The Concrete Underground

[signcrafter]

I think we all need to chip in and get llwillysfan a secretary that will photograph and post updates! Or a webcam! Two weeks without updates is killing me. This is the first thing I check each day when I come onto GJ. I understand you have to be crazy busy running a business and building your own home. I will be patiently waiting for future updates. Hopefully things are still going good for you.

 

[hpw]

This is the first thing I check each day when I come onto GJ. . I will be patiently waiting for future updates. Hopefully things are still going good for you.

Hit the "subscribe" button and any updates u will be notified by email

 

[granada don]

Hi HPW

Thanks for saying you can get a email to let a guy know more posts have been added

Wow this is some kinda house, i was a nail bender in my younger days and stiil like to see neat stuff being built

Like being a gearhead you never grow out of it ' Priceless '

G Don

 

[red]

Just to bump it back to first page . . . btw I'm in the northeast and the last two weeks have not be conducive to building anything especially concrete. Can't imagine what his dirt road looks like.

Sister in law is up in Albany area and lots of flooding.

 

[granada don]

Hi Red

Yes i have read the whole thread, just can't imagine how he can think of all the little details to do each day before the concrete pour

That would make you a basket case for sure hoping you did not forgot one

Been there done that when it comes to the wet dirt, the day they started to do my shop slab they got the footings filled and the rains came for a month.

A month of wet and it turned nice but when the mixer backed in to do the slab the rear wheels sunk in so far the rear end pumpkin was making it's our rut in the wet lawn

They just might have to put a cable on the mixer to keep it from sliding down that dirt road and right into the river, be hard to stop all that weight once it got going

G Don

 

[Justanoldguy]

Hit the "subscribe" button and any updates u will be notified by email

ONLY if you setting are set to do that.
I never get any emails for subscribed threads.

 

[hpw]

ONLY if you setting are set to do that.
I never get any emails for subscribed threads.

was intended as info. for those who weren't aware of the option, but yes it would have to be enbabled under "Thread Tools" at the top of each page.

 

[granada don]

Yes the email message thing works great, learn something new every day

G Don

 

[calfj60]

This build is amazing!! Just finished reading it all and must say you sir are an artist. You and your crew seem to work well together and the results show that you make a great team. Looking forward to more updates and seeing how you finish up your garage :/)

 

[db2221]

almost 3 weeks since an update!

so long between posts!

 

[Oggy]

I'm beginning to start tweaking... I need a fix... come on man just one more pic, just one more.... [eye/head twitches beginning]

 

[onething]

Long weekend

Either LL left town for a holiday or is working too hard to take pics.

 

[_CY_]

in ...

 

[Beefbuzz]

Holy guacamole!!!! I just spent the last 4hrs ish reading this whole thing. I am finishing up plans to start my own house build and I was searching for something (don't remember what now, haha) when I came across this fantastic journey of a build. I was feeling pretty overwhelmed with making decisions but your build is simply inspiring. You have the nerves of a fighter pilot, so many decisions that cannot be reversed.

I poured concrete for my uncle's business for about a decade when I was younger, toughest job I ever had.

 

[JakeKohl]

Hi Red

Yes i have read the whole thread, just can't imagine how he can think of all the little details to do each day before the concrete pour

That would make you a basket case for sure hoping you did not forgot one

Been there done that when it comes to the wet dirt, the day they started to do my shop slab they got the footings filled and the rains came for a month.

A month of wet and it turned nice but when the mixer backed in to do the slab the rear wheels sunk in so far the rear end pumpkin was making it's our rut in the wet lawn

They just might have to put a cable on the mixer to keep it from sliding down that dirt road and right into the river, be hard to stop all that weight once it got going

G Don

A basket case or a person that doesn't sleep for all the thoughts and planning that race relentlessly through your head.

 

[Cemoto]

I was getting concerned with no new posts, but did check and LL has logged on recently.

And, this is the 1,600th reply!

Regards,

.

 

[Bib Overalls]

It was on the news. There has been a huge, unexplained increase in demand for concrete in Maine. Apparently the industry is at maximum production and the product is being rationed. Hopefully LL will get an allotment shortly and be back on line with some fresh pictures.

 

[Beefbuzz]

Btw, if you are still looking at something to do for the stairs, I toured a house that was mostly concrete complete with cantilever room and the stairs were metal with concrete treads. Check out the link.

semi concrete house

 

[SiGmA_X]

I see you were on yesterday but its been almost a month without an update, you guys must be slammed with paying work! Or you're busier than hell with the house, and paying work! I can't find fault with either of those reasons, but whenever you get a minute an update would rock!

 

[Nads]

I can understand the withdrawal symptoms on what is a brilliant build and fantastically documented thread. Clearly there are reasons for the delay so lets just all take a cup of concrete and harden up.

 

[faxij]

Just food for thought...heard of Kickstarter?

If you lack funds or would like some more to further progress, why not crowdsource? I am sure there are plenty of people out there to support this evil lair, you do remind a bit of Gru from Despicable Me. Use that. In return you could offer nameplates in one of your secret tunnels, invitation to a BBQ, permission to help carry out automotive work in your evil-lair-garage and as the premium offer a local tour with your own helicopter. Plenty of options.

Certainly hope an update is just around the corner, but as was said plenty o' times...Take your time. You only do it once, so do it right (as you have been doing the whole time! Truly inspired by your approach and attitude towards building your lair...I want a slice of that). Some of us might have a cold turkey by now, but we'll live


P.S.:
Take above with a pinch of salt, a cuppa tequila and a squirt of irony

 

[signcrafter]

I think I'm going threw with drawls. Feel like a heroin addict that can't get a fix, or update pictures in this case!

Tomorrow will be a full month with no posts from LLWillysfan. I see he checked into the forum this morning. Hope everything is alright with LLWillysfan. Any updates on if everything is alright or if your just busy and no progress getting done? It's alright to post every once in a while even if you don't have any major updates, just to let us know you're still there.

Wishing you the best and will keep waiting for the next updates! Enjoy the summer!

 

[SiGmA_X]

Maybe he's building the secret passages and rooms and doesn't want to post pictures...

 

[bdkw1]

Hopefully he's putting the new dock to good use.

 

[mdbeck1]

Maybe he's building the secret passages and rooms and doesn't want to post pictures...

I'll vote for gun turrets in the hidden areas.

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

Maybe he's building the secret passages and rooms and doesn't want to post pictures...

I'll vote for gun turrets in the hidden areas.

The obvious answer. He's really a "Bond Bad Guy" and he's building the missile silos and the underground headquarters for his evil empire complete with shark tank!!

 

[granada don]

Maybe LL could not wait any longer, and he has been working on his 40'Willys street gasser !!

G Don

 

[ConCretin]

Not sure what to say after more than a month's absence. First let me say I'm sorry for leaving you all hanging. Secondly let me assure you that you haven't missed much.

Progress has been painfully slow. Working nights and weekends just ain't cutting it. If it wasn't for my mother-in-laws husband, Mike showing up at 6:00 am every weekend, I'd be in even worse shape. I have managed to keep a small crew here for the last week or so and finally have some progress to share.

Here's where I left off - the final ICF walls are ready to place. As you can see, I've managed to take a very simple, efficient ICF and turn it into something unrecognizable.



There was no way I was going to build a second story AC wall by myself but the guys made short work of it when they returned.



Remember the 75 degree corner on the first floor with the funky custom ties - we repeated the same configuration on the second floor. Since it will get covered anyway, we placed 2" of rigid insulation on the exterior face rather than messing with the ThermoMass. We also needed integral bucks to attach the windows.



With the ICF and AC walls FINALLY done, we ordered some concrete.



We then moved on to the lower garage roof - I told you we'd eventually get back to the damn garage. The shoring is unchanged from previous placements.



Here's a view from above. The hole in the middle is for a 10 x 10 skylight to provide additional headroom over the lift. (see post 261 for more info)



Next we moved on to the shoring for the second story roof beams.



Before we could start the second story LiteDeck, we had to set the last beam. It's supported by a column in front and bears on the ICF wall in back



We needed extra long shoring posts to support the LiteDeck over the two story stair hall leading to the second floor



We have started work on the bucks over the window openings;



Here's a wide angle shot from the front to give you some perspective;



And another from the rear;



Well that's it. Not much to show for a better than a month. I'd like to be able to say it's going to get better but it probably won't.

OK, now I'm going to read all your posts wondering where the hell I am - I usually feel too guilty about the lack of updates to even check my own thread.

 

[HOTFR8]

Nice to see some if some what slow progress.

 

[Vernmotor]

Just good to hear from You. Nice to know you are alright..started to worry something might of happen to you.

 

[IdahoJoe]

I don't know about others, but I was worried that something had driven you away from this thread or that you were unable to post for some reason.

You've made more progress this month than most of us ever could.

Don't leave us hanging just so we won't worry about you. I'm really glad you didn't get backed over by a pumper truck or something...

(Vernmotor and I were posting at the same time)

A post that says "nothing to report" would be just fine...

 

[BeachBoy]

thanks for the update!

now we really see the whole "thing" getting into shape.

 

[signcrafter]

Glad to hear everything is alright and you're making some progress, even if it's little by little.

 

[1949 caddyman]

Thanks for the up date, keep at it & it will get done!

 

[granada don]

Yes thanks for the up date, and I guess you weren't working on your Gasser after all !!

G Don

 

[82355]

I assume you will probably have a lot more updates come winter when you get your crews back, not?

Martin

 

[ConCretin]

I read through all the posts you guys put up in my absence. I appreciate all the kind words and encouragement. Many of the posts cracked me up but I was also touched by your concern that I'd fallen off the face of the earth or someting.

Nothing like that fortunately. Just a lack of progress and falling out of the habit of regular updates (plus a little summer fun)

Hopefully as we finish up the concrete and other trades start coming in I'll have more to share. In any case, I won't let so much time pass between updates.

there were a couple specific questions I'd like to respond to;

The design is just great...are you gonna paint it white in the same way as that model..i recommend you to do it because it will look just great.

The exterior finish consists of white cement clapbords around the first floor of the house. The rest is going to be a dark green/gray in either cement panel rain screen or stucco.

I have a question that I haven't seen mentioned. If I read correctly, you don't plan on using any sealer on the concrete inside the house. Since you aren't sealing anything, do you have any Radon concerns due to all of that concrete? Have you given it any thought? If so I'd love to hear about your plans.

Maine does tend to have high radon levels due to a lot of granite but it is more of a concern when you blast into the rock or have exposed rock in your basement. We don't have either in our case but we did install a high end vapor barrier under all the slabs that should help stop radon from seeping in. We also have whole house fresh air ventilation with a heat recovery unit


Once again, thanks to all for your continuing interest.

 

[ConCretin]

I assume you will probably have a lot more updates come winter when you get your crews back, not?

Martin

Martin,

My crews are primarily working on the concrete structure, which should be complete in the next few weeks. I hope to place the garage roofs by the end of this week. Then we have the concrete chimney and a couple parapet walls. I'll finish up some misc steps, pads and aprons after that.

If we are still working on the concrete next winter, I'm in deep s*#t.

 

[Leyenda30]

Like a fresh breeze we get an update. Even though we don't know you personally, in a sense we do and you have friends here who care about you progress even in these trying times. You need to get the perspective you are just about done with the heavy structural work and give yourself a break. You still have alot of finish details which go on forever but you can do those shorthanded no problem. Hang in there. JP

 

[ConCretin]

Well, now that I've finally broken through and updated the thread, I'll try to keep the momentum.

We're placing the garage roof slabs on Friday. You've seen this before but we've finished up the last of the roof beams. We still need to slip in the 2" rigid insulation against the form to provide a thermal break. About the time we finish them up, we've just about got em figured out.



The AC wall performs a structural function by supporting the LiteDeck roof.



Speaking of the AC wall, it came out really good. We used traditional internal vibrators and, to be honest I wouldn't bother with the external vibrators if I had it to do over again. The external vibrators reduce air pockets but they cause more water leakage. The water leakage causes discoloration. I can rub it out but it will take some work.



The little AC extension from the ICF wall came out really nice too;



As the concrete work finally nears completion we're starting to move on to other tasks. These are LVL's that fall between the big window units on the front of the house. The LVL's will be wrapped with sheet metal that matches the window frames.



We installed a PT sill under the window units and secured the LVL's to it using steel angles



We built down from the buck we installed in the LiteDeck slab above to create a nailing surface for the head of the windows and secured the top of the LVL's to it.



This blocking will also provide a nailing surface for the interior and exterior finish boards, which are furred down 1 1/2" from the underside of the LiteDeck.

One little additional detail involves building up the bottom of the door openings that lead out to the roof areas. It was easier to fill these in later rather than try and support the bucks above the roof/floor surface when we placed the ICF walls



I also had my welder stop by and weld down the last beam and the last of the threaded rods, which will anchor the 2' parapet wall around the front and side of the lower garage roof.



I just noticed how many times I described the 'last' of this or that. On one hand I'll be sad to finish up the structural concrete but I'll get over it.