Yesterday
we both didn't have to work for the first time in months, so we
convinced each other to go down to the clearing and do some building
work. The set-up to start work takes a bloody long time in itself -
taking down all the tools that will be needed, a big bottle of water,
running electrical cable from the generator shed, and starting the
generator. All in the blazing hot sun. Then the really hard work
starts.
Previously
all of the piers had been lined up both ways along the house site to
ensure it was straight, and the metal pier had been cut to the right
height.
Step
1: Drilling with a hammer-drill - through the holes in the metal base
- into the concrete, to make sure the holes are going to be in
exactly the right place.
Step
2: Moved the base out of way to reveal the holes and get them ready
to drill properly. Drilled the holes to full depth, stopping a couple
of times to pull the very fine concrete dust out and then using the
air-compressor to blow the dust out of the holes. This air-compressor
was originally purchased years ago to be used for painting with an
air-brush. It was experimented with a couple of times but never
actually used for air-painting, but luckily it has now had a second
life! Full depth is reached when the drill bit gets deep enough for
the piece of tape around the drill bit to be level with the concrete.
Step
3: The dynabolts are put into the holes, and then due to the tight
fit, are banged in with a hammer partially down the hole.
Step
4: The plastic under-plate is placed over the dynabolts.
Step
5: The metal base is placed on the plastic under-plate (requiring a
little coercion with the hammer), then the washers placed on the
dynabolts.
Step
6: The nuts are screwed onto the dynabolts, and then the dynabolts
are hammered down until they reach full depth.
Step
7: The nuts are tightened so that the dynabolts do their magic
underground expanding thing, which is what makes them tightly
attached to provide maximum strength so that our house won't blow
away in a big wind.
Step
8: The pier is placed over the metal base-plate, and Josh stands back
and looks pretty pleased with his handiwork.
In
theory it all seems quite simple and quick, but it is exhaustingly
hot out in the clearing (since we had to clear all the trees for bushfire safety there is NO shade), and everything that is in the sun is
burningly hot to touch, so poor humans get wiped out pretty quick.
Two piers were done yesterday, and Josh had decided that the
hammer-drill that he is using is not really up to the job. It really
damages his wrist forcing it to drill the holes into the concrete, so
next we are looking at buying a better tool. There are still a lot of
holes that need drilling!
