• Amused
  • Angry
  • Annoyed
  • Awesome
  • Bemused
  • Cocky
  • Cool
  • Crazy
  • Crying
  • Depressed
  • Down
  • Drunk
  • Embarrased
  • Enraged
  • Friendly
  • Geeky
  • Godly
  • Happy
  • Hateful
  • Hungry
  • Innocent
  • Meh
  • Piratey
  • Poorly
  • Sad
  • Secret
  • Shy
  • Sneaky
  • Tired
  • Page 3 of 54 FirstFirst 12345613 ... LastLast
    Results 41 to 60 of 1069

    Thread: Cheryl's pond rebuild project.

    1. #41
      stephen's Avatar
      stephen is online now Koiphen Member
      WWKC Lifetime Charter Diamond Member #2
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Apr 2004
      Location
      Koiphenville
      Posts
      32,139

      • Remove Ads
        Advertising from Google
        Promoting Koi and Pond
        keeping since 2007

         

    2. #42
      Cheryl's Avatar
      Cheryl is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      Kent, WA
      Posts
      2,846
      Quote Originally Posted by clm View Post
      Our pond is built on a slope too. The sides and front are raised above ground to be level with the back.

      clm
      I know that part of mine will be more above ground than the other parts, I just can't figure out how to level out the bottom where the footers will go, my husband just ran out to Home Depot to get a laser level that goes 360 degrees, but when he got home and I tried it out, I couldn't see the laser line at all, so back to Home Depot. We are going to try a water level next, I keep thinking that maybe I am missing something and over-complicating this. My idea was after I get the footer in and the first course of blocks, then I will dig out the rest of the bottom to slope toward the drains and then pour the rest of the bottom.

    3. #43
      Moneypit's Avatar
      Moneypit is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Sep 2005
      Location
      Mount Vernon WA
      Posts
      3,089
      A water level will work the best, or you can just start with a straight 2"x4" and a regular level and work your way around the perimiter. When all is said and done as long as the top of your footer is level you are fine, just use stakes for your forms and set the tops of the forms level.
      Stacey

    4. #44
      Pond James_Pond's Avatar
      Pond James_Pond is offline Senior Member
      is Let 'em eat Manda Foo!
       
      Feeling:
      Friendly
       
      Join Date
      Dec 2006
      Location
      Seattle'ish
      Posts
      4,347
      I used string levels also. About $3 at the hardware store. Pound in a couple stakes, get some strong cord, like chalk line cord, and hang the string level in the middle.

      steve

    5. #45
      Cheryl's Avatar
      Cheryl is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      Kent, WA
      Posts
      2,846
      Thanks for the replies, I will most likely do a combination of the ways you all suggest, maybe that way I will actually get it done right, lol.

      Cheryl

    6. #46
      jjspond's Avatar
      jjspond is offline Senior Member
      is Retired
       
      Feeling:
      Happy
       
      Join Date
      Mar 2005
      Location
      Tri-Cities, WA. Z. 7a
      Posts
      2,706
      Just want to add my welcome from another Washingtonian.
      ~ jj
      -----------------------------
      See jj's puddles www.jjspond.us




      K.O.I.

    7. #47
      icu2's Avatar
      icu2 is offline Administrator ~ WWKC President
      ~ WWKC Treasurer
      is sorry otters exist
       
      Feeling:
      Annoyed
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Poulsbo, WA
      Posts
      32,942

      Welcome!

      To be honest, I couldn't ever get a line level to work very well over a span over 10' or so... it seemed like I'd stake it
      out, but I could move the string a good couple of inches, and it'd still read "level". A water level though, I could move
      that thing around anywhere, and had the confidence that it was spot on, no matter where I was.

      --Steve



      Koiphen 2021 Koi Person of the Year!

    8. #48
      birdman's Avatar
      birdman is offline DIY Savant
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2005
      Location
      Palm Springs, CA.
      Posts
      21,812
      Use a water level, a clear vinyl hose with water in it. I add a little food coloring to mine so the water shows up better.
      Attached Images Attached Images   

    9. #49
      Cheryl's Avatar
      Cheryl is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      Kent, WA
      Posts
      2,846
      I got a water level, this seems to be the best option. I like the idea of putting food coloring in it. I started marking a line on the low side of the pond to give some perspective, it looks like I need to go about another 10" on the other side, so back out to dig some more. I am anxious to get past the digging and onto the building.

      Cheryl

    10. #50
      Cheryl's Avatar
      Cheryl is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      Kent, WA
      Posts
      2,846
      So close to having it level, just a small section left to go. I still think that we are building a mountain range instead of a pond. I put a line around the inside of the pond to help give a visual for leveling, it will need some fine tuning, but so close now, I just want to get the footers in. Here are some pics.

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/59766037@N08/7523763808/
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/59766037@N08/7523765902/
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/59766037@N08/7523767296/
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/59766037@N08/7523768724/

      Cheryl

      • Remove Ads
        Advertising from Google
        Promoting Koi and Pond
        keeping since 2007

         

    11. #51
      Cheryl's Avatar
      Cheryl is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      Kent, WA
      Posts
      2,846
      Got my footer forms in, what a PITA, they ain't pretty, but they're level. Not sure when I will get the cement poured, I need to measure and figure out how many bags I will need, I should get about a foot for each bag @ 12" wide and 6" deep I think. I might have to save a few more pennies, I also need to get rebar and put it in there.

      Cheryl
      Attached Images Attached Images   

    12. #52
      kwickcut's Avatar
      kwickcut is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2007
      Location
      South Jersey
      Posts
      2,327
      is that floor under laminate? if so you may need to reinforce it some as the concrete will push it out of wack
      Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead. - Benjamin Franklin.

      you cant fix stupid no matter how hard you try.

    13. #53
      Cheryl's Avatar
      Cheryl is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      Kent, WA
      Posts
      2,846
      I used plywood, I am thinking that I will back fill the back side and will probably have to add a lot more stakes to the inside to keep it from pushing out, it feels sturdier than it looks, but I know that cement is heavy and could warp it pretty good.

    14. #54
      icu2's Avatar
      icu2 is offline Administrator ~ WWKC President
      ~ WWKC Treasurer
      is sorry otters exist
       
      Feeling:
      Annoyed
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Poulsbo, WA
      Posts
      32,942
      Looks great!

      Here... this will make you feel really good about your forms.
      Attached Images Attached Images  
      --Steve



      Koiphen 2021 Koi Person of the Year!

    15. #55
      Cheryl's Avatar
      Cheryl is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      Kent, WA
      Posts
      2,846
      LOL! I do feel better, thanks!

    16. #56
      Cheryl's Avatar
      Cheryl is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      Kent, WA
      Posts
      2,846
      I am having a blast, went and bought my rebar today and got it put in, and I back filled a little behind my forms, tomorrow is cementing time, I am so excited. I probably should have worn gloves while working with the rebar, my hands were filthy, my husband was kind enough to come out and cut a few of the pieces of rebar for me, he thinks I am crazy for taking on this project, but I love it! I bought 14 pieces of 10' rebar and only had about 2 ft left over.
      Attached Images Attached Images    

    17. #57
      icu2's Avatar
      icu2 is offline Administrator ~ WWKC President
      ~ WWKC Treasurer
      is sorry otters exist
       
      Feeling:
      Annoyed
       
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Poulsbo, WA
      Posts
      32,942
      Looks great!

      It looks like it isn't, but thought I'd ask... the rebar is not laying in the dirt, right?
      --Steve



      Koiphen 2021 Koi Person of the Year!

    18. #58
      Cheryl's Avatar
      Cheryl is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      Kent, WA
      Posts
      2,846
      Quote Originally Posted by icu2 View Post
      Looks great!

      It looks like it isn't, but thought I'd ask... the rebar is not laying in the dirt, right?
      No, I got these wire rebar holder thingy's that hold them at the right height, I am going to get some more tomorrow when I go get my cement, just to make sure they have enough support. I am also going to add some more stakes to my inside forms so hopefully they won't warp to much from the weight of the cement. I figure it will take about 60 80lb bags of cement, so tomorrow I better eat my wheaties!

    19. #59
      Longfin Lover's Avatar
      Longfin Lover is offline Senior Member
      is Northern Ponder
       
      Feeling:
      Happy
       
      Join Date
      Mar 2010
      Location
      Near Guelph, Ontario, Canada
      Posts
      749
      Might I suggest you remove your ring(s) while working? If you ever happened to get a finger caught or your ring squashed while wearing it doing this work....you could be facing a painful rescue. BTDT with a rock and a wheelbarrow. No ring.... just got my ring finger caught between the two. Picture me driving my self....all dirty and disgusting, with a bag of dripping ice cubes draped over my left hand while I tried to drive the van to the hospital. I was sure I would loose my rapidly swelling finger from this incident. After a 4 hour wait, I got checked out and all bandaged up. The swelling was going down. My finger could bend and the feeling was starting to come back. I drove home, put my work gloves back on over the splint and continued moving the rocks to my back yard. Still had to see the doctor the next week to make sure the circulation had improved and that all the numbness was gone.
      Better safe than sorry.

      proudly Canadian

    20. #60
      Sp00ks's Avatar
      Sp00ks is offline Senior Member
      This user has no status.
       
      Feeling:
      ----
       
      Join Date
      Jul 2009
      Location
      North Carolina
      Posts
      3,470
      Quote Originally Posted by Longfin Lover View Post
      Might I suggest you remove your ring(s) while working? If you ever happened to get a finger caught or your ring squashed while wearing it doing this work....you could be facing a painful rescue. BTDT with a rock and a wheelbarrow. No ring.... just got my ring finger caught between the two. Picture me driving my self....all dirty and disgusting, with a bag of dripping ice cubes draped over my left hand while I tried to drive the van to the hospital. I was sure I would loose my rapidly swelling finger from this incident. After a 4 hour wait, I got checked out and all bandaged up. The swelling was going down. My finger could bend and the feeling was starting to come back. I drove home, put my work gloves back on over the splint and continued moving the rocks to my back yard. Still had to see the doctor the next week to make sure the circulation had improved and that all the numbness was gone.
      Better safe than sorry.
      I have to agree. I didn't learn the first time and had to do it twice. Smashed the ring to my finger once, the second time the ring got caught on something an twisted, nearly severing the digit.

      I learned a couple of things.
      1. no more gold rings
      2. take off the ring before doing work like this.

      Your progress looks great!
      Jerry

      Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
      - Thomas A. Edison

      • Remove Ads
        Advertising from Google
        Promoting Koi and Pond
        keeping since 2007

         

    Page 3 of 54 FirstFirst 12345613 ... LastLast

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •