Progress on the Foundation

The forecast is rain, but so far it is beautiful out. I drove out to the worksite and Wow! They are making great progress!

The masons shoveled out dirt everywhere the walls had fallen in.

He used a brush to work all of the dirt out and sweep it away.

This is where more of the walls have fallen in, so they are shoveling and cleaning the block.

They checked the plans, measured and marked over and over.

Where they can move fast, they set up a whole wall with mortar, ready to go.

Then he quickly puts mortar on the end of the block and swings it into place.

He gives it a knock with the other end of the trowel to push it into place.

Then smooths the mortar.

I can’t believe they have been able to keep up the pace, but they work fast and steady. I am really impressed.

The broken block was used. They cut it to make some of the pieces to make the wall by the garage door exactly the right size.

In some areas they added this. It is ladder reinforcement or double side rod horizontal reinforcement. I googled it. Fabricated ladder reinforcement is embedded horizontally at the mortar joints of cavity masonry walls. So, I’m guessing it is to keep these walls together.

The wall is very high. He had to balance on a block to reach the top of the wall to put in the anchors. And he is not a short guy!

These are Grip-Rite anchor bolts. They will be used to attach a sill plate, if I understand what is going on.

They added Foundation Vents. These are made of some kind of plastic, with a metal screen behind. There is a handle to push them open or closed.

To put them in, the block is put on the side, offset just enough for it to fit.

I sure hope the rain holds off! The sky is blue, but the wind is picking up.

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