Block Walls

Holowai House

When I was here earlier this year, the last thing I worked on was the foundation for the “shack near the beach”.

The next step is to lay block walls to set the floor framing on.

I started on the corner near the kitchen gazebo.

I know this sounds crazy, but I’m not sure exactly how high I want to go with these block walls. I am thinking that I want enough room underneath to walk, but that makes the floor almost 8 feet off the ground. Which is not so bad, as this would maximize the ocean view.

With room underneath, I could store a lot of things. I contemplate this as I lay up blocks in each corner.

I find that there is a height difference in one of the corners, so I set up some forms and attempt to pour a riser to make up the difference

With the four corners built up to 2 feet tall, I start on the columns in between the corners on the long side of the structure.

I back fill around the first corner along the path near the kitchen gazebo to makre it easier to walk past. I have always worried that I would fall in as I walked past this corner.

I decide that I want to go at least one more course higher, but I have used all the block I had stacked up by the gazebo. The only other block I have is the block that are stacked as stairs leading up to the porch/lanai of the shed. If I take these, a set of stairs will need to built. Luckily, I’m a carpenter! But first, I really need to repair/replace some of the deck boards.

With the deck a bit safer, I can build some steps up to this lanai.

Now I can use these additional block to lay another course on each corner.

I am contemplating filling in between the two corners and the two columns on the side nearest the street so that I can backfill this area as well. That is an issue for another time!

TTFN