Waffle Pods in place

August 20, 2009

Went into block 11:30 this morning and saw that the waffle pods were in place. However I noted a few problems:

1.     No bars in pier holes - spec. said for that depth 4 rods had to go in NOTE: Steve fixed before concrete pour

2.     Most rafts are 110mm wide and only need 1 rod down the centre, however there are two rafts about 220mm to 250mm wide, one at the rear of the slab and one where the verandah joins the main living area. If the width of these two rafts is under 220mm then two rods have to be layed down the channel and if they are over 220mm then there have to be three - there was only one placed down each raft! No wonder there was so many steel rods left over (see later picture). NOTE: Extra rods down by pouring day.

3.     Sounds picky but all the pod overs were just left in a pile! They could blow around and away in the wind and there is a fine if this happens. Had to purchase a massive “rubbish bag” for this purpose so went down to Steve’s to retreve it and put the rubbish in.

Steve said he was going back up to the block to finish up a few things this afternoon after a bbq at his daughters. When I discovered that he did not realisee rods were missing (see above) I went back to the block and checked the plan. Chased him up at daughters (easy to find people in Nundle ) Made his day, NOT, letting him know omissions, had to show him the plan and read it out to convince him. NOTE: ALL DONE AND READY FOR POUR ON SATURDAY.

Inspection is tomorrow at 9:30am so hope he is ready! Hope Annette, the inspector, keeps being as cooperative as she has been if he isn’t.

Also noticed while preparing photos for this blog that the raft on the western side is over 110mm is should have 2 rods in if that is the case, and from the photo seems there are none.

Oh the joys of owner buildering. I remember a day more than 2 years ago when son Marc and I went out to industrial estate in Tamworth to check out “moveable houses”. The cheapest one was then around $65,000 but was over my budget. As time goes on it seems that it would have been cheaper to get that house than build my “cheaper” one. Plus it was bigger than the one I am building now.

 

Showing steel “overs” and pod rubbish

Showing steel “overs” and pod spacer overs. Spacers over about $50 value, will talk to Neumanns steel about a refund.

Pods in slab - may have some slight problems but WHAT A VIEW Have to think positivly don’t I?

Showing bar in horizontal raft and lack thereof in side raft!

Bill for labour on formation of slab $2800 - $200 over original quote for raft slab. Can understand increase has to cover grey hair caused and besides Steve was thousands less in quote than other people. Plus he is local and it has been easy to contact and communicate with eg. above: chacing him to daughters bbq…….. Also slab unded up twice and deep and formwork was more complicated ie. higher.

Also have added my solution to putting rods in pier holes - Steve was bit troubled by this and was talking about “shoving” rods down as we poring concrete (…….don’t know how building inspector would regard that) or getting other Steve to weld something up,