Today was at last the day when the walls of our new house would be poured with concrete - right up to the rafters. The concrete is eight inches thick, providing a big thermal mass. Heavy rebar that is sixteen inches on center each way will provide the strength. The three and a half inches of foam on each side of the concrete will provide the insulation to keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Plastic webs that go through the concrete and into the LOGIX foam on each side at eight inches on center will be the secure attachment points for interior and exterior finishes and trim.
Weeks of hard work and preparation would at last be rewarded.
When I came out of the door just before seven AM the PSI pumper truck was idling at the curb. We positioned him into the driveway and set out his outriggers to maintain balance when we reached out more than one hundred and thirty feet to fill the far corners of the house walls. Right on time (at 7:30 AM) the Western Concrete truck pulled up with the first of five loads of concrete. We would place a little more than sixty cubic yards of concrete in the next six hours.
While the trucks set up our crew did one last check of the forms and set out their tools in preparation. Excitement was high and everyone was eager to get started. The concrete would be poured in lifts around and around the walls until we reached the top. The first lift would be just past the bottom of the windows.
Time flew by and it didn't seem long until the nine foot tall walls were full of concrete. While Harold's crew made sure everything was perfectly level and straight, I trowelled off the top edge and set the anchor bolts for the top plates that would hold the trusses. The steeply angled gable ends took a little longer to fill but by one o'clock the concrete was where it was supposed to be without incident. Harold's Conctracting crew performed like a well oiled machine. The concrete mix from Western concrete was consistent and perfectly mixed. The driver from PSI pumping was smooth and capable. My crew handled all the little chores and details to allow everyone else to keep focused on their task. It all made for a perfect pour. The training we recieved from Patick Chan of LOGIX ICF a few weeks ago proved to be valuable and the many tips he provided made the job go smoother without a doubt. THANKS to all involved for a massive effort and a very successful day!
-grampa dan
