Get Ready Detroit, We’re Floored! – 10/15/12

Oct 15, 2012

U-Haul NBC-Nabisco building Detroit Concrete_floor_007

The big news this week in our revitalization efforts is that the concrete showroom floor has been poured. Read JoeyGirl’s vendor profile of K&K Concrete Construction and you will get quite a bit of detail. I’ll add a bit more here. The photos in the gallery below document the process and shows the result – a gorgeous finished product.

12 hours and 90 tons

The K&K crew arrived Saturday morning at 7:30 and were pouring at 8:15. 12 hours later, at 9 p.m., the  finishers were done. They poured 45 yards – 90 tons – of concrete. And I felt proud when I’d added a small section to my concrete backyard patio!

Unlike the simplicity of weekend, do-it-yourself projects, the process of pouring such a large floor, is more complex. The concrete was mixed outside the building, then pumped in through a snake-like snorkel tube. The crew used devices called turtles to stabilize the snorkel during the pour and to enable the crew to reposition the heavy concrete-laden tube as the pour continues. While the pour is taking place, the radiant heating tubing has to be pressured up ad checked for leaks that might develop during the pour. Thanks to the expertise of K&K and Superior Heating and Cooling, there were no leaks.

If you’ve done any concrete projects, you know that there’s more to it than just pouring it and watching it harden. Finishing is critical to shaping and creating an attractive, long-lasting surface. The finishing of the large surface area of the showroom floor required the coordination of a team of finishers and more sophisticated versions of a 2×4 screed, a darby and a hand trowel.

Due to the cold temps, the floor will need to cure for the next 7-10 days before more work can be done in the showroom.

Here’s a bit of concrete trivia for you. Did you know that concrete has been used in construction for more than 8,500 years? Do you know which building has the largest un-reinforced concrete dome ever built?

More on the showroom

Earlier in the week, we sandblasted a section of one of the showroom walls to uncover the Chicago brick that will become another design feature. Chicago brick was created during the industrial boom at the turn of the century. It’s colors are primarily red and black, sometimes with flecks of black mixed in. Chicago brick is sought after for restoring old buildings and remodeling newer buildings. We have walls of Chicago bricks. All we have to do is uncover them.

More on the brick road

We’ve removed more asphalt from the brick road we discovered last week. There was concern that the road would not be able to handle our truck traffic when we open. We’ve had a 75,000 lb excavator moving around the property during construction and the five-inch-thick bricks have handled the load well. So we are very hopeful.

We want your input

That’s it for this week. Let me know what you think. We’re looking for feedback. This blog was created for two primary reasons: first, to let the community know U-Haul is in Detroit and to share our plans with you; second, so we could get input from the community.  We want to hear from you. Tell us what you like and don’t like about our posts, building plans or anything else you want to share about Detroit.  We are excited to be part of the Detroit community and want to learn from you!

Stay tuned for the next building update, 10/22/12.

–Pref

More articles like this one…

What’s New

Community Spirit: U-Haul Volunteers Help at André House

Community Spirit: U-Haul Volunteers Help at André House

Over half a million people face food insecurity in Maricopa County. Local nonprofits work daily to address this ongoing concern, but could not service those in need with the commitment of community and business members who choose to step up and help. U-Haul...

U-Haul Volunteers Gain Satisfaction from Service at St. Mary’s

U-Haul Volunteers Gain Satisfaction from Service at St. Mary’s

U-Haul® volunteers recently helped St. Mary’s Food Bank put a fresh spin on its mission to provide food for people in need across Arizona. Thanks to St. Mary’s partnership with meal-kit company HelloFresh®, people facing food insecurity can now receive both an...

Texas Panhandle Wildfires: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage

Texas Panhandle Wildfires: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container usage to residents impacted by the wildfires across the Texas panhandle. The Smokehouse Creek Fire started on Monday and has burned more than 1 million acres. It’s the largest in the state’s...

U-Haul and ACS Join Forces in Climb to Conquer Cancer

U-Haul and ACS Join Forces in Climb to Conquer Cancer

The Climb to Conquer Cancer of Phoenix is the American Cancer Society’s largest single-day climb event in the world. Every February in Arizona, thousands of cancer survivors, family members, caregivers and supporters participate in the Climb to Conquer Cancer. U-Haul...

U-Haul, Tribute Journey Spread Valentine’s Day Love to Veterans

U-Haul, Tribute Journey Spread Valentine’s Day Love to Veterans

February 14 is not just Valentine's Day. It is recognized as a National Salute to Veteran Patients day. During Valentine's Day week each year, U-Haul and the Tribute Journey say “thank you” to veterans of the U.S. Armed Services who are cared for in Department of...

U-Haul International Moves with U-Box Makes Moving Abroad Easy

U-Haul International Moves with U-Box Makes Moving Abroad Easy

Every new year invites new adventures. If your 2024 adventures include moving abroad, U-Haul International Moves® is equipped and licensed to support your exciting transition each step of the way. The U-Haul® brand is known globally for empowering do-it-yourself...

U-Haul Helps Kurt Warner Charity Change Lives of Arizona Family

U-Haul Helps Kurt Warner Charity Change Lives of Arizona Family

When Luz decided to apply for Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona’s Homeownership Program, she had no idea just how much of an impact it would have on her son, Jason. The family met Habitat’s criteria and completed more than 400 hours of “sweat equity” by working...

U-Haul Recognizes Its 2023 Volunteers of the Year

U-Haul Recognizes Its 2023 Volunteers of the Year

TEMPE, Ariz. — Michelle Vukov-Mikel and Michele Ramirez have been honored as the U-Haul® Volunteers of the Year for 2023. At the end of each year, U-Haul recognizes the Team Member(s) who has volunteered the most hours, supported the greatest number of U-Haul charity...