1202 - First Floor Framing and Basement Slab Installation
September 10-16, 2001 | March 11-17, 2002
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN
TO OUR VERMONT
FARM STYLE HOUSE.
TODAY WE'LL BE USING
ENGINEERED WOOD FOR
THE FIRST FLOOR DECK,
INSTALLING PRE-CAST
CELLAR STAIRS,
AND POURING A CONCRETE FLOOR
IN THE BASEMENT.
ALSO WE'RE VISITING THE
COBB HILL CO-HOUSING COMMUNITY
NOT FAR FROM HERE
IN HARTLAND, VERMONT.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
ALL RIGHT. WELL,
WE'VE GOT A JUMP START
ON SOME OF THE FRAMING
FOR THE FIRST FLOOR DECK,
THE STRUCTURE FOR THE FIRST
FLOOR OF THE WHOLE HOUSE,
AND I'M STANDING
IN THE MIDDLE
OF WHAT WILL BE
A GREAT ROOM
WITH AN INCREDIBLE VIEW
OF THE MOUNTAINS,
AND THEN BEYOND ME IS
THE KITCHEN AND THE DINING AREA,
AND BEHIND ME IS A BEDROOM
WITH ITS OWN MASTER BATH,
AND THIS HOUSE
HAS THE POSSIBILITY
OF HAVING A GROUND FLOOR
MASTER BEDROOM
OR A SECOND FLOOR
MASTER BEDROOM.
BEYOND THAT, OF COURSE,
WE HAVE YET TO FRAME
THE AREA THAT WILL BE
A BREEZEWAY AND PART
OF THE MASTER BATHROOM,
AND THEN BEYOND THAT,
NO MORE FRAMING
BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE
WE HAVE TO POUR A SLAB
FOR THE GARAGE FLOOR.
BUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS
OF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER
INVOLVES A LOT
OF ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT I-JOISTS.
THIS IS BASICALLY A COMBINATION
OF LVL's, VENEER LUMBER,
WITH ORIENTED STRAND BOARD
THAT PROVIDES
THE KIND OF SPAN CAPABILITIES
THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET
WITH ORDINARY
DIMENSIONAL LUMBER.
THIS ALL STARTED
A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO
ONCE THE FOUNDATION
WAS READY
AND THE SILL PLATES
WERE IN PLACE.
SOME OF THE GIRTS HAD TO BE
PUT UP TEMPORARILY.
AT THIS POINT,
ALL OF THOSE GIRTS--
YOU CAN SEE ONE
RIGHT BELOW ME HERE--
ALL OF THESE GIRTS ARE ON
THEIR STEEL LALLY COLUMNS
SITTING ON THE CONCRETE PADS
DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.
BUT THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP
THAT HAD TO BE PUT TOGETHER
BEFORE WE COULD BEGIN
THE PROCESS
OF PUTTING
ALL OF THESE I-JOISTS
THAT GO, OF COURSE,
16 INCHES ON CENTER.
BUT LET'S SAY HI
TO DAN ENRIGHT,
WHO'S THE HEAD
OF THE FRAMING CREW,
AND GET A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDEA
OF WHAT'S COMING NEXT.
OK. DAN,
IT LOOKS LIKE
JUST ABOUT EVERY
PIECE OF LUMBER
THAT'S GOING
INTO THIS FRAME
IS ENGINEERED WOOD.
YEP.
IS THAT PRETTY MUCH
THE CASE
UP HERE IN VERMONT
THESE DAYS?
OH, IT'S PROBABLY
40% OF THIS
AND 60% OF JUST
CONVENTIONAL LUMBER.
YEAH. NOW,
THIS IS A 2-BY,
BUT IT'S ORIENTED
STRAND BOARD,
AND I GUESS A LOT
OF THE PREFERENCE
HAS TO DO WITH WHAT
THE ARCHITECT
SPECIFIES
AND WHAT THE PUBLIC
IS WILLING
TO ACCEPT.
YEAH. USUALLY
ON THESE HIGH-END HOUSES,
YOU USE A LOT MORE
OF THIS MATERIAL.
MM-HMM.
I THINK IT PROBABLY RUNS
THE COST UP A LITTLE BIT,
BUT IT GIVES YOU
A LOT BETTER FLOOR SYSTEM.
IT'S A LOT MORE UNIFORM,
AND IT JUST GIVES YOU
A LOT BETTER FLOOR SYSTEM.
IT GIVES YOU
A LOT BIGGER SPAN
AND A STURDIER
FLOOR SYSTEM. RIGHT.
NOW WE'LL GET STARTED
ON THE DECK
BY APPLYING A BEAD
OF CONSTRUCTION ADHESIVE
ON THE FLOOR JOISTS.
WE'RE USING AN ENGINEERED
WOOD PRODUCT FOR THE SUBFLOOR
CALLED ADVANTECH
FROM HUBER ENGINEERED WOODS.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING
WITH A 4-MAN CREW,
AND THAT MAKES THE JOB GO
THAT MUCH FASTER.
ADVANTECH IS A GREAT PRODUCT
FOR THE WEATHER IN VERMONT
BECAUSE IT WILL NOT
DELAMINATE OR SWELL
UNDER THE WET AND SNOWY
CONDITIONS HERE.
WE'RE STARTING
WITH 4' X 8' SHEETS
OF TONGUED
AND GROOVED MATERIAL.
WE'RE PUTTING THE SHEETS DOWN
WITH THE LONG DIMENSION
RUNNING PERPENDICULAR
TO THE FLOOR JOISTS.
WE'LL BE STAGGERING
THE JOINTS
AS WE LAY OUT THE SHEETS
ACROSS THE DECK.
ADVANTECH USES
WATER-RESISTANT RESINS
THAT PREVENT SWELLING
FROM MOISTURE.
THE PANELS ARE
VERY CONSISTENT AND FLAT,
AND THE MILLED
TONGUE AND GROOVE
REQUIRE VERY LITTLE
PERSUADING.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST
TACKING THEM DOWN
TO GET ALL THE PIECES
IN POSITION.
FINALLY, WE'LL GO BACK
WITH THE NAIL GUN
AND SECURE THE PANELS
WITH NAILS
EVERY 6 TO 12 INCHES
ON CENTER.
THESE ADVANTECH PANELS HAVE
NO CORE VOIDS OR KNOT HOLES,
AND THEY'RE MADE FROM
RENEWABLE FOREST RESOURCES.
THEY ALSO COME
WITH A 50-YEAR WARRANTY.
THE END RESULT WILL BE
A STRONGER AND QUIETER FLOOR
IN THIS HOUSE.
AT THE RATE
THIS CREW IS GOING,
WE'LL BE DONE
IN NO TIME.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE A STORY
ABOUT FARM PRESERVATION
AT THE COBB HILL
CO-HOUSING COMMUNITY
IN HARTLAND, VERMONT.
WE'RE AT THE COBB HILL
CO-HOUSING COMMUNITY
IN HARTLAND, VERMONT,
NEAR QUECHEE,
AND SUSIE SWEITZER
IS GOING TO HELP US
UNDERSTAND
A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE CONCEPT
OF CO-HOUSING.
BUT FIRST, THIS IS
COUPLED WITH FARM
PRESERVATION, RIGHT?
YES. ABSOLUTELY.
THIS IS
AN ANTIQUE FARMSTEAD
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
RIGHT HERE.
HOW MANY ACRES?
270 ACRES
OF PRESERVED FARMLAND.
BUT THE DANGER
FOR MANY SMALL FARMS
LIKE THIS
IN NEW ENGLAND
IS THAT THE FARMERS
DON'T MAKE MUCH MONEY,
AND SO THEY'RE FORCED
TO SELL OFF THEIR LANDS.
RIGHT. AND USUALLY
THAT LAND IS DEVELOPED
IN 10-ACRE PLOTS
AND LITTLE SUBDIVISIONS.
SO THEY SELL OFF
SMALL PARCELS
AS THEY NEED MONEY.
AND I THINK IF WE
LOOK AT THE FAR END
OF THESE PASTURES,
WHERE THE COWS ARE
OVER THERE,
WE SEE SMALL HOUSES
THAT HAVE GONE UP
OVER THE YEARS.
THEY EXPLAIN
JUST THAT.
EXACTLY, AND THAT
IS WHERE...
THAT'S SOME OF THE BEST
BOTTOM LAND ON THIS FARM.
SO, YOU'LL BE PRESERVING
HOW MANY ACRES HERE?
270 ACRES OF FARMLAND.
WHICH WILL BE IN
AGRICULTURAL PURPOSE
FOR PERPETUITY.
IN PERPETUITY. RIGHT.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
AND THEN TELL US ABOUT
HOW THE CO-HOUSING PART
OF THE EQUATION WORKS.
THE WAY THAT IT WORKS
ON THIS PIECE OF LAND,
AND USUALLY
WITH CO-HOUSING,
IS THAT A GROUP
OF PEOPLE
DECIDE TO CLUSTER
THEIR HOUSING CLOSELY
SO THAT THEY CAN
SHARE SYSTEMS,
LIKE HEATING SYSTEMS,
WATER SYSTEMS, AND SO FORTH,
AND BASICALLY CREATE
A LITTLE VILLAGE.
AND THAT IS
THE PURPOSE OF THIS,
ALTHOUGH IT'S ALSO COMBINED
WITH LIVING ON A FARM,
WHICH WILL ALSO
PROVIDE OUR FOOD
AND WORK FOR SOME
OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT YOU'LL BE
SUSTAINING YOURSELVES
IN KIND OF
A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE FARM?
RIGHT.
OK. AND THERE ARE
ALREADY A NUMBER
OF THESE HOUSING UNITS
THAT ARE UP.
HOW MANY BUILDINGS
WILL GO UP HERE?
WE'LL HAVE 14 TOTAL
IN THE END.
CAN WE TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK
AT ONE
OF THE BUILDINGS?
LET'S DO THAT.
I UNDERSTAND MARK ALBEE
IS WAITING FOR US.
Vila: ALBEE O'HARA ARE
THE DESIGNATED CONTRACTORS
FOR ALL 14 BUILDINGS HERE,
AND I GUESS PART
OF THE REQUIREMENT
IS THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE
BUILDING "GREEN," RIGHT?
HI, BOB.
YEAH, WE DO.
YOU DO. YOU'RE NOT
GREEN BUILDERS.
THIS IS NICE, THOUGH.
THIS IS A VERY NICE APPROACH
TO THIS FIRST BUILDING HERE,
WITH KIND OF
A POST AND BEAM FEELING.
NOW, WHAT MAKES IT
"GREEN," OR SUSTAINABLE?
WELL, ALL OF THE FRAMING
THAT YOU SEE
ON THIS OUTSIDE PORCH
IS NATIVE HEMLOCK.
THE TREES
ARE CUT LOCALLY
AND SAWED
LOCALLY AS WELL.
AND THE SIDING?
THE SIDING IS
EASTERN WHITE PINE
THAT COMES
FROM A SUSTAINABLE
FORESTRY OPERATION.
OK, AND
THE SUSTAINABILITY
OF A FORESTRY
OPERATION LIKE THIS,
CAN YOU DEFINE THAT?
WELL, THAT MEANS THAT
THAT LAND
WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE
TO BE FORESTED FOR CENTURIES
AND SUSTAIN
THAT KIND OF HARVEST
AND SUSTAIN THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE USING THAT
AS A MEANS OF LIVING.
COULD YOU SAY THAT
IT'S SELECTIVE HARVESTING
AS OPPOSED TO
SCRAPING IT CLEAR?
RIGHT.
GOOD. THAT'S
WONDERFUL TO KNOW
THAT IT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT HERE IN NEW ENGLAND.
SHALL WE GO AND TAKE
A LOOK INSIDE?
THANKS A LOT. I HAVE
SOME OTHER BUSINESS TO DO.
THANKS, SUSIE. OK.
THIS IS NOT REALLY
A BASEMENT, RIGHT?
THIS IS LIVING SPACE
AT THIS LEVEL?
THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS BASICALLY
A FAMILY ROOM DOWN HERE.
NOW, IS ALL
THE FRAMING LUMBER
THAT'S USED IN HERE
ALSO SUSTAINABLE?
YES. WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF THESE LVL's RIGHT HERE,
IT'S ALL FROM CERTIFIED
FORESTRY OPERATIONS.
RIGHT IN NEW ENGLAND.
YES.
SO, THE 2" x 10"s
ARE CERTIFIED.
EVEN THE OSB?
THE OSB COMES
FROM A MILL IN MAINE.
FABULOUS.
NOW, I SEE THAT
YOU'VE GOT
VINYL TUBING
THROUGHOUT HERE.
SO, THAT WOULD IMPLY
RADIANT HEAT, RIGHT?
YES. THIS IS CROSS LINKED
POLYETHYLENE TUBING
THAT'S USED IN THE RADIANT HEAT
IN THE FLOOR,
AND WE'RE ALSO USING IT
IN THE DOMESTIC
HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION.
OK. AND THEN DO YOU
HAVE TO INSULATE
BELOW THAT?
UNDERNEATH
THIS RADIANT TUBING
WILL BE A FOIL-BACKED
FIBERGLASS BAT.
OK. AND THEN THE REGULAR
DRYWALL APPLICATION.
THAT'S CORRECT.
ALL RIGHT. IS THIS
THE UTILITY ROOM
OVER HERE?
YES, IT IS.
SO, YOU HAVE
ALL THESE TUBES
TO CIRCULATE
HOT WATER,
AND WHAT'S THE SOURCE
OF THE HEAT?
THE SOURCE OF THE HEAT
IS A LARGE GASIFYING
WOOD BOILER
THAT IS IN
A REMOTE BUILDING
AND COMES THROUGH THESE
TUBES UNDERGROUND
TO EACH HOUSE.
OK. SO THAT
IT'S BASICALLY
ONE GIANT
FURNACE OPERATION.
BUT THIS IS SUPPLYING
AIR, RIGHT?
NO. THIS IS HOT WATER
THAT COMES THROUGH THESE TUBES.
OK. AND THEN WHAT
HAVE YOU GOT OVER HERE?
THIS IS A PROPANE
FIRED BOILER
THAT WILL BE
USED AS BACKUP
FOR THE WINTER
HEATING SYSTEM
AS WELL AS SUPPLYING
THE DOMESTIC HOT WATER
FOR THE UNITS.
AND THEN
THIS IS JUST
A SUPER-INSULATED
STORAGE TANK?
THIS IS A STORAGE TANK
THAT'S OF A SIZE
THAT'S LARGE ENOUGH TO USE
FOR THE SOLAR HOT WATER AS WELL.
EXCELLENT.
AND THEN
ONE OTHER THING
THAT I'VE
SEEN BEFORE,
BUT MANY VIEWERS
HAVEN'T SEEN.
WHAT DO YOU
CALL THESE?
THIS IS A GFX
HEAT RECLAIMER.
AND THIS RECLAIMS THE HEAT
FROM THE DRAIN WATER,
WHICH IS THEN TRANSFERRED
TO THE FEED WATER,
WHICH GOES AROUND
IN THESE COPPER TUBES
AROUND THE OUTSIDE
OF THE DRAINPIPE.
THAT'S ANOTHER WONDERFUL
SAVINGS FEATURE.
AND LAST QUESTION--
WHAT'S THE LARGE
BLUE BOX OVER HERE?
THAT'S A COMPOSTER.
EACH ONE OF THESE UNITS
HAS A COMPOSTING TOILET OR 2,
WHICH GOES INTO
THIS COMPOSTING UNIT,
AND THEN...THAT HAS
A CONSTANT FAN THAT GOES
THAT HELPS WITH
THE VENTILATION SYSTEM.
NOW, THIS IS COUPLED
WITH WHAT TYPE
OF TOILETS?
THEY'RE TOILETS
THAT USE NO WATER,
THAT'S JUST DROPPED
RIGHT INTO
THE COMPOSTING UNIT
AS WELL.
OK. SO THE DECISION,
THEN, WAS MADE
THAT THERE WOULD BE
NO BLACK WATER
GOING INTO
THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS HERE.
THAT'S CORRECT.
THE LEACH FIELD IS JUST
A GRAY WATER LEACH FIELD
TO HANDLE THE WATER
FROM THE SHOWERS AND SINKS.
GOTCHA. CAN WE TAKE
A LOOK UPSTAIRS?
SURE.
ALL RIGHT. SO, THIS
IS THE MAIN FLOOR,
AND THEN THERE'S
ANOTHER LEVEL UP ABOVE?
THAT'S RIGHT.
NOW, WHAT KIND
OF MOISTURE BARRIER IS THIS
THAT'S ON ALL THE WALLS?
THIS IS
A REINFORCED
POLYETHYLENE
WITH A DENSE PACKED
CELLULOSE
BLOWN BEHIND IT.
SO, WHY DOES IT
HAVE TO HAVE
THE REINFORCING?
IT'S JUST
A STRENGTHENING
MECHANISM,
AND IT GIVES
A LITTLE MORE PURCHASE
TO THESE STAPLES
THAT ARE STAPLED IN
ON THE SIDE
OF THE STUD HERE.
WHY ARE THEY STAPLED
ON THE SIDES
INSTEAD OF JUST
ON THE FACE
OF THE STUD?
IF YOU WERE STAPLING
THEM INTO THE FACE
AND BLOWING THE CELLULOSE
BEHIND THEM,
IT WOULD HAVE
A TENDENCY
TO BRIDGE OVER
THE FACE OF THE STUD
AND MAKE THE SHEETROCK
APPLICATION...
BUMPY.
BUMPY.
OK. SO, WHAT'S
THE R-FACTOR
THAT YOU GET HERE?
THIS WILL GIVE YOU
ABOUT AN R-25.
R-25? WHAT SIZE WALL
IS IT?
IT'S A 2" x 8" WALL.
2" x 8"?
OK, THAT'S A LOT...
IS IT
THIS SYSTEM HERE?
THIS IS IT.
THIS IS A STUD
THAT WE USE
THAT'S MANUFACTURED
IN CANADA.
IT'S FINGER JOINTED SPRUCE
ON THE SIDES
AND AN OSB WEB
IN THE MIDDLE.
SO THAT THE WEIGHT
IS NOT MUCH.
NO. IT'S A VERY EFFICIENT
USE OF MATERIAL AS WELL.
THE COST IS PROBABLY
AFFORDABLE.
IT'S COMPARABLE
TO AN EASTERN
2" x 8" STUD.
TELL ME AGAIN
WHAT IT'S CALLED.
IT'S AN OPEN WEB STUD.
OPEN WEB STUDS.
GREAT.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, THEN WE'RE
IN THE KITCHEN HERE.
THE REST
OF THIS SPACE
IS ALL OPEN
PLANNED GREAT ROOM?
MM-HMM.
FABULOUS.
THANKS FOR GIVING US
THE TOUR, MARK.
WE LOOK FORWARD
TO FURTHER VISITS.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
ALL RIGHT.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABLE
BUILDING PRACTICES AT...
NEXT TIME ON
BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,
WORK CONTINUES ON OUR FARM STYLE
HOUSE IN QUECHEE, VERMONT.
WE'LL BE USING ENGINEERED WOOD
FOR THE FIRST-FLOOR DECK,
INSTALLING PRE-CAST
CELLAR STAIRS,
AND WE'LL HAVE
A LARGE CREW
POURING ABOUT 28 YARDS
OF CONCRETE.
ALSO, WE'RE VISITING
THE COBB HILL
CO-HOUSING COMMUNITY
IN HARTLAND, VERMONT,
FOR A STORY ABOUT
FARM PRESERVATION
COMBINED WITH SUSTAINABLE
BUILDING PRACTICES.
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME
ON HOME AGAIN.
NEXT TIME ON
BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,
WE'RE BUILDING
THE FIRST FLOOR DECK,
POURING CONCRETE
IN THE BASEMENT,
AND VISITING THE COBB HILL
CO-HOUSING COMMUNITY.
DON'T MISS IT.
Vila: NOW, ARE THESE
MADE NEAR HERE, TED?
Ted: YES. UP BY BURLINGTON.
WILLISTON, VERMONT.
IT'S KIND OF BECOME
A COTTAGE INDUSTRY
IN CERTAIN PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY.
YOU'VE GOT
LITTLE OPERATORS
THAT ARE MAKING
THESE PRECAST
CONCRETE
CELLAR STAIRS.
YES, SIR.
ANY IDEA WHAT
THE THING WEIGHS?
I WOULD SAY
A GOOD TON.
IT'S GOT TO BE
A GOOD TON.
BUT HE JUST PICKS IT
RIGHT OFF OF THERE
WITH THAT BOOM.
AND ONCE IT'S
UP AGAINST THE HOUSE
FOUNDATION,
IT JUST
IS BOLTED ON.
YES. THERE'S 4 BOLTS
THAT HOLD IT ON--
3/4" BOLTS.
AND HOW DO YOU
WATERPROOF IT?
THEY HAVE
A NEOPRENE SEAL,
AS YOU CAN SEE
ALONG THE EDGE.
AND THEN THIS ALL
GETS BACKFILLED.
ALL GETS BACKFILLED
AND TAMPED.
AND THEN
WHAT DO YOU DO
TO CLOSE IT ALL IN?
OK, THERE WILL BE
A METAL BULKHEAD TOP,
JUST A REGULAR
BULKHEAD DOOR,
AND, OF COURSE,
IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE BULKHEAD
WILL BE A DOOR
GOING INTO THE BASEMENT.
SO IT'S AS
STATE-OF-THE-ART
AS IT GETS.
CAN WE GO
WALK DOWN IT?
SURE CAN.
ALL RIGHT, BECAUSE
THEY'RE STARTING TO POUR
THE CONCRETE SLAB.
ALL THAT'S INVOLVED HERE
IS THE BOLTS,
THE BOLTS THAT YOU SEE
ON THE SIDE?
YES. YES, SIR.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK
CONCRETE IN A MINUTE.
THAT'S QUITE
A BIG CREW OVER THERE.
SO, 4 BOLTS,
AND THAT'S IT.
YOU WATERPROOF IT,
AND YOU'RE IN BUSINESS.
THAT'S A GOOD WAY
TO DO IT.
NOW WE'RE STARTING
TO POUR OUR SLAB
DOWN HERE
IN THE BASEMENT SPACE,
AND WHAT WE HAVE
IS THE TRADITIONAL...
THIS IS 6" x 6"
REINFORCING.
YES, IT IS.
ON TOP OF WELL-TAMPED
CRUSHED STONE.
RIGHT.
NO MOISTURE BARRIER?
NO MOISTURE BARRIER
BECAUSE WE HAVE
BLASTED ROCK UNDERNEATH,
AND WE BACKFILLED
THE WHOLE FOOTING WITH STONE.
SO WE FEEL
THAT WE DON'T NEED IT.
YEAH, BECAUSE THERE'S
DRAINAGE SUFFICIENT.
OH, PLENTY OF DRAINAGE.
AND HERE WE HAVE...
THE ONLY WAY
TO REALLY DO THIS
IS TO HAVE A GOOD HALF-DOZEN
STRONG YOUNG GUYS
THAT ARE SPREADING
IT AROUND. RIGHT?
RIGHT. EXACTLY.
THEY MAKE IT LOOK EASY.
YEAH. SO, THIS
WILL BE A 6" FLOOR?
IT WILL BE
A 4" FLOOR.
4"?
YES.
AND, OF COURSE,
AS THEY SPREAD OUT
THE CONCRETE,
THEY'RE ALWAYS
PICKING UP
THE REINFORCING WIRE
TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT ENDS UP
IN THE CENTER
OF THE 4 INCHES.
THERE YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT. NOW, WHAT KIND
OF A TOOL IS THIS
THAT HE JUST
STARTED UP?
IT'S A POWER SCREED.
AND BASICALLY
WHAT IT'S DOING IS
IT'S VIBRATING THE SCREED,
THE FLAT LENGTH OF METAL,
THAT HELPS TO SMOOTH OUT
THE CONCRETE
AND SETTLE IT DOWN.
IT TAKES THE PLACE
OF THE OLD BULL FLOAT.
THIS IS THE BULL FLOAT
RIGHT HERE,
BUT HE'S JUST USING THAT
FOR THE FINAL FINISH.
YEP.
THE 2 MEN WORKING
SIDE BY SIDE WITH
THE POWER SCREED
ARE MAKING SURE
THAT THE ROUGH LEVEL
IS JUST RIGHT FOR IT.
YES. IT CAN ONLY
TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF DIFFERENTIAL.
ALL RIGHT. NOW,
WHAT'S THE REBAR
DOWN HERE
IN THE MIDDLE FOR?
IT'S FOR A THICKENED
SLAB THROUGH HERE
BECAUSE THIS IS
GOING TO BE A PLACE
WHERE A 2" x 6" BEARING WALL
WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY.
OK. SO THIS IS GOING
TO BE SUPPORTED
BY A THICKENED SLAB
INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUAL
CONCRETE PADS.
YES, IT WILL BE.
HOW MUCH THICKER
WILL IT BE?
IT WILL BE
ABOUT 8" THICK
WHEN IT'S ALL DONE.
OK. HERE COMES
SOME MORE CONCRETE.
Vila: SO, ANY IDEA
HOW MANY YARDS
YOU'RE POURING IN HERE?
I BELIEVE THEY'RE POURING
28 YARDS TODAY, BOB.
WHAT DO YOU PAY
PER YARD?
WE'RE PAYING $165
IN PLACE.
IN PLACE?
IN PLACE.
SO, THAT INCLUDES
THE MUD
AS WELL AS THE LABOR
TO FINISH IT.
AND ALSO THE REBAR
AND SO FORTH.
OK.
TED, WHAT ARE THESE
WHITE PVC PIPE SECTIONS
STICKING OUT OF THIS?
THAT'S A RADON PIPE,
JUST IN CASE WE HAVE
A PROBLEM WITH
RADON GAS LATER ON.
THEY'LL BE PIPED IN
RIGHT THROUGH THE ROOF.
SO IT'S AN EXHAUST
SYSTEM, IF YOU WILL.
IT'S AN EXHAUST SYSTEM.
HOW CAN THEY
BE ASSURED
OF GETTING
A REALLY LEVEL
SLAB IN HERE, TED?
THEY HAVE SET UP
A LASER,
AND THEN THEY
SET UP A TARGET
WITH THE PROPER
HEIGHT.
AND AS YOU
CAN SEE NOW,
HE'S TROWELING
AROUND THAT COLUMN,
AND THEN HE
SETS UP THE LASER.
AND WHEN IT
BEEPS LIKE THAT,
IT'S ON TARGET.
THE BOTTOM
OF THE STICK
TELLS HIM
THAT'S AT
THE SAME HEIGHT
AS THE REST
OF THE AREA.
YES, IT DOES.
AND, OF COURSE,
IT'S BEEPING
FROM OVER HERE,
WHICH IS
THE LASER PLANE,
WHICH IS SENDING HIM
A SIGNAL THROUGHOUT
THIS SPACE.
SO, WHILE
THEY LEVEL OUT
THE CONCRETE
IN THIS AREA,
THE NEXT TRUCKLOAD
OF CONCRETE
IS ARRIVING.
WE'LL BE READY
TO START POURING
THAT IN A MINUTE.
WHEN WE COME BACK,
OUR BASEMENT CONCRETE POUR
CONTINUES, SO STICK AROUND.
WELL, WE'RE JUST SCREEDING
ANOTHER SECTION OF THE FLOOR.
THE CREW HAS REALLY
MADE QUICK WORK
OF THAT LAST LOAD
OF CONCRETE,
AND THE BASEMENT POUR
IS ALMOST FINISHED.
I THINK ACTUALLY IT'S TIME
FOR US TO GET OUT OF HERE.
THANKS, TED.
THANK YOU.
THAT'S GOING TO WRAP
THINGS UP FOR THIS TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN
NEXT WEEK
WHEN WE'LL BE
FRAMING THIS HOUSE,
PUTTING UP THE GABLE END WALLS
ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
ALSO, WE'LL TOUR
THE BILLINGS FARM MUSEUM
IN WOODSTOCK, VERMONT,
WHICH IS A WONDERFUL
1890's FARMHOUSE.
TILL THEN,
I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.
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