Construction Immersion

Paving Project - Outdoor Area

The brief was to design and Construct an outdoor space that is atheistically appealing and allows the client to have a usable space in their backyard.

The project allowed the students to draw on skills that were learnt earlier in the year where they were taught how to pave, prepare a site, use a range of levelling tools, including dumpy levels, laser levels, water levels and spirit levels. They were also introduced to different types of pavers, paving bonds and patterns, which included 90-degree herringbone, 45-degree herringbone, basketweave, stack bond, 45-degree stacked bond and brick style bond.

As part of the “set-out” of a new construction site, they used string lines to accurately find right-angles using the Pythagoras theory. The landscaping continued with a large-scaled chessboard constructed using charcoal and oatmeal 400mm x 400mm concrete pavers. They also learnt how to construct a concrete link block wall that retained earth to provide a level outdoor space.

Over the last three Construction Immersion days, the students have been very busy applying prior knowledge and skills to design and construct a usable outdoor space. Some of these skills include:

Designing and drawing a scaled plan
Material quantity requirements were calculated in accordance with plans, specifications and quality requirements to work out area and volume
Using string lines to set accurately out site boundary markings in accordance with site plan setting out a construction site using
Using Pegs and hurdles/profiles to set out the paved area in accordance to job drawings and specifications.
Creating a right angle is set up to form the line from corner peg using Pythagoras theorem (3:4:5)
Measuring diagonals to check for square.
The boys used Construction tools and equipment to create a level area by cutting and filling the proposed site.
Delivery truck was unloaded, including pavers to complete the job, road base, paving sand, concrete bags and paving sand was also unloaded and stored appropriately.
Levelling techniques were developed using laser levels to determine the correct depth and fall of sub drainage material for pavers to be laid on.
Screeding skills were developed by levelling sub drainage material that was wheelbarrowed in the paved area.
String lines were set to determine the position of the feature fire pit in the centre of the job
Pavers were laid and cut using a wet saw to complete the job.
Paving sand was brushed into the paved area to lock the pavers together.

Once again, the students completed another great construction project which has added valuable employability skills to their resume and their future goal of working in the construction industry.