Mortar mix dumped in the wheelbarrow - Jim likes to make sure there aren't any lumps and stir it up well before using.
Then he has pails marked for the right amount for the mixture.
Bringing down the power sprayer and hoses and getting everything hooked up and ready to go...
We needed to bring over some mason sand from our big pile. So first we put down some plastic...
...and then brought over a bucketful of sand...
...and dumped it!
Measuring out the right amount of sand...
Getting all the block set in the right place.
There were a few blocks that needed cut, so Jim did that first.
By then, it was lunchtime and then Jim needed to make a few calls. Finally it was time to start making mortar!
After it was all mixed, Jim was able to dump it directly into the mortar box which he had put in the bucket of the Bobcat. You'll notice he was smart and put up this old board to protect the inside of the cab from flying mortar!
All ready to be moved around to the back of the building.
But before he can start, time to clean the mortar mixer - otherwise it will harden into a giant mess!
The power sprayer does a good job - the mixer is a little more complicated to clean than the pumpkin on the Bobcat but it does a great job mixing up the mortar.
Putting on the mortar for the first block...
The first of many block/brick is now in place!
Lots of stops along the way to make sure everything is straight.
Moving around to the side...
Then it was working on one of the steps in the back. This first course is the toughest - the brick ledges aren't perfectly flat, plus especially with the small block there's not much room to compensate for anything. Things will go quicker once this first course is done.
It was getting a little too late to do another batch of mortar so we decided to call it a day. Well, sort of. Clean up time! Jim first brought up some gravel so that he would have a good place to clean all the tools with the power sprayer.
Cleaning time!
Jim got the rest of the topsoil pile moved - it really looks good now. You can see the way the grade will look when we're all finished.
Jim also experimented with the seismic brick ties he got for certain key spots. At first, we thought they might be really involved to make them work - he has to use the hammer drill and drill into the concrete inside the ICF. But it went really well and he was pleased with how they will work.
As I was on my way home, I had to stop for the ducklings to cross the road!
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| High 68/Low 37 |
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