alan molstad
Sr Member
it took a bit of effort, but I felt it was now or never...I did not know how many tires on my little trailer would be destroyed soon?
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ahh,,,the next issue,,,,the cement...You’re definitely getting a workout with this! Here’s a helpful trick I’ve used many times and it works beautifully: When setting posts, to prevent rot and insect damage (was the norm before pressure-treated wood became common) paint on tar to the areas below grade and several inches above. I’d suggest covering the entire post area that will be set into the concrete and the bottom of the monolith with a compound like Henry’s roofing tar. Additionally drilling several small vent holes at the bottom for moisture drainage, and a few on the very top (which will go unnoticed) is a good idea, as condensation and temperature expansion can occur potentially warping your beautiful creation. Hopefully, the weather works in your favor soon!
I shall start looking for a way to get it capped !This is awesome! Congrats on getting so much done so quickly -- it took me months.
I think it's totally fine that you found dimensions that work for your personal aesthetics. Using a 4 foot width makes the construction much easier.
In practice no one ever looks down on a full scale monolith. That means that you can put anything you want on the top and as long as it's shallow it won't be visible. I would seriously consider making a sheetmetal cap, perhaps with a slight roofline. Folded around the top edge and painted black it mostly won't show and it will provide protection from rain and sun.
Looking forward to seeing this completed!
Home Depot rents gas-powered augers, which can be operated by one person (with patience). $150-200? for the day. While not cheap, it might be your best option considering the soil conditions and required hole depth. Something to consider.ahh,,,the next issue,,,,the cement...
I have been thinking a long time about how I was going to do this, and I have been asking lots of questions of people who put up fence poles for a living.
BUT, I have also been kicking around the question of the wind tipping the whole thing over..cement or not.
The truth is, my Monolith is over 11 feet tall, but the wood 4X4s only go into the ground 4 feet????
that does not even sound like its going to work.
I need a way to do the holes for the two 4X4s and their cement, that will result in a firm base for the monolith in the wind?
and,,,,because Im an old man who is retired and lives on a fixed low income,,,,I need to find a way to do this on the cheap....to try to use things I already might have or could "find"
any ideas?