| Blog series by Holbs | updated 08-11-2020 01:54 AM | 5 parts | 2852 reads | 11 comments total |
Part 1: Sunday results: I need to quit smoking and hit the gym
(This is actually blog entry #2, not #1. Not sure why LJ website math is squirrely)Saturday, I was able to excavate, remove rotted based 4×6’s, and 2×12’s no problem for a good 30’. Must of been softer soil due to shade. Not so today. My 50 year old body wasn’t happy to do this so soon since I have not visited the gym in…...oh…..since I was 16 and a non-smoker :)Took it easy today as I know my limits. Still gots to work the day job through th...
Part 2: removing timber...ug
About 35% of my backyard fence blew down during a 65mph+ wind storm. Fence was built with the house back in 2006. Tis a standard looking fence that you see everywhere built horribly incorrect but did it’s purpose for almost 15 years. Original 12’ x 4” x 6” posts every 6 feet with 3 boards of 2” x 12” for the actual retaining wall (pressure treated too) and 6’ dog ear cedar fencing.Also to note: 95% of my neighbor fence was blown over as well since...
Part 3: 65' long x 3' high x 12" deep excavated. About to remove first cement post footing
We have had 95+ degree days lately so did not want to push my 50 year old body too much. Dug 6” down here and there. Finally, all 65’ excavated:————I still have all cement footings to tackle next (4 broke off at the base due to rot, the other 6 I left 3’ of 4×6 post to work with). I cheated by using my power washer to see what I am up against. This is not your ordinary fence post cement footing. Looks like 20” square, diamond shaped, ...
Part 4: Concrete footing from fence post #1: completed removal after 5 hours
OK. I didn’t expect this. Was hoping 2 hours per post. But that’s ok. I have no deadline. And this was my first one and I think I figured out a faster way than the first couple hours.I purchased a digging bar knowing I’ll be digging below ground level. It’s hard to swing the mattock with the 3’ wall only 12” away. I also purchased a new fiberglass post hole digger as my older wooden one was on it’s last leg. Once again, I tried to do the simpl...
Part 5: 98% done digging....
If those alien ships on Tom Cruise’s War Of The Worlds tried to break free from underneath my backyard… well, it would be a very very short movie. Between no worky out in 95+ degree days (basically, all summer long), 2nd floor of house hardwood laminate flooring project, this and that… I’m finally about 3 feet from being finished with digging. Some spots are not near the 24” front line depth yet but almost. Next, removal of old fence post footings. May n...
