Featured Post

October 2 - Meetings, Grading and Pews

Image
Another Status Meeting in the Church - A week ago Sunday the second status update meeting was held at the church. While there were some assembled pews, they were all in the sanctuary, and not in the dining hall where the meeting convened. So, everyone that wanted to sit had to bring their own chair. In the picture, Bob is standing but not because he failed to bring a chair. He wanted attention so he stood up in the front to give his status update. After Sam reported on the finances discussion ensued about whether or not to increase our self imposed debt ceiling. While the church could be 'completed' without the increase, some desired items like an epoxy sealed kitchen floor would have to be deferred. The congregation agreed to up the debt limit. Sam stated that the bank is fine with the new debt ceiling. Sam also said the projection stand in the picture is only temporary. With the current projected spending, we will still not have a completed kitchen so the eagle-eyed shoppers ...
Post a Comment

July 22 - Finalizing the footing forms before the concrete pour on Saturday

I stopped at the building site on Thursday to take a few more pictures and get some scoop about the project and get some inside info for the blog. Shortly after I arrived I was on my way to Elk River to get a spool of 'tie wire' from the hardware. Although I am something of a construction expert, I had never heard of tie wire and thought it might be located next to the board stretcher in the dehydrated water department. I was surprised, however, that even though the first person I asked did not have a clue and made me a bit wary, I then asked a more mature and experienced looking gentleman and he assured me that they do have it, but it is in the far corner of the store. So after a lengthy walk inside and a drive back to Nowthen I delivered the goods.

This event reminded of a previous experience when my son Tony and I were doing a remodeling project on my house. Although I was the elder, I deferred to him on the project due to his slightly greater experience with construction. When I asked what I should do next, he sent me to the hardware to buy a nail. I got the length, girth, finish and head type recorded and went to the hardware. After some time digging through the nail bins, I found the exact item required. Delighted, I hustled home with the pride of accomplishment due me. Upon arrival, he noted he now needed another nail. When this scene was replayed a couple more times I became suspicious of his intentions. Now having been sent for 'tie wire' and finding such an item really existed and was for sale, I wondered about the intentions of the crew chief that sent me on this errand. I thought he might immediately send me for another one of the same item. Having been once fooled, I was now much wiser. I bought two spools of the wire.
Tie wire is used to tie the steel rebar pieces together and to support the resulting steel web about 3.5
inches off the ground so when the concrete is poured this steel reinforcement web floats in the
concrete

Brent Huhta mastered the art of
weaving the rebar web and
suspending it at the proper height.

Brent also mastered the rebar shortener.




Once the boards are all attached to each other a continuous frame exists all the way around the building. The concrete will then be poured in to make the footings on which the slab and walls will
rest. This continuous form must be leveled so the concrete surface will be level all the way around the building. Aaron pries up the form, Phil checks for level with beeper. When all is well, Aare puts in a screw which holds the form to a stake in the ground so the frame stays where it belongs. Aaron is leaning on the final, fine adjustment tool. If the form is still slightly high, he uses the tool to persuade the frame to drop a bit.

After the form is leveled, the remaining gap under the form is filled with dirt. Phil is showing Ed Tolkkinen where to place the dirt.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

February 17 - Pouring the Floor, Part 2

Image
Pouring it On Sweatshirts and jackets came off as the morning wore on, the temperature rose, and that heavy concrete hose was dragged all over the church.  When I returned to the church at about 11:30 that morning, I saw the last of the concrete truck parade.  One truck was emptying its load, another was cleaning up, and a third was pulling away to return to home base. Inside was a surprise -- the floor was almost finished!  The last of the narthex, office, coat room, and mechanical room was being poured.  Here you can see the power screeding machine in action again.  The reference laser it uses can be seen in the distance, fastened high on the door jamb leading to the sanctuary, visible just above Brian's head. By now, everyone seemed to know exactly what to do and when to do it. The pump outside is controlled remotely by Jeff Wikman, via the yellow control box he's holding.  While Mark directs the hose, Jeff monitors the progress, ready to stop the pump i...
Read more

October 2 - Meetings, Grading and Pews

Image
Another Status Meeting in the Church - A week ago Sunday the second status update meeting was held at the church. While there were some assembled pews, they were all in the sanctuary, and not in the dining hall where the meeting convened. So, everyone that wanted to sit had to bring their own chair. In the picture, Bob is standing but not because he failed to bring a chair. He wanted attention so he stood up in the front to give his status update. After Sam reported on the finances discussion ensued about whether or not to increase our self imposed debt ceiling. While the church could be 'completed' without the increase, some desired items like an epoxy sealed kitchen floor would have to be deferred. The congregation agreed to up the debt limit. Sam stated that the bank is fine with the new debt ceiling. Sam also said the projection stand in the picture is only temporary. With the current projected spending, we will still not have a completed kitchen so the eagle-eyed shoppers ...
Read more

September 25 - Last Saturday: A Really Big Day

Image
Concrete Pour -  Another concrete pour, this time the sidewalks across the front and the walk under the portico. Two truckloads of mud got all the sidewalk done and half of the dumpster pad beyond the back edge of the parking lot. Sonny Johnson, Phil Johnson and Charlie Halonen from the Minneapolis congregation as well as Dale Muhonen from Rockford volunteered to help with the job. Once again, a helping hand from the neighboring congregations is greatly appreciated. It is always fascinating to watch this work - when the truck is spilling its contents, many hands and feet are required to coax the heavy goo into its desired location. Phil is shown pushing the goo around while Sonny and Dale operate the screed. After the concrete is leveled out, the bull float is used to smooth the surface. The float may reveal a spot lacking just a little material so the master adds a shovelful here and there to make sure the surface is just right. After the mix has a chance to set up a bit, the red ...
Read more