Things are really tight in there so I'm mixing the bags of QuickCrete one bag at a time. The reason the pad is so think is due to the 60 gallon compressor I'm mounting above - I want the pad to be able to absorb and vibration. Here's a view from above:
So the plan:
- Pour a footing to support a temp post to hold the weight of the stairs - this will be in front of that current post you see in the back.
- Remove the old post and extend the pad to the full width of the space.
- Dig out about 4 inches for a pad to extend to the front of the opening.
- Dig away the width of block for the retaining wall to the right of the pad, extending down for a footing and drain.
- Build a wall of cinder blocks to the height of the dirt, capping to support two metal posts
- The metal posts will support a beam that's inline with the beam above in the roof, supporting a new deck.
I broomed off the surface then edged it for a neat joint.The rest of the pad won't be as thick so not as much work (I hope) - backbreaking stuff here. I did a bag at a time due to space constraints and this took 8 bags. I may buy a mixer for the rest but I'm not sure if I can even get it into the space - it's really cramped.
-- John
2 comments:
As long as you weren't using a fast setting concrete, you probably could have mixed up several bags of concrete in a mixer and just dump small batches into a 5 gallon plastic bucket / mortar tub / wheel barrow, and carried that over to your pour. Not sure if that would save too much on labor having to carry a heavy bucket around but at least you wouldn't have to mix each bag individually!
It should get a bit easier as I walk the concrete towards the entrance - I have been considering buying a mixer...the problem is where to store it when it's not in use.
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