Well, it has been a busy summer. I built this grape arbor for my parents'
50th wedding anniversary. Then I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee last week.
Now that I have some forced down-time, I put this series of blog entries together.
Per my modus operandi, I over-engineered them, but they're built to last.
Pouring the Slab
The first thing to be done was to pour the slab. I had some 3-1/2 inch and 4
inch square tubing (1/4 inch walled) to use for most of my vertical posts. I
also had some 5 inch, 1/4 inched walled round tubing for the rest of my main
beams and the other two posts.
The arbor was to be 30' x 10'. The slab was figured for 30' by 12' and the
arbor made 29' x 10'. The front posts are 8' tall from the slab. The back follows
the roof line minus 2''. So, approximately 9', 11', 10', 8' tall from the slab.
The verticals were placed on 10' centers with the two centers of the long sides
vertical posts minus the 1'. Or 10' wide and 10' + 9' + 10' long on centers
front and back.
Post Pockets
The post pockets were made by cutting wedges off the four sides of 4" x 4"
scraps and fitting the pieces in the top of square pyramid blocks used for post
bases. The blocks were set 2" below slab grade. The slab has a 2"
drop in grade from front to back.
I was not very happy with my finisher around the pockets. He
was lazy in working the voids around the knock-outs for the pockets and form
edges. He was well paid for the work and will not be used again.
The pockets were placed 6" from the sides and back and 18" from
the front. They were positioned with a
laser transit (yes, it was overkill; but also all I had to use for free).
The slab was 3 1/2" thick with fiber and 1/2" re-bar 3" in on
the front and sides, doubled on the corners. We screeded the depth for the
forms and water compacted the sandy soil the day before the pour. Then we wet
down the ground to keep some moisture in the slab to slow the cure.
The finisher put the expansion joints at the 10' mark.
Putting Things Right
The concrete company shorted us on the pour, but when the manager saw the
accuracy of the slab, he conceded it was short. He sent another truck a few
weeks later to finish a short sidewalk made just for the purpose of a buffer
for the quantity of mud. It was not cost-effective for the company to send a
truck out to us and we told them so. We just asked them to make it right when
they sent out another load to the area.
Part 2 of this series will run next week and describe erecting the
structure.
Editor's Note: CR4 would like to thank U V for contributing this blog series. Here's to a speedy recovery from your recent surgery, U V!
Got a DIY project of your own? Send Moose a message to find out if you have what it takes to become a CR4 blogger!
| 
Re: DIY Grape Arbor (Part 1)
