You have two choices when things go to pot. You can do some improvements or you can tear them down. I stopped halfway on the porch. I had a significant fracture and that (plus getting older) slowed me down. I have been back working on this as time allows and posting from time to time.
In my humble opinion anyway, this shows that there was an effort in the past. This is before the first redneck engineering story and it no longer looks the same. One reason for writing about this is that I think there are other people who feel the need to work alone. I certainly do. For a long time I have made an effort to figure out how to do things by myself. This is no different and I hope you get some tip that you can use.
Pretty much the same view. My first tip is to do the roof very early and save some labor. I feel the porch would have lasted twice as long if the roof had been up. It actually wasn't gone. Just headed that direction.
I found that the green fiberglass is more durable than the galvanized metal and the price reflects that. If I had just replaced the deck boards and they lasted another dozen years I would be in my eighties when replacement time came and I’m not sure that I’m interested.
I confess that the flowers were not my idea but I do water them every morning.
I found that the green fiberglass is more durable than the galvanized metal and the price reflects that. If I had just replaced the deck boards and they lasted another dozen years I would be in my eighties when replacement time came and I’m not sure that I’m interested.
I confess that the flowers were not my idea but I do water them every morning.
I made a living sweeping and repairing chimneys while teaching myself to be a civilian. My first civilian certification of any type was as a Chimney Sweep. This from the national Chimney Sweep Guild. This equipment and a 32 ft. extension ladder was almost all it took to repair a chimney crown. They make a plastic bin for mixing cement but I think the circular motion allowed by the galvanized tub makes it an easier job. I think I’ll write an article soon telling you what you don’t know about your chimney and how it can, indeed, hurt you. Figuring out how to do this type of work on the top of a two story chimney can require some deep thought.
The prior step was the second one I made and it was the last small one in the batch. Here you see all the forms in place and everything poured. It is so small that I didn’t install any rebar.
A sidewalk needs to be 3” thick and a driveway 4”. If you are interested all my chimney crown were 2-3" and I was never called back. These steps are over 2” thick and over 3” in some places.
The wood underneath is treated and supported. When I reach the larger steps above I will need to see that close to 3” is observed and I will increase the support. I'm looking out for the 80 year old I will be some day and trying to make them to last.
A sidewalk needs to be 3” thick and a driveway 4”. If you are interested all my chimney crown were 2-3" and I was never called back. These steps are over 2” thick and over 3” in some places.
The wood underneath is treated and supported. When I reach the larger steps above I will need to see that close to 3” is observed and I will increase the support. I'm looking out for the 80 year old I will be some day and trying to make them to last.
You can see the forms here. You can also observe another use for duct tape. When I poured chimney crowns the inside of the form was always lined with duct tape. It made much smoother concrete. The face on the concrete step here is typical. I will reface with morter mix or vinyl. The right corner of the form also has another use for cardboard. A little stuffed between two boards is a barrier to concrete flow.
The back wall is primarily sealed by the old step and it’s support. As you can see, the new step is considerably wider than the old.
The back wall is primarily sealed by the old step and it’s support. As you can see, the new step is considerably wider than the old.
Concrete can pack a bunch of weight if it is being compressed. However, you can break it like chalk if you subject it to twisting. The steel in the crete lets you apply that unsupported downward force without a fracture. There will also be support provided by the porch stanchion (an upright landscape timber).
When I am pouring something like this and not using traditional forms I always make the concrete just a little bit dryer at the edges and give it a few minutes to set. Then I make normal concrete and fill the cavity.
This picture shows the landscape timber porch stanchion. When these forms go away the next concrete pour is going to encapsulate the bottom of the stanchion in concrete. I have two new stanchions for the roof to cover the steps and I do not want to put a ladder against anything until they are very solid. That is another tip. Bad things happen when you try to fly.
When I am pouring something like this and not using traditional forms I always make the concrete just a little bit dryer at the edges and give it a few minutes to set. Then I make normal concrete and fill the cavity.
This picture shows the landscape timber porch stanchion. When these forms go away the next concrete pour is going to encapsulate the bottom of the stanchion in concrete. I have two new stanchions for the roof to cover the steps and I do not want to put a ladder against anything until they are very solid. That is another tip. Bad things happen when you try to fly.
Here we are pouring normal concrete and smoothing the top. No I did not run short of concrete. I just took this picture before I was finished. There were really no unanticipated problems this time during the job. I kept my dog inside for a couple hours. I was taught that you needed two hours before it could rain lightly. Four before a freeze or heavy rain. Somewhere in that second two hours a dog could run on it. If I brought him inside and put up a barricade what could go wrong. Nothing, right?
Well, not completely right. It’s possible that you could be the object of curiosity of a certain tall dark stranger. He and his lady love were probably on their honeymoon and just had to see and experience all the strange sights. I also found that when one repairs the red eye on a Tall Dark Stranger his caruncle will turn black. You can see the a normal muscovy caruncle on the face of his lady love. Well the lone ranger mask on him is really his red caruncle. I actually thought that was funny and in honor of the Lone Ranger movie that just came out, I just left it that way.
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