So, I’ve got a problem- I didn’t get a chance to put stone in this part of the foundation before the footings were poured and now it’s completely surrounded by a rebar cage.
Here’s what we need to fix it: a Sawzall and a Ventrac.
I’m going to cut out one vertical piece of rebar- it needs to come out anyways because there’s a vault door going here.
Then hopefully I can fit the Ventrac through the opening.
Ventracs are relatively small in size but they’re fast and they’re nimble.
Because it articulates in the middle I can get in and out of tight spaces with ease.
I need to fill this area up with crushed stone until it’s level with the top of the footings.
Not only will this keep the foundation guys out of the mud as they set their wall forms, but the stone gives us a place to run our under-slab plumbing; and it supports the basement floor because it won’t settle.
You can see here how the stone supports the slab in the middle and then the footings support the slab on the edges; and by pouring the slab on top of the footings it keeps the foundation walls from ever pushing in.
Just a couple more scoops; then I finished up with a hand rake.
It’s a good thing I did this when I did, because once the wall guys had their forms set- there’s no way the tractor would have fit through the door opening.
We’re planning to show this entire build, so be sure to like and subscribe for more. @hausplans
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