PROJECT PHOTOS

Shotcrete Process

 June 14, 2003

Debbie in the dome

after removing airlock

close-up of dining room door opening

portico opening

concrete pops right off the v bucks

scaffold down, ready to remove rebound

rebar sticking out is for second floor ICF

kitchen area, dining room sliding glass door

view from driveway

Now that things have calmed down, I have time to reflect on the shotcrete process. What I would have done differently or the same. Being an owner/builder I oversaw the whole process.

I should have researched pumps and mixes sooner. We found out that ready mix companies are very inflexible, because they are concerned about the length of time spent on the site by their trucks. Even with an agreed upon arrangement prior to shotcrete day, they cut us off twice and pulled their trucks out before they were empty (we had prepaid in cash for 40 yards of ready mix totaling $4000.00).

I had not built into the time needed to move the scaffold boards, reset the hoses and David. The first two days we were labor short, so we hired some temporary help from a labor pool.

The pump I was able to get was a five inch which is overkill, and creates its own problems, but there were no other pumps available. I took over for David when he needed a rest and found out how much stamina, skill and strength it takes to operate the nozzle.

Standing in the dome now that the shell is structurally complete, we now are preparing to clean up all the rebound. Removing the scaffolding and leveling the floor are next for this weekend.

Billy Elkins

v bucks before cleaning

v bucks after cleaning, clean straight edge

concrete is curing slowly

living room windows, portico

rebound on floor, very deep

we'll remove framework from portico soon