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Concrete footings are supposed to be completely below ground level in undisturbed ground. They are supposed to be below the frost line which is different in different states. This helps to avoid freezing ground from pushing the concrete back up. Around here the spec is 12″ below grade for footing for wall or slab. For a slab house house the footing should raise above grade level with 2″s of concrete extra in footing with a 4″ slab on top so your finished concrete is at a min. of 6″ above grade. Using a tall form board allows you to get lazy and not dig a proper footing! Always use metal chairs, or bricks to hold up rebar. Pushing rebar back into the concrete is a BAD plan. All rebar joints should lap and be tied with at least 2 ties each and a 15 to 18″ lap. Carry on with the article it is a good read. Thanks.
Probably common knowledge, but crossmeasure from opposite corner to opposite corner to square things up. A square, or out of square building starts at the foundation.
I’ll assume log jam is the chinking between logs.
Why the big secret on the cost of land?..
@LO,
OPSEC. Land information is filed with the county and is often available online. If you know the cost, you can research where the land is.
John Doe is correct in regard to the rebar placement. You must have the overlaps , usually based upon a formula related to the diameter of the bar itself, wired together for no slippage or separation, and then held up above the bottom of footing grade with wire “chairs” prior to pouring the concrete. Take NO shortcuts.
Good reading. Some of us have lived and experienced already what you are describing and it brings good memories of the adventure. Others are sharing in your process that may not have done it and the way you describe things is very thorough and accurate in the way you explain it all.
Good article. Though IMHO I would be hesitant to do this without some experience in construction. I get the desire to save money by doing things yourself. But sometimes paying for that experience can save you money in the long run.
We left Calif. over 10 years ago for several reasons… we came there for a much higher paying job, but eventually realized those big pay checks come with higher cost of living, higher real estate prices, and higher taxes. It was a wash.
When we first arrived they had implemented an “assault rifle” registration scheme. However, we moved in state after the deadline. I naively wanted to obey the law (yes, I know, dumb as a box of hammers , but lesson learned) , and so, after writing the state a letter asking for permission to register them legally, I was grandfathered in… when the next regime (virulently anti-gun) took power they promptly sent me a letter saying the previous regime was legally wrong, and I had to either turn the guns in or send them out of state. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me… I’m a big fan of 80% receivers now.
I worked in a field that employed a lot of VERY Left wing young people… California is a magnet for out of staters who hate the “conservative, religious, red necks” back home and wanted to relocate to the Socialist Land of Fruits and Nuts (SLOFAN). Typically you’d have 20 something kids making nearly 100 grand a year, but identifying themselves as marxists, driving $60K sports cars. These are the ones you see wearing the Antifa masks looking to beat up people wearing MAGA hats. It wears on you after a while. You can’t waste all day arguing with idiots.
Few people realize just how corrupt the California state government is. I mean “abuse of power” corrupt. There are many people elected AND unelected pushing the gay agenda, abortion, gun control, and illegal immigration. It has become a one party state. We put our kids in a religious school because I could not abide the gay oriented “sex ed” the government schools were pushing. Eventually I could not justify living there and paying taxes that work against just about everything I believe in.
It seems to me that many (liberal) white women are intent on committing suicide. Many would rather kill their unborn children or sacrifice a family rather than give up a “career” wearing a “power suit ” and working as a high paid government lawyer. This has apparently been the ideal portrayed on TV for the last 30 years. A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. Yeah, Hollywood values, go figure.
Having said that, I blame many men for the destructive path the society has taken. Tired of your wife? Divorce her, that desperate girl at work will give it up for free… oh, she got pregnant? Abortion… you might not even have to pay for it. Planned Parenthood is glad to kill your child for FREE… well, not exactly free… they are getting your tax money. Go have fun… TV and video games and sports stars and street gangs will raise your children for you. Your wife doesn’t need a husband… the government will be her surrogate husband. Big Brother will force you to pay child support anyway, AND take away your rights… what’s not to like?
The single most important thing you can do is to raise your children to become competent, intelligent, civilized adults. Just too hard? Look at the alternative. Just can’t get along with your wife?… grow up, little boy.
Interesting. Except for the fact that is way to close to the Yellowstone volcano. For all the alleged perfection of the redoubt, y’all are at ground zero for an eruption.
Bret, it’s time to stop reading the hype and learn about geology. Just because the caldera collapses on average about 640,000 years, and because it has been approximately 640,000 years since the last eruption does not mean it will happen again, like a train leaving the station. No one was here to document the previous eruptions so all dates are approximate. Even Old Faithful doesn’t hold that closely to a manmade schedule.
By your reasoning the Ozarks are unsafe because of the massive earthquake on the New Madrid fault, rule that area out. The Midwest is prone to tornadoes, rule it out. The coasts have storms, File 13 for them too. Most of the country is in the vicinity of nuclear power plants or high-value missile targets, better rule them out too. Eventually you have to decide what risks you are willing to accept. For those of us here in the Redoubt we feel like we have someplace we can live with. The ugly reality is that we here will be the lucky ones if Yellowstone blows, everyone else in the northern hemisphere will slowly starve to death because the heartland of America will be under at least 3′ of volcanic ash all the way to the southern Appalachians.
“The Midwest is prone to tornadoes, rule it out. ”
I have lived here for 40+ years and have only caught glimpses of 3, several years apart.
It’s sarcasm, Toto. Did you only read one sentence?
Could the author elaborate on why the home should face south? His example was for solar panels but if doesn’t have or want them, what would his reasoning be for this decision? My home faces east. The sun comes up through our living room windows and goes down with sun shining in our kitchen, which faces west. To me this is the best use of light since it pours into the home pretty much all day. Considering the living room and kitchen are usually the two most used rooms in a home (in daylight hours), I consider this setup best. If our home faced north or south then we would miss out on this light. I’m wondering what I am missing in the authors explanation. Thanks.
LSM: In northern climates you want to maximize your passive solar heating during the short winter days. The long side of your house should be positioned to achieve that. Likewise, the short side should be oriented north to reduce exposure to winter winds and the resulting heat loss. When I was planning mine I found a website that helped me plan roof overhangs so that I could shade my living room through the heat of the summer days until late afternoon, which has made a huge difference in keeping my house cool in the summer.
Thank you so much for answering. I hadn’t thought about the aspect of passive heating in northern states. I’m in Texas where all I care about is staying cool. Interestingly enough, I have made the connection to the sun hitting a portion of my home to where it stays coolest, just never thought about the need for heating a home during long winter months. Thanks again, something to consider if we make the move North.
I’m a native Texan and understand the summer heat all too well! Can’t say I miss it, or the fire ants.
As the saying goes, I wasn’t born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could. I have lived here since I was 20, now almost 43. The only thing that ever makes me consider moving is the heat.
Thanks again.
I believe the house to face south so the solar panels on the south side of roof would get most of the light for power all day. If your house faces east to west, and your solar panels are on one side, then they would only get half of the days energy. Depends where you live, being in the south, during the winter months the sun stays lower on the south side and close to straight up over E to W in the summer.