Moving to new Blog - this one is full

Please go to  http://alclarkson.blogspot.com  to continue following our lives and times.  We hope that you will continue to enjoy our posts......

Weekend visit with Good Friends.....

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We had a wonderful weekend with good friends Ron & Flor Pratl visiting from San Diego CA.  The weather was perfect - we visited the newly opened Arizona MarketPlace "Swap Meet" and enjoyed several dinners and breakfasts out - not to mention a gathering at our lot with Lew & Dottie Anderson.  Good friends are a blessing to behold and are held close to our hearts!

Construction Project Phase Three Part Three - The Ramada

It is morning on October 29.....

The lumber arrives - now we just need the workers.

The workers arrive and get busy.  This is their super-duper "jig saw" that they use to cut the scroll pattern on the ends of most all the lumber.  It will give the Ramada a "fancy" look!

First they mark the pattern on the wood.

Then they cut the wood along the marked lines.

This is the finished scroll design.  Both ends of the 15 Rafters (3x12's) and both ends of the 2 Beams (8x12's).  That's some intensive wood cutting!

Getting ready to set the first post.  8x8's and not that easy to lift!  They have to put it up and down and up and down several times in the process of marking the holes - drilling the holes - double checking the holes - and finally securing the post with the bolts. 

End of day one - posts are up, but not tightened yet.  They have the heaviest lifting tomorrow and then the bolts will be secured.

First beam is being taken into position.  This beam is a 8x12 that is 22 feet long - not light by any means.  These 4 guys are struggling to get it moved.

Going up!

Almost there....

One side up - now the really hard part.  Our good friend Lew Anderson decided to help them out.  I am sure they really appreciated his efforts - hope he doesn't hurt himself as there is no insurance!!!

The other end half way up supported by the ladder so they could rest and figure out their next move.

Almost there - now the beam is supported by a 6x6 .... this is hard work for sure!

One down - er, I mean UP - and one to go.  I am tired just watching them work!

I guess practice really does make perfect?  The second beam went up much easier than the first, even though it had to go 3 1/2 inches higher!

Now they can secure the huge bolts.

The Rafters are going up!  Each one is a 18 foot long 3x12 - much lighter than the beams, but still not that light.

Almost done with the Rafters.

3x8 blocking - sure hope he doesn't fall!

The roof sheathing begins........

End of day two - they really got a lot done today!

"Knee bracing" is going in.  The structure has been alittle shaky, but now it is becoming more sturdy.

Drilling pilot holes for the lag screws.

Center blocking going in - the structure is much more stable after this is accomplished.

End of day three - starting to look like a Ramada!  Ready for inspection tomorrow.......

It is now November 1st and OOPS.... we failed inspection!!!!  Stay tuned for continuing updates.....

Construction Project Phase Three Part Two - The Ramada

The crew arrives at 10:00 am.  Last minute finishing touches must be completed before the concrete truck arrives.  They cover any existing concrete and the sides of the building that is close just in case the new concrete splashes.  Here he is placing the expansion joints in place.

Waiting for the concrete truck to arrive.  This will be the last rest they will have until they are all done!

The truck arrives - 10:50 am.

The "pour" begins!

Making progress.

Here he is placing the second square of rebar into the post footing.  There is another square of rebar with curved ends suspended 3" up from the bottom of the hole and this square will sink to about half way down into the hole.  Should provide some strong reinforcement for the footings.

This is what happens when you are so busy that you forget that you just filled up a big hole with concrete and then step in it!  Not to worry - he didn't stop working or take time to rinse it off.  Hope it didn't dry and glue his foot inside!

The first part of the "pour" is complete.  The truck will wait until the concrete sets up enough to remove the inner form - time is 11:19 am.

Time to begin removing the inner form.  They have to cut the form since it was nailed together and they can't get to the nails.

Time to set the hardware that will hold the 8 x 8 posts.  It is submerged into the concrete up to the square plate.  It settles in very easily, but will never budge after the concrete is set.

They measure and then they measure again and again.  Once the concrete sets they won't be able to adjust the position - they are very careful!

The second part of the "pour" begins - time is 11:43 am.

After enough wet cement is in place to hold the expansion joint, the inner form is removed.

More measuring - I got tired of taking pictures of all the measuring and re-measuring.  No doubt that each support hardware is exactly as it should be!

Cutting the "crack" grooves.  So far the only cracks that we have in any of the concrete these guys have laid for us is in the crack grooves - I guess they really work, plus it makes the slab look good.

Working the slab.  It sure takes alot of work to get a slab of concrete to turn out great!  Time is 1:25 pm.

Time to "surf the slab"!

Out side forms coming off!

Brushing the almost set concrete to get the finished look.

The last piece of the forms being removed - time is 3:00 pm.

All done and gone.  Time is 3:40 pm.  Long day for them as they did another pour before ours.  They will all sleep well tonight!  The slab will have to dry and cure for about a week before part three of phase three can begin.

Construction Project update - ready to pour concrete.

Thought we were ready for inspection back on October 15, but another little OOPS happened again.

When the crew came by this morning to put the rest of the forms in place for the inspection, they discovered that there was a problem.  If you look close at the two pictures above you can see that the forms on the right side were moved over 22"!  One unofficial drawing said the width was 16 feet - the official drawings by the enginneer said it should be 17 feet 10 inches to accomodate the larger footings required.  This will actually give us more space inside the Ramada and still leave plenty of room for a guest coach to park.  Anyway, all is well and we passed the inspection this afternoon.  They will be pouring concrete beginning about 10 am tomorrow - check back for more pics........