Bam — floor built!

Free Parking

Although we are a dirt road farm, we may someday want to be a parking structure.

No, not really…but should that ever be a necessity, we now have a garage floor worthy of the task.

Welcome Strescore, to our DRF.  Out of South Bend, Indiana, Strescore is the maker of precast hollowcore slabs reinforced with steel cables. This was BJR’s thing — after all the discussion and planning, his vision was a garage floor that could support a full basement with no freestanding support.  His wish is Strecore’s demand. Thank you Strescore — my husband grinned like a kid in a candy store.

Each plank weighs 5,000 pounds and can support the same weight.

The crane swung them around like they were no big deal to maneuver.

The Strescore crew said that the DRF was a welcome change of pace compared to downtown Chicago, one of their frequent locations for projects.  I can only imagine.  They said cars having to be towed out of their work area was a common occurrence.  (No worries about that on the farm. Park wherever the hell you want.)

We could feel the ground ‘boom’ when the planks were laid into place, upon the 3″ ledge on each the east and west edges, of the foundation.

BJR was my camera man from the basement.

And if you like all these pictures, you can thank our friend Doug Kissell, who recommended more pictures with the posts.  Here ya’ go, Doug…this one’s for you!

After the planks were set in, the crew cemented in between them.

When we are done framing the garage, an additional 3-4″ of concrete will be poured over the Strescore planks for the finished floor.

What is so impressive is the fact that the semi-truck with the planks arrived on the scene at 9 a.m.  The last of the crew rolled out of here by noon. Less than three hours and the garage floor was done.

Shelter Area

And you can park a tank on it.  (Sorry…I just made that up.  I have no idea what a tank weighs. But if it weighs less than 45,000 pounds, we are golden.)

Peace and love from the concrete fortress we are building at the farm.

🙂