Excavation for barn

grweldon · May 11, 2015, 04:20:49 PM

I wouldn't go that far! We had quite a few evenings that got down into the teens last winter. We even had some days that it didn't get above freezing all day long!

Don_Papenburg · May 11, 2015, 10:41:27 PM

Contrary to popular BS that global warming is tending to make the earths temps cool . you might want to rethink that in floor heat. :)or maybe

mometal77 · May 12, 2015, 03:58:29 AM

Just keep all that snow and bad weather on the east coast and i will be happy.

78NHTFY · May 19, 2015, 05:09:49 PM

grweldon--nice flat looking site and no rocks! Here in bony NH we have so many rocks we use them to help create the semblance of a flat site. This will be about the flattest spot on my property! :D :D. Slow slogging though! I've been on my project to make a flat sawing site in front of my barn going on 3 years now. Lots of french drains underneath (4' drain pipe; 6" PVC; 3" hardpack wrapped in fabric; 1 1/2" hardpack for surface), 60' of stone wall --and still not done by a long shot. As said by OneWithWood: Just keep doing a little everyday. Oh yes, a

couple of pics for ya.

All the best, Rob.

SwampDonkey · May 19, 2015, 05:20:14 PM

The beginnings of your stone castle. ;D

My grandfather helped to haul river stone to built a stone tower, locally known as the Lewis castle. It is now a bed and breakfast known as the Castle Inn.

http://www.castleinn.ca

grweldon · May 20, 2015, 07:42:06 AM

Quote from: 78NHTFY on May 19, 2015, 05:09:49 PM
grweldon--nice flat looking site and no rocks!

Well Rob, it's flat after I made it that way! I excavated up to 8 feet deep at the rear of the site. I have very few flat spots on my property and where the barn is going to be wasn't one of them! You are right, not a stone in sight except for the sandstone that I'm finding as I'm scraping the site flat and level. Talk about work... It's wearing me out, but I'm about finished. About 200 square foot left of the 1920 that makes up the slab.

I bet it sucks digging in the dirt with stones. It's slow going in the sand/clay... I can't imagine how it would be with stones. Your place is looking good. It takes time, I know. I started building my house 8 years ago. Still not finished...

78NHTFY · May 20, 2015, 11:53:46 AM

Quote from: SwampDonkey on May 19, 2015, 05:20:14 PM
The beginnings of your stone castle. ;D
Quote from: SwampDonkey on May 19, 2015, 05:20:14 PM
Unless someone can figure out how to lift my stonewall vertical in one shot, my stone castle is staying horizontal :D :D :D. All the best, Rob
Quote from: grweldon on May 20, 2015, 07:42:06 AM

I bet it sucks digging in the dirt with stones.
...and boulders, don't forget the boulders...something about making lemonade out of lemons, except a lot more work :D :D. Still can't figure out if all this is making us fit and stronger so we last longer, or wearing us out prematurely. ???. All the best, Rob.

SwampDonkey · May 20, 2015, 05:39:09 PM

There's always challenges to overcome I suppose. ;D

Don_Papenburg · May 21, 2015, 10:27:13 PM

Eight years is just a good start I have been at mine for over 15.

grweldon · June 03, 2015, 03:06:22 PM

Here is a short (1 minute) video of the forms for the slab of my barn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LA1smjf9d8

I have quite a bit of things to do before the contractors arrive to pour next week. I have to repair the erosion caused by the recent 2 weeks of thunderstorms, I have to dig a trench for the PVC drain pipe and install the stub-out along with the stub out for the possible future septic tank and the water inlet. I have to close up the ends of the extensions and install box forms and back-fill. I also have to install OSB where the forms don't touch the bottom of the footings and back-fill those. The contractors will install the rebar in the footers and place the welded wire mesh. Looks like I'll have a slab the middle of next week, weather permitting!