Around outer edges of your cottage build a form as shown in picture at side. I assume that you didn't knock walls of your trench in; if you did, be sure to clean them out again. You are now ready to lay reinforcing down. The usual procedure is to use wire mesh weighing 40 pounds per 100 square feet.

If you can't get it, best substitute that I have seen is heavy turkey wire (welded type). Roll out mesh. Put some small rocks under it so that when concrete is poured, mesh will be in slab. Along bottom of trench use two %-inch reinforcing bars. You're actually building a concrete beam around perimeter of building.

You are now ready for big pour. By this time you will probably be willing to call for transit mix. When you ask for this prepared mix, tell them you want kind that reaches a minimum compressive strength of 2,000 pounds per square inch in 28 days. If you are going to mix your own concrete, use I part portland cement, 2 parts sand, 4 parts coarse aggregate, and enough water to make it sloppy.

The actual water content should not exceed 7|/2 gallons per bag of cement. The table will help you to figure how much you will need. The thickness of concrete slab should be a minimum of 3 inches. After you have framing up, you will want to add one more inch of smooth concrete for your final finish (I part cement, 3 parts sand).

You can also add color to this batch if you don't like natural gray of concrete. There you are. Except that you should also put some 6-inch stove bolts along outer edge of slab, about 8 feet on center, starting roughly I foot from corner, to fasten your sill. If you are going to use cottage year-round and are building in northern states, insulate outside perimeter with Fiberglas boards.

If you use slab described, be sure that soil is porous. Heavy clay or stiff soil will require building of foundation walls to frost line to prevent heaving.

6. Buy doormats for doorways that lead to garage or outdoors.These doormats will trap grit that can gradually cause light scratching on laminate floor's surface.

7. Put easy-glide protective buttons on feet of furniture.

8. Use dollies when moving a large piece of furniture or a heavy appliance across a laminate floor or else you could leave a scratch by getting tiny peebles caught under a furniture foot or a wheel.

Take common-sense precautions to protect your floor when working with sharp or heavy objects.For example, put down a thick tarp or a carpet scrap to protect laminate floor when installing a ceiling fan and using a drill; you can damage floor by accidentally dropping it.