Status Report, 26 Feb 2024

Big Picture: Where are we?
Fits and starts on the block walls

Corp Update

Some days we are rocketing forward, and other days we are waiting. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had days where we get a lot done, and other days when we’re just waiting on things (like inspections, or weather). Since our last report, we’ve built a lot of wall. We finished the “big” retaining wall, and we launched into the wall that supports the driveway. We also ran conduit that will carry electrical for an EV charging station up on the parking pad, as well as a household line (120v) for a shop vac, etc.

We passed our first set of inspections in the week of Feb 5. We ended up with 3 different inspections and 3 different inspectors. All of those passed the first time. Our footings inspector wanted to see the rest of the footings before we set any block on them, so we ended up with a dead week waiting for that inspection. (not a total loss- it snowed in the middle of that time. While we can set this block in the cold, the snow adds complication that we don’t like, so this worked out OK.)

We dug those footings out and backfilled with compacted 2A limestone. The compacted footing is not as complicated as a poured concrete footing- there’s no rebar, concrete, etc. it’s literally a 24″ wide trench, filled 6″ deep with gravel and rock dust. Still we are checking all the boxes, though, so we waited for the inspection. The inspection passed on Monday morning (26 Feb) and we have been pressing forward. As soon as that passed, the guys got to setting block again and managed to bang out most of the wall along the front of the driveway in a single day.
Macro level, the schedule remains the same. I expect the entire project to take a couple of months, assuming we get decent weather. We are tracking well to my previous prediction of setting the walls by the end of February. I’m confident that we will meet that target. At that point, we’ll dump some 2B (limestone gravel) on the driveway and wait for warmer weather before we try to pour the concrete.
My own estimates of this work are as follows:
- demolition: ~4-7 days (done -8 days total w site prep)
- Foundation prep: 2 days. (done)
- lay block: 5-7 days (80% complete)
- Patio base prep: 2 days
- Patio stone setting: 3-5 days
- Concrete forms and pouring: 4-6 days (compl. by end of March)
As you can see from the above schedule, we still have the patio to do and a bit of concrete work. We will be aiming to pour the concrete stairs and the sonotubes by the end of this week, as well as a few other minor parts. We won’t be ready for the parking pad for a bit, though.