The objectives for this week were focused on preparing for the next pour (of concrete). We have lots of details to take care of in order to be ready…we must install the final courses of ICFs. This includes stacking the remaining ICFs and laying rebar in them horizontally and vertically. We need to tie the rebar in-which is tedious work and really hurts the fingers- and then tie it all together with nylon zip ties too. This all must be positioned precisely. Now that the walls are higher and the ICFs narrower it is difficult to work inside of them; long skinny arms are very helpful! Into the ICF walls we have set the “bucks”-wood forms which create the spaces for the doors and windows. Placing these gives us more of a sense of what the space will be like and how it will look when its finished. The bucks are leveled and glued into place.
Down in the basement things have really shaped up…the basement is the first “space” we have created with walls, floor and ceiling. Into it we have shoveled endless wheelbarrows full of gravel to cover the floor, raking it smooth and level and packing it tightly. Upon this goes plastic and wire mesh which will give the concrete strength.
In preparation for the pour on Tuesday we have reinstalled the scaffolding and braced the walls…bring on the concrete!
--Giselle Kovac, Student
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