Building the basement

Much is to be said about this stage of the build. We are in the thick of it. It’s all about blocks, bucks, hooks and especially rebar. Lots of rebar. Small, medium and large. Straight, bent and s-shaped stirrups that knit the various straight pieces together in the lintels above openings [windows and doors].

I had read in a number of places that ICF is pricier than stick builds in terms of materials, but you save in terms of time and amount of labour. I can’t be sure about this. Perhaps, if you have a very simple house with small openings. It gets really complicated if the opening are large, wide, or close to corners.

Everybody has worked very hard, especially Niki who is all over the place clambering over the scaffolding like a gymnast. Tho others stride confidently as well. I am slowly getting used to it, still a bit skittish about wobbly, narrow lengths of wood raised about seven feet over gravel and protruding brace supports and rebar stakes. They’ve got me cutting and bending rebar, and doing a few wood cuts. I hand them the stuff while carefully climbing the connecting planks.

A quick gallery to show the progress of the basement. Another day of two that may include setting in the 47 foot steel beam. From there, an inspection, pour next week, followed by floor trusses, sub-floor and some backfill to then start on main floor.