Backfilling and Sump Pump Holes

Friday was spent doing some things that were less exciting than pouring walls or pulling the forms and seeing the walls. Bert started the process of backfilling the trench around the foundation. The little ramp that was dug out so he could get the skid steer into the basement has been filled in. He has put gravel down as the first layer over the footing tiles, then adding soil over that. It will be topped off with black dirt suited for actually growing things.

There will be a sump pump in the basement and one on the outside near the front porch -- one connected to each of the two footing tiles. The inside sump hole is a typical pre-molded form. The outside pump will be in a large vertical tile that will connect to the outside footing tile.

In addition to the backfilling and the sump holes, Bert got most of the forms removed from the inside of the basement and I oiled them as they were stacked. Progress. His hope is that next week will focus on getting foundation block laid. The house should be down on its new foundation around Bastille Day.

Some of the limestone gravel backfill. This is the first layer.

 

Soil is added on top of the gravel. The gravel will provide good drainage.

 

Inside sump hole. This is ready to go if we get the rain that is in the forecast.

Outside sump pump will go in the bottom of this 8-foot tile hole. Notice the footing tiles that are connected to either side of the tile.

We put a cover on that big tile hole, then stabilized its position by pouring gravel around it.

The egress windows make for a good opening for tossing forms out. All of the larger 2-foot forms are now stacked and oiled. We still have some of the smaller sections to remove.