Author Topic: Resistance chapel improvement - St. Dominics Chapel (Read 3797 times)

Matthew · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2016, 12:00:24 PM »

After cleaning up the area all week, I have an updated picture.

The gap with the blue chair is the low point, where water most wants to flow whenever there is a decent amount of rain (more than 1 or 2 inches). The chair is there so people won't step into the sump pump hole. Since water actually collects in the backyard if we get enough rain, I like to be able to easily pump it out to keep things moving. Now I'll be able to do the pumping without having to stand on wet/muddy ground.

We're *almost* to the point where the sidewalk completely connects with the parking area. About 11 more feet to go...

(This is one of the problems of having a chapel out in the country on acreage. There are plenty of advantages, but having to deal with mud, long sidewalks, etc. is certainly one of the downsides.)

Maria Regina · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2016, 12:11:50 PM »

When we put in new "sidewalks" around our side and back yard, which run west to east toward our back driveway which runs down the hill to the street, we did not put them in level. Instead, they slant slightly toward the curb we had placed on the south side of these sidewalks so that the water would run in what has become a small rain channel toward our back driveway.

As a result our once flooded backyard and sideyard are now able to drain into these new rain channels (our sidewalk) and down to the street. Yes, we must occasionally shovel some dirt out of this rain channel, but the higher portion of it remains dry and clean.

Matthew · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2016, 11:56:11 AM »

UPDATE:

We put in another 12' one, this time with volunteer help.

We had a freak storm (not predicted by the weather stations, even when I checked on Tuesday morning!) all day long on Tuesday, which prevented us from pouring concrete in the SECOND 12' section. So we have another 12' section all framed and ready to pour, and the volunteers will be back on Saturday to pour it.

We spent everything we had -- and then some -- on concrete. So now our chapel has a negative balance (in debt), but we're going to have an awesome, 60 foot long, 4 foot wide, solid concrete sidewalk.

Actually we'll probably have enough extra bags of concrete to pour another 4' section later, which my son and I will do (for free).

P.S. Last Sunday we had a new parishioner show up and she walked with a cane. She parked right by the chapel, which was fine because it was dry. But if we had any rain, most of our acreage would have to be closed off for parking, and parishioners would have to walk from the parking area (gravel/carport) to the chapel.

We can't let people drive in the yard when it's wet and muddy. Our soil here becomes slick and sticky glop when it rains. You'd have to experience it to know what I mean. It becomes slick like wet clay -- cars, even trucks can get stuck in our yard easily when the ground is wet/muddy/too soft. Our old Suburban has gotten stuck in the mud TWICE, and I was trying to drive carefully. It's the lack of grass plus the slope of the land.

Actually, most of our land has grass on it, and would be a bit more forgiving. But it just so happens that the BACKYARD has a good slope to it, and has almost no grass for various reasons. And that's what comes between the parking area and the chapel building.

Matthew · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2016, 11:39:54 AM »

Latest picture of the sidewalk, now 60 feet long: