Today, the forms came off the foundation wall, and they coated the outside with tar. The interior reinforcing curb and the step down from the old basement into the new are also done.
Next steps are the weeping tile and Platon-esque membrane installation. Then they'll backfill, pour the floor, and the foundation will be done.
Having the excavation done is a big relief since there are so many unknowns when digging down. Among the things not found were:
- Giant boulders
- Underground aquifers
- Buried treasure
- Bedrock
- Mysterious 45 gallon drums
- Archeological sites
- Jimmy Hoffa
In fact, the only thing found during excavation was clay, clay, and more clay. We should be saving some for ceramics class.
We did get to learn a thing or two about the old foundation, though. Portland cement must have been expensive in the 30's, because the foundation walls are definitely weaker than the sort of thing that is done today. That's not much of a surprise to us, and is likely typical of all the houses around here. Also, the aggregate in the wall includes rocks the size of softballs. Probably a strategy to cut down on the overall amount of concrete needed.
The last bit of trivia from the old basement...the slab floor is below the level of the outside footings. Go figure!
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