Little House in the Desert

The picture, taken yesterday, shows the current status of my project in Hereford, AZ. The grey block columns will support the two cargo containers that will form the second floor of the small two-story abode. The columns are half way to their eventual height of 8 feet. All the grey block columns have 5/8-inch steel reinforcement and will be filled to the top with concrete to give good support for the 5,000-lb containers.

The tan block walls are "dry stacked" and waiting the application of surface bonding cement (SBC). The SBC, applied just 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick, contains fiberglass filaments which hold the blocks in place. The tan block walls are just 32 inches high and will support 2 x 4 framing up to the underneath of the containers.

With all that block so close together, the current look is "brick sh*t-house!" Since this valley regularly hosts 40-50 mph winds, a building needs to be substantial. Since all the blocks will be stucco white, I think the final look will be whitewashed Mediterranean under boxcar. :-)

≈ ≈ ≈