Insulating the Slab

Nancy cutting a polystyrene sheet to fit.

An area sheeted and covered with remesh.

The mainfolds that the in-floor heating tubes will be connected to.  Eventually a framed wall will be installed and the manifold attached to the wall.

Now 2inch Polystyrene insulation goes down to insulate the slab.  As Shane didn't show up Nancy pitched in to help.  It was a bit windy, so sometimes the sheets wanted to take off.  After te Sheets went down, 6 x 6 inch wire mesh is laid to reinforce the concrete and to support the in-floor heating tubes.

Backfilling the Slab



Mike, driving his Bobcat.

Shane on the Jumping Jack compactor.  I put some time in on this machine too - it's brutal. 
Fortunatly, Mike managed to NOT run over Shane.

Next the basement floor gets backfilled.  I hired a Bobcat operator that was an artist with his machine.

SIde trip to Rampart Reservoir

Today (May 23) was graduation day at the Air Force Academy (just over the ridge from where we were hiking).  TheThunderbirds celebrate the occasion (as well as President Obama) and after making pasess over the Academy, they made sweeping turns right over us - very exciting (and loud). 

Pikes Peak with Rampart Reservoir in the foreground (yes the water levels are low).

While the forms were being removed, Nancy and I took a hike at Rampart Rersevoir (about 5 mi from our site).  Steep hike, but beautiful scenery.

Stripping Forms

Stripped forms ready for removal.

Some forms had to be beaten off the concrete (even though they were lubricated).

Foundation wall forms are stripped and hauled away to the next job.

Side Trip to 11 Mile Canyon

Clear, clear water, made fizzy by a riffle.

Me sitting on a rock - I managed to avoid falling in.

Alvin the friendly chipmunk begging for food (he got some).

Sunday Nancy and I took a local side trip to 11 Mile Canyon, one of the best fishing spots around (we picniced, we didn't fish).  A beautiful canyon with impossibly clear water, we hiked and ate.

It used to be 11 miles long but the last 2 miles were consumed by a dam that holds 11 Mile Reservoir.  As beautiful as 11 Mile Canyon is, the reservoir has no trees around it and is very bleak looking.

Pouring Foundation Walls

Setting the rebar for one of the column bases.

The boom truck.

Into the forms it goes.  The pump operator to the right, guy with a vibrating compactor in the back.

Everything gets smoothed out and anchor bolts are installed.

Column base with special bracket in place.  This bolts to the log column that sits on top of the base.

Monday May 22, the foundation walls get poured - another major milestone.  Today we poured about 51 cubic yards of concrete.  Tony and his crew did it with no mishapps (accidents or blowouts).

Foundation Forms

The footing forms are stripped, then foundation forms begin.
The walls will be poured on Tuesday the 22nd.

Heavy work, the forms are distributed around the footings.

Forms are connected to each other and braced.

Some vertical rebar was missed in the footing pour, so holes need to be drilled (my feet) and rebar epoxied into the holes.

More rebar and forms.

Buttoning up.  The last man has to climb out of the foundation.