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October 6 – BRC

October 5, 2008 Greg Traverso Uncategorized

Hello friends,

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Here’s the latest.

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Opyo, the carpenter, finished putting up the shuttering for the slab, Opyo, the carpenter, finished putting up the shuttering for the slab,
and bracing it on both sides. and bracing it on both sides.
We took the final levels with Joel\'s laser level. We took the final levels with Joel\'s laser level.
I saw these guys hanging in the air on my way in to Nairobi to get the BRC, the very heavy wire mesh which reinforces the concrete in the slab. I saw these guys hanging in the air on my way in to Nairobi to get the BRC, the very heavy wire mesh which reinforces the concrete in the slab.
I had also ordered a truckload, 1500 sq. ft., of paving stone, which was delivered directly from the quarry in Mombasa. I had also ordered a truckload, 1500 sq. ft., of paving stone, which was delivered directly from the quarry in Mombasa.
They were beautiful, large pieces, which we will use in the outdoor areas of the kitchen and for pathways between buildings. They were beautiful, large pieces, which we will use in the outdoor areas of the kitchen and for pathways between buildings.
img_0389.jpg
They were loaded on a bed of cedar shavings for protection, so the unloading time was full of the fragrance of the forest, and the inside of hope chests. They were loaded on a bed of cedar shavings for protection, so the unloading time was full of the fragrance of the forest, and the inside of hope chests.
Our pile, and the Africa stone on the top right. Our pile, and the Africa stone on the top right.
You may want to enlarge this one to see clearly. These small cement blocks will be separated and wired to the BRC from underneath to ensure a uniform depth of the BRC in the concrete slab. You may want to enlarge this one to see clearly. These small cement blocks will be separated and wired to the BRC from underneath to ensure a uniform depth of the BRC in the concrete slab.
Here\'s the roll of BRC, about 100 square meters. It\'s very thick, A142, and very heavy. They loaded it into the back of the pick up with a fork lift at Doshi\'s, the hardware place. We muscled it off with a bunch of guys. Here\'s the roll of BRC, about 100 square meters. It\'s very thick, A142, and very heavy. They loaded it into the back of the pick up with a fork lift at Doshi\'s, the hardware place. We muscled it off with a bunch of guys.
We rolled it out, We rolled it out,
and cut it into 14.2 meter lengths. and cut it into 14.2 meter lengths.
Then turned it over and walked on it to flatten it out. Then turned it over and walked on it to flatten it out.
Then repaired any joints where the welds had come undone with wire. Quite a few. Then repaired any joints where the welds had come undone with wire. Quite a few.
You take a length of binding wire, fold it in half, bend it in \"U\" shape, slide part of the \"U\" under the joint, slide a six inch nail into the loop, and then twist until it\'s tight. You take a length of binding wire, fold it in half, bend it in \"U\" shape, slide part of the \"U\" under the joint, slide a six inch nail into the loop, and then twist until it\'s tight.
Then we made a conga line and carted it over to the slab area, which we had sprayed with anti-termite juice and covered with thick poly sheeting as a moisture barrier. Then we made a conga line and carted it over to the slab area, which we had sprayed with anti-termite juice and covered with thick poly sheeting as a moisture barrier.
And laid it out, And laid it out,
in three lengths, until it was all covered. in three lengths, until it was all covered.
Then we wired the three sections together, Then we wired the three sections together,
And we got this. A seamless reinforcement. And we got this. A seamless reinforcement.
This small piece of BRC is all we had left over. The piece of metal on the ground under it is a right angle triangle, with 2 meter legs, which we will use when putting up the walls to ensure they are also at perfect right angles. We had it welded up for just that purpose. This small piece of BRC is all we had left over. The piece of metal on the ground under it is a right angle triangle, with 2 meter legs, which we will use when putting up the walls to ensure they are also at perfect right angles. We had it welded up for just that purpose.

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The electrician is coming today to run the conduit so we can pour the slab tomorrow.

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Hope your week starts and finishes well.

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Love from Kenya,

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David

Comments(13)

  1. Lynette Zeiter says
    October 6, 2008 at 8:40 am

    Dave, Love to see the progress, I’m impressed as how quickly it’s coming along. Looking at the drawing the kids made makes me think that down the road we might be able to have an art exhibit and market their drawings. Keep up the good work.
    Lynette

  2. Ed Richardson says
    October 6, 2008 at 9:12 am

    Dave,

    You’re amazing………lots of progress over there. And fun to see it all come together.

    Ed Richardson

  3. Peggy says
    October 6, 2008 at 4:53 pm

    Just when I think you have gotten to a point where you rest, there is another layer. It gives new meaning to “foundation.”

    From an early childhood perspective, once again — proof that children develop in the same way all over the world. Those drawings could be from a preschool anywhere–especially the belly button!

    Kudos to you and the crew,

    Peggy

  4. Mark R. says
    October 7, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    Great work David! What a tireless crew you have. Progress, in this context is heartening! The pictures and your words tell a great story as always.

    Mark

  5. david says
    October 8, 2008 at 3:00 am

    Hi Lynette,

    That’s a great idea about the kid’s drawings. And Peggy’s comment echoes that. These drawings, like the kids who drew them are the same all over the world. A nice tangible reminder of that important fact.

    Thanks for your help,

    David

  6. david says
    October 8, 2008 at 3:03 am

    Hi Ed,

    The guys are working hard to make that progress, and I agree, it’s fun to see it. It takes a village to make a village, evidently. See you soon.

    David

  7. david says
    October 8, 2008 at 3:05 am

    Hi Peggy,

    I knew belly buttons were pretty much universal standard equipment, but I didn’t know kids drawing them was. Thanks for the info. We’re all connected to the big umbilicus, I guess.

    I’ll pass the congats on to the guys.

    David

  8. david says
    October 8, 2008 at 3:11 am

    Hi Mark,

    You’re right, the guys who work with us are pretty amazing. We’ve weeded our way through now so that our guys are solid and really hardworking. They’re also a crack up a lot of the time. There’s one guy named “Pastor” who is always singing, in a kind of natural falsetto, and literally runs from place to place, often with a wheelbarrow, teasing the other guys and wreaking good natured havoc. I have a real fondness for a lot of these guys. We’re a crew.

    David

  9. martin says
    October 9, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    what do you have in mind for the africa stone?

    i’m thinking setting it at half-court ain’t a bad idea.

    martin

  10. judy says
    October 9, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    fantastic—all the skills and knowledge of construction you have put to such a beneficial use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. david says
    October 11, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    Martin,

    I think the Warriors might balk at sinking the Africa stone over their Golden State logo at half court…maybe we could do something on the property instead, maybe on the “mm memorial sweet spin move” court near the dam.

    David

  12. david says
    October 11, 2008 at 11:09 pm

    Judy,

    You’re very kind, but happily the progress isn’t limited to my fledgling construction skills. But I am learning how to ride herd on a construction crew. And the good we might do is because of folks praying and giving banding together as a 10,000 mile away crew who are right here in spirit.

    Bless you,

    David

  13. Chris says
    October 12, 2008 at 10:16 pm

    So here I am typing this at Allison and Dave’s loft and listening in as Allison talks to you on the phone. Couldn’t be more grateful for all these connections and friendships — both for those ones that have been going on for years now…and for these new ones, like the ones among all of you laying out this beautiful, solid foundation.

    Love you, David,

    Chris

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