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No one wants a big project

31K views 197 replies 44 participants last post by  Cole82 
#1 ·
Well I am trying to line up a company to sub out a basement to. I can dig it if need be, but would rather just have them dig footings poor build walls poor and strip.
Well here is the kicker that no one in my small area wants to deal with. 14' wall 1' thick and 400running feet. The owner doesn't want anything else but the foam forms.
No one in my area wants to do it. Town of about 400,000 should I try and cordinate from a further larger city? I'm no wall guy never done one before. I am stuck and the time line is short to begin with.

Cole
 
#66 ·
Cole,
Your getting your bones on this one, if you can get that thing settled you will have one heck of a reputation.

Keep the pics coming. I assume you finally found an ICF man to build the walls.
 
#68 ·
Cole,
Your getting your bones on this one, if you can get that thing settled you will have one heck of a reputation.

Keep the pics coming. I assume you finally found an ICF man to build the walls.
Yeah ME!:thumbsup:
I went and took some classes that the manufacturer has. Also drove to another site 2 hours away and watched/helped another contractor for free. Did hire a couple guys that have done icf before but they are workers and turn to me for advice. Also we changed the design a little. The ICF wall will be 10' and the last 4'rough face block.

Since I am doing this project and am not subing it out. All my other smaller jobs I had to had over to another biz. (father) He is semi retired and is reluctently helping me.

The rep has allready started and have only have been on my own a year.(july08)
 
#69 ·
Sounds great, I like the split faced block above grade. Digging those footers next to the cribbing looks like a real trip. I could see those trenches wanting to cave in or smacking them with that mini.
 
#74 ·
Nice nice

Dynamite project.....one question though....I've done about 25 of these, albeit never with a full masonry building....why weren't the footings formed? There is a ****load of weight up there, and I have seen cribbing go on one job....the whole house had to be destroyed, although no one was seriously injured. Makes the perimeter drain easier to install as well. Just wonderin' This is a great project however. Real feather in your cap....
 
#76 · (Edited)
Dynamite project.....one question though....I've done about 25 of these, albeit never with a full masonry building....why weren't the footings formed? There is a ****load of weight up there, and I have seen cribbing go on one job....the whole house had to be destroyed, although no one was seriously injured. Makes the perimeter drain easier to install as well. Just wonderin' This is a great project however. Real feather in your cap....
By formed do you mean above grade? If so the county specified that the footing had to be under the grade of the hole. If that isn't what you mean. My other awnser is we are using form a drain. It is the form and drain all in one. The footings are dug not formed in those pics.

We had another revision today, so today was a loss and will try and pour monday.
 
#77 ·
No...by formed I mean formed footings.....we usually have it excavated to the bottom of the footings, form them with 2x12 or 2x10. Goes very quickly. Only thing is then you have to fill inside the footings up to t.o.f. after all the cribbing is out. It is all sand here however....
 
#78 ·
No...by formed I mean formed footings.....we usually have it excavated to the bottom of the footings, form them with 2x12 or 2x10. Goes very quickly. Only thing is then you have to fill inside the footings up to t.o.f. after all the cribbing is out. It is all sand here however....
Yeah that is what I was trying to say in the first sentence. The county wouldn't let us with this project, but that is how we usually do it too.
 
#79 ·
I have a question about the formed footers. Not to hijack the thread, but more likely to keep it moving as we wait for updates.

What is the advatage of formed footers? I normally don't pour footers, just lay block on them and I have one customer who always forms his, and everyone else pours them in trenches. (usually hand dug, because it is easier to hand dig accurately than trying to get a mini or whatever in the hole and dig)

I prefer the trenches as the bottom of the building hole is about level with the top of the footer and easier to lay block on instead of constantly stepping up or reaching out to set the block.

Typically the formed footers are more accurate for elavation, but usually the trenches are marked with some type of elevation marker so really not much of a deal.

Just curious to know the pros and cons as I am starting to get more requests for footers to be included in my foudation bids.
 
#80 ·
Yeah dak, you're right about the stepping up and reaching part....that's why I always try to have it backfilled (the inside) prior to laying the block. But here's why it works for me; Advantages 1) Far faster to prep... our foundations are generally 160-240 running feet, so form and steel take maybe 6 manhours as opposed to, say 15 or so to dig. (that is with shovels, not a mini ex) 2)Perimeter drains-much easier to put in (Common to have interior and exterior runs here) 3)For parging or waterproofing, there is less time involved cleaning the block/footing junction (excavators don't give us much room, so cave-ins or heavy rain can be a problem....4)Allows the space inside for gravel backfill, so capillary action is a non-issue. Disadvantages 1) the stepping up part if not backfilled, and 2) the lumber.....hauling it, storing it, replacing it......really not a lot of negatives. Plus, when you do your own footings dak, you can get them RIGHT!! I realize some jobs the mason doesn't do the footings, but I prefer to do my own....
 
#86 · (Edited)
The house provides nice shade and anything you put in the cribbing is gone. Lots of tape measures and pencils.

Thanks biggest footer I have dug and poured.



They also asked me about doing 2 more basements for them at this location. One will be attached to the house a 40'x60' underground room for storage of wine. With icf wall and ceiling I guesse they have some for doing roofs/ceilings. The other one for a tasting building with a full commercial kitchen in the basement. They want this [lace to have a event draw for weddings etc with catering on site. Don't think I will be doing it this year but spring work booked in sep is nice.
 
#90 ·
Never done an ICF project. Do you cut the block for all those corners or do they come with predetermined angles.

Seems like a ton of special pieces would be needed in this application. I am guessing that you are cutting them to fit.
 
#91 · (Edited)
Thanks guys. It has been a blessing and a very big learning experince.


The blocks are premade for 90deg corners. That is it for 12" walls. So everything else is cut as you go. It is way more involved than the other basement I helped on. Following the house is proveing to be very difficult. It isn't scuare or straight. The blocks don't go together unles it is square and straight. Basically it is taking for ever glueing the all these corners together. A lot longer than a normal house.


EDIT:
If any one wants to stop out and take a look they are more than welcome too. Google Tipton, IA to check how far away, it's only a few miles outside of there.
 
#92 · (Edited)
More pics.

I was sick for a few days and the guys didn't get much done and didn't put bar on all of the 3rd coarse. So yesterday was spent re doing what they did.:furious:

Now it's raining today and tomarrow. Next week is my anniversary and will be on vacation. We aren't behind on the schedualling, but the set backs piss me off. Told the owners Nov 4 I would be done with pouring the walls.

Also decided to pour in two stages. Will have a cold joint half way up the wall. Otherwise it will be a 15-20 hour day to pour all at once. There is just too much stuff in the way to make the pour go smooth.




 
#93 ·
Looking great thus far Cole:clap: I never paid attention to location until you mentioned it and i peeped at your location too LOL!! We're up here in Elk Run, (waterloo area) and are over run by ICF guys, but looks like you got it handled:thumbsup:

I used to make 1-2 trips a year to Tipton buying trailers then brining them back up here and selling for profits, bout 1.5 hrs from me, and yeah, you weather schedule is looking like chit for awhile:furious: It's been a terrible year for out door work, save for that 3 week stint of nice weather..wish the whole summer woulda been like that.

Looking forward to seeing more progress pictures as you get them:thumbup:
 
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