Stuff in My Truck – 004

Hammocks are big...and when I say "big", I mean popular. I never realized how popular they are until I started doing residential projects.  Of course, I can understand why! What’s not to love about swinging free in the afternoon breeze during the summer?  For a recent project in Maplewood, NJ, the owner wanted to install a three steel columns to hook up his hammock, but the columns were eliminated because of tightening of the budget.  Well, his love for relaxing in a hammock wasn't diminished due to budgetary restraints, so we continued to talk about how to get his hammock up in his yard.  

Original design called for three columns so multiple hammocks could be hung at the same time.

The first idea was to use two 4x4 bolted together because the Tim, the owner of the hammock, is a big guy.  But when I went to buy the lumber, I saw 6x6s were in stock.  Hence, the stuff in my truck….one 6x6 and two bags of cement.  

The installation was fast and easy only taking about 2 hrs.  The hardest and longest part was digging a hole 36inches deep for the 6x6.  The 36 inches is to get below the frost line to eliminate vertical movement of the post from the ground freezing and melting.  

Then, it's pretty straightforward. Insert the 6x6. We used fast setting concrete, so you just put the cement into the hole and mix with water.  Versus, pre-mixing the concrete before putting it in the hole.  This saves lots of time.  We need to wait 30 minutes after the concrete was mixed to let it set.  Also, we made sure everything was square both in the vertical and horizon.  Lastly, we screwed in the hook into the post.  

Tim had to wait one more day to allow the concrete to cure before he was able to actually use his hammock.  After that, swing at will and relax. Just in time to enjoy the late summer heat in the shade.