A lot is happening

In my last post we saw the electric power going underground. I really couldn’t do much until that was done, so I gathered materials for the next few steps. Specifically, prepping for rough-in plumbing and getting the pad ready for concrete.

The pad is on “new” fill so it needed to be compacted. For that I rented a 6 ton vibrating compacting roller. I rolled the entire interior as well as the perimeter, compacting and settling as much of the area as possible.

Timelapse Video:

This thing did that job very well. It appears as if the entire pad was compressed by an inch or two. That’s just my estimation as I didn’t have the equipment to make any accurate measurements. I can say none of my vehicles leave tire tracks, the surface is very hard.

Next step was to install the rough-in plumbing. Much of this was done with the help of my good friend, Earl. Thanks buddy, I really appreciate your help for those two days we spent digging and getting very wet in the rain. All had to be in place before the concrete can be poured. It doesn’t have to be connected to anything yet, just located in the right spot before the concrete makes it permanent. Measure twice…three…four times to be sure. Even with that, I still have to move the shower an inch and a half. Fortunately, easily done before the concrete comes.

My deadline for the rough-in was this past Monday (the 24th), as that was the day several truckloads of pea gravel was due to arrive and then be finished to final sub-grade level. With Earl’s help we completed it just as dark set in on Sunday.

On Monday, Dave, of Horst Excavating, showed up with his skid steer and immediately got to work just after the first load of gravel arrived. Bucket by bucket, the gravel was spread, graded and finished to the correct level. Using a laser and a taut string, we raked here, added there, and removed from that side to get the sub-grade where it needed to be. Concrete will be five inches thick overall and seven inches in the area of the lift.
Video:

The next step will be to cover the entire area with 6 mil plastic (vapor barrier), install rebar and wire mesh, then get my concrete guys to check over the preparation and order the concrete.

Hope to get this done in the next few weeks and then I can get to putting the siding on and the building closed in. Well, after I get the big steel overhead doors ordered and installed.

We’ll see how it goes.

Stay Tuned!