We returned to California late last night and went to the work site on Sunday morning.  It looked good.

The tempoary pool cover was used to stage materials for the first time.  The Dow styrofoam (High Load 40) was stacked neatly on the pool cover, ready to be placed on Monday/Tuesday.

Dow Styrofoam High Load 40.

Scott’s package arrived while we were away.  Although we’re in California, we will be in full compliance with Ontario’s Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).  And, I’ll have a new journeyman electrician’s tool belt to strut around the job site with!

WHMIS materials and electrician tool belt.

The week ended up with heavier rains.  The tarps covered the working area quite nicely.

Tarps covering work site.

The shotcrete covered the entire ~12 ft for the east and west walls.  The top 8 ft of the north and south walls will be formed.

Forms for top 8 ft of north wall.

After much preparation, the walls were shotcreted today.  Bryan’s dad, John, was on site taking photos to document the activity.

Cement mixer and shotcrete pumper truck on Via Sereno.

Shotcrete crew working.

Rest of the shotcrete crew working.

Spraying shotcrete on east wall.

The forecasted rain did, in fact, materialize although it wasn’t a heavy rain.

The foundation walls on the east and west sides will be ‘blind side’ formed, with only one side of the wall having a removable form.  This will be the same as the bottom four feet of the north and south walls.

To have the appropriate vertical face for the blind side application, our contractor, Bill Brown, uses shotcrete to form a smooth face.  The vertical earth walls were covered with wire mesh for the shotcrete mixture to attach to.

East wall, ready for shotcrete.

The major complaints around residential construction sites are (in no particular order):

1. Noise.
2. Dust (airborne).
3. Parking/traffic.
4. Dirty streets and litter.

We have been diligent to limiting working hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (although Monte Sereno’s ordinances allow working from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm); in controlling the dust whenever conditions warrant it; requiring our contractors to park on Winchester Boulevard; and, maintaining a clean site at all times.

When Bryan visited Darren’s job site in Edmonton, Canada during the holidays, Darren pointed out the mechanical bristle sweeper that they use to keep their project sites clean. The mechanical sweeper is preferred to a blower as it can physically remove (sweep) dirt, small rocks and debris. Since the mechanical sweeper had a good value proposition and it was at the beginning of the project, we decided to invest in a Stihl KombiSystem with a power broom attachment. Bryan and John purchased it during their visit to Santa Cruz.

Today, the power broom got a full workout. Via Sereno is now clean in front of the project.

Sweeping Via Sereno.

Controlling dirt from leaving the project site.

The happy sweeper!