Preparing the Site Part 2 of the Saga

The final push to clean the recycled concrete blocks took place in the middle of 14 weeks of substantial rain. But finally the number of blocks required were done and the rains stopped.

On with the site preparation.

Previously I had three sets of geotechnical inspections carried out and reported on. We had lots and lots of clay so the design had to be fully engineered.

I arranged for the excavation to start and what happened; the rain started and we hit rock. Not just rock but massive boulders. So the foundation preparation that should have taken a week or two took well over a month.

By the way, not one of the geotechnical reports showed any rock at all. So there we were with sandstone, dolorite, basalt, bluestone, ironstone and mudstone. At least the mudstone was reasonably soft.

The bluestone was impenetrable unless blasted and we couldn't do that in our location. That was a shame as blasting would have been such fun!

So we had to shift the house footprint somewhat and change the reinforcement plan.

Every time the excavator removed a rock we were left with small swimming holes and lots and lots of fill was required to somewhat level it off.

The 12 tonne excavator almost got bogged so work, again,came to a standstill.

We ploughed ahead and over time brought the recalcitrant site to heel!

The final levelling and then the foundation trenches were completed along with the reinforcement installation and then the concrete was poured.

It was interesting to watch the pour as the pier holes in the last pour area became geysers as water was pushed along the trenches by the flowing concrete.

And finally the slab was formed and the slab concrete poured.

But at last success.

So now we could look forward to installing the retaining wall and post and beam framework.

Keep posted for Part 3.