We are underway at the Gimpel’s Sea Pines Home. Improvements on the lower level includes all new baths, flooring and a carport conversion to a new extra large family room.
Demo has started and meetings are scheduled for the morning to fine tune the framing modification details. You will also see that sections of the pool deck were re-poured today.
We have started the new 17,000 square foot “K-9 Grass” play yard at the Southpaw Pet Resort on Hilton Head Island. K-9 grass is a synthetic turf that is indestructible and the new yard will add to the incredible features of Southpaw. Check out www.southpawpetresort.com to learn more about Southpaw…the only boarding facility and more for your dog.
The project starts with layout and grading. Check back for what happens next!
The day after a milestone in a project always feels somewhat euphoric.
After months and months of planning and anticipation the project starts, you mobilize, get the crews on site and put the shovels to the ground. You do layout, form work, check it once, then check it twice. Then after its been checked you go home, lose sleep over it, and check it again in the morning. Once you know it’s right The concrete starts flowing, no turning back at this point!
The Next Day…
After another night of no sleep wondering if you have everything just perfect you get back onsite, take your measurements once again… Still in the same spot!
After all of this you can start “wrecking the forms”. At this point you realize you have passed the first milestone and it’s off to the next one.
Work goes on…
We’ve got Concrete! Today’s pour went about as smooth as you can get. Thanks to a great crew and concrete trucks lined up down the road we were able to pour 85 yards in under 3 hours.
What a great start! The perimeter footings have been dug and the steel is going in, and lots of it! Within the next week we will be doing compaction test, termite treatments, inspections and finally pouring our first batch of concrete.
“It takes an army”
On a typical day, during this phase of the project, it is not unusual to have over forty men engaged in some job related activity.
- 15 on the Masonry crew
- 4 Steel fabricators
- 4 Steel erectors
- 2 Freight drivers
- 4 Wood truss fabricators
- 8 Window fabricators
- 5 Sandcastle personnel
Jobs . . . for many! All prideful and appreciative, these guys are dedicated to the vision of the finished project.
David & Pat, a big thanks from all of us!
Daily production sets new company record!
Masonry homes are . . . labor intense. After twelve years of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete experience and training many installation crews, we may have finally assembled an
“All Star” group of guys.
On a home with over 50 outside and inside corners, which typically translates into a protracted timeline, our crew has hit stride very early on this project.
We are closing in on the first floor system support level, allowing the steel erectors and framing contractors to begin preparations for their week long push to give the masons a new level to begin raising the main level walls.
Goals for this week are to get the elevated rear terrace slab poured, complete all piers, beam pockets and set bearing plates for the structural steel.
Pay day!
. . . of men and material . . .
This week has been marked by the constant flow of material deliveries. 7am wake up calls with trucks at the gate, the transfer of pallets from the lay-down site to the job-site, and then the 5pm deliveries that take till dark to unload and stage. You would think we were building a 10 story mid-rise.
Nearly twenty masons and helpers on the site keep us hopping to answer questions, interpret plans and provide details. Got to get it right though, it’s the foundation! Everything else rest on these shoulders.
90% to scaffold height now and moving on.
One of countless loads
It simply takes manpower
Thin-setting AAC Block with a notched trowel
Moving on up
Fun time in the lift bucket
Work starts Hilton Head Lakes! In these pictures you will see the layout of the building being done and the checking of sub grades. The steel has been ordered and the footings will be starting within the week.
Four productive days.
One day of layout, one lost to weather, then three solid days of masonry installation.
Front exterior walls of AAC are nearing scaffold height as lower level CMU walls start to rise at the rear. (see AAC info in our “Products” tab) When finished, the garage level walls will be a massive 16″ thick.
The structural steel fabricator and framing contractor spent the end of the week confirming the accuracy of the foundation, pulling centers for steel columns and centerlines for the steel frame. Accuracy upfront with an eye toward interior finishes down the road help to maintain the integrity of our schedule and our budget.
Looking forward to a productive week ahead.
