March 11, 2006
Basement: Concrete!
Sometimes you just need to pour some 'crete. Last week was one of those times.
In our case, the reason was to create a solid landing pad for the french doors that will replace a window to the outside in the utility room.
However, we did 1 big pour covering 3 slabs. First was the small 3'x5' boxout that we cut out of the basement floor to move the plumbing.
Next was the small 5'x8' slab idea outside the french doors that turned into a 25 foot slab when we realized that a minimum cement order is 2 yards.
Finally was a last-minute addition of a small slab to replace the growing pile of junk and trash piled next to the garage on a steep and rock-filled slope. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I don't have pictures of the junk pile.
Formerly covered with painful river rock up next to the house, it didn't do much for the landscaping, frankly. Now it's prepped for the pour. You can see insulation leaning up against the windows which will soon become French doors. The left of the picture shows the steep grade where we brought the 'rete down and poured the garage slab (just behind the a/c unit).
The pile is gone and forms are ready to create a nice slab to hold trash cans, gardening supplies, perhaps a small (and in case anyone from our HOA is reading, appropriately colored and matched)shed?
And also "just because" I added a 2" pipe under the slab to run water hoses and (in the future) more power to the front yard areas. Another PeteGyver maneuver.
Slab poured! This is the side door to the garage. I think I mentioned before, but we unloaded about 10,000 pounds of concrete for the slabs.
Our concrete guy sloped it gently to meet the existing patio slab, very well done. Bailey Doggy appreciates not having to step down 2 inches. I have a lot of respect for getting a cement pour just right! Very few tools, but lots of skill. We'll be landing the stairs from the kitchen deck to the backyard right in the middle of this slab.
Better view of the full length version. We'll be staining the concrete a taupe or tan color and see how that works. A bit of gardening and dirt fill and it'll look like it's been there forever.