Large Scale Central

Building the CR&N Deadline:July 2017

Articles
#101

Pour #2 done. One to go. These last two were .8 yards or 46 60# bags of quickcrete each. The last one is over a yard and will take 62 bags. I have used over a yards of base gravel. I have no clue how much dirt. Just in concrete and gravel I have moved over 8000 pounds of stuff in a week. I bet at least another 8000 pounds of dirt. I am dragging. But I will say its nice seeing it come together. This has been a long time in coming project. It will be nicce to have a large patio for entertaining. Not to mention the start of my layout.

#102

Devon said: “Not to mention the start of my layout.”

Good thinking, always and all ways allow for growth! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#103

Yeah one nice sweeping curve and I can move all the picnic tables and chairs onto the lawn and use all this new cement patio for a whole new addition to the layout. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)

The third and final pour will be one small section of patio and then the entire base for the yard (hence the start to the layout). But I like John’s thinking better. The old little section of patio might just be enough for a 8’ diameter reversing loop. If I make that corner and run against the house into a reversing loop by the back porch . . . Hmmmmmm.

#104

Nice concrete work Devon. I have not seen many homeowner that are not in the Construction trades or industry pour and finish concrete as good as you have done. Nice and flat. Very good. Keep up the great work. Just curious, since each pour has been about 0.8 cy then the sections are about 8x10? Make sure you use a curing compound on it or keep it wet for several days so it cures properly and does not produce unwanted cracks due to shrinkage. Again nice work.

#105

Colin Criswell said:

Nice concrete work Devon. I have not seen many homeowner that are not in the Construction trades or industry pour and finish concrete as good as you have done. Nice and flat. Very good. Keep up the great work. Just curious, since each pour has been about 0.8 cy then the sections are about 8x10? Make sure you use a curing compound on it or keep it wet for several days so it cures properly and does not produce unwanted cracks due to shrinkage. Again nice work.

Just a smidgen smaller. They first one is a perfect rectangle at 7.5’ by 9’. The other one is 7.5’ at the one end and 9’ at the near end in the picture and 9’ long. The reason it is widening as we go south is to that it meets the corner of the yard benchwork. The final pour will be a challenge to form up as it has lots of different angles. I am up to the task. We have a 40-50% chance of rain tomorrow but only a 4% Monday. I might take tomorrow and form this last area up and get the base rock in. And then pour on Monday since I have the day off.

As to curing, the weather has been great for the work so far. A little rain early on yesterday but none today. It has been in the low to mid 60’s with little to no wind. So evaporation has been slow. We did wet the first slab down this morning but since the next pour was adjacent to it I have not wet it again. If the second pour is flashed off enough tonight I might wet it all down again.

One thing about the broomed effect is that it does not require stellar troweling skills. But I have to say I am not sure I really like the look. I think once it cures and turns grey it wont be as bad and especially after it is populated with furniture. But I am a fan of baby butt smooth concrete and have always tried to get it perfectly smooth. I am not expert more like a complete novice when it comes to concrete. I have done my fair share though. I did the whole front walk, a full exposed aggregate front porch, the original patio slab, and the floor in half of my wife’s green house. So I am not a stranger to it, but I am all self taught and it shows.

#106

OK moving right along I have the last pour formed up and base rock in.

I also took out the RR tie boarder that used to edge the flower bed by the house and replaced it with rock which matches most of the rest of the borders in the yard. It is cleaning up very nice.

This section was not the funnest to form because it has all sorts of quirky angles. The reason for this is that this section is mostly the base for the yard which is weird shape.

Now here is the kicker. On Friday I went to Lowes and purchased 150 60# bags of concrete. I specifically asked them if I could pick them up in three loads spread out over three days. With the rain I really didn’t want concrete laying about. They said no problem, they would will call it and it would be there for me. So Friday I took one pallet-56 bags. Saturday I took another 56 bags. I called to see if they were open tomorrow and the guy says “I have 38 bags left to go but that they only have 10 available.”

“What?” I say, “but I purchased 150 bags, where is my concrete.”

“Well your order was marked due the 15th, but we do have a truck in Tuesday, will that work” he says.

“I say well where did the due date of the 15th come in to play, I made araingments to pick it up over the next three days” I say.

“well we sold it, what can I say, you’ll have to wait” says he.

" but I work, and I only have tomorrow to pour it" says I.

" I will have a manager call you in the morning, sorry" says he.

Well I ain’t at all happy. One of the warehouse guys even assured me that they would set my cement aside because yesterday they looked like they were running low and I asked if I should come back and get the rest. He says “nope, you bought it, so we can set it aside,” I asked the clerk today if someone set it aside and he assured me that there was only 10 bags in the store. So I hope like heck I get my 38 bags of concrete so I can pour tomorrow. Other wise I won’t be able to get to it likely until two weekends from now and I promised the wife a patio for my daughters graduation party. Not cool Lowes.

#107

Too bad, I expect stuff like that at Home Disappointment, didn’t know Lowes was going to dummy down too.

Have a …

John

#108

Devon, and where is the next closest Lowe’s? They should work something out with another location to fulfill the order.

#109

David Maynard said:

Devon, and where is the next closest Lowe’s? They should work something out with another location to fulfill the order.

That will be my conversation with the manager tomorrow. The next closest Lowes is about 20 minutes away from me in the other direction. The guy on the phone sounded about 12 and made it clear he had no authority to do anything about my situation. So tomorrow I will not wait for a call form a manager but will instead call them first thing and see if they can get some from another store, or if mine is really hiding somewhere, or if I can get my money refunded and see if HD will price match. The problem is this was a good deal on the price so not sure if I can get someone to match the price. I might even see if I can demand they “fix” the problem by giving me the equivalent amount of concrete in the 80# sacks. We will see.

I usually have great luck with Lowes. This is really only the first time I have had a problem like this. I hope they make right by it and I get to pour tomorrow.

#110

OK well this mornings conversation with Lowes went well. They agreed it was a big boo boo on their end and gave me the equivalent amount of concrete in 80# sacks. plus 10% back. So my faith in them is restored and the last of the concrete poured.

I had eight bags left of the 60#ers so I started on the walkway with one of the quickcrete forms. I will do this sort of walkway through out. I know in this area for sure where the walkway will be so I will do up these last eight bags. Next on the list will likely be the siding on the house. But that will have to wait until I get the money I am expecting. I can also work on the cabinet.

#111

I posted a new article

Part III

#112

Concrete work looks good there Devon. I bet you can’t wait to get back to work so you can rest. LOL

Chuck

#113

Is it done yet? (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

#114

yes Greg its done!!! well if your talking the patio(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

#115

But I am a fan of baby butt smooth concrete and have always tried to get it perfectly smooth.

Devon , after slipping and almost killing myself and my wife at the same time on our baby butt smooth patio, I am glad you went with the brushed patio, after my disaster and a week off work, we went to our Lowes, side note Never ever set foot in a HD,and got a large outdoor carpet roll to protect our young grandkids and us around our pool.it is getting old and ugly and I still wish we could do something to the patio but the only thing would be overlaying it with pavers.

As to running the RR on it, I tried that when I got my track, laid some out to see what it would look like and the Boss quickly nixed that Idea, as it is pathway from house to pool. Good luck and I will NOT be … well maybe a little,… badgering you on your progress, as I know all to well how life, work daughters getting married and other things encroach on the fun stuff we want to do. Keep up the updates and dont hurt yourself, unless it can be filmed

#116

We’re just trying to keep you focused Devon! We need to help you get track down before we have to have you locked up for your own protection ha ha!

Greg

#117

Greg,

There is no protecting me from the voices in my head. I mean I am crazy. . . let’s take a look at me I am 46 years old and I decided to go back to school and am going to spend thousands to build a toy train in my yard. I am beyond help.

Focus what’s that, I think I read about it in one of my books, it’s kinda like a unicorn, a myth that doesn’t exist.

But I do appreciate the friendly badgering. If nothing else I have to finish it to avoid having the buzzards pick the flesh from my dead ideas.

#118

Any pics of the Cabinet yet?

#119

geez you guys are killing me.

#120

Devon,

Focus is what a camera does, I’ve pretty much given up on yours… How can you focus on a gazillion things at once?

yer bud,

John