Basement Wall, Interior Cleanup
Liz got some guidance from Bob, regarding a certain attachment we needed to get for our grinder. This would help take down some of the excess mortar, and also help smooth out some of the rougher spots.
Posts Tagged "liz"
Morning Flowers
On watching her out the back door, I realized how lovely this moment was. And as much as our home is still very much in a construction-zone mode, we have the ability to just walk out back and pluck a few flowers from the garden.
Date Night, Franklin Room
The basement wall project has been… all-consuming, for several months now. While we still have some follow-up tasks remaining, the core fill was the biggest, final step in that project.
I’m still not sure I’m recuperated from that whole thing.
Core Fill
If you thought our concrete work was over, think again! With our concrete blocks in place, the next step we had was to fill the cores of all the blocks with concrete. Our aim was to make a “soupy” layer, to pour down each core… and to finish the tops with a more solid layer.
Wall Prep
Bob, cutting some of the rebar down to size.
Tornado Warning
As I was checking my phone, Liz kept busy picking up here and there. Her comment was “I guess I’m going to die organizing.”
Smelling the Roses
After work today, Liz and I went for a short walk. There had been rain, we had a little time to kill before needing to make dinner for the bunnies… and we’re altogether way too sedentary. So walk it was.
A Last Visit to Liz’s Office
I left work and walked over to Liz’s office, and got to walk the floor with her one last time. She’s going in again for a final event, but this is likely the last time I’ll be up here.
It’s crazy to think that Liz has been in this office for about 15 years now, at desks in various locations. That’s an incredibly long time.
Block Wall Construction, Day 3
Liz and I hit it right at 5:00 PM today, after work. We got suited and prepped fairly quickly, and were able to get the short course along the driveway done… as well a full course on the wall along the yard.
Block Wall Construction, Day 2
You can barely see it in this photo, but we have a dirty trick: we’re using 3/8″ nuts, and placing the between each course of block. This ensures that we’ll have the proper distance between blocks, and serves as a kind of guardrail.
It’s not what the professionals do, but… we are far from professionals. So long as things are consistent, no one’s the wiser.
Block Wall Construction, Day 1
Liz, mixing up the mortar as Bob gets the blocks in place. I mostly hung out up top, passing along blocks as needed. Both Liz and Bob did the brunt of the work today.
Block Wall: Delivery
For those of you who remember the original movie “I’m getting a lot of concrete and gravel delivered”… this is the sequel: I’m getting a lot of concrete blocks delivered.
All told, it’s 90 concrete blocks and 12 corner blocks.
A Day Outside
Close to the end of the day, we settled back with a drink and some music. And admired that good-looking arbor that someone put in, many months ago.
The Back Porch Cement Pour
All told, we used about 70 bags (with 13 leftover). Not too far off, on the original calculations.
Removing the Basement Steps
Liz and I hauled out the back basement stairs. We’re clearing out this space for a cement pour, and taking these guys out was one of the last steps before we really hit the final stretch.