8/21/19
(Above: The sub-counter slab fresh from its mold.)
Building Summary: Today I began the morning Jacobhouse activities with every intention of pouring the sub-counter form. So, that is what I commenced to do. This consisted of collecting all the concrete materials (bags of concrete and flow control), the form from yesterday, a few buckets, tools (trowels, screed board, power drill, and grout mixer attachment), a couple barrels*, and a spray bottle and bringing all these supplies to the hay barn.
After everything was situated and in place**, I mixed up the concrete with Padre’s and Wag’s help, and then poured it into the form. Screed-board’ing ensued, followed by my first attempt at trowel’ing. It actually ended up acceptably smooth, and when I could no longer work the surface, I began spraying it with water to aid / speed up the curing process.
When the hour was complete, Padre and Wag helped me move the form and carefully flip the shaped slab out onto the back of the pickup truck. It came out quite cleanly, and to add to this, displayed unique patterning along its edge where the plastic wrap had created branch-like formations. It still needs finishing, of course, but as of right now I would deem the first concrete countertop a success.
(9:59 PM Update): Padre helped me begin setting up the form for the primary counter in Jacobhouse’s kitchen. This task consisted of stapling smooth silage-bag plastic to a piece of ¾” plywood, wrapping the individual 2x4s that make up the form’s outer edge, and then screwing those 2x4s together to make a rectangular frame. Should be noted that this was all done while a rather severe lightning storm passed to the northeast.
TIL: When calculating cubic feet (and when beginning with inches), multiple the base area (L*W) by the Height (H). Then, divide by (12x12x12) or 1728.
When working with bag concrete, have a drill and grout-mixer attachment on-hand (also have Flow-control if more liquidity is needed). It makes the mixing process far more stream-lined and much less tiring.
Concrete – or at least the type I was working with today – becomes quite warm as it cures. As a matter of fact, the mini- slab I poured today became so hot that I could not hold my hand to it, and it caused the water I was spraying on it*** to steam.
Commentary: I learned quite a lot today in regard to pouring concrete. As mentioned above there was first the surprisingly simple calculations utilized to find the cubic inches / feet of concrete required to fill a frame, and this was followed by discovering the ease with which one can mix bag concrete with a drill / grout-mixing rod. Stirring concrete via shovel is now a thing of the past, and even better, this newfangled technology has revealed to me that the usage of bag-concrete is a simple enough task to use in many other applications other than the occasional crafting of kitchen counters.
Final Note: Tomorrow, I intend to finish the form for the primary kitchen counter and then pour it.
*I only ended up using one to set the sub-counter frame on. It made for an excellent working height, but when it came to pouring the concrete, I gladly accepted my Uncle Wag’s aid. Lifting a full bucket of liquid concrete to a level at / above my waist would have made for a difficult solo-task. If I were to do this alone in the future, I would probably set up a sturdy stool to stand on while pouring, or I would set the frame up down low at knee height.
**Had to ensure that the form was level, otherwise the concrete would have sat unevenly in its frame.
***Helps the slab cure more quickly. If I had to guess, this would be due to evaporative cooling.