We had a few holes already dug from the previous weekend, so we needed to make a few adjustments to the layout, dig 5 more holes, pour the footings, then pour the pilings. We got started mid-morning on Saturday and by noon had dug all of the holes. It was then that we noticed to our horror that the holes were filling up with water within 20 minutes of us digging them. How do you pour a footing in the bottom of a hole that is mostly filled with water?
Rachelle came up with a remarkable idea the effectiveness of which was matched only by its simplicity. This is how it worked:
1) Bail the water out of the hole with a small bucket.
2) Insert a heavy duty garbage bag into the hole before the water re-enters the hole and fill with concrete to the level of the water table. Be careful to backfill any voids between the bag and the side of the hole to prevent the concrete from bursting through the bag.
3)Insert rebar into the top of your new footing to give the soon-to-be placed sona tube piling something to grab on to.
4) The optional step, which is probably completely unnecessary, is to tie off the tops of the bags to keep rainwater from entering. The upside of this step is how silly-looking you can make a job site.
5) Let sit overnight, return next day, place sona tubes, fill with concrete, insert saddles, open beverage, stand back and revel in the weekend's accomplishments.
Once again our friends, Jules and Ian, saved the weekend for us. They provided water to mix the concrete, because we forgot to bring some, and supplied cement when we ran out with 1 1/2 pilings left. They gave us a warm and dry place to sleep. They dug holes, mixed concrete, and provided some much needed problem solving. Jules and Ian rock our world with their support and assistance. Without those two, we would have probably given up months ago - or at least after the first below-freezing night spent in the cabin.
1 comment:
Way to go!!!!! Congratulations.
Sarge
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