Setting Blocks (Th/Fri)

Thursday (Day 1 of Blocks):
Today's progress should answer questions for many people who have been wondering when and where the house and foundation are going to meet. Bert started by setting the two corners on the west end of the house, then filled in the distance between. The beams stick through the blocks right now. Once he has blocks all the way around, he'll set the house down, pull the beams, and lay blocks in the empty spaces.

 

 Corners set.

 Four rows of split-face block. The house is about 2 inches above the block now. So it's just 2" higher than it will be when everything is completed.

 

West side is finished until the beams are removed. Then the holes will be filled in and you'll never know there were beams there. 

 

Around the corner to the south side.

 Making progress on the south side.

At the end of the day, 3 of the 4 rows are up on the south side.

Friday (Day 2 of Blocks):

Bert moved around to the north side today and got a good deal accomplished on that side. He had to backfill with gravel first so he had a base to stand on to do the work. 

The plan is that he'll finish blocks on Monday and Tuesday and will set the house down on Wednesday of next week. Floor work will start on Thursday.

 North wall window opening. 

That's the old stair to the basement coming down. That will be removed.

 

Looking on down that north wall.
Opening on far right is the window shown above. Next hole is for glass blocks to let light into the furnace room, then a beam hole followed by the north egress window.

Inside view of the walls: 6 feet of poured concrete topped by 4 rows of block. Though the outside of the block is rough (split faced), the inside is smooth. Here, Bert smooths out the mortar in the joints.