As "luck" would have it, a rock runs through it - and just where we want to put the cistern. We can't leave it as that negatively affects the amount of water (think future baths) we'll be able to store. Our comfort and yours is at stake. Dynamite and jack-hammering are expensive - but M & H have a new trick up their sleeves.
After a bit of research, they decided to try a new (to them) method of removing some of the big rocks limiting the volume of the cistern. They rented a rock drill and bits and purchased a product called Ecobust (EcoBust.ca). The very cool idea is to drill 1.5” holes in the rock and pour in the product; as the EcoBust sets, it expands with a force of 20,000 PSI and cracks (we hope) the rock into manageable pieces.
They started drilling Saturday afternoon, hoping to remove a few parts of the offending - I mean protruding- rock in the cistern area and trim and slope another. As you can see from the pictures, the biggest rock runs along the west edge of the cistern. It is much too large and too hard to remove it all, so the plan is to "carve it" to increase the volume of the cistern and facilitate the pour of the floor and the forming of the cistern wall.
H did most of the drilling on Saturday, and they were able to fill a few holes with EcoBust before it got dark. By Sunday morning, there were already signs of cracking. Apparently, EcoBust needs 24-48 hours to work its full magic, so the early cracks were pretty encouraging.
Look Ma - no more rock! By Tuesday, the rock had cracked and they were able to use the jack-hammer to finish the clean-up.
Crudely put, that's "FM"! Too bad Chrissy's chain gang didn't have access to this stuff.
Still, busting rocks is not for sissies - glad that M&H celebrated in Nanaimo with a burger and a film!
Still, busting rocks is not for sissies - glad that M&H celebrated in Nanaimo with a burger and a film!
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