Construction Immersion Update

Post and Rail Picket Fence - 76 Moola Road

Friday 23 April

Today we were set the task to mark out and build a timber picket fence at 76 Moola Road. We started the day with a toolbox meeting where we spoke about the objectives for the day and worked out what tools and materials needed to be packed into the trailer. The lengths of timber were placed on the roof racks of the Trade Training Ute and safely secured with ratchet straps. We established a construction site moving material from the ute and trailer to the back of the house. We needed to clear an area from bush and debris. The first timber post and rail picket fence were soon marked out. We then established the fence line using string lines extending from the neighbours existing fence lines. We marked out a distance of 2.4m for each post and then dug to a depth of 600mm x 250mm wide. The posts were chamfered on the edges with an electric plane, posts were plumbed using spirit levels and were braced ready for concrete. The cement then needed to be mixed using a ratio of 1:3 cement and 10mm aggregate with water added to make the concrete. Posts holes were then filled with concrete to provide a solid foundation for the posts. We then packed the trailer ensuring the site was clear and safe. This will be continued in few weeks time.

William Sullivan (11F)

Term 2 - Week 3

The boys had an industrious day on the tools today. Our toolbox meeting highlighted the need for collaboration between the lads. With lots of processes going on at various stages the boys worked efficiently and effectively to:

• Mix cement and aggregate in the wheelbarrow to make concrete by hand to fill post holes
• Measured, cut and aris the timber rails using electric planes and circular saws
• Rails were then fixed to the posts using 75mm galvanised batten screws.
• A timber gate was then measured up and constructed by the boys making sure the gate was braced under compression.
• A truck was unloaded and palings were carried and stacked neatly on-site.
• At the end of the day the boys packed up all the tools and cleaned up the site.

The boys were surprised and proud of the work they had completed during the day. The neighbour had also been watching the boys work throughout the day and came over to congratulate the boys on how well they worked and how engaged they had all been throughout the day.

Mr Peter McIntosh