Site Preparation

[HADave]

While we are on the subject of lava. Just how much machine does one need to move this A'a lava. Rob spoke of having a smaller machine do the work. Also can small areas like under sheds or other small out buildings or even pools/catchments be cleared by hand. when we were there I took photos of my wife holding a very large piece of lava, as a funny, like you couldn't hold a rock a third the size. could you flatten areas for raised bed planting areas? Even with with back breaking effort could it be done by hand? Does anyone know of someone who has done it?

[leilaniguy]

Aloha HADave, for a small, lightweight structure, shed, carport, etc. I think you can get by with hand clearing & levelling, sure hope so, I plan on putting up a storage shed that way, but for a catchment I'd be worried that there might be voids under the base that wouldn't show up until several tons of water are in the tank- a disaster.

[HADave]

Lets talk about fill material for driveways, under concrete slabs/footings, under catchments, etc.

various types, sizes, sands.....?

Which is best for compaction?

How is it sold ?

Can it be picked up or only delivered?

Best places to do business?

Thanks for all your input

[leilaniguy]

For slabs, the ground is leveled, then a layer of base course is laid. This is usually red cinder cobbles 4" minus. On top of this, about a foot of red crushed cinder is laid, allowed to settle,(rained in) then your forms go in. For pier footings you almost need to go on a case by case basis depending on slope- cinder OK on the flat, bluestone or cement on slopes.(It's not uncommon here for piers to wash out from under a house in flood weather.) Red cinder is used for base and roadways because it holds up better,packs tight, is harder stone. black cinder is crumbley tuff, breaks down easily, used mostly for soil and fill. For catchment bases,after levelling and compacting, bluestone sand is laid a few inches thick, not that much, just as a cushion. For driveways in soil, or sloping driveways that tend to erode easily, bluestone crush is used instead of cinder. It is hard basalt. It is more expensive. Cinder is usually sold by the 30 yard truckload, bluestone usually by the yard. The best known aggregate companies around here are Bryson's or Sanford's in Pahoa and Puna Rock in Keaau. Price depends on distance from the pits, most of which are in Kapoho and on Alaili road near the steam vents. I live about six miles from the Kapoho pit & paid $165 for 30 yards red 2 months ago. Bryson & Sanford will sell as little as 1/2 yard, U-pick up. All these companies always seem to be a week or 10 days behind on orders, so, like anything else here, plan ahead!



Edited by - leilaniguy on 12/04/2005 14:52:06

[pslamont]

The Kea'au quarry sells by the ton and you can pick up in your own truck or have it delivered. Delivery depends on distnce fro the quarry.

We laid in weedmat under our basecourse because we actually have soil!! We avoiced red cinder because although cheaper than the rock, it washes away easily. Neighbors tell me they have to bring in a couple loads every year or two for long driveways and that just wasn't okay with us. Also, the red cinder gets all over everything... coats your shoes and then you track it around. Ick. Our gravel (2 inch minus or 3/4 inch minus at your choice) is very effective, drains well, doesn't wash away, doesn't track red muck all over everything, etc etc...

Even for our piers, we laid in weed mat, used #3 basecourse and got a jumping jack to pack it in. We hand framed piers 24 x 24 x 12 inches and poured each on (50+ for our house) and it was very worth it. With a base course packed at over 6 inches and the large custom piers, we don't expect to lose any to flooding. After 6 months and some heavy rains, they have held up well. We'll see what the future brings.

You are welcome to come see what we did and how it worked out. We are on the Hilo side off Nl. Glenwood Rd.

Aloha, Pam Lamont

Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!

[HADave]

Thanks all, this info your sharing is Invaluably Great. Thank you, almost doesn't seem enough, It won't be forgotten!

May we discuss, under site preparation, the forums thoughts on preparing for sewer systems.

Are they soley governed by the designer as in location, depth, distance from property lines, catchment systems, etc

Folks who live on lava, are they having to trench down to hide pipes....etc.

Does flooding have an impact with regard to percolation? Are we at the mercy of the designer? What are the average depths of most cesspools?

Dave

[mella l]

When the piers were build in Glenwood deep soil Pam, was rebar used and put into the piers, with cement?

On lava, do holes or impressions needed to be dug to secure piers, rebar and concrete to the lava bed pahoehoe? It seems if you just placed them on top of the smooth lava and the earth wiggled and giggled as it does, then they would just dance around.

Are piers constructed differently for soil, crumbly lava, and smooth lava? What do people think, what experiences have you had? Mahalo Mella L

mella l

[HADave]

Love the thought of those hand built forms for piers they can double as shipping containers for tools/hardware to pack in our container. 1. I'll need the tools/hardware as soon as we get there 2. I won't have to spend the time constructing 20 or 30 of them there. When we're done them a little paint or stain and they'll make great containers for growing things. Thanks Pam

[pslamont]

Our piers were all done with rebar. We found you had to knock the boxes apart to get them off the concrete but we re-assembled many of then and they are quite sturdy and useful. We have especially used them for bast structures for our pig houses. )

Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!

[mella l]

Hand built piers used to ship over tools! When I read that I envisioned these heavy duty cardboard contraptions I've seen at HomeDepot. They are cylindrical and come in all different diameters and lengths. So I see this picture in my mind of all my garden rakes, shovels, picks stuffed in these cylinders and taped for moving, and then using them as forms on island. But upon further reading I see they are made of wood. So I missed the thread of the hand built forms some how.






mella l