→First Garage Poured

by

Kevin 05/03/10

Today we poured the first garage. It took 3.5 trucks, which is 35 cubic yards of concrete. We started at 8 and were finished around noon. The four hour window is important because the boom truck costs $500 every four hours so if it takes 4 hrs. 15 minutes those extra 15 minutes cost an extra $500.

The boom truck operator controls the boom remotely while someone guides the trimmer (end of the hose) down the formwork. Then the concrete is vibrated to ensure that it is reaching all the nooks and crannies around the rebar. The forms are rated for a certain amount of pressure so you can't simply drop the hose in and fill it up like a bucket. Instead you have to fill it up a little at a time or else the forms won't be able to handle the pressure and catastrophic events will ensue. So we poured three lifts of 5'. Everything went smoothly but the moment of truth is when the forms are taken off.