Preparing the Base

Scott was motivated to continue progress on the base, so after work today he created a 'knock out bond beam'. He plunge cut the top row of blocks and knocked out the small wall; this will give room for the rebar.

We are fairly confident his 'mask' doesn't meet OSHA standards. Yep, that is a washcloth tied in the back with a bungee cord. I added a mask to our Home Depot list!

After the slots were cut, he put 3/8" rebar in the four corners (all the way down to the bottom), and one more column of rebar in the middle of the long sides. These six columns will get filled with concrete. He also put small pieces of rebar (18") about 12" apart in-between these columns; these will be used to connect the rebar 'grid' on the top slab.