Hangar and Garage Foundation

Pouring the foundation for the hangar and garage is a separate step from constructing the foundation for the house.  Unlike the house, the foundation for the hangar and garage is poured in a trench without any forms.  That cannot be done until after back-filling around the basement walls.





This shows one corner of the basement walls before back-filling.  A hangar wall will join this corner on top of the blocks.  The basement walls have been treated and pea gravel has been added around the foundation. 



This is taken from what will eventually be the driveway after back-filling around the basement walls.



This is taken from in front of what will be the garage door as the garage and hangar foundation are being poured.

Due to the pass-through design of the garage and hangar, the side walls do not have the benefit of a full cross wall to resist racking.  Consequently, some additional measures are necessary to provide proper support.



A corner of the garage foundation. The rods and strap that are embedded in the concrete will firmly hold the walls to the foundation. 

Steel posts will reinforce the narrow walls on either side of the bi-fold hangar door.  These posts will be fastened to concrete pads by threaded rod.  The threaded rods are inserted into the concrete pads before the concrete cures.  A plywood template ensures that the rods are positioned correctly relative to one another as they are inserted.




This is one of the concrete pads on each end of the bi-fold hangar door.  The threaded rods are assembled into the template and waiting.

Inserting the threaded rods into the concrete pad.  The pink string marks a reference line from which to determine the correct position.



Carefully measuring to ensure that the rods are in the correct position.

Basement Walls

On December 22, I stopped by to watch the forms being assembled for the basement walls.  One lesson from this visit is that I should bring a second pair of footwear when I visit the site.  It can be very muddy.

This section of wall will be under the front porch.

These are the frames for the basement egress windows.  They are installed in the forms so they will be poured in place.

The builder texted the pictures below on December 23 to let me know that the basement was now being poured.

 

Five concrete trucks waiting in the street - the neighbors must be trilled.

Pouring the walls

My next chance to visit was December 29.  The forms have been removed.  The lesson from this visit is that the second pair of footwear should be something more substantial than old sneakers.  I wonder where we put my work boots when we moved into the apartment.

This is the view from what will eventually be the driveway.

This shows the pits around the basement egress windows.  Drainage tile runs from each pit through the footing.

This is a view from what will eventually by the hangar.