Starting on the Block

I got a call pretty early this morning. The contractor and the block masons were on the building site.

Woo Hoo!!! Going up instead of down!

The block masons got right to work. And they work fast! They must be paid by the job, not by the hour.

They set up these markers. I know what the nails are for now. They mark the outside edges.

They made sure the wood is stable and square, to act as a guide.

They laid out boardwalks. Good thing, since if you step off the boardwalk, you still sink.

They made a bridge down into the footers.

This guy moved block to where it will be used. He worked really fast and never stopped.

I know what was wrapped up now, Holcim Type S Mortamix Masonry Cement. Each bag is 75 pounds and we have two pallets full.

This is the mortar mixer.

Add mortar mix, then sand, then water. All in the right quantities. Mix it up and pour it into the wheel barrow.

This is where the water is coming from. I didn’t know we had water. I don’t know when that happened.

This guy sprinted with wheel barrows full of mortar.

He poured water on the wood or whatever, then shoveled on the mortar.

The first course of block!!!

The sand is to keep the mortar that falls off from sticking to the footers. (I asked.)

He sprinted back and forth, moving wheelbarrows full of mortar and wheelbarrows full of block, staying ahead of the masons.

They frequently checked the plans, then measured and marked.

I went home to have some breakfast and a cup of coffee.

Things are going really fast. They are already here by 11:00!

I got needful things done, then dropped back by around 11:00. Wow! Great progress! They keep measuring and confirming with the plans.

In the first row of block, just above the footers, they put in this drain or something. It is just above the “well”.

They are moving the block with a Bobcat now. They can only move this much or the block outweighs the machine. As it is, he seesaws a little as he drives.

They are putting in flow through block. Flow through block is just regular block on it’s side. The mason has mortared fabric over the inside, to discourage animals from using this as a handy entrance.

The mason measured and cut the fabric.

He held the fabric down with mortar, placed the block, wrapped the fabric around it and mortared it all in. He carefully made sure all of the fabric was tucked in securely.

Since this is where the flow through block is, this must be where the ground will be.

This is how they cut block. With a big saw.

The results.

I have to go to the bank. I’ll let you know what they get done while I am gone!

Next: Progress on the Foundation >