Cost of Making Base from Scratch vs. Melt & Pour
sameboat
13 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (16)
sara-s
13 years agosameboat
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Compacted base vs. poured footings
Comments (8)This is the primary reason that segmental retaining walls (described by Mojave) have become so common. They move with the freeze thaw cycle, allow water to weep through, don't require deep excavation, and don't need a secondary treatment for aesthetics (if you are willing to accept the aesthetic of the block it self). If you try to attach cultured stone to it, the attachment will fail with the movement of the wall. The mechanism that is used by these walls is not exactly as someone mentioned above. These are what is called a "gravity wall". The mechanism has less to do with setting its feet or leaning into the slope and more to do with mass. The theory is to build enough mass into the wall to overcome the force against it. This is most often done using "geogrid". Many people believe that geogrid holds back the blocks from toppling over. Instead, it is tying the soil or gravel behind the wall to the wall to add to its mass. That material essentially switches teams (not that there is anything wrong with that) and works with the blocks to counteract the force applied against it instead of being part of that force that is acting against the wall. The poured concrete or mortared block wall on a footing works in an entirely different way. Ever step on a rake? It is what is called a cantelevered wall. The strength is determined in part by the width of the footing. The wall must be tied into the footing as Mojave explained. The wall sits near the front of the footing with the greater part of the footing extending back toward the retained land. This forms an "L" with the wall being the vertical element and the footing being the horizontal. It works like a chair. YUou can easily push a chair over by exherting force to the top of it and pushing it backward. The backfill is placed on the footing much like placing your butt in the chair. The mass holding down the bottom of the "L" keeps the vertical part from toppling over. It is much harder to push a chair over when someone is sitting in it vs. when there is not. And chairs fall over very easily when you hang your jacket on them, don't they? Now, have you ever stepped on a rake? Cantelevered walls work pretty well don't they?...See MoreQuestion from a first-timer: concrete blocks vs. poured concrete
Comments (31)Anyone with any doubts about Superior Walls should use something else. I watched the setting of those for two houses before making my decision. The bolts installed when setting the panels hold the walls until the house floor structure is PROPERLY secured to the top of the walls. The basement floor slab keeps the walls from moving in at the bottom and if the builder chooses, the walls are secured to the slab to prevent outward movement for daylight basements. The backfill prevents outward movement at the bottom. Thinking things through from a technical perspective is helpful. Going on now with 12 years with my Superior Walls and am perfectly pleased. Concrete block probably comprises the majority of basement foundation construction and it is the poorest choice in my opinion. But that is not to say that it is a bad choice-- definitely not the best....See MoreNewbie first time making soap with a rebatch base
Comments (5)Jody, thank you for your comments; over the many years I�ve been coming here, not many that I have seen thank others for their help. I have looked into both hot press and cold press and thing CP is the way to go. CP is my favourite process to make soap, HP was too rustic for me, although some soapers can successfully make HP look like CP. I, like melissa have bought several fried herbs, oils, lye, etc and I am trying to find just the right recipe. I�m hoping that you meant "dried" vice "fried"? lol! (Sorry, I�m a bit of a kidder) Experimenting is a large part of this hobby; but the expense can get out of hand, especially with the scents. I would like to make soap with hemp seed oil. Do you happen to have a recipe you might share or recommend? I have stayed away from hemp oil; the shelf life is too short, if memory serves me, 6 months in the raw state? Used hemp like any other conditioning oil; like shea or coco butter. The herbs/colorants I am working with are things like lemongrass, chamomile, burdock, turmeric, spearmint leaves, dandelions, and a few more whose names escape me at the moment. Jody, what are you hoping to do with the above list? I have used turmeric for colouring a recipe, but none of the others in your list for colour. If you are hoping to use those herbs for scent, you�ll be disappointed. If these are EO (Essential Oils) or Fos (Fragrance Oils), then you�ll be ok. I have use parsley in some recipes, but after a year or so the parsley will fade into a pale yellow colour. I have successfully used clays for earth tones as well as Stevia for green. As for EO's I have several, and my favorites are lavender, lemongrass, mint, jasmine, etc Lavender EO or FO, I would use at 1 ounce per pound of oils. Lemongrass EO, is quite strong, I would consider around � ounce per pound of oils. Peppermint Eo is stronger then spearmint EO, peppermint I would use no more then � ounce per pound; spearmint slightly more, maybe .6 Jasmine (hint: remember white florals) can hurry trace, so make sure you have all equipment ready to pour before hand mixing the lye solution into the oils/fats and soap on the cooler side. I am looking for a reasonably small recipe for my first time, maybe 4-5 lbs. (even less) Jody, what are you asking here, if you can use the calculator, then what advice can I offer? About 2 pounds maybe a good start. I saw some soap in an organic store yesterday and couldn't believe how strong the fragrances were! I would love to make something that has a strong scent. These are all Eos: Peppermint, Spearmint, and Lemongrass would be good for strong scent. Some others would be; tea tree, Clove (not really recommended), Cinnamon, Rosemary and Patchouli.(You have to like the sent of these oils) Fos, will depend on who has manufactured them, not all are created equal. August is the beginning of my holidays, so I may not be available soon. My old stomping grounds used to be TheSoapDish (if it is still called that) lots of good info there. I understand the lye calculator and how to change measurements to % Hemp is a good conditioning oil, so you could use 5% or so of your recipe, although I have not personally used that one; but I do use Caster oil from time to time, depending on the other oils in the recipe. Good luck Jody, if I can be of more help, just let me know! (I hope the formatting is good here I had trouble with Word 2010)...See MoreStarting From Scratch Exterior Elevation
Comments (27)My first thought, even before your budget constraints, was board and batten. It's difficult to determine where the misleading post actually is. A birds-eye view (from above) would help a lot. is the entry recessed, is the misleading post connected to the entry or the right gable, does the right gable stand out? I do like your planting scheme, but I would like to make two suggestions. First that the large trees on the left are not too close to the house. For the tree in front of the gable, I would suggest a flowering cherry or some sort of small flowering tree, that is, again, set out from the house that area could be landscaped to 'surround' the tree so from the top view, the tree is a medallion focal point -it's a very pretty way to offset a focal tree. The reason for the flowering tree, is that you will see it through those two windows. With the planting you have, I think that doing stone work around the entry only would be appropriate. Having stone on the lower part looks wrong, and it won't be seen much behind the bushes anyway. You have a horizontal line through the gable, with differently spaced battens on upper and lower. It seems that this line should be raised higher and I would put it at the gable roof line. I would also make the vent disappear by painting the same as the house color, not the trim. And lastly, the area with the three low windows on the right, might look nice with a park bench in front of them, even if no one ever sits there, it would make sense of that planting and section of the house and be a welcoming lawn ornament....See Moresara-s
13 years agosameboat
13 years agoBrent B
13 years agofalldowngobump
13 years agoBrent B
13 years agosameboat
13 years agosameboat
12 years agoBrent B
12 years agosameboat
12 years agoBrent B
12 years agosameboat
12 years agoBrent B
12 years agorenesoap
12 years ago
Related Stories
INSIDE HOUZZInside Houzz: Starting From Scratch in a Manhattan Apartment
Even no silverware was no sweat for a Houzz pro designer, who helped a globe-trotting consultant get a fresh design start
Full StoryPATIOSCase Study: 8 Tips for Planning a Backyard From Scratch
Turn a blank-slate backyard into a fun and comfy outdoor room with these ideas from a completely overhauled Phoenix patio
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGThe Simple Way to Remove Wax From Candlesticks
Before you make a mess of things, read these easy steps for removing melted wax from your candlesticks
Full StoryMOVINGMaking a Home Away From Home
Feeling like a stranger in a strange land? These tips can help ease the transition after a big move
Full StoryFEEL-GOOD HOMEWhat Really Makes Us Happy at Home? Find Out From a New Houzz Survey
Great design has a powerful impact on our happiness in our homes. So do good cooking smells, family conversations and, yes, big-screen TVs
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESLessons in Living Comfortably: Embrace the Scratches and Dents
When you celebrate wear and tear, you send a message that your home is designed for relaxation
Full StoryARTFrom the Artist: How to Make a Real Mobile
It’s all in the balancing points: A top mobile designer shows how to create a Calder-inspired installation of your own
Full StoryMEDITERRANEAN STYLEHouzz Tour: The Making of a Mediterranean House
A home starts life as a melting pot, but interior designers narrow the focus
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGHow to Remove Water Rings From Wood Tables
You may be surprised by some of these ideas for removing cloudy white water marks from wood surfaces
Full StoryFEEL-GOOD HOMESimple Pleasures: Make Do and Mend
Experience the satisfaction of fixing, repurposing and creating things yourself around the home
Full StorySponsored
sameboatOriginal Author