Foo - The Mt. Doom Deck Chronicles

A close mist shrouded the Hudson Valley hills. In the valley, a plaintive loon wailed. Then quietly, with no fuss or bother, the demolition of the Deck atop Mt. Doom began. We don't have photos of that, but we do have photos of the footings for the retaining wall that will serve as the new foundation for the upper deck and the retaining wall for the pavers below.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/Deckfootings.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/Northsidefootings.jpg

Note how the upper deck looks wavy. After this project it will be straight. And it will be able to support 50+ drunken cyclists.

Note how the upper deck looks wavy. After this project it will be straight. And it will be able to support 50+ drunken cyclists.

is this the go ahead sign for OMGWTFBBQ party at pcad's house?


btw, how did the deck being built before foundation come about in the first place?

Yeah, but will it support me and my fat ass?

I want detonation video.

btw, how did the deck being built before foundation come about in the first place?

The stunning ignorance regarding the most elementary basics of construction betrayed by this remark is hard to overstate.

The stunning ignorance regarding the most elementary basics of construction betrayed by this remark is hard to overstate.

Like not building a house on the extreme edge of a steep hill?

A close mist shrouded the Hudson Valley hills. In the valley, a plaintive loon wailed. Then quietly, with no fuss or bother, the demolition of the Deck atop Mt. Doom began. We don't have photos of that, but we do have photos of the footings for the retaining wall that will serve as the new foundation for the upper deck and the retaining wall for the pavers below.

Note how the upper deck looks wavy. After this project it will be straight. And it will be able to support 50+ drunken cyclists.

In the spirit of the Metric Thread, that's the equivalent of 45 drunken Canadian cyclists.

Love the view from your deck.

By the way, I've dealt with at least a dozen tradesmen and subcontractors over the past 20+ years (I've overseen/gc'd several significant renovations/alterations after owning three homes) and the guy I hired to do this job is the perfect guy. I spoke to three other builders who didn't seem sure. This guy worked for a major concrete firm in NY City for 20 years before starting his own contracting biz locally 5 years ago, and he does a lot of foundation work.

He has these new footings pinned with #8 rebar to the spotty shelf bedrock @ 3' intervals for 70'. The new retaining wall (which will also serve as deck footings) will be tied to the footings with #4 rebar and then back to the foundation @ 10' intervals. It's also 3' back from the edge of where the existing footings are rotating down the hill.

The stunning ignorance regarding the most elementary basics of construction betrayed by this remark is hard to overstate.

We don't use too many commas here in Canada. They over-complicate the sentence.

We don't use too many commas here in Canada. They over-complicate the sentence.

Oh wait, you weren't complaining about the grammar. Carry on.

Like not building a house on the extreme edge of a steep hill?

The house foundation hasn't moved a mm in 13 years. You can build a house anywhere if it's done properly junior. It's the deck footings that were clusterfarked by the builder. The subcontractor he employed to do the foundation did it right. Thankfully.

The exponentially increased stability you gain by simply backing off the edge of that slope 3' is something you have to see up close to appreciate. The new retaining wall is closer to the house. The deck will be about 3' narrower across the back of the house, but we're extending it out sideways into the yard on the north side. We'll have pavers underneath behind the new retaining wall.

This after having an engineer, 3 bids, and several other contractors assess this situation. I think I did choose the right man.

one of the modern wonders of the world: concrete.

one of the modern wonders of the world: concrete.

Ask the Mob.

Pcad,

It looks like you have a nice drop-off behind the deck. How far can you spit a watermelon seed from the railing?

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/quiz/200000/200847_1241018379250_279_300.jpg

Pcad,

It looks like you have a nice drop-off behind the deck. How far can you spit a watermelon seed from the railing?

God help me.

Yeah, but will it support me and my fat ass?

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

<cough> sorry :D

This guy worked for a major concrete firm in NY City for 20 years before starting his own contracting biz locally 5 years ago, and he does a lot of foundation work.


So you are saying this guy could tell us exactly where Jimmy Hoffa is?:roflmao2:

one of the ancient wonders of the world: concrete.

fify

So you are saying this guy could tell us exactly where Jimmy Hoffa is?:roflmao2:

Actually you're saying that. I'll tell him you're concerned.

hey, I know you're a sucker for schwag.

feel like installing a wall of litracon?
http://www.litracon.hu/

Just don't invite Mel Gibson.

http://www.curtsmithofficial.com/files/imagecache/full/files/images/photos/LethalLautner.jpg

The future of Casa Pcad

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/07/18/article-0-05C1C586000005DC-943_634x575.jpg

snip

snip

Note how the upper deck looks wavy. After this project it will be straight. And it will be able to support 50+ drunken cyclists.

Is that a reference to Age, IQ, or weight?

It sure is pink.

What's the frost line there pcad?

Here it's 45". Put piers in any less depth than that and they'll heave when the ground freezes. Looks like the original builder went a bit shallow.

Pcad has a pink deck.:D:lol::lol::D

Looks like the original builder went a bit shallow.

Incorrect. They were deep enough.

That's not the issue here. It's moving shale, the pressure on individual sonotubes, and gravity. I watched this guy put these footings in. They are tied to the shelf rock (he dug that trench with a mini backhoe) every 3' with #8 rebar. Have you ever seen #8 rebar? Trust me, this bad boy is going nowhere. Nowhere I say. The other thing that will help is it will be one contiguous structure (like a house foundation) and in addition he's tying it back to the house foundation every 10' with concrete fingers that will also be rebar-ed into the house footings.

When he dug the trench for this he found the shelf rock by testing the rock. If he could move it with the backhoe it was loose shale. If he couldn't it was shelf rock. Makes sense to me.

Pcad has a pink deck.:D:lol::lol::D

First thing I noticed as well - matches the color scheme of his Cervelo, I guess.

Sounds like you're on a slippery slope.

Looks like you have an amazing view from there. How far will the drunks fall when they go over the railing?

Do you have a PowerTap for your grill?

YouTube - Big Deck

Sounds like you're on a slippery slope.

Indeed.

Has there been any damage to the deck itself? Do we need to worry about it crashing into the valley below while we're pogo dancing?

YouTube - Big Deck (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz82fjXqFQ4)

So Pcad's first name is "Vince"?:roflmao2:

So Pcad's first name is "Vince"?:roflmao2:

I thought all yankees answered to vince, vinnie or al.

I thought all yankees answered to vince, vinnie or al.

Don't forget Joey

good call.

Has there been any damage to the deck itself? Do we need to worry about it crashing into the valley below while we're pogo dancing?

Hardly. The deck will now have a new header and vertical support beams, a new rail, an entirely new section on the side yard, and will be shortened by about 3' to bring the footings back from the brink where they were put by the original builder. We'll have it re-stained in the Spring and it will look brand spankin new. Actually, much of the supporting infrastructure of the deck (all the ground footings, vertical supports, horizontal header, railings) will be brand new.

This is like the 4th major renovation project I have GC'd since 1988. I should go into the friggin building business.

By the way, I can barely hammer a nail.

Hardly. The deck will now have a new header and vertical support beams, a new rail, an entirely new section on the side yard, and will be shortened by about 3' to bring the footings back from the brink where they were put by the original builder. We'll have it re-stained in the Spring and it will look brand spankin new. Actually, much of the supporting infrastructure of the deck (all the ground footings, vertical supports, horizontal header, railings) will be brand new.

This is like the 4th major renovation project I have GC'd since 1988. I should go into the friggin building business.

By the way, I can barely hammer a nail.

Your words inspire confidence. Good job there GC.

Those who can't do, contract.

Those who can't do, contract.

Nothing wrong with employing America...

I thought all yankees answered to vince, vinnie or al.

They often have 3-part names, e.g.

Joey-the-Clown
Tony-the-Ant
Carmine-the-Snake
Vinny-the-Chin

:D

You were right to nix any Mt. Doom BBQ this past summer because of that deck. Last thing you want are several threads with innumerable pics all about the sad condition of your mansion. BF people being what and who they are, that's what they would mostly remember and talk about. Best to not give us a thing to twist and exaggerate.

Next summer's blow-it-out-your-behind party better be awesome. The whole world will be watching!

I am actually taking the Mt. Doom BBQ (tentative name Doomstock) under consideration at this time.

I am actually taking the Mt. Doom BBQ (tentative name Doomstock) under consideration at this time.

Not Caddystock, Cervelostock, Ruestock, Incorrectstock, Samstock or even Fredstock?

Nothing wrong with employing America...

Never said there was, I wish more folks were doing it so I could get some steady work to afford those luxuries most folks dream of... like food and rent and a new set of tubes & tires.

I am actually taking the Mt. Doom BBQ (tentative name Doomstock) under consideration at this time.

you should. it would be awesome. don't forget to invite your favorite wolfie. :D

The future of Casa Pcad

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/07/18/article-0-05C1C586000005DC-943_634x575.jpg

Things like this beg for more explanation.

you should. it would be awesome. don't forget to invite your favorite wolfie. :D

Wolfie, you get the Spank Me Suite.

If my wife says it's OK I mean.