Pool coping

The pool coping has been set and the forms removed.  The pool is now done until spring!

Pool pour

Rebar inspection

Lawrence was in again today to inspect the rebar for the garage and porch. There were a couple of places that were deficient (top layer of 5' bent rebar all around the perimeter) so we will have to put off the pour to jan 2/3. The gravel is in the remainder of the basement so it all looks nice and need. Once again doubt about the drain height was raised, but we got out the level and confirmed it was fine. I also figured out how to squeeze extra space into Herbert's win cellar so he'll appreciate that! The pool guys are also ready to pour.

Pool deck prep

Slab insulation

Rainy day... work goes on!

It was a pretty rainy day.. but work doesn't stop!  It's so mild that Gib-san followed through on their desire to get the liner in.  If it's too cold, the material doesn't give at all, and then they have to end up tenting the whole area and heating.  So the guys arrived today in the rain and worked away until it was done.  We had to get three truckloads of water to fill the pool up - swimming anyone?

Tomorrow they'll pour the concrete coping and probably cover the pool up for winter.

Aveiro will be back tomorrow to do the rebar and pours, as well as putting another load of stone in the house.  Lots of good work done in the this last week before the break.

Perks of hiring Italian plumbers

We received 2 bottles of vintage "carefree plumbing" vino. The perks of hiring Italian plumbers!

Final look at the days work

So, at the end of a very busy day, I snapped some pics of the progress.  The forming went pretty well - the garage is almost ready for insulation and rebar, with some more vertical supports required down below.  The porch is also at the same stage.  The footings have been protected for now, with some more gravel coming in tomorrow morning.  Great progress today.

Rock slinger

In my next life, I want to be a rock slinger.  Such a cool machine, relatively low pressure job where you stand on the back of the truck and use a remote to fire gravel into an area...  boys - don't go to university - become a rock slinger! 

Pool

The Gib-san guys were in again today - a full crew of 5 guys working the whole day.  Their job was getting additional fine gravel filled in around the pool before they put the liner and water in tomorrow.  I love the fact that they insist on using this fine gravel (as opposed to earth, 1/2" gravel or bigger) - it gets very compacted and will be a great "foundation" for pool shell stability.  I continue to be impressed with Gib-san.

Site clean up

I like a clean workspace - seems to make everyone move more quickly and efficiently on site.  Sam was on site for a full day today to work on hay and more leveling of earth.

Concrete and drains

Aveiro Concrete and Drains is the contractor responsible for the garage floor, porch, basement slab, bringing the sanitary into the house, and doing all of the floor drains in the basement.  They got their delivery of lumber this morning, and arrived at 11am to start forming for their pour.  The garage is a suspended ceiling (room underneath) so requires a hell of a lot of lumber to support the pour.

Sanitary and water upgrade

Utility Force, the company assigned to this area to perform the City portion of the sanitary and water upgrade from the road, arrived as promised at 7:30am.  There was a little trepidation on my part on the depth of the drains.  Herbert and Cheryl's house is at the end point of one section of the sewer line, which means that it is the high point for this section.  I discovered this several months ago when I had a pre-construction meeting with Utility Force.  Subsequently, I went to the City and got the "plan in profile" for the house, and the architect had to calculate the height of the foundation of the house and adjust it up about a foot.

Still, when the foreman arrived and looked at the massive depth of the foundation walls, he said the drain would be too high.  I just had to think... "trust John (Culmone)".  Sure enough, after four hours of work, I got some great news that the drain was indeed perfectly matched with the new foundation depth (with barely a millimeter of extra space).  Phew!  What would have happened?  A "so-so" case scenario would be that the floor drains in the basement would come up a little higher than normal, and we would simply put more gravel in the basement and raise the floor a couple of inches.  The worst case scenario?  I don't want to think of that.... pumping sanitary waste?  ew.

Pool fence

Randy from Roma fence came and installed our permanent (temporary!) pool fence.  The City of Toronto has some pretty strict rules on fence enclosures - many of which are great for safety and security.  But I draw the line and having to install a "permanent" (concrete enclosed posts) fence in order to put the liner and water in the pool.  They need to make provisions or allowances for sites that are under construction.  As it is, we have to install this fence, then rip it down in the spring and put up a nicer, aluminum or iron fence.  Argh!  That said, Roma fence was great to work with.

Reviewing the site

The backfill looks great - a little high on the North side, by design, as we couldn't get too much compacting done there.  We'll have the sanitary guys in tomorrow to do the sewer and water lines, and Alveiro will hopefully come in to work on some drains and the garage.