Bunker Expansion

Discussion in 'Off Grid Living' started by BenP, Jun 28, 2020.


  1. BenP

    BenP Monkey++

    The kids are getting too big to share a room so I am adding 2 bedrooms and a bathroom on each side of the house. I'm doing everything myself with a little help from my friends.


    IMG_20200624_071712.
    IMG_20200626_081558.
    IMG_20200627_140629.
     
  2. SB21

    SB21 Monkey+++

    Nice ,, how thick are you pouring those walls ???
     
  3. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Got to be at least 4” to be viable under its own weight.. more likely 6”.... I would be interested in the answer as well...
     
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  4. BenP

    BenP Monkey++

    Outside walls are 12" the inside walls will be 8"
     
  5. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Nice...
     
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  6. SB21

    SB21 Monkey+++

    One things for sure ,, you're building a quality home. What type of form system are you using ?? Kinda hard to tell from the pics. Just curious,, I haven't really done much concrete forming since the late 80s ,, mostly built plywood and 2x4 forming back then ,, used Symons forms a few times ,, man ,, that made things go quicker. Just haven't kept up with all the different forming systems over the years.
     
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  7. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    Nice, I'm seeing.....Look out towers...Cough,Cough
     
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  8. BenP

    BenP Monkey++

    This is a plywood clamp system by a company called Gates. A bank in WV was selling a complete system they had repossessed and I bought it. I bought the plywood at Menards, it is wall forming plywood and has some sort of really smooth surface.
     
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  9. BenP

    BenP Monkey++

    We got really frustrated dealing with contractors on the main part of the house so I decided to do the new additions myself. It has been a bit of a learning curve but it is rewarding seeing the results of your labor and will probably save us 50% on costs.
     
  10. SB21

    SB21 Monkey+++

    Yes sir ,, if you've got the time and a little knowledge,, you can save some money. Especially in concrete,, some of them guys make some really good money , but you've got to know how and when to work it ,, or it'll work you. Looks like you're doing well. (y)
     
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  11. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    Bars on the kid's windows?
    Smart choice:D
     
  12. BenP

    BenP Monkey++

    Poured the footers for the walls yesterday, the concrete truck couldn't quite reach the footers in the back so we had to move concrete with wheelbarrows. Tough work but rewarding to see it finished. IMG_20200717_071153.
     
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  13. Merkun

    Merkun furious dreamer

    I've learned to like the bill for a concrete pump. My back still remembers wheelbarrows and georgia buggies.
     
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  14. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    ON large pours , Pumpers are the way . We slumped our pump and the pumper operator bitched ..
    at one time i had 4 trucks sitting rolling it thill it slumped and the engineer said thats ok now. they try to sell water !!
    My Hanger / Shop 3 hoists with sky rail lift .
    Sloth
     
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  15. BenP

    BenP Monkey++

    Poured the floor on one side Monday and the interior walls on the other side yesterday.
    IMG_20201007_080338.
    IMG_20201007_080308.
     
  16. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    Curious about the economics of concrete construction compared to stick framing?

    I assume you are using furring strips or other for electrical and plumbing? Any provisioning for either in the concrete itself?
     
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  17. madmax

    madmax Far right. Bipolar. Veteran. Don't push me.

    HOLY SHUCKIN" FITS!!!! That's a bunker!
     
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  18. BenP

    BenP Monkey++

    I put conduit in the wall before we poured the concrete and pulled the wire, I wedge a little block of wood inside a metal outlet box then screw through the form and pull the box opening up tight against the inside of the form. I put conduit in the floor for the water lines and pulled pex through them before we poured the floor in case we ever need to replace the lines.
     
  19. That is without a doubt the way to run water lines. A friend lives in a slab house and she needed the floor ripped up to fix a leak.
     
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  20. BenP

    BenP Monkey++

    Poured the walls on the first side and the floor on the second side this week. Now we are moving the forms from the first side to set them up on the second side.
    IMG_20201010_152800. IMG_20201010_152726.
     
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