dmaceld
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Posts:461
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| 05/11/2008 11:49 PM |
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I finally have gotten my long promised construction journal posted on Ownerbuilderbook.com. You'll find it at
http://ownerbuilderbook.com/blogs/users/dmaceld.aspx
The best way to view it is to go to the bottom of the page and then up to the first heading. Read the narrative and check out the photos. Then move up until you get to the next heading and read down through the post, and so on.
If you have comments and they are pertinent to this forum, I welcome you to post them here. If you have comments that may not be of interest to most GBT members then post them on the OBB blog.
Thanks.
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Building house - what a way to spend retirement! |
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RAP-BIG-ICP1
Registered Users
Posts:9
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| 05/12/2008 9:40 PM |
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Excellent!! Thank you for sharing that. How long (hours and/or days) did it take you to get from "We started stacking the walls" to the "Where the walls are today" pic on 5/11? I'm guessing (assuming) 4/29 thru 5/11. Is that correct? Also, how many people do you have helping you stack the walls?
I'm assuming again here that you are doing this yourself, yes?
BTW, that blog looks like it will end up being an invaluable resource for me!!! Thanks again for putting it up. Keep up the good work, and good picture taking/posting.
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dmaceld
Registered Users
Posts:461
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| 05/12/2008 10:47 PM |
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Posted By RAP-BIG-ICP1 on 05/12/2008 9:40 PM
Excellent!! Thank you for sharing that. How long (hours and/or days) did it take you to get from "We started stacking the walls" to the "Where the walls are today" pic on 5/11? I'm guessing (assuming) 4/29 thru 5/11. Is that correct? Also, how many people do you have helping you stack the walls?
I'm assuming again here that you are doing this yourself, yes?
Thanks for the kind words. It was either 4/28 or 4/29 when I straightened the crooked wall. That was the start. There's two of us, me and a God send of a hired man. He hasn't done ICFs in the past but has done a lot of construction work. He can figure things out real well. It just takes time. Stacking block is the easy part. It's cutting them for the windows, figuring out where to stagger the joints when you end up 6" long or short from full block lengths, building door and window bucks, bending rebar, cutting rebar all different lengths to fit between windows, deciding which blocks should be zip tied together to ensure wall integrity, making sure blocks are cut to the proper length to assure the webs line up vertically, and so on!!!
The corner block problem I discuss in the other thread has eaten up quite a bit of time. Today on a 12' section of wall between an outside corner and an inside corner the top was 1" shorter than the bottom. Took quite a bit of jacking around with the braces and the corners and force fitting blocks to get the top only 1/4" shorter than the bottom. I've got a 5' in that wall so they only solid length of block that can keep the corners from wanting to tilt toward each other is above the window!
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Building house - what a way to spend retirement! |
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Farmboy
Registered Users
Posts:124
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| 05/12/2008 10:48 PM |
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| Mac, I echo RAPs comments. Biggest thing I've gained from your posts is to do thoughtful planning, but maintain a positive attitude when things do go as planned. I like to say "there are no problems, only solutions". Sounds like you do too! Dave |
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RAP-BIG-ICP1
Registered Users
Posts:9
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| 05/12/2008 10:58 PM |
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Oh, it looks like I'll be using the same brand as well, so I'll keep my eyes open for the corner block issue.
What kind of support (training, etc. - if any) did you get from your materials supplier?
Thanks again,
LANCE
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Farmboy
Registered Users
Posts:124
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| 05/12/2008 11:14 PM |
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Allow me to correct "Biggest thing I've gained from your posts is to do thoughtful planning, but maintain a positive attitude when things DON'T go as planned."
For RAP-BIG-ICP1. Lance, FYI I'm planning to start soon and attended a 1 day training with our local supplier. Different block, but techniques still applicable. Highly recommend. Note this supplier also has a readi-mix plant near our home site, in addition to bracing and other accessories so they know ICF mixes. Dave |
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dmaceld
Registered Users
Posts:461
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| 05/12/2008 11:33 PM |
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Posted By RAP-BIG-ICP1 on 05/12/2008 10:58 PM
Oh, it looks like I'll be using the same brand as well, so I'll keep my eyes open for the corner block issue.
What kind of support (training, etc. - if any) did you get from your materials supplier?
Thanks again,
LANCE
I went and observed during a wall pour of a house in Hailey he was building. We discussed quite a few things at that time and he reviewed my drawings. He and his salesman came when we did the foundation pour. He checked things over before the concrete arrived and except for one or two minor items blessed things off. But I have not received any formal training per se. I have learned a lot from this forum and my own research.
I'm quite self reliant and self confident and do have a good ability to figure things out. Doesn't always keep me out of trouble, but has enabled me to tackle projects like my ICF house with a high level of success. Also, the "sisu" I inherited from my Finnish parents has been a great asset. I'll leave it to you to Google sisu and learn what it means!!!
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Building house - what a way to spend retirement! |
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Farmboy
Registered Users
Posts:124
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| 05/13/2008 1:00 AM |
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| Sisu is a Finnish term that could be roughly translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. The equivalent in English is "to have guts". |
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RAP-BIG-ICP1
Registered Users
Posts:9
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| 05/13/2008 4:38 AM |
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Posted By Farmboy on 05/12/2008 11:14 PM
Allow me to correct "Biggest thing I've gained from your posts is to do thoughtful planning, but maintain a positive attitude when things DON'T go as planned."
For RAP-BIG-ICP1. Lance, FYI I'm planning to start soon and attended a 1 day training with our local supplier. Different block, but techniques still applicable. Highly recommend. Note this supplier also has a readi-mix plant near our home site, in addition to bracing and other accessories so they know ICF mixes. Dave Sounds like basically the same as the supplier here. I'm not sure what their 1 day training entails, but I do know they offer it. They've been doing ICF here locally for a while now. I'm not sure exactly how long, but I know it's been over 4 years.
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Farmboy
Registered Users
Posts:124
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| 05/13/2008 11:34 AM |
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| Lance, Ours was 8 hrs at motel conference room, 20 people, 2 instructors, block samples, went thru installation manual we got to keep. Basic info, some hands on, touched, sawed, tips. 75% were construction trades, rest DIYers. Would be great to stack pour even a small sample wall with a corner. Don't know where you are, but you might chk out Habitat for Humanity or ICF projects in your area. If you're planning DIY, some hands on is invaluable. Dave |
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Raider Bill
Registered Users
Posts:61
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| 05/16/2008 11:30 AM |
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Posted By dmaceld on 05/11/2008 11:49 PM
I finally have gotten my long promised construction journal posted on Ownerbuilderbook.com. You'll find it at
http://ownerbuilderbook.com/blogs/users/dmaceld.aspx
The best way to view it is to go to the bottom of the page and then up to the first heading. Read the narrative and check out the photos. Then move up until you get to the next heading and read down through the post, and so on.
If you have comments and they are pertinent to this forum, I welcome you to post them here. If you have comments that may not be of interest to most GBT members then post them on the OBB blog.
Thanks.
Great Blog!
What we are doing by building ourselves really is showing that this isn't rocket science. Common sense, basic construction skills, patiance and determination is what it takes! Oh I forgot time.......................... Money......................
I had a great time stacking my 600 plus blocks, all the worry about the pour is now just a distant memory.
My next step is installing the metal roof and starting my wiring!
All doors and windows are installed! I also built a surround deck. I'll be completely dried in by the middle of June.
Keep us posted! |
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RAP-BIG-ICP1
Registered Users
Posts:9
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| 05/16/2008 11:51 AM |
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Posted By Raider Bill on 05/16/2008 11:30 AM
Great Blog!
What we are doing by building ourselves really is showing that this isn't rocket science. Common sense, basic construction skills, patiance and determination is what it takes! Oh I forgot time.......................... Money......................
I had a great time stacking my 600 plus blocks, all the worry about the pour is now just a distant memory.
My next step is installing the metal roof and starting my wiring!
All doors and windows are installed! I also built a surround deck. I'll be completely dried in by the middle of June.
Keep us posted!
Hey Bill, can you tell me how many people/how long it took to stack
your walls? What you've got in your picture is very similar to what
I'm doing (although mine's only going to be about 400 blocks), and I
want to do it myself (with [i]some[/i] help), but I'm a little worried
about how long it will take me to get to the first pour after my footer
is in.
We're in a residential neighborhood on an alley - it's an
addition (doubling our Sq/Ft) to be put on the back against the alley.
I'm a little leery of someone (mostly kids really) tinkering with the
forms before the fill. I have 4 of my own, so I know how kids LOVE to
pull apart styrofoam!! :-D
I can put up with a little time, and
even a little aggrevation to save the $9,000 labor bill, but I don't
want it to take too long, and I worry more about something being
"adjusted" the longer it stands before the pour.
Any info will be hugely appreciated.
Thanks,
LANCE
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Raider Bill
Registered Users
Posts:61
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| 05/16/2008 12:20 PM |
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The first lift of blocks took 6 days to set and brace it was 12' high. I was working alone. I had all my bucks pre built Re bar was cut and bent I'd say it took me 2 days to have everything ready so I just had to set them in place. I'd say a good 2 days of the 7 was getting the overhead doors beam and column built in place and tie it into the ICF's
I had NO manufacturer or dealer support so it was trial and error but once you get into the swing of things they go up fast. Having a helper would have cut my time in half I beleive.
The first pour took 7 hours and 3 passes and I used 45 yards of mud. Used a over head boom pump. I had 2 local farmers helping with the pour plus the pump man who was a good help. One came behind me with a sawzall to vibrate while the other stood around in case of blowouts or any other issues which I didn't have. He also cleaned up slop.
The second lift was 8' and had the majority of windows,and openings. Took me 3 days to set those blocks and bucks and brace. Again I did this alone. The pour was 2.5 hours using a line pump and 15 yards of mud. Again had 2 helpers who tended the hose for me. I poured this set in 2 passes and then went back with sawzall myself to vibrate.
Don't let this scare you. ICF's are plumb easy to work with. Once you get you first row set and glued straight just stack and check each row as you go. I glued the first lift when the walls were completely stacked which took a extra day. On the second lift I was comfortable glueing as I went so it saved time and foam.
Make sure your webs line up and the dimples or stirations alternate.
Would I build ICF again? you betcha!
If you have kids around they probaley have played with legos before, let them build it for you! |
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GRickard
Registered Users
Posts:26
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| 05/18/2008 7:20 AM |
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Mac,
Looks like you have a great start on your house. I'm 14 months into mine and almost finished now. It's been alot of afternoons and weekends, but i think we've made pretty good time for just me and my dad on a part time basis.
From this point looking back, I would do it over again in a heartbeat. We have learned new things just about every day. Some of them the hard way. I think a person appreciates a house alot more when they understand exactly what goes into building it.
Greg |
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RAP-BIG-ICP1
Registered Users
Posts:9
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| 05/18/2008 4:35 PM |
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Posted By GRickard on 05/18/2008 7:20 AM
Mac,
Looks like you have a great start on your house. I'm 14 months into mine and almost finished now. It's been alot of afternoons and weekends, but i think we've made pretty good time for just me and my dad on a part time basis.
From this point looking back, I would do it over again in a heartbeat. We have learned new things just about every day. Some of them the hard way. I think a person appreciates a house alot more when they understand exactly what goes into building it.
Greg
That's awesome! Looks great too! 14 months is not bad AT ALL! I've seen homes in my neighborhood go up completely done by a "builder" that took that long or longer! (and the specific one I'm talking about is quite a bit smaller than the one in your pic!)
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Jelly
Registered Users
Posts:239
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| 05/22/2008 7:00 PM |
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| Mac, what bracing system did you end up going with? And are you renting or buying? |
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vermaraj
Registered Users
Posts:34
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| 05/23/2008 9:52 AM |
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Bill,
Why did you switch from a pump truck to a line pump for the second pour? Did you notice a significant differnce between using the pump truck and the line pump?
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Raider Bill
Registered Users
Posts:61
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| 05/23/2008 10:11 AM |
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I switched due to cost, and the amount of mud I was pumping. Second lift was much smaller so I didn't see the need for a boom pump. In my opinion either works real well but you need hose tenders with the line pump as theres no way you can handle that hose on walk boards alone. With a boom this isn't a issue.
The boom truck didn't have a 3" gooseneck even though I asked that they bring one so I had to use a 5" straight drop which caused me some concern about flow but in the end it went smoothly. |
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beno
Registered Users
Posts:33
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| 05/24/2008 12:06 AM |
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| Very nice! Have you considered having a slab on grade instead of the crawl space? |
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dmaceld
Registered Users
Posts:461
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| 05/27/2008 12:23 AM |
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The walls are poured! Yea! No problems either, except for too much concrete being ordered, and forgetting to put blocks in to form pockets for porch roof beams.
I'm only 2 weeks later than I expected a few weeks ago! There's a lot of work in getting a wall ready. Stacking the blocks is the easy part. Cutting them around the openings, cutting and bending rebar, building bucks, putting in bracing, getting the top level and at the right height, and on and on!
My latest photos and comments are posted on the blog linked above.
One piece of advice that has been shared in the past here, and which I knew about but didn't make absolutely sure I followed. Always set the alignment system to tilt toward the leg slightly before placing the concrete. That way after the concrete is in you can plumb and align the walls by pushing on the vertical braces, not pull on them. My helper set the verticals plumb just before the pour and afterwards we had to pull the wall back to get it aligned. As has been said before, pulling the concrete wall is a lot harder than pushing it!
Take a look at the blog and let me know what you think. I think it looks pretty good at this point.
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Building house - what a way to spend retirement! |
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