Prepping and tying rebar for tank foundation. Ladder provides access in and out of tank during construction.
Foundation prep continued.
Pouring the slab for the tank.
Poured and plumbed tank slab.
Rebar and expanded metal lath connect to rebar in slab. Workshop participants made speedy progress with MANY rebar twist ties.
Teamwork is needed to thread the rebar twist ties through the mesh and attach firmly to rebar frame.
Rebar and mesh ready to plaster.
Plaster first coat is applied inside and out.
Start 'em young.
First plaster coat nears completion as workers take a break.
After 2 coats of plaster roofing frame takes shape.
Almost ready for roof plaster. After metalwork is complete masonite sheets will be braced up against the ceiling so that the plaster can be applied from the top.
Peter finishing the last of the expanded metal lath which is attached to the underside of the rebar roof framing.
Interior view of supports in tank for masonite forms.
Interior ceiling view of support posts and masonite forms. These forms had to be kept narrow so that they could be pulled out of the access hole in the roof of the tank, once the mortar had set.
Peter, adjusting the supports which hold the masonite up against the metal roof framing.
Working from the outer edge toward the rooftop center, mortar is pressed onto and through the rebar, wire mesh, and expanded metal lath to lay snugly against the masonite panels which are pressed up against the metal from below and inside the tank. It took several days to do the roof this way, but it meant that the roof was gradually stiffened to enable the roof to suport the steadily increasing load. The masonite forms greatly reduced the amount of interior ceiling mortar plastering required to seal in the metal frame and saved a lot of stress on our necks, backs, shoulders, and arms.
Nearly completed tank freshly coated with iron oxide-tinted Thoroseal. The protruding rebar pieces on the right top of the tank will allow us to add on a wrap-around ferrocement root cellar / storm shelter / spring house.
In addition to two exterior coats of Thoroseal, we also painted two untinted (white) coats onto the interior of the tank. A tight-fitting lid will be added to the access hole.
Simple roof-water first flush system using old toilet float and pivoting pipe section. Catchment tank is further downhill (out of the picture) to the left.
The black column is two culverts, a 10 in diam inside a 15 in, with vermiculite insulation in between, capped around the top edge with mortar, and two stainless steel strainer / steamer pots to catch the floating material. The white pipe is the first flush (holds about 5 gallons) that leaks slowly and which catches the heavier sediment in the first few minutes of rain.
First flush systems catch rooftop sediments from the first few minutes of rain. Valved spigots can be adjusted to allow slow drainage. Clean-outs branch out to the left at the bottoms of each.
