42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Rain in the forecast every day for the next 10 days! And Thursday of last week we finished up 12 straight days of rain - about half of that was severe thunderstorms with significant rainfall amounts. We have already received over 40 inches of rain, and are only supposed to get 54 inches for the entire year.

But after going through several years of drought, I'm not going to complain about the rain! Just would be nice to have a couple of dry days...and to get a little more work done on the oven.

[stonecutter]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Good practice to pitch the sub grade. Bummer of a forecast.....

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Good practice to pitch the sub grade........

Sub-grade foundations in our area require French drains. But most of the home builders just drop them in place and don't bother with slope of the drain pipe. I realize that just having the pipe there should relieve water pressure against the foundation. But it seems to make more sense to slope it for drainage.

Our (part-time) building inspector has not come by yet. At this time, we are only required to buy a permit for commercial or habitable residential structures. I'll bet he comes by anyway....

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Updates and more photos: We poured the hearth and kept it moist for a week.

We utilized the Sakrete Maximizer as discussed. We cooled buckets of water with ice to try to prevent the forewarned flash setting potential of this product - and it worked. We had no issues with mixing and pouring the Maximizer - it was actually very enjoyable to work with...other than finishing it (not super important for the hearth). But when I tried to trowel it the aggregate is so lightweight that it almost wants to float at the surface...making it almost impossible to get a good finish.

Framed up to support cement board:



1/2" cement board:



Rebar and forms in place (with cargo straps):



Maximizer hearth:

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Front view while hearth is curing:



Pavers - woohoo!



My son removing hearth supports:



"Testing" the hearth (actually I was trying to catch a short nap!):

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Daughter marking outline for insulating layer:



Formed up for 4" insulating layer (on top of 6 mil poly to enhance cure):



Vermicucrete poured and finished (somewhat):

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Tarps and form pulled after 7 days:







Moistened and covered back up for more cure time:

[Gulf]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Looks great! neighbor.
Keep the posts and the pics coming .

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Looks great! neighbor.
Keep the posts and the pics coming .

Thanks Gulf - I am really inspired by your oven (the great craftsmanship...and the drawer...and the roof...it just goes on and on).

I just acquired some garage door track from a neighbor, and have some rollers on the way from a coworker. So it looks like I'll be building a drawer too.

[Greenman]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Looks good! I did it the other way around and poured concrete around the outside and filled the 'keyhole' with vermicrete. I expect it is a matter of choice and how you intend to finish the oven. I did the igloo.

Look forward to watching your progress, you are off to a great start.

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

As always, thanks for the comments and tips.

Now that we are back from a fantastic holiday trip to the Gulf Coast, I was able to get back on track today with the oven construction!

Laid out the brick floor and applied my template:





I have no experience cutting brick - learning as I go...

[Novaslo]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Wow you are on your way to a very strong, technically perfect build. Keep it going. I too had never cut a brick before....bordering on Expert now haha.

This is a fun journey you are embarking on. Nice to have your daughter interested as well. Not something she will likely forget.

Keep the pics coming..

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Great start with the floor and base. Gonna be following your build closely. Yes, Gulf's build is a good baseline to follow.

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Thanks to all for your replies and encouraging words!

Wow you are on your way to a very strong, technically perfect build. Keep it going. I too had never cut a brick before....bordering on Expert now haha.

This is a fun journey you are embarking on. Nice to have your daughter interested as well. Not something she will likely forget.

Keep the pics coming..

"technically perfect" probably won't be achieved in our build - but it's a great goal! I think our oven will be "family perfect"...and I am looking forward to the times we can use it. And, by the way, my wife and all three of our teenagers have been involved so far - they just haven't all made the photos. Yes, it has been hard but fun work so far...

[edsiajb]

Re: 42" Build Underway in Central Alabama

Great start with the floor and base. Gonna be following your build closely. Yes, Gulf's build is a good baseline to follow.

Thanks! Regarding Gulf's build and my comments, I'm sure there are other builds out there that deserve similar accolades. But I've studied Gulf's photos and build in depth. I just haven't had time to study the others (yet).