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Storm-Ready Design Project

Discussing Stem Wall Construction Video

Bob joins Jesse Gonzalez from Mercedes Homes and Randy Cole from the City of Punta Gorda Building Department for a site visit and look at the stem walls and integral slab being poured at the Punta Gorda storm-ready home. Jesse explains the efficiency of the pumper truck that is used to deliver the concrete and the speed with which they can complete the pour with this method. They then talk about scratching the site clean before building the pad for the slab and excavating the footings for the three-course block stem wall. Cole explains that a stem wall sinks its footer below the surface and allows the slab to sit on top of a wall so that the water can move around the foundation rather than surging up under it. Gonzalez explains that the footings are excavated and set with two bars of number 5 steel that is set in the concrete. A three-course cinder-block wall is then set in the footings. The cells of the block are filled with concrete as the slab is poured in one continuous pour with the walls. There are no seams between the slab and the wall because it is a solid pour. Reinforcing steel goes around the perimeter of the foundation and up through the cells every three feet.

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	Other Video Clips from this Episode

	Hurricane Resistant Building Bob meets Leslie Chapman Henderson from FLASH – the Federal Alliance for Safe Housing – to look at two houses in Punta Gorda, Florida, one of which survived the hurricanes ... Watch video and view full description
	NOW PLAYING Discussing Stem Wall Construction Bob joins Jesse Gonzalez from Mercedes Homes and Randy Cole from the City of Punta Gorda Building Department for a site visit and look at the stem walls and integral ...
	How Homes Survive Hurricanes Bob and Leslie Chapman Henderson from FLASH, the Federal Alliance for Safe Housing, look at two homes on the same street. One was built as the community's model home in ... Watch video and view full description
	One Homeowner's Experience with Hurricane Charley Bob meets homeowners Teresa Fogolini and Jim Minardi whose home was completely destroyed by hurricane Charley. Minardi describes riding out the storm in their demolished home as the roof blew ... Watch video and view full description
	Reviewing the Layout of the New Hurricane-Resistant Home Bob and homeowners Teresa Fogolini and Jim Minardi meet with Scott Buescher of Mercedes Homes to review the layout for their new storm-ready home. Buescher shows the house plans and ... Watch video and view full description
	Building a Reinforced, Solid-Pour Concrete Wall Bob meets Mark Newton of Solid Wall Systems to learn about the solid-pour walls that will frame this storm-resistant home. Bob watches the crew attach number 5 steel reinforcing bars ... Watch video and view full description
	Rebuilding Florida After Four Hurricanes in 2004 Bob is joined by Florida's Lieutenant Governor, Toni Jennings, and Secretary of the Department of Community Affairs Thaddeus Cohen to discuss the aftermath of the four hurricanes in 2004 and ... Watch video and view full description
	Inspecting the Steel Reinforcements before the Concrete Pour Bob talks with Randy Cole, from the City of Punta Gorda, who is on site to inspect the steel work before the concrete is poured on this storm-ready home. His ... Watch video and view full description

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Related Videos

>	Measuring Concrete
>	Wall Construction
>	Storm-Ready Foundations

>	Inspecting the Steel Reinforcements before the Concrete Pour
>	Stem Walls, Slab, and Reinforcement for Concrete Walls
>	Building a Reinforced, Solid-Pour Concrete Wall


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