Tuesday, July 15, 2008
More Eco-friendly photos
These two chipmunks have been running around the construction site. I went over to get a piece of 3 inch conduit and they both ran inside of it. I picked it up and they were able to stay inside even when held vertically. Clever. They then ran over to the ICCF and yelled at me.
While getting a photo of the chipmunks, I saw something run into the stacks. This is our local "brush rabbit" (Sylvilagus bachmani), not the more common and larger cottontail (which is actually a non-native invasive in Western Washington). These little guys aren't supposed to be north of Oregon, but we've got plenty.
Finished slab
Here's the slab all done with a sprinkler set up to keep it wet.
After the sprinkler had been on it for two days, the floor was covered with recycled masonite to protect the floor during the rest of the construction. Hopefully, the masonite will protect it from damage and purple bird poop stains (they eat berries and then fly over clean cars, etc.) during the rest of the construction.The pour
At about 2/3rds poured, the second truck was supposed to show up with the remaining concrete. It got lost. When it finally showed up, it had been on the road for 2 and 1/2 hours!! Needless to say, there were surface cracks in the second part of the slab even though I had ordered polyester fibers in the concrete. Bummer. So far, the livingroom is perfect (and the area under the stairs, big deal). The kitchen floor is going to have "character."
The threshold forms were foamed into place. I wrote on them "NOT A STEP." That worked about five minutes and then the concrete workers were walking on them. They held up, thankfully, and popped right out when removed. On the lower right is the worker's breakfast. Not shown is the beer that accompanied it.
The threshold forms were foamed into place. I wrote on them "NOT A STEP." That worked about five minutes and then the concrete workers were walking on them. They held up, thankfully, and popped right out when removed. On the lower right is the worker's breakfast. Not shown is the beer that accompanied it.
The mud is then screeded with a board. This is the second use for the 2x4s that were used for the FastFooter. 
Then comes the bull float. Gorden Boyer, the pump operator, got his bull float out and gave some lessons on the livingroom pad.
Then comes the bull float. Gorden Boyer, the pump operator, got his bull float out and gave some lessons on the livingroom pad. Stamped concrete
The final troweling is done while I stamp the concrete in the entrance porch.
Hydronics details
Where the hydronics pass through what will be an expansion joint (a "cut" in the concrete that, hopefully, will contain the only crack), the remesh is stopped and the tubing is encased in conduit. This gives the Pex more ability to avoid a scissor effect where the two slabs will separate. The conduit is shot full of foam to keep concrete out.Wednesday, July 09, 2008
He's back!
Turns out that the little spike is actually going to be a two point. 
Ready for hydronics
Here's the vapor barrier all taped down. It's a 15 mil product, so you don't create pinhole leaks when walking on it. Then, we put down the foam, and that is covered with 6x6" remesh, more for laying out the hydronic tubes than for strength in the slab.
The tubing is Pex-Al-Pex, meaning that it's a layer of Pex plastic, a layer of aluminum, then a layer of Pex. This does two things. First, when bent it stays bent. No wrestling with trying to tie down a tube that wants to spring back into a coil. Second, the aluminum acts as an oxygen barrier to protect the circulation equipment when the system is complete.
The tubing is Pex-Al-Pex, meaning that it's a layer of Pex plastic, a layer of aluminum, then a layer of Pex. This does two things. First, when bent it stays bent. No wrestling with trying to tie down a tube that wants to spring back into a coil. Second, the aluminum acts as an oxygen barrier to protect the circulation equipment when the system is complete.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Slab preparation
The sand is compacted and screeded off. Then a vapor barrier is placed on the sand. I chose orange because I think it's pretty against the blue foam. Since the slab is hydronic, it has edge insulation. The edge insulation has a 45 degree bevel on the top edge to maximize the insulation and still have concrete all the way over to the ICCF wall. If there is any cracking on the feathered edges, it will be under the plaster and mop board and won't be visible.
I now know why I have a dip in 
one area on the footer. I didn't notice it until I started using this 16' board as a screed on the sand. I should have checked this out when setting up the forms. Better yet, when buying the lumber. Actually, the curve occured after removing the board and throwing it in a pile. Be careful to keep your lumber stickered properly so that it doesn't warp before you use it for the forms.
one area on the footer. I didn't notice it until I started using this 16' board as a screed on the sand. I should have checked this out when setting up the forms. Better yet, when buying the lumber. Actually, the curve occured after removing the board and throwing it in a pile. Be careful to keep your lumber stickered properly so that it doesn't warp before you use it for the forms. Little Kubota saves shovel work.
The little Kubota can reach over the footing and fill two wheelbarrows at once. Quite a time saver. Thanks, Marge!Dam that ICCF
When I poured the Insulated Composite Concrete Forms, I needed to keep the concrete out of a couple areas, like the area in a wall that will ultimately contain in insert woodstove. These little dams were made of scrap Hardie board.Putting in the under-slab DWV
The Insulated Composite Concrete Forms (ICCF) can hold a nail, or in this case, a drywall screw. I measured out the distance of the interior walls that will house the drain stack and other pipes in the Drain, Waste, Vent (DWV) system. Once the point was located, the pipes were installed and connected to the main line.
Two drains on an interior wall. This is where a non-bearing wall will end up that runs from the slab all the way to the attic. It was the perfect place for my DWV system to go from one floor to the next, but it was a little scary having the pipes come up through the slab. That ensured that the wall position was "cast in stone" (actually, cast in concrete).
You can also see at the bottom right of the picture the copper ground wire and a 3/10 wire going out the the well pump. Because of the slab on grade construction, the electrical also came in under and through the slab. It makes for a very clean look, since I and my neighbors all have underground electrical service, but it also has to be accurately planned.
You can also see at the bottom right of the picture the copper ground wire and a 3/10 wire going out the the well pump. Because of the slab on grade construction, the electrical also came in under and through the slab. It makes for a very clean look, since I and my neighbors all have underground electrical service, but it also has to be accurately planned.
Here's the final layout of my "spyder" drain system. Can you spot the code violation(s)?
