Posted on Jun 20, 2024
Cpl Vic Burk
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Finally finished excavating the area for the foundation of my storage building for my taxidermy supplies. 16 x 28 of some of the hardest and rockiest soil you'll ever see. It may not look it in the photos but I can guarantee you these corners are within fractions of a degree of perfect right angles. We used the pythagorean theorem (pythagorean triples) for multiple measurements on every corner and leveling is as perfect as you can get for the concrete pour once I find someone to do it. (7.068 cubic yards needed. I guess I'll have to round that up to 7.25!) I do still need to get gravel and spread it out but that's nothing at this point.
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Posted in these groups: 220e6600 Construction
Edited 5 mo ago
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Responses: 10
SGT Kevin Hughes
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The more I look at this picture - the more hard work I see. To the left I see bedrock with pebbles the size of bowling balls. I see it was dug into a slope...and unless I am mistaken there must have been some rather large roots in the way too. It looks like the angle of slope is fairly steep too, judging by that driveway in the back. It is what my Engineer friends would call: "A challenge." I am guessing a pick axe or two were used, and shovels probably cringed at the very thought. And it is level on basically a plateau carved out of a hillside. And I thought mowing our yard was hard.
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Cpl Vic Burk
Cpl Vic Burk
5 mo
SGT Kevin Hughes Correct on all accounts! Those pick axes were working overtime with a lot of manual labor and yes, it is carved out of a hillside. Shovels were only used to move the dirt. The shovel didn't have a prayer of penetrating this soil. As we dug the initial trench to lay the frame board (a way of determining how much more we had to dig out, the picks were used to break the soil (and rocks!) and a post hold digger was used to pull it from the trench.
When we got three sides done and leveled my son said, "Pops, there is no way that the left side is level with the right. Just look at it, it's so much lower." I told him levels don't lie. Once we dug out the hillside he saw I was correct. The board at the far end that has two 2 x 4's (one screwed in at the of each end of the board) was used every foot to verify that the left and right sides were perfectly level and exactly sixteen feet apart inside to inside.
Two guys were supposed to come give me estimates on the concrete work. One just didn't show up or call after saying he would be here. The other called and said he couldn't make it until Monday. I think my biggest challenge here is to find someone who will do the work. I could but I really don't want to have to do the slab myself.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
SGT Kevin Hughes
5 mo
Cpl Vic Burk - Well as my Dad (who like you could use tools and common sense) would say: "already begun, may as well finish." Impressive work my friend.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
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First, I like the practical math. Second, I’d like the grit and determination. It takes to farm anything in that kind of soil let alone make foundations. Third you did a heckuva job did a heckuva job.
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Cpl Vic Burk
Cpl Vic Burk
5 mo
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney - LOL! But I'd use Gorilla tape instead!
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Cpl Vic Burk
Cpl Vic Burk
5 mo
SGT Kevin Hughes Thanks Brother. We still have to put a small slab outside of the back but at this point, an 8 x 8 slab isn't a lot.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
5 mo
Cpl Vic Burk -
NEW FLASH ~~"Da GORILLA Gots Glue Two"
And Filled With Directions Telling The Reader
EXACTLY Where To Stick It.!
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
5 mo
Cpl Vic Burk -
OOPS ~ I Re-Read Your Post....The 8 X 8 Slab Is NOT The Final Size..OH DUH On My Part,
I Have A Slap 20' Along The Side Of The House X 10' To The Concrete Property Divider Wall. .....X 6" Deep..... Needed The Thickness To Set The 8 Seat Hot Tub On...It Measures 10' X 12 ' ~ A HUGE Forther Mucker ..... And, Believe It Or Not; It's Never Even Been "Christened"
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LTC David Brown
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Edited 5 mo ago
To square forms or frames for say doors, etc I like tramming. Make your frame or form and anchor one side. Label corners a,b,c,d Then measure diagonally across the frame corner a to c then b to d. Adjust the forms or frame until measurement of a to c equals b to d then it is square.
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Cpl Vic Burk
Cpl Vic Burk
5 mo
LTC David Brown That works also!
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
5 mo
Cpl Vic Burk -
Vic?.... I'd Like To Reply, But I Need Something To Say Which SOUNDS Intelligent.
Any Suggestions Or Should I Just Remain "Stupid" ~~ Which Is Different Than Saying
"Or Should I Just Remain, Stupid?......"Come See Spot Run"
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