Starting New House Finally!

[capt jack]

Alan,
You know where the piers are (at corners, beam intersections, under the chimmney) just cut the black poly reach in and make SURE there is'nt a shovel full of dirt sluffed off on top of the pier. Then you can tape the poly back. I'm sure you have a good contractor, but if you don't CYA no one else will.
Jack

 

[Alan L.]

Alan,
You know where the piers are (at corners, beam intersections, under the chimmney) just cut the black poly reach in and make SURE there is'nt a shovel full of dirt sluffed off on top of the pier. Then you can tape the poly back. I'm sure you have a good contractor, but if you don't CYA no one else will.
Jack

There are 49 piers so I won't be able to check them myself but I emailed the GC so we'll see. I am at work and will be at a seminar tomorrow while they pour.

I know there was some sand on the tops of the piers that I could observe on the outside, but didn't seem like enough to hurt anything, and would probably get absorbed into the concrete. The sand blows around so it makes no sense to get it perfectly clean until right before pouring. there is also some sand that has already blown into the bottoms of the beams on top of the plastic, but maybe only a fraction of an inch.

 

[Alan L.]

I just talked to the GC and he said to rest assured the piers will be clean before the pour.

 

[Alan L.]

Poured the slab today! Just in time, as we are expecting a hard freeze Thursday night.

 

[EddieWalker]

Congratulations Alan!!!

The hardest part is done, the rest is easy.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

Poured the slab today! Just in time, as we are expecting a hard freeze Thursday night.

Perfect timing, Alan. That slab will be nicely set before the chill and the ground will be warm enough that it won't matter. Congratulations, you are on your way.

 

[Jagmandave]

Could you explain what the cables do again? I'm not sure I understand that........

 

[Alan L.]

Could you explain what the cables do again? I'm not sure I understand that........

This is from the Portland Cement Association:

While concrete is strong in compression, it is weak in tension. Steel is strong under forces of tension, so combining the two elements results in the creation of very strong concrete components. Post-tensioning can help create innovative concrete components that are thinner, longer, and stronger than ever before.

Many of today’s “high-performance” concrete structures, including many landmark bridges and buildings, employ some type of prestressing. Parking garages, high-rise residential towers, and many other kinds of structures also employ post-tensioning techniques.

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The cables are pulled to a particular tightness 2 or 3 days after pouring the slab, then again to 26,000 pounds 10 to 14 days after pouring. After the second tensioning, they plug the holes with cement.

It is a specialized post tension company that does the stressing, not the foundation contractor.

 

[Alan L.]

Congratulations Alan!!!

The hardest part is done, the rest is easy.

Eddie

I hope this is the case. My friend GC told me if I stress over the rest of the house as much as I did the foundation I won't live long enough to enjoy it.

Thanks, Jinman, I only hope it turns out half as good as yours did.

 

[heehaw]

take a look at the link i put in energy saving tips: theres lots of info for folks building a new home..it could help cut your utility bills a lot.
heehaw