Craft and Construction

THE PROJECT:

This spring, Formation Architecture, Inc began construction on the garage of the 5th Street Residence, which had undergone extensive renovation several years ago.  The old garage was too small for the client's needs and need to be expanded and improved.  The design for the new garage will match the existing house in color and style.

CONSTRUCTION:

All construction begins with a foundation and the good and bad qualities of a foundation continue to impact construction throughout the process.  For this reason, Craig goes out to the site every few days to help the client form the concrete slab.  The corners were squared and the top of the frame was leveled meticulously to make sure that the rest of the process would go that much more smoothly.

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Communication between client and architect is important, reaching a clear consensus on how to proceed is even more so.

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Take an hour or two to make sure the corners are square and level, save yourself a few future headaches!

This garage will be built using Structurally Insulated Panels.  This means that the walls will arrive on site pre-cut and ready for assembly.  Making sure the corners are level with one another and perfectly square will ensure that the panels fit correctly.

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The red tubes will be embedded into the concrete. They will run the hot water of the radiant heating system in the floor.

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Once the forms are in place, you can pour the concrete.

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The forms can be taken down after a day or two but it takes 10-20 days for the concrete to fully cure.

Taking the time to prepare the concrete forms correctly can make the whole process of pouring the concrete go more smoothly.  It also helps later phases of construction by giving them a square, flat surface on which to build. 

Did You Know?  Hardening Concrete is not the process of drying the concrete, but is actually a chemical reaction between the cement and water.  Keeping the slab wet and at a reasonable temperature will ensure a harder surface and fewer cracks down the road.