Concrete Block

On July 1 we began to realize that we probably wouldn't be able to get the house under roof by the time we go back to school in late August. Here we're getting the block delivered...

This was pretty slick. Each "block" has 90 cinderblocks, and the teeth on the crane grab the bottom layer--this saved us a "pallet charge", which is a deposit on the wooden skids often used to deliver this material.

This guy was good. He placed the blocks so that every area would have a supply, thus we wouldn't have to carry blocks too far to any given point. He also kept a stright line clear between each diagonal corner--so we could run level lines to check that each corner or "lead" was square and level with one another.

Over the weekend my friend Jeb and I ran a dry course for fit...

Here's a close-up of the mason's lines. We ran these to corner posts, which were easier to work with than batter boards (because of the tight space around the base of the foundation). These are set level 8" above the footer and checked with each other and across the corners...

Then Julie and I put up the leads, and this set the stage for filling in the remaining blocks...

 This lead is too big. It should just be a corner, but I miscalculated. Still, no harm done, and it was satisfying, even if it's not too pretty!

 Here you can see the 2 more of the leads as we're working to get the first courses mortared in place....