill dirt.

 

[mudcat]

After getting shaped up the way we wanted it my Dad ran the plate compactor over it for the last time!

 

[mudcat]

Next we covered it up with 6mil plastic. One thing I don't understand is "Why is the black plastic more expensive than the clear plastic?". I opted for the clear stuff not seeing paying more for the same thing in a different color. When I started rolling it out I noticed it was grey. I guess I got a good deal!!!

 

[mudcat]

Next I drilled an 1-1/8" hole through each post and sleeved them with pvc pipe. Then I ran #5 rebar through the sleeves and continued the rebar around the perimeter. Then I laided down standard wire mesh around the perimeter.

 

[mudcat]

Because I do not have the the tools or euipment to pour a slab this size in one shot, I decided to break it down into three slabs. I didn't split them up evenly. I wound up with two 12'x33' slabs split by a 17"x33' slab.

 

[mudcat]

I decided to rough in a little bit of plumbing and elctrical. For the plumbing I roughed in for a hose bib on three corners and a laundry sink. For the electrical, I roughed in a 1" conduit for every other pole and stubbed a couple outside.

 

[mudcat]

I poured the outer slabs and thickened footers this past friday. 13 yds what a long and horribly humid, hot day.

 

[mudcat]

I will pour the center section this Friday. I can't wait to get the sides on and the place lit up!

 

[rox]

When you do the next pour, will you leave that center form in place or remove it?

 

[mudcat]

Hi Rox, We made that pour yesterday!! I removed the center forms so that the previously poured slabs would act as forms. (1st & 2nd pic) To lock all the slabs together, I drilled and installed # 4 rebar on 3ft intervals into the first two slabs. (3rd pic) I also locked everything together to the footing.

 

[mudcat]

The worst part of the day was getting started. Since the shoots on the concrete truck will only reach so far, we had to wheelbarrow the back half in. And since it is my slab and I was the youngest one of the bunch, I managed the tub of torture. I was glad when we got to the point where we could shoot it in. By then my skinny butt was worn out.