Sorry about your dad, Brian. It’s nice that you were able to have what sounded like a memorable visit with him the other month and then see him again before he passed away. I’m really sorry.
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Got another bond beam row in plus I finished 3 stairs. Started backfilling behind the staircase to improve access. Time to make the walls taller. Tough to keep the mortar wet in the warm temps, was in mid-90s all weekend. Lots of cutting, drilling, bending, mixing, lugging. I have a new appreciation for people who do this for a living.
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Condolences for your loss. Glad your family was able to spend time with him.
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My back hurts just looking at all those cinder blocks.
I’ve conveyed my condolences by other means as well, but Deb and I have been thinking about you a lot. I might have a chance to take a little time off, so let’s consider getting together and toasting your father. Maybe a meal out in your area? A visit to one of our winemaker friends?
I wish I had done more to document the building of my “cellar,” but now? I would just feel like a piker and a chump.
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Brian,
Progress ahead with the weather cooling. I have fond memories of the offline and wonderful wines/commaradarie.
Sorry, I’ve been out for a while with personal stuff so I dont post much. Very solemn and sad to hear about your father. I know I was grateful to spend time with my mom (I moved from Fl to Ca in 88 to take care of her), my dad and brother before they passed
Kind regards - G
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I love watching your progress, Brian!
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Condolences for you loss Brian.
My dad passed a year and a bit ago. told the nurse he was tired, she told him to close his eyes and have a nap and that was that. That kind of passing has made my grief a lot easier. It will never be easy but it is a blessing.
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You’re the one who asked for more pictures so I hope so! Thanks.
and with amazement, I might add.
Seriously, it’s lots of fun watching this cellar take shape. You could probably stop posting pics, install a credit card operated turnstile at the entrance - tastings, tours, and fund the project. But please keep the pics coming ![[snort.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/b/bdc3944606213c4dca6c1169cf0a166c8bc4f8c9.gif "snort.gif"){kind=small}
No need for credit cards, pretty sure Brian only accepts payment in Flannery ![[wink.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/04707e6a7bbb03e0153e349d8a9270d30e1e9525.gif "wink"){kind=small}
One more weekend in the books. Did more work on the stairs, ran out of caps so had to stop. Needed an area to put a landing before the stairs turn so I did some digging, filled with road base, built a form and will pour concrete on top of the base so I have a foundation for the remainder of the blocks. Started backfilling a little behind the form. Almost have the soil to original grade and was able to relieve some of the soil piled up around my work.
Then I hired Miguel who knows how to lay block. He got the first three courses atop my concrete wall in about 6hrs. Would have taken me 6 days. He’ll be back next Sunday for 3 more courses (baby shower here Saturday) then the weekend after that he’ll finish and I can then fill them with concrete. Progress!
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Miguel is a good person to know, clearly.
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I whole-heartedly agree with you on this one.
did Miguel show up? Where are the pix? Update!
Patience Grasshopper! I wasn’t planning on updating for another week.
We threw a baby shower on Saturday and then it rained all night. Miguel arrived Sunday morning and we had to build him some scaffolding. He then worked on the walls as I moved another delivery of block, rebar and concrete from the front to the backyard. I also did a little digging to square up the area where I need to pour concrete for the landing where my staircase turns.
The top of the doorway opening is nuts on level!
Miguel ran three more courses and part of a 4th around the entrance. Then we formed up for a header, reinforced with rebar, tied it all in with the wall and filled it and the adjoining cells of the wall with concrete.
Yesterday I pulled the forms loose in the morning. In the afternoon when I got home from work I put the first coat of liquid rubber on the outside of the previous weeks work. I’ll continue that this week. Saturday Miguel returns to finish laying block. If all goes as planned I’ll then be able to pour concrete for my stairs on Sunday. I also will need to schedule the concrete pumper to come out to fill the walls once the staircase border is in place.
I’ve made an executive decision to lower the ceiling in my cellar by 8” from 96” to 88” by running 1 fewer course of block. My racking will only be 7’ so the airspace above was wasted anyhow. This will bring the top of the foundation wall to a more reasonable height with regards to the existing grade. This means 2 courses Saturday to complete the walls.
This morning with the forms pulled and the walls sealed (1st coat).
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Brian, I am thoroughly enjoying this thread. Don’t be surprised if the top of your racks become shelving. I ended up with wood cases, boxes, magnums, etc. on mine when everything else got full.
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Luckily no wood boxes here although they could easily sit on the floor if I had any. I only have a handful of magnums so I’ll have a row for them in my racking. I appreciate the input.
nominating this for thread of the year
I have no doubt you’ve thought all this through, but about space for light fixtures and such on the ceiling (and above your head)? (Says the guy with ceilings that are about 7’4", but underneath joists that allowed recessed lighting).