Zkribbler's Retirement House - Watch it being built!

[Zkribbler]

Only using a really broad definition of "stream." The end of my property farthest from Lancer's place is marked by a stream bed. A little water sometimes trickles through a culvert under the street and gathers in a "pond." The ocean has thrown up a berm of pebbles, which any water permeates through to get to the ocean.

[Lancer]

Zkrib, on 1) there's no progress. Everyone is focused on the main house posts. Where we left the circumference wall over there is three post cages coming out of the seawall. My plan for when we do get to it is to pour a one meter high wall with metal bar sticking out so that you can add height later. You had asked for a wall there high nuf to provide security but low nuf to not mess too much with the view. I think I'll leave that one to you pal. Got instructions? The drainage is ok. It went in higher than I wanted but that shouldn't effect things too much. On the BBall court side the gravel path should work just as well or better than the pipes would have as there's not a single inlet to be clogged.

2) Doesn't much matter where the tank goes. Where do you want it? I assume the material that comes out of the hole dug for it will be gravel which will feed the maw of the mixer...so no savings on limestone. Limestone isn't too spendy if you don't need too much, which you don't. I'd guess but likely be wrong so I won't.

Space alien skull pic coming up.

[Lancer]

I am much relieved that with this evidence the doubters will doubtless be silenced and the books deals roll in.

[Zkribbler]

Where do you want it?

Can't say yet. I must listen to my property to see where it wants the septic tank just like it told me where to put the house.

Of course, it did fail to tell me that an ancient alien graveyard is located just a few feet below the surface of my place.

[Dinner]

Those look like limestone though it is hard to tell from the picture.

[Lancer]

These islands are basicly limestone and coral, another good reason for encasing the wall. The waves don't beat on the limestone that way. My wall is the same, all the walls are made of these same materials.

That project (encasing the wall) will be coming along after the wall has its 2 more feet in height, three more steps. Maybe the limestone grading will come first. Can't think of a reason one should be before the other, but its late here.

[Zkribbler]

Lancer --
On the seawall's concrete facing: IIRC, there's a way to make concrete so that it comes out white, not gray. I think a white seawall would look dazzling. Can you give me a guesstimate of how much this would add to the budget?

[Solomwi]

Lancer --
On the seawall's concrete facing: IIRC, there's a way to make concrete so that it comes out white, not gray. I think a white seawall would look dazzling. Can you give me a guesstimate of how much this would add to the budget?

Chiming in without enough information about the specific situation to justify it here, but the only way I'm aware of to do that is using white cement (typically significantly more expensive than gray) and white aggregate (may or may not be available there). Lancer may know of an admixture that does the same thing, but IIRC, concrete can typically only be dyed darker by admixture, not lighter. Like I said, though, take this with a large grain of salt, as the basis is my experience designing mixes for colored (including white) concrete block in N. Alabama.

If I'm right on the above, I'd also note that you need pretty stringent QC on the aggregate. A small change in stone color will make a noticeable difference in the final product. We had some come out red-tinted when the quarry got into a vein of stone that had reddish fines in it. The quantity involved here may be low enough to make that a small issue, though.

[Zkribbler]

Thanks. I'm not surprised to hear what you're saying.

[Lancer]

You amaze me Zkrib, that's the first I've heard of it. We'll be at the hardware in a short so I'll ask there. Chance in a bazzillion.


Solomwi, good job guy, without that I'd be completely in the dark.

[Zkribbler]

I think it's used with swimming pools to make them look all white & beautiful.

[Lancer]

The plan for a day off to work on my place today has fallen apart. So, it will be on Monday and I'll be in the hardware and ask them about making cement white, or white cement, then.

The first delivery of limestone for grading is in and they'll be pouring the tie beam that runs along the seawall today if everything goes according to that plan.

I'll take pics later today and get them up tonight...

[snoopy369]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Portland_cement btw ... generally confirms Solomwi's statement. More expensive, requires special process to make, using higher quality clay and limestone and such.

You might check with Grandpa Troll as well, iirc he's in the construction business and might know a thing or four.

[Lancer]

Thanks Snoopy. I think the idea is going to meet an end locally. If you live here you learn that what's available is very limited and that applys to everything. I got a can of chili and another of ravioli only because Zkrib brought them from the US. I'm sure the process is doable and there are those here who know how to do it just as I'm sure they never heard of it in Jagna or Tagbilaran though I'll give it a whirl for my buddy Zkrib.

Zkrib, Theresa mentioned to Dolores that she's thinking of "retiring".

She got back from Manila and is stressed out by her responsibilities. She looks after her son, is a local council woman with alot on her plate right now, and manages her house.

Dolores says she, Dolores, won't do it, its too complicated and she's on vacation. I said to Dolores that if we have to we'll find somebody. Dolores said, "but who can you trust?"

Its an excellent question.

Just laying it all out for ya, not much you can do.

[Lancer]

Dolores said to give her a few days to get back on her feet after the trip then we'll see.