tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post2100745361638219630..comments2023-10-16T08:37:22.742+00:00Comments on An incredulous eye on the isles: How the trickle down effect works. In reality.ElectricCrofterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09495260997875836669noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-47648129398966640372011-02-12T18:15:58.287+00:002011-02-12T18:15:58.287+00:00@2.33
10.50 here. Fair enough - hence my questio...@2.33<br /><br />10.50 here. Fair enough - hence my questions. You seem to know all about it so can you answer them? How are we supposed to become informed if no one will explain?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-37818997342729968972011-02-12T14:33:47.830+00:002011-02-12T14:33:47.830+00:00A lot of explaining to do about what exactly? Why ...A lot of explaining to do about what exactly? Why the uninformed and uneducated (Heb News included) continue to trot out endless drivel about things they either don't know or quite possibly could never understand?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-66269199834704321452011-02-12T10:53:47.870+00:002011-02-12T10:53:47.870+00:009.50
As I understand it (and I emphasise that it&...9.50<br /><br />As I understand it (and I emphasise that it's only my understanding) the clause in the first contract is optional/enabling and not compulsory.<br /><br />Someone has a lot of explaining to do. It's a pity that no one in the Council seems to know how.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-53786322490095477222011-02-11T21:50:41.850+00:002011-02-11T21:50:41.850+00:00Sorry to revive this bad-tempered thread but I hav...Sorry to revive this bad-tempered thread but I have some questions that some of the sensible folk might kindly help with.<br /><br />Re this story on <a href="http://www.hebrides-news.com/daliburgh-school-11211.html" rel="nofollow">Heb News</a> today.<br /><br />- and the Daliburgh School contract not having been awarded yet, and the original timetable definitely not possible now.<br /><br />1. If it is still on the table and not about to be cut, how can WISP be planning something with apparently a much bigger budget than previously anticipated, and for that budget to not be in the public domain, especially at this time of consultations (?) and cuts? Is this in any way normal, even for our lot?<br /><br />2. Assuming it is still on the table, how is FWP the only possible contractor, when Daliburgh was not part of the bigger contract? Do I read it correctly that the (secret, fair enough) FWP bid was too high but they're still the only contenders, due to some clause in the first contract? How ON EARTH does this ensure value for money and is it within tendering rules?<br /><br />This isn't rhetorical. Genuine questions - maybe one of the "annoyed councillors" could explain, anonymously?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-8211327346162582642011-02-11T19:54:51.862+00:002011-02-11T19:54:51.862+00:00Utter sh!te about Bardons and Sir E Scott<b>Utter sh!te</b> about Bardons and Sir E ScottAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-10962185589313628002011-02-09T18:42:37.971+00:002011-02-09T18:42:37.971+00:00The Trickle Down seems to have stopped at Sir E Sc...The Trickle Down seems to have stopped at Sir E Scott.<br />Rumour has it that a main Lewis/Mainland contracor has or is pulling their men of site due to lack of payment for work carried out. As I said it is Rumour but the truth will show in the morning<br />if Mr Bardon's men & concrete don't show !!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-39120892788601199542011-02-07T17:19:34.856+00:002011-02-07T17:19:34.856+00:00Dr. Evadne, always best to avoid frost altogether ...Dr. Evadne, always best to avoid frost altogether when it comes to concrete. If you can wait, do it when all risk of frost has passed, usually May onwards.<br /><br />No matter that we've had a bad winter, if your steps are crumbling within a year, it must be very poor concrete indeed, as it should have had more than sufficient drying time to harden and dry thoroughly over the summer/autumn (concrete takes roughly a month per inch depth to dry properly).<br /><br />Well-made concrete steps should last you for decades. If it was a builder wot done it, complain vigorously and get him to do it again. If it was yourself, you're best breaking the steps up and doing it again, as patching shallow holes here and there won't fix the problem.<br /><br />Mix 1 part ordinary cement with 2 parts sharp sand and 3 parts gravel. Add some mortar plasticiser, which is a good anti-frost measure, but is useful at any time of year as it adds extra strength and hardness to the concrete. Don't use more than the recommended dose though.<br /><br />Make sure the mix is tamped in hard into the shuttering, shield it from direct sunlight during the day and cover it with a few thicknesses of plastic if there's the slightest risk of frost or rain overnight. After taking the shuttering off, carefully round off any sharp edges/corners with the flat of a pointing trowel when the concrete is hard enough to resist your fingernail. The day after laying the concrete, give it a soak with water for a minute or two a couple of times a day for a few days, and you should soon have concrete that will last for many a year :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-68738779414295819812011-02-06T07:24:37.453+00:002011-02-06T07:24:37.453+00:00I am concerned that our local authority is not doi...I am concerned that our local authority is not doing enough to keep local contracts for local companies. By way of comparison, has anyone got any idea what percentage of public contracts are won by local firms in Orkney and Shetland?Anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962270152355145880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-14994945299221529012011-02-04T21:38:30.123+00:002011-02-04T21:38:30.123+00:00zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!<br /><br />As for sex scandals at the Comhairle, just the thought of it makes my skin crawl.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-21754706028499935552011-02-04T18:51:50.797+00:002011-02-04T18:51:50.797+00:00At Bob the Yankee builder: so are you saying that ...At Bob the Yankee builder: so are you saying that it is preferable to concrete in temperatures below 10oC if you want to prevent frost damage? My newly concreted steps (summer(?)) 2010 have started to crumble after the spell of sub-zero temperatures. Is there something that should be put into the mix to prevent this and is there anything I can do to prevent continued damage? Thank you.<br />As for sex scandals at the council, I think that concrete will win hands down each time in terms of being more intersting/exciting.Dr Evadnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03106629519215495848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-11999571138143620652011-02-04T16:06:19.807+00:002011-02-04T16:06:19.807+00:00God, this has turned boring. Reading these comment...God, this has turned boring. Reading these comments is like watching paint dry. <br /><br />Or concrete set.<br /><br />Are there no sex scandals in the Comhairle this week to liven things up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-72470499789909979942011-02-04T13:48:32.314+00:002011-02-04T13:48:32.314+00:0012.10
How cold was it when the concrete was being ...12.10<br />How cold was it when the concrete was being laid ?<br /><br />By the way I was there when it was being poured, and I am not Anon 2.09Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-6661359582513044262011-02-04T13:17:00.508+00:002011-02-04T13:17:00.508+00:00Concrete placed during cold weather will develop s...Concrete placed during cold weather will develop sufficient strength and durability to satisfy<br />intended service requirements only if it is properly produced, placed and protected.<br />ACI 306 “Cold Weather Concreting” defines cold weather concreting as a period when for<br />more than three (3) consecutive days, the following conditions exist:<br />• The average daily air temperature is less than 5°C (40°F) and,<br />• The air temperature is not greater than 10°C (50°F) for more than one-half of any<br />24 hour period.<br />Even though not defined as cold weather, protection during Spring and Fall is required during<br />the first 24 hours to avoid freezing.<br />What Happens When Concrete Freezes?<br />• Pore water in concrete starts to freeze around -1°C (30°F)<br />• As some water freezes the ion concentration in the unfrozen water goes up, further<br />depressing the freezing point.<br />• At around -3 to -4°C (25 to 27°F), enough of the pore water will freeze so that hydration<br />will completely stop, and depending on the extent of hydration, and thus the strength of the<br />concrete, the forces generated by the expansion of ice (ice occupies ~9% more volume<br />than water) may be detrimental to the long term integrity of the concrete.<br />Objectives of Cold Weather Concreting<br />The objectives of cold weather concreting are to:<br />• Prevent damage to concrete due to freezing at early ages<br />• Assure that concrete develops the required strength for the safe removal of forms<br />• Maintain curing conditions that foster normal strength development without using<br />excessive heat<br />• Limit rapid temperature changes in the concrete to prevent thermal cracking<br />• Provide protection consistent with the intended serviceability of the structure<br />For every 10°C (18°F) reduction in concrete temperature, the times of setting of the concrete<br />double, thus increasing the amount of time that the concrete is vulnerable to damage due to<br />freezing. It should be noted that warm concrete placed on cold sub-grade will lose heat and<br />its temperature will drop. It is important to understand that having the concrete reach the<br />specified 28-day strength is irrelevant if the structure is damaged by inadequate curing and<br />protection.<br />Concrete that is protected from freezing until it has attained a compressive strength of at least<br />3.45 Mpa (500 psi) will not be damaged by exposure to a single freezing cycle. Concrete that<br />is protected and properly cured will mature to its potential strength despite subsequent<br />exposure to cold weather.<br />Except in heated, protective enclosures, little or no external supply of moisture is required for<br />curing during cold weather.<br />Recommended Practices and Basic Principles<br />Planning<br />Prior to the pour, clearly define the cold weather concreting methods that will be used.<br />A pre-placement meeting with the contractor, specifier, producer, laboratory and other<br />interested parties is highly recommended.<br />Curing and Protection<br />Where a specified concrete strength must be attained in a few days or weeks, protection at<br />temperatures above 10°C (50°F) is required.<br />Temperature Records<br />Temperature of the concrete determines the effectiveness of protection, regardless of air<br />temperature. Maintaining temperature records of concrete in place is essential.<br />Heated Enclosures<br />Must be strong enough to be windproof and weatherproof. Combustion heaters must be<br />vented to the outside to prevent carbonation.<br />Exposure to Freezing and Thawing<br />Concrete should be properly air entrained if it will be saturated and exposed to freezing and<br />thawing cycles during construction.<br />Slump<br />All else being equal, lower slump and/or lower water/cement ratio mixes are particularly<br />desirable in cold weather for flatwork. This reduces bleeding and decreases setting time.<br />Truck Travel Time<br />The distance from the plant to the point of placement can have a severe effect on the<br />temperature of concrete.Bob the (yankee) buildernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-86250042493085270862011-02-04T02:10:41.404+00:002011-02-04T02:10:41.404+00:00Superb info. I've absolutely figured out new t...Superb info. I've absolutely figured out new things at this point! Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-4682310456821006462011-02-04T00:10:20.792+00:002011-02-04T00:10:20.792+00:00that concrete comment is bollocks as wellthat concrete comment is bollocks as wellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-35797253717721856562011-02-03T10:24:08.828+00:002011-02-03T10:24:08.828+00:006:28 & 3:18
The point I'm making is that ...6:28 & 3:18<br /><br />The point I'm making is that jobs should nt be given to companies because they are local. To do so is simply wrong.<br />The way roads are built and resurfaced here is a amazing, I've never seen anything like it at all. The patches that have been applied are already pulling out.<br />Most iof the building companies here charge extortionate amounts for small jobs, don't want them and then they complain someone better comes along.<br />Whether I'm an incomer or not is irrelevant, local companies should only get work if they can compete for it on cost 7 quality. If they can't, tough!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-4106652954253985282011-02-02T21:58:50.038+00:002011-02-02T21:58:50.038+00:006.28 Come off it, any excuse to come out with your...6.28 Come off it, any excuse to come out with your racist b*ll*cks eh? There are loads of crap tradespeople on the island, and expensive ones, there are also good ones, and people who charge a reasonable price. Just like everywhere else in fact. Get a life!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-25352241745112292812011-02-02T20:38:38.443+00:002011-02-02T20:38:38.443+00:006:28 Will partially agreeing with your post, this ...6:28 Will partially agreeing with your post, this part:<br /><br /><i>If you do work up here you have to ensure that you do a good job or else you will never get work again.</i><br /><br />...is absurdly laughable nonsense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-91780680463582953072011-02-02T18:28:56.124+00:002011-02-02T18:28:56.124+00:008:55am
You must be an incomer that has no need for...8:55am<br />You must be an incomer that has no need for an income. Your attitude is a disgrace. We have some very skilled young people on this island who take pride in their work because they would be embarrassed to do otherwise. If you do work up here you have to ensure that you do a good job or else you will never get work again.<br />The off islanders getting the work at the moment will walk away and not be held responsible when everything starts falling apart in a year or two....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-68569277869096081532011-02-02T15:18:34.248+00:002011-02-02T15:18:34.248+00:00re 8.55am not much use in having a decent infrastr...re 8.55am not much use in having a decent infrastructure unless there's people living here to use it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-25449349238363033442011-02-02T14:09:15.311+00:002011-02-02T14:09:15.311+00:00The local contractors can't compete with those...The local contractors can't compete with those who come in to do a much better job with much better materials. One mainland firm has been pouring concrete at temperatures around -10 degrees. It must be newly invented, special concrete that will work at these temperatures - not!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-60967721417882063452011-02-02T10:41:26.769+00:002011-02-02T10:41:26.769+00:00The council is killing this island. I have severa...The council is killing this island. I have several friends who have been laid off in the construction industry, with others expecting the same this year if no new tenders appear.<br /><br />Most don't want to leave the island but what choice do they have? You always hear how keen the council are for young families to move to the island, but why would they bother?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-74762722546052572542011-02-02T08:55:30.984+00:002011-02-02T08:55:30.984+00:00Why should the local contractors be guaranteed con...Why should the local contractors be guaranteed contracts? All they do is charge inflated prices and do shoddy work. The same applies to the roads, the quality of road building here would embarrass any decent navvy. I'd rather have decent infratstructure than a load of people enmployed coz its "jobs for the lads".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-79211257798153194592011-02-02T06:32:24.911+00:002011-02-02T06:32:24.911+00:00No surprise that the Comhairle isn't fond of g...No surprise that the Comhairle isn't fond of giving contracts to local companies. Too expensive and an inability to complete on time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-54672941777147914872011-02-01T20:53:50.024+00:002011-02-01T20:53:50.024+00:00...as much work as possible...
Well how long is t......as much work as possible...<br /><br />Well how long is that particular piece of string going to be?<br /><br />Such weasel words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com