Plinth level is done. PCC completed for the plinth. Compared to the traditional construction, this is additional layer that gives a major benefit in terms of the stability of our structure.
Since we have opted for the frame construction, having this weight added to the ground floor along with ground beams at the ground floor and foundation structure underground lowers the center of gravity of the entire structure. This helps make our structure very stable in the event of an earthquake.
From the foundation level, we have following layers:
We used 15 truck loads of sand (550 cu.ft. X 15 = 8250 cu. ft.) for filling up to plinth level after back-filling the excavated earth. Added about 7 tankers full of water to make this settle down. All this should've been done by September 2013. So, we are two months late compared to the original schedule. But the project is picking up pace now!
Added benefits of M25 grade PCC and sand filling at plinth level is improved termite protection. We however did do the necessary termite treatment at foundation and plinth level before doing PCC work.
Both the water tanks are also complete with slab. Only thing pending is the plaster on interior for these tanks.
We now get some idea of the room sizes. It feels a bit small at this point. But I guess it is the case with almost all constructions until the rooms are finished.
Off to getting the first slab cast! I must commend our team for coordinating work so far. We can not order the batch of RMC that is less than 4 CuMtr. It becomes commercially nonviable. So, adjusting quantities and scheduling work such that that much quantity is utilized without any wastage is not-so-straight forward.
Electrical planning is also complete before we cast the first slab. More on that and slab casting work later...
Here are some of the pictures of work towards the finished Plinth.
Since we have opted for the frame construction, having this weight added to the ground floor along with ground beams at the ground floor and foundation structure underground lowers the center of gravity of the entire structure. This helps make our structure very stable in the event of an earthquake.
From the foundation level, we have following layers:
- PCC plates for column pedestals of M15 grade RMC
- Column pedestal RCC structure with M25 grade RMC
- Column RCC with M25 grade RMC
- Ground beams RCC tying all the columns with M25 grade RMC
- Brick masonry from ground beams to Plinth level - 2.5ft
- Coping and PCC at Plinth level with M25 grade RMC
We used 15 truck loads of sand (550 cu.ft. X 15 = 8250 cu. ft.) for filling up to plinth level after back-filling the excavated earth. Added about 7 tankers full of water to make this settle down. All this should've been done by September 2013. So, we are two months late compared to the original schedule. But the project is picking up pace now!
Added benefits of M25 grade PCC and sand filling at plinth level is improved termite protection. We however did do the necessary termite treatment at foundation and plinth level before doing PCC work.
Both the water tanks are also complete with slab. Only thing pending is the plaster on interior for these tanks.
We now get some idea of the room sizes. It feels a bit small at this point. But I guess it is the case with almost all constructions until the rooms are finished.
Off to getting the first slab cast! I must commend our team for coordinating work so far. We can not order the batch of RMC that is less than 4 CuMtr. It becomes commercially nonviable. So, adjusting quantities and scheduling work such that that much quantity is utilized without any wastage is not-so-straight forward.
Electrical planning is also complete before we cast the first slab. More on that and slab casting work later...
Here are some of the pictures of work towards the finished Plinth.
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| Compacted Sand finished till plinth level |
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| RMC pumped for Plinth PCC |
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| PCC curing with water |
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| House footprint visible from the vantage point |
