Home Construction Advice

[ibanez]

Ok folks, started construction of my home today!

Foundation being done within the next couple weeks!

The builder is tieing steel today for ground beams and piles as well as 'lining up' the building.

My job doesnt allow me vacation at this time, so can't be on site full time!

Any tips, advice on what to check/look for at the end of today?

I hope to continue this thread throughtout construction, so would appreciate any suggestions from those with experience!

Thanks.

[pioneer]

pm elviz he did plenty work for many tuners and all were pleased

[dougla_boy]

his 2nr name is Rahtid.........

[AllTrac]

pm elviz he did plenty work for many tuners and all were pleased

ROFLLLL

[foss]

don't pm elviz he did plenty work for many tuners and they were disappointed

so I've heard.

[pioneer]

his 2nr name is Rahtid.........

Oh yes my bad, Rahtid is the man for the job OP.

Look nowhere else.

[pioneer]

It have B-zone by golden grove?

I eh think trincity mall signal peltin so far

[Rory Phoulorie]

Ok folks, started construction of my home today!

Foundation being done within the next couple weeks!

The builder is tieing steel today for ground beams and piles as well as 'lining up' the building.

My job doesnt allow me vacation at this time, so can't be on site full time!

Any tips, advice on what to check/look for at the end of today?

I hope to continue this thread throughtout construction, so would appreciate any suggestions from those with experience!

Thanks.

1) Check building limits are within dimensions shown on the drawings. This should give you an idea of if it is set out properly if you don't have any land surveying equipment at hand. If the builder has string lines set out, this should make it easier to check.

2) Check that the reinforcing steel is of the correct grade. The main reinforcing steel is usually high tensile steel which is ribbed, while the stirrups/links/ties are usually mild steel which is smooth. Ensure that the steel does not have any mill scale or rust on it. Have the builder wire brush this off.

3) Check the lap length of the reinforcing steel. When a piece of steel is too short, another piece is used to get the required length and the two pieces have to be lapped and tied together to get continuity. A rule of thumb for the lap length is 40 times the bar diameter.

4) Ensure that enough tying wire is used to prevent the steel cages from deforming. Sometimes, additional lengths of steel are installed diagonally along the length of the steel cage to help keep it in the proper shape.

5) Check the size of the pin that the builder is using to bend the steel around. Mild steel should be bent around a pin with a diameter two times the diameter of the bar. High tensile steel should be bent around a pin with a diameter three times the diameter of the bar.

6) Ensure that the builder has concrete spacer blocks to place between the reinforcing steel and the ground on which it may be placed. The size of the spacer blocks or the "cover" to the steel should be noted on the drawings.

[*$kїđž!™]

hope u have a trustworthy experienced builder.....cause if u dont.....and u dont have time to be there on site.......those fellas will take u for the ride of your life..........

congrats on yur home btw....its the greatest feeling.......

do a search....many threads here on tuner.......

[RapToR]

[badandy]

it seems you need a project manager on your job.
he will seek your interest and ensure everything is built to industry standards and to plan.....but that is if you are willing to invest a small amount of money for your BIG investment.
he will be your eyes and ears.

its better, not to be penny wise and pound foolish...

[sharkman121]

Good thread if kept on course, to get down to the finer aspects of home construction. I shall refer to this when i start my own foundation next yr hopefully

[*$kїđž!™]

it seems you need a project manager on your job.
he will seek your interest and ensure everything is built to industry standards and to plan.....but that is if you are willing to invest a small amount of money for your BIG investment.
he will be your eyes and ears.

its better, not to be penny wise and pound foolish...

....just send your retired father or father in law to keep an eye out.....

[ECIGTT]

Yes contact Elvis, he is best in construction. I had another contractor that built my house, i had a foundation crack that caused my house to shift. The foundation split in half, Elvis did a great job in saving my house by doing some major foundation repairs. He is also reasonable and yes Rahtid is his tuner name.

[*$kїđž!™]

Yes contact Elvis, he is best in construction. I had another contractor that built my house, i had a foundation crack that caused my house to shift. The foundation split in half, Elvis did a great job in saving my house by doing some major foundation repairs. He is also reasonable and yes Rahtid is his tuner name.

heard elvis tell this story.....

[crazybalhead]

Yes contact Elvis, he is best in construction. I had another contractor that built my house, i had a foundation crack that caused my house to shift. The foundation split in half, Elvis did a great job in saving my house by doing some major foundation repairs. He is also reasonable and yes Rahtid is his tuner name.

heard elvis tell this story.....

Interesting.

[r3iXmann]

Yes contact Elvis, he is best in construction. I had another contractor that built my house, i had a foundation crack that caused my house to shift. The foundation split in half, Elvis did a great job in saving my house by doing some major foundation repairs. He is also reasonable and yes Rahtid is his tuner name.

heard elvis tell this story.....

Interesting.

1uhh

[crazybalhead]

A good contractor can take the same materials as a bad contractor and have amazingly different results.

[pioneer]

Ah time ah man come by me to do dumn and he had he lil son totin ting up an dong yes...nice to see he was showin him de trade from young.

[*$kїđž!™]

Yes contact Elvis, he is best in construction. I had another contractor that built my house, i had a foundation crack that caused my house to shift. The foundation split in half, Elvis did a great job in saving my house by doing some major foundation repairs. He is also reasonable and yes Rahtid is his tuner name.

heard elvis tell this story.....

Interesting.

[TriniVdub]

Yes contact Elvis, he is best in construction. I had another contractor that built my house, i had a foundation crack that caused my house to shift. The foundation split in half, Elvis did a great job in saving my house by doing some major foundation repairs. He is also reasonable and yes Rahtid is his tuner name.

heard elvis tell this story.....

Interesting.

[*$kїđž!™]

hope OP taking note.....

[Ignorant Ignis]

what advise on home construction?....u say u dont have time to over see the work?


fire everybody now
return all materials to the hardware
sell land

and

go buy a house in a nice development


after 14 years in the construction industry i would do the same.

contractors are like russian roulette.......some get away and somebody gets the bull(et)

[AllTrac]

one thing for sure, with elvis, its a sure thing! u could bet your unpaid vacation days on it!

[pioneer]

He always delivers.

[ECIGTT]

Bump for best project manager - Elvis

[ibanez]

Everything suggested has been done, building plan being folllowed!

[ibanez]

Digging of trenches and butts being done by mini excavator.

Augering being done by machine as well. Piles are being hand mixed,

footing, columns and ground beams all to be done with ready-mix.

[Rory Phoulorie]

Digging of trenches and butts being done by mini excavator.

Please ensure that you compact any loose material at the bases of excavations that are to receive concrete. Sandy soils should be compacted with a vibrating plate compactor (locally called a Wacker plate) and clayey soils should be compacted with a pad foot compactor (locally called a jumping jack compactor)

Augering being done by machine as well. Piles are being hand mixed,

What strength of concrete do you require for the piles? What is the proposed proportions for the concrete mix? Why not rent a portable concrete mixer? The resulting mix would be more homogeneous than hand mixing. You should construct a cubic foot box which should be used to proportion the various components of site mixed concrete.

footing, columns and ground beams all to be done with ready-mix.

Request the ready-mix concrete supplier to prepare a set of four test specimens (cube or cylinder, depending on what is specified) for you to test at an independent testing agency (CARIRI, Geotech, Trintoplan, UWI, etc.). One specimen should be tested at 7 days (this test should yield at least 60% of the specified 28 day compressive strength), two specimens tested at 28 days and one specimen kept as a spare. Please ensure that you know what strength (cube strength or cylinder strength) you need for your concrete.

[*$kїđž!™]

footing, columns and ground beams all to be done with ready-mix.

Request the ready-mix concrete supplier to prepare a set of four test specimens (cube or cylinder, depending on what is specified) for you to test at an independent testing agency (CARIRI, Geotech, Trintoplan, UWI, etc.). One specimen should be tested at 7 days (this test should yield at least 60% of the specified 28 day compressive strength), two specimens tested at 28 days and one specimen kept as a spare. Please ensure that you know what strength (cube strength or cylinder strength) you need for your concrete.

I know u mean well and this is prob the way to go....but srsly...do u think anyone actually does this?