Well, thanks to all the help I received here, I am happy to report that I have poured the footings for the retaining wall with the rerod set up as suggested. I was 96 degrees with a heat index of 105 but with the help of two friends we got it mixed and pured in one long day. Here is a picture of the finish pour. Now it is on to the cement block. Again thanks to everyone for your great suggestions and information.–Bill
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Replies
your pics didn't come up...
try posting the pick, and not the html page
Sorry-- I converted them to JPEG. Hopefully they will open now.
Third times the charm.Aattached are larger pics, I hope. If not you can get the gist of the construction site from the first attachment. For the questions and comments, see my original post under "retaining wall question".
What's inj the blue bags? Pre-mix concrete? How many bags did you use?
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Yes, that's premix concrete. It took 318 60 lbs bags. I couldn't get a truck in close due to trees and a septic on the only partially open side of the house, so I hauled in the premix and mixed it on the site.
318 * 60 lbs = 9.5 Tons
You know, they do have concrete pumps. In line trailer mounted ones. Last time I used one, it cost $250.
Or even wheelbarrows.
Your penchant for hard labor is, uh, admirable.
Or, 318 bags of 60 lb premix equals about 5.4 yards of concrete.
At a 6 bag mix, thats about 32 sacks of portland. Portland runs somewhere about $9.50 a bag. (32 * 9.50 = $304 + tax.)
Plus 5 yards of 60/40 @ about $30/yard = $150 + tax.
About $450 not counting the cost of water or labor for those 5.4 yards.
Price of premixed quikcrete is somewhere about $6 to 7 per bag * 318 = around $2,000. (am I off?) Not counting water or labor.
5 1/2 yards of ready mix is somewhere around ($125 * 5.5) $700. The pump, say about $350. Total about $1,050.
What's wrong with these calculations?
Edited 8/1/2006 10:25 am ET by peteshlagor
Agreed. I don't hand mix more than about 1/2 a yard, and have not moved concrete in a wheelbarrow more than a few feet. Concrete pumpers can usually get the mix anywhere.