Foam Forms and Footers

There are days where I truly wish I could click my heels and jump to the finish of this rebuilding effort. This is doubly sad given the fact that we are just getting started, having only had a permit in place for a few weeks. Nevertheless, there is action on Chase Manor Version 2.0, so it is time for an update.

Most of the effort at the start has been devoted to demolition and site prep for the foundation repair. The original house had an unfinished daylight basement, with cinder block wing walls (north and south) and 2x6 framing on the back wall (east). The remnants of the wing walls have been completely removed, down to the pad level, and in some cases below pad level down to the first layer of intact block resting on the footers. The only original wall remaining is the west wall, which with some repair will be reusable.

Having decided to finish out the basement for 2.0, we have elected to build a fairly large storm shelter (roughly 10x18), with reinforced concrete on every side. In order to make this work, the basement pad was channeled out in that space in order to lay down new footers to support the safety structure.

Rebar has already been laid out and tapped in to the existing west and north side footers. I'm not sure yet when they will come to pour those, but I imagine it will be soon.

In addition, we have elected to go with insulating concrete form (ICF) technology for all the exterior walls at basement level (as well as the storm shelter). Taking a closer look at this, you basically assemble these Lego-like styrofoam forms and fill them with concrete. In addition to the structural benefits we believe it offers, we also expect to gain some level of energy efficiency as the styrofoam forms remain a part of the structure, providing built in insulation.

Right now, the crews have assembled some of the forms, which wait in a corner for placement. However, much of the block around the perimeter of the pad will need to be replaced before any of this happens. I may have to find a way to go to the site and loiter when they begin assembling the forms, because I'm intrigued by how all that will work, to include the cutting out of the windows.

Tomorrow we have a major design meeting with the builder and the subcontractor for the framing, which should go a long way toward finalizing the overall floor plan for the residence.

It is good to be moving forward, and seeing some action at the property. But spring cannot get here soon enough.