I'm not even going to go into

[kiya]

the full scope of the (re)construction shit we're dealing with right now but I cannot resist showing off this world-class incompetence that we are demolishing.

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it: count the things you can find wrong with this!

Comments

[graydon]

If I start counting I will start thinking about how someone has probably been walking across that and nope.

May you get lots of brick-and-board bookshelf out of it, that's all I can say.

[kiya]

The door in question has been duct-taped shut for most of the eight and a half years we have lived here because it has a gap under it that is large enough to admit enterprising squirrels.

It has a little sign taped to it reading "This is not a door." People knock on it sometimes anyway, but not often.

[kiya]

Oh also, brooksmoses said in response to this "It had not actually occurred to me that one could put cement blocks entirely the wrong way in two different ways in the same construction."

To which I quoted you at him, something you said on usenet long ago: "There are arbitrarily many possible stupidities."

[brooksmoses]

And that contains a considerable number of them!

[artan]

I will note that the hollow under space was in fact completely hollow - that is not the "having been dug out". They basically built a small bridge of loose block, capped it and skimmed cement on it. Except for the cement on top, any of the children could have done this construction.

[mindways]

"Cinder blocks are strong. Cinder blocks have holes. Holes must make them strong! We'll build a structure full of holes, out of cinder blocks full of holes, so it will be extra-strong!"

[graydon]

Cinder blocks are strong (to the extent that they are strong) when the holes are in an orientation parallel to direction of gravitational force. If the holes are to be normal to the direction of gravitational force, that's breeze block, and it costs more.

That whole thing could have just toppled over sideways. It's hard not to visualise someone setting an appliance or something on it and crumble.

[graydon]

I'll admit to being slightly surprised it didn't contain enterprising squirrels, or marmots, or skunks, or something; it looks like a lot of first-rate den space.

[kiya]

Oh, there were mouse nests, partially composed of small collections of carefully expropriated pink fiberglass insulation. I suspect even with the incompetence in construction the holes were not accessible to larger critters without someone taking the notion to dig under and up again.

[graydon]

Well, I suppose that's a small mercy. Evicting skunks is something of a disaster at the best of times.

[artan]

Logically by the time I am done removing all of that and am left with just a giant hole, that will be the strongest step possible.

[mindways]

It will certainly be extremely holey. :)