A View from Google Earth
An app that is indispensable to our work: Google Earth. Check out this birds eye view shot of the Francis House. Somewhat cartoonish but very real. It reminds me of my yesteryears building architectural models.
Lean on Me
Two weeks ago the bond beams have been filled with concrete. This week we begin building the interior steel “cage” which is an added interior support for the existing exterior stone walls. What this means ? The exterior stone walls have been stabilized and the interior steel cage is an added “brace” so they are…
Masonry Crew Celebrates
Celebrating the way we know how. Thanks to all the crew. Good Job !
Ron says “There’s No Turning Back.”
Ron, our Masonry Engineer says “There’s No Turning Back Now.” A milestone day indeed for the Francis House project.
Facade on Aug 18, 2016
Here is a recent frontal shot post bond beam filling. The bond beams are the horizontal concrete structure on the very top of the stone walls.
A Full Day of Concrete Pouring
All bond beams are solid and “stuffed.”
Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle. Bakers do that to a pan to ensure the batter is evenly distributed. It also “compacts” the mixture by ridding the batter of “air pockets.” Watch the men do the wiggling and shoving so the concrete fills every nook and cranny of the bond beams.
Pouring Concrete on the Bond Beams
Here is the crucial and monumental moment when the bond beams are injected with concrete. As mentioned in previous posts, the bond beam is a horizontal structural element, usually found as an embedded part of a masonry wall assembly. The bond beam serves to impart horizontal strength to a wall where it may not otherwise…
Cement Mixer Truck is Next in Line
The cement mixer truck (white truck) arrives to “supply” the concrete that the concrete pump (red truck) will deliver three stories high to the newly built bond beams.
Pumping Truck is Here
Concrete pumping truck all ready to fill the new bond beams !