Hey mate, nice work on your blog. I was reading the part where you were pitching the concrete to the drain. I saw the picture which I thought made sense. However, you mentioned that it is probably not how you would do it again. I am planning to pitch a concrete slab to a few drain hole and i was thinking of working a section a time focusing on one drain hole with similar formwork. Any advice? Thanks.
jlough8788March 6, 2016 / 7:59 pm
Well, I would say the framework I did wasn’t horrible, it was just difficult to get the boards out without ruining the finish or having to fix an area over again. If I had to do it again, I probably would have struck a line around the walls that were all level, to where I wanted the finished concrete to come to. Then I would screed a 5 ft. square area at a time, checking with a crappy level that you didn’t mind getting concrete on to make sure you had the appropriate slope towards the drain. Work along the outside edges first to your line and slowly come towards the drain. A six foot level would have been super handy and if you can afford it, I would strongly consider one.
The forms worked okay, but I just felt like they got in the way more than anything and having to prop them up with metal stakes to stay in place was a pain too. If you’re doing a large area, I’m not sure how well the method I just described would work since it would be a lot of free-handing, but it’s really the only way I could think of that could work. Wish I could be of more professional help to you, but I will openly admit that concrete is probably my least-honed skill. Good luck and thanks for commenting!
ChamkaurMarch 7, 2016 / 4:37 am
Thanks again for your advice. I will let you know how I go. cheerios.
AaronAugust 21, 2017 / 2:25 pm
My family is RVing across the country and we’ll be passing through West Virginia shortly. Email me if you’re open to giving a tour of your TF home. Warmly, Aaron
jlough8788August 26, 2017 / 10:34 am
Hello Aaron, sorry I’m just now seeing this. Unfortunately, life is a little crazy right now with adding on to the house and I also recently became an uncle to premature twin boys. With them in Pittsburgh, running back and forth while working on the addition doesn’t give me much time for entertaining at the moment. But I hope you thoroughly enjoy your time in WV! Be sure to head through the mountains as much as you can. This time of year, the leaves in the higher elevations should be starting to change!
AaronAugust 27, 2017 / 1:41 am
I wish we could stay in the mountains, unfortunately work demands that we spend most of our time in the more populated areas. I completely understand how many directions you’re being pulled right now! None of our children were born prematurely but some of our friends have experienced those challenges, just not with twins!
jlough8788August 28, 2017 / 9:52 pm
It has certainly been a challenge. Thank you so much for understanding!
Building a tiny timber frame cabin 
Hey mate, nice work on your blog. I was reading the part where you were pitching the concrete to the drain. I saw the picture which I thought made sense. However, you mentioned that it is probably not how you would do it again. I am planning to pitch a concrete slab to a few drain hole and i was thinking of working a section a time focusing on one drain hole with similar formwork. Any advice? Thanks.
Well, I would say the framework I did wasn’t horrible, it was just difficult to get the boards out without ruining the finish or having to fix an area over again. If I had to do it again, I probably would have struck a line around the walls that were all level, to where I wanted the finished concrete to come to. Then I would screed a 5 ft. square area at a time, checking with a crappy level that you didn’t mind getting concrete on to make sure you had the appropriate slope towards the drain. Work along the outside edges first to your line and slowly come towards the drain. A six foot level would have been super handy and if you can afford it, I would strongly consider one.
The forms worked okay, but I just felt like they got in the way more than anything and having to prop them up with metal stakes to stay in place was a pain too. If you’re doing a large area, I’m not sure how well the method I just described would work since it would be a lot of free-handing, but it’s really the only way I could think of that could work. Wish I could be of more professional help to you, but I will openly admit that concrete is probably my least-honed skill. Good luck and thanks for commenting!
Thanks again for your advice. I will let you know how I go. cheerios.
My family is RVing across the country and we’ll be passing through West Virginia shortly. Email me if you’re open to giving a tour of your TF home. Warmly, Aaron
Hello Aaron, sorry I’m just now seeing this. Unfortunately, life is a little crazy right now with adding on to the house and I also recently became an uncle to premature twin boys. With them in Pittsburgh, running back and forth while working on the addition doesn’t give me much time for entertaining at the moment. But I hope you thoroughly enjoy your time in WV! Be sure to head through the mountains as much as you can. This time of year, the leaves in the higher elevations should be starting to change!
I wish we could stay in the mountains, unfortunately work demands that we spend most of our time in the more populated areas. I completely understand how many directions you’re being pulled right now! None of our children were born prematurely but some of our friends have experienced those challenges, just not with twins!
It has certainly been a challenge. Thank you so much for understanding!