Preparing for the Basement Floor

4.18.12

To keep the basement dry and ground pressure from pushing over the exterior walls, drain tile has been installed around the interior and exterior of the footer. Washed gravel backfill and a coarse sand bed will provide a path for water toward the drain tile and away from the house.

Mr Wildes is backfilling sand inside the footer and making room for the block that is soon to be delivered. Draintile is already installed and covered with sock and geotextile fabric.

Black plastic has been placed over the drain tile and rock to protect it from the block mason's excess mortar. Gerald and Derick marked the footer with a stringline as a guide for the mason. Notice my home-made rebar safety caps (plastic bottles with insulating foam). Sand is compacted with a plate tamp.

The block has arrived! The well driller hasn't been able to fit me in his schedule yet, so I've had to haul water to the site and put in the blue drums for the mason to mix the mortar.

Draintile exiting the foundation. Its covered with rock and plastic to protect it.

Gap where the future garage door will be...

This is what happens when you haul 200 gallons of water with a 1/2 ton pickup truck. Thankfully it was empty, and I was driving relatively slow when it blew out. Only some minor damage to the fender.