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Hi
folks Hola a
todos
I finally realized that I cannot do it
all on my own so I hired a kid to help me. Today we poured the slab and
foundation for the cabin/workshop/guest house.
Por fin, me dió cuenta que no puedo hacer todo
yo. Contraté a un muchacho para ayudarme y hoy instalamos el radier para
la cabaña/taller/pieza de huésped.
Since this project is my training
course IOT learn the ropes and commit the inevitable errors now before tackling
the Big House, I am pleased to report that I learned a _lot_ of valuable
lessons. For example:
- Two people cannot do a 350 sq.
ft. slab alone - especially if one is 44 and has high blood pressure!
The truck simply dumps the concrete and leaves. Before it can all
be distributed, screeded and floated, it starts to set up. Fortunately,
there were a couple of workers nearby who were willing to help.
- It is better to place the wire
mesh _before_ the pour and have it supported. This business of placing it
flush IOT later lift it or pouring a few inches and then placing it is utter
nonsense. It is too much hassle which equates to time which means less of
same to work the concrete before it sets.
- Where the cost of labor is
negligible and the exchange rate of the U$ is favorable, forget the
"do-it-yourself" crap!! Before I hired the two additional workers, I truly
believed that I would suffer a heart attack. The U$45 that I paid to the
three workers are less than one-half of one percent of the hospital bill
for heart failure. I had wanted to be able to say that I built it with my
own two hands. I am now willing - and happy- to say that I laid out and
installed the forms; sunk the rebar anchors and the threaded bolts for the
modified box posts, and I will let it go at that.
Para los que están en Chile,
cuando está curado el radier, vamos a hacer el primer asado para celebrar.
Los que vengan ¡¡tienen que ayudar/participar en la manga para
estucar!!
To the SB group, I cannot begin to
tell you all how much I appreciate all of the expert and experienced advice that
I have received from you over the past six years. I now see the light at
the end of the tunnel of a dream that I have had since 1985.. Rob Tom, you can
keep your comments to yourself!!; I am searching for faces in the rocks
tonight.
Tired and sore but ecstatic in Valparaíso,
Chile (and _not_ sunburned- I finally put on some
clothes).
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