BajaNomad - Castleblock & Fast Tubes

Castleblock & Fast Tubes

cat127 - 9-16-2006 at 10:03 AM

If you decide to rebuild in the low lying areas, we have a product that greatly reduces the construction time on pouring concrete columns. Round columns reduce the chance of failure of the foundation by spreading the load (pressure) on the surface.

The product is called Fast Tubes - not only reduces amount of labor for preparation, but is extremely cost effective by reducing the amount of materials as compared to sona tubes or column blocks. it is also light to transport - 150' LF weighs about 10#.

go to http://www.castleblock.com/products.html#Top%20Anchor and click on concrete forming.

-Cat

Cypress - 9-16-2006 at 02:06 PM

Sounds like a good idea.

Al G - 9-16-2006 at 05:03 PM

Concrete tubes have been available for 40+ years.
Could we have a spammer here?? :lol:

[Edited on 9-17-2006 by Al G]

cat127 - 9-16-2006 at 06:45 PM

Spam really????????? :fire:

They arent SONA tubes you know... they are throw away fabric/paper tubes.

Actually no one had used them here at all even if they had been AROUND 40+ years (which I dont think they have been) - just started seeing them here on 2 different houses in the tsunami zone...... thought it might be helpful to those who lost their homes in the flood zones....... I saw a lot of FLAT SQUARE foundation structure in the pictures.... thought it might be helpful to have a choice.......... That isnt MY website (although I rep Castleblock houses for Mr. Tucker).... i just spent quite a bit of time speaking with the project manager and viewing the projects themselves for MY clients building here...... doing the research and thought maybe I would share it.... Sorry if it somehow seemed like spam to you Mr. G. :?:

-Cat

[Edited on 9-17-2006 by cat127]

Paulina - 9-16-2006 at 07:02 PM

How will these tubes work with the typical bucket by bucket style of cement pouring? Finding a cement pumper in some towns would be a miracle.

P.

Al G - 9-16-2006 at 07:02 PM

"Mr. G."
How long have you been in real estate???
Been had by your kind before.
When sharks smell blood (net working) they Will turn to tragedy ever time.

cat127 - 9-16-2006 at 08:23 PM

I was doing research and found the castleblock guy. His houses are good, solid and go up fairly quickly. And remember "hawaiian time" may be even slower than Baja.... I felt bad for those that lost their homes, and even though rebuilding in New Orleans, or Mulege or here in Kapoho might not be the wisest choice, if you are doing it - I'd like to think I made some one think a little more about safety. I dont know it all but I'd like to think there are options.

-Cat

[Edited on 9-18-2006 by cat127]

Al G - 9-17-2006 at 09:02 AM

"You know ALBERT I was trying to be polite calling you Mr. G"
Most all people on this board use screen names or first names. The need to be formal indicates that you are angry. that is what realtors teach you to be able t say you were being polite. I have had them scream "MR. G" at me so they could say they were polite. If you want to be civil and I hope you do, don't yell ALBERT at me again. This has brought out who you say you are and I "can" believe it. This is good and I apologize for my Spam comment. I too have the responsibility of correcting unskilled contractor's work.
Albert

cat127 - 9-17-2006 at 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lencho

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina
How will these tubes work with the typical bucket by bucket style of cement pouring?

My guess would be not very well. Not because of delivery; a reasonably consistent supply of buckets could feed in the concrete OK, but because of the inconsistency I've seen in most hand-mixed concrete in Mexico. Seems like 5 different mixes up the column-- or worse yet a dry joint because the crew went off to lunch in the middle of a column-- wouldn't do great things for column strength. Ah, I guess the latter scenario wouldn't happen because they have to stuff the rebar in while the slurry is still sloppy.

Cat, speaking of the rebar, how do they make sure it stays in the center of the column as they stuff it down? Any danger of it getting detoured towards the side?

--Larry

I agree with you on consistancy. It is an important factor but I have run into the same issue using a mixer - we found the person running the mixer has to pay attention.... x shovels sand, x shovels concrete, x amoutn of water. It isnt a perfect scenario but it can be relatively close. But even here the guys dont stop for lunch till the mud is all down: truck or mixer.

As for the rebar, they used tie wire at intervals to hold it in place. If you went up more than 20' (!!) you might have some issues because of the length of one stick. Even at more than 10', if you hauled it in and cut the sticks in 1/2 to haul.

Additionally, I am not familar with where you get rebar for building in Mulege - you bring it down or buy it on the way down - so i dont know what lengths. I do know I have hauled the 20's on a ford ranger with racks but i only went 45 miles... big difference from SD to Mulege. So

Just curious - what does rebar cost there? here it is about $19 for a #5, less for #4. Have only used #6's for grade beams once and dont remember the cost...

-Cat

DENNIS - 9-17-2006 at 11:16 AM

Hey Al ---

Is that anything like a cop calling you sir while he's breaking your arm?

Al G - 9-17-2006 at 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Hey Al ---

Is that anything like a cop calling you sir while he's breaking your arm?

Maybe, but have no experience there. :lol:

Cypress - 9-17-2006 at 12:30 PM

Did some work with a similar cement/concrete(there's a difference) situation. Used a vibrator sort of tool to get the bubbles out and make the mixture settle in without air pockets etc. Keeping the rebar and wire away from the sides can be a problem. It's all doable.

cat127 - 9-17-2006 at 08:40 PM

About the video, I dont know.... on the job site, they used tie wire....

and I guess you could mix plenty in a wheelbarrow - we did for filling blocks when the client was off power so his water was gravity feed.

-Cat

cat127 - 9-18-2006 at 10:23 AM

On the job I was at - they had rebar coming up from the footing itself - about 4'. Then the builder used 12' pieces and slipped a bent rebar (a square about 8x8") as a "collar" and tied it about 2-3' above where they used tie wire to attach the 4' piece to the 12' piece. Then up about 2' from the top they used a second collar. Now I know this builder and his tendancy is bigger and stronger (he gets accused of overbuilding) - but in this case they used the scrap from the 20' to make the "collar". They also used scaffolding so they could set the Simpson beam hangers on the top after the column filled - and attached the 2x4' with a tie strap to the scaffolding. They told me if they hadnt gotten scaffolding for the painter to paint the exposed beams they would have used the 12' ladder.

I asked him about the collar and he said well we could have had someone tinker with the rebar as it was pumped @ $25/hr labor or spend nothing and use the scrap as a collar. They used 3500' PSI sand mix with a 7" slump and used a vibrator because the county required it.

My questions with this product is: I dont know any of the obstacles to building in Mulege as I understand can be considerable. I can equate Hawaiian time with Baja time. That seems equal...

Since I deal pretty exclusively with planning/design/permitting/building I am highly interested in what is best to build for the money, for the area, for the design...... no Mc Mansions..... here a tin roof over a big deck and minimal interior space works the best. What works best there? I guess I am deviating here but those that have built .... what is your opinion?

-Cat

Cypress - 9-18-2006 at 10:41 AM

cat127! You've done your homework! Nothings better than on-the-job training! The drawback down south of the border at remote locations would be the pumpers and vibrators. Getting the steel in place away from the sides of the tube? That would depend on the crew doing the job. The cement mix would also be a factor in the long run.

comitan - 9-18-2006 at 01:06 PM

You could always have a pumper come up from La Paz if you could afford it. And as far as some people bad mouthing hand mixed concrete in Mexico I think your making bad assumptions, I don't believe can prove that it is less strong than mixer concrete, as I cannot prove that it is stronger. As Cypress says it depends on the crew doing the job, and the Cement mix. Just one more thing they have been mixing cement for hundreds of years way before cement mixers and many of those structures are still standing.

[Edited on 9-18-2006 by comitan]

longlegsinlapaz - 9-18-2006 at 02:03 PM

Ya know, I left this one alone thinking that a bunch of MEN would come along with the right answer! :spingrin:

Now it appears that Cat & I have the best answers....not 100% sure of the spelling, but their called calstill(castille?) here & they look like what's in the pic....IF I can make it small enough to post here! Anchor them at the bottom, centered, put your pour form over it & use wire or a wedge up top that still allows you to pour cement in. Either use a long piece of rebar to get most of the air out or use a wetter pour, compensating with a higher cement ratio.

(Can't reduce pic! :mad:

Have sent e-mail requesting help from a knowledgable friend!) ((Muchas Gracias anonymous friend!))

[Edited on 9-19-2006 by longlegsinlapaz]

[Edited on 9-19-2006 by longlegsinlapaz]

Cypress - 9-18-2006 at 02:17 PM

longlegsinlapaz! A wetter pour would reduce the problem with air pockets. As far as men coming up with the right answer? Now that's a whole new topic!!!

comitan - 9-18-2006 at 02:37 PM

Larry

The use of concrete goes back to 5600BC, but in modern times the Romans used a lightweight agregate with bronze bars for reinforcement in the roof of the Panteon, this subject the history of concrete would take a whole semester in school.

longlegsinlapaz - 9-18-2006 at 06:29 PM

Well adding it to my original post didn't work!! Will try one more time!

comitan - 9-19-2006 at 07:03 AM

Google history of concrete.

longlegsinlapaz - 9-19-2006 at 11:01 AM

One last attempt to get this pic posted!!