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Buiding a Standard™,
a play in Eleven (12) Acts
By Frank L. Moreland

EARTH HOMES™
TYPE III

Contents

Prelude: Prep. Site
ACT ONE: Excavation
ACT TWO: Install slab
ACT THREE: Install walls and columns
ACT FOUR: Install beams
ACT FIVE: Install roof planks
ACT SIX: Install toppings (& S.C. Roof if one)
ACT SEVEN: Install waterproofing
ACT EIGHT: Install french drain
ACT NINE: Install berms
ACT TEN: Install shroud
ACT ELEVEN: Install earth cover

Appendices	1.	Material and equipment order/receiving sequence.
	2.	Construction calendar.

PRELUDE: PREP SITE
	1.	Stake out of all foundations, no chalk, +/- 6" use, 1 x 2 stakes. Get approval of Major.
	2.	Remove all trees and shrubs that cannot be saved, allowing for slope of earth cover. Smooth our area.

I. ACT ONE: EXCAVATION
	1.	Stake out outline of foundation again, accurately.
	2.	Determine clearance room needed to work and slope of face of cut, accounting for soil stability and depth of cut.
	3.	Stake out "top of cut" and outline with chalk or flour lines on the ground. Get approval of Major.
	4.	Establish reference points for each corner with 2 x 4 stakes, two per corner, about 12 feet back from chalk line.
	5.	Establish elevation of bottom of finished excavation and set laser rod.
	6.	Determine where to pile "spoil" so concrete trucks, pumps, and steel deliveries will not be hampered. Some ramps for
		concrete trucks may be needed.
	7.	Excavate:	1.	Remove topsoil and reserve away.
			2.	Remove next soil type and pile where determined.
			3.	Proceed to bottom of cut.
	8.	Finish cut, check for grade level and dress sides of excavation.
	9.	Cut for drainage.
	10.	Dress site.

II. ACT TWO: INSTALL SLAB (ORDER WALL STEEL)
	A.	FORMING:
		1.	Cushion: Take delivery of gravel, spread and level.
		2.	Install cushion drainage system.
		3.	Check final layout.
		4.	Set batter boards and pull strings.
		5.	Set outside forms; check dimensions for square.
		6.	Install membrane.
		7.	Install edge blockouts for walls.
	B.	INSTALL STEEL (ORDER BEAM AND TOPPING STEEL)
		1.	Take delivery of wall steel and scatter.
		2.	Install slab edge and column footings steel and chairs.
		3.	Install bottom slab steel and chains.
		4.	Layout all piping and conduit.
		5.	Install top steel, keys, and dowels.
		6.	Set all piping and conduit, including French Drain sleeves through wing wall footings.
		7.	Order concrete, pour crew and finishers.
	C.	CAST SLAB
		1.	Clean forms; check grades.
		2.	Take delivery; cast most difficult-to-reach areas first.
		3.	Slope concrete to sewer elbows.
		4.	Finish (no machine or hard trowel required).
		5.	Keep moist.
	D.	STRIP EDGE BLOCKOUTS; LEAVE EDGE FORMS AS BASE FOR WALL FORMS

III. ACT THREE: WALLS AND COLUMNS (ORDER SCAFFOLDING AND PLANKS)
	1.	Pop chalk line for walls and edges of beams above. Check dimensions and communicate to Major.
	2.	Set inside forms.
	3.	Take delivery of steel and scatter.
	4.	Tie steel, including column steel.
	5.	Clean slab edge notch.
	6.	Apple joint compound.
	7.	Set outside forms and ties (secure blockouts for beams).
	8.	Install reglets.
	9.	Brace forms from slab.
	10.	Set column forms, conduit, and J-boxes.
	11.	Order concrete and pump.
	12.	Cast walls and columns in three lifts.
	13.	Clean slab.
	14.	Do not touch forms, ties, or braces for seven (7) days.
	15.	Strip forms and patch any honeycomb.
	16.	Remove forms not needed for beams.

IV. ACT FOUR: BEAMS (ORDER W/P AND SCHEDULE CRANE; ORDER INSULATION; LINE UP HILL SUB AND ANY EARTH TO BE IMPORTED)
	1.	Receive and install scaffolding.
	2.	Install "INSIDE" forms.
	3.	Scatter steel.
	4.	Install dowel slots for topping and tie steel.
	5.	Install conduits, J-boxes, and reglets.
	6.	Order concrete and pump.
	7.	Clean out forms and apply joint compound.
	8.	Install "OUTSIDE" forms, ties, and any ledge "boiler plate".
	9.	Align, brace, and prep.
	10.	Cast beams.
	11.	DO NOT TOUCH forms, ties, or braces for five (5) days.
	12.	Schedule planks and crane.
	13.	Strip side forms ONLY.
	14.	Patch and prep. CLEAN AND PATCH BEAM LEDGES (must be smooth and even).
	15.	Set planks.

V. ACT FIVE: ROOF PLANKS (CALL FOR LEAD TIME REQUIRED, USUALLY 3-4 WEEKS)
	1.	Order delivery of planks and crane (2 pair, 30-foot slings).
	2.	Confirm delivery of planks and crane.
	3.	Receive planks and crane.
	4.	Install planks. Crew: Major, Captain, Lieutenant (director of installation), sergeant with experience, on private at action,
		corporal, and two privates at truck slinging planks. CONTINUOUSLY CLEAN BEAM LEDGES.
	5.	Grout planks at bearing, between planks and at side walls.
	6.	Remove beam bottom forms and scaffolding.
	7.	Dress site.

VI. ACT SIX: TOPPING (SCHEDULE W/P, ORDER CONC. AND PUMP, SCHEDULE HILL SUB.)
	1.	Clean wall tops.
	2.	Install topping forms at side-walls.
	3.	Pull out beam dowls to topping.
	4.	Install topping steel and chains.
	5.	Pop lines for cricket and cants on beams, apply joint compound to beams and top of side-walls.
	6.	Cast toppinng, hand-trowel finish.
	7.	Dress site.
	8.	Confirm W/P date.

VII. ACT SEVEN: WATERPROOFING (CONFIRM DATE; GET FRENCH DRAIN PIPE AND FABRIC, ORDER GRAVEL)
	1.	Prep. walls and all (power washer), mash off reglets and concrete above.
	2.	Dress site.
	3.	Apply waterproofing and protection boards.
	4.	Strip masking and install lead counterflashing when have about 2 feet of earth cover.

VIII. ACT EIGHT: FRENCH DRAIN (SCHEDULE SUB FOR HILL AND DELIVERY OF INSULATION AND IMPORTED EARTH)
	1.	Take delivery of gravel.
	2.	Install drain boards (vertical).
	3.	Prep. for drain.
	4.	Cut and spread fabric.
	5.	Install gravel.
	6.	Install pipe and slope for drainage.
	7.	Wrap fabric and cover with gravel as move along.
	8.	Install vertical pipe for clean-outs.

IX. ACT NINE: BERMS
	1.	Build berms up to top of side-walls, top of berms to be flat and 9 feet wide with 3-to-1 slope max to grade.
	2.	Stockpile cover material on 9-foot flat areas.

X. ACT TEN: SHROUD
	1.	Install insulation on roof W/P (over protection board), up cants and beams.
	2.	Install membrane.

XI. ACT ELEVEN: EARTH COVER
	1.	With small Bobcat only, cover membrane (1 foot over cricket, 3 feet at edges).
	2.	Follow cricket grade to provide valleys for water runoff.
	3.	Dress cover, berms, and site.

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