04 July 2012

Progress Continues

Last Wednesday, the carpenters finished the work that we needed in order to get the retaining walls started.  They have left, and shall return to do some props before the shotcrete starts.  
It is very quiet on the site with no hammers, saws, pneumatic tools, drills, or Spanish-equivalent of four-letter words.  And they sing too, but not often enough for me.

But progress continues with the rebar. Bill, Keith and I (mostly Bill) are working on this big job.  It is tedious more than difficult.  Bill is concentrating on the work around the parapets.  It includes what he calls the sunrise and the rainbows.  Still to be done is a rebar 'ladder' arch reinforcing the contour change from quonset to parapet.  The North and West parapets have the black ice and water shield whereas the South is bare plywood as it is just a form and will be taken down a few days after the shotcrete.
North Parapet

West parapet

South Parapet


Keith and I are doing the quality control on the mesh and rebar.  This ensures that the 6x6 mesh is tied into the horizontal (first layer) of rebar.  We have completed all that one can reach by standing on the slab, and everything that is above the second floor.  Still to do, are the West Annex and the 18 x 40 cathedral ceiling and the South patio. The tunnel is totally done with all rebar and only needs the earth tube to be put in place.

Keith and Bill are putting on the third layer of rebar, and that is to be completed soon on the main 40 x 66 structure.   Tomorrow, the fourth layer starts.  The West Annex (except for final QC) and the Tunnel have been done (they only need three layers being smaller structures).

One of the problems the carpenters and Bill worked out has to do with the South parapet.  The steel arches are bowed such that the center is plumb, but the sides bow inward.  Some forms have been incorporated in the parapet that will 'hide' this flaw with shotcrete. 

The SE wall has a gap where blocks have been placed
The gap is covered by form to hold shotcrete
 
The SW side showing blocks in gap
SW side showing form over gap
 


At the TOP
Hopefully, the retaining walls will be started any day now.

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