You know what would be cute ? With project kamp having a history of putting up signs it would be sweet to have signs in the finished buildings honoring all the people who have worked on it :)
You might want to get a structural engineer in to assess the build and sign off on it. If they refuse to sign off, don't use the building for habitation. Also, consider getting some stress indicators put in so you know if the walls are shifting. It's not just earthquakes that can bring that down. Simple settling from the new weight, erosion, your changing the soil profile from the shovel work, removing plants that hold the soil together, etc ... small things you don't even consider ... will change things. The structure has compressive strength, but is very weak from lateral motion. I'm scared.
I hope they didn't brush off and mock this advice like the others they got before. Go ask legitimate advice from a structural engineer if you don't think fellow netizens' concerns are valid! Keeping everybody safe is one vital way to really keep this project "sustainable". I would be happily mocked if you can come back with a sound endorsement from someone pro who can really assess the safety of the site.
A 600 kg elongated stone taken from a forest-fire, placed in a house you can tear apart with your bare hands as shown in the video. I am by no means an expert, but I wouldn't even walk close to that building. I hope they reinforce a lot, but the "traditional clay" approach is worrying. I just hope that thing holds for the safety of the hard-working people over there, but also that they do have at least one expert come out and look at it, as you suggest, before they have people inhabit it.
I watch your videos from the beginning, and love to see how motivated and positive you approach all the difficulties. Dry stone walls get their stability from the big stones, they should fit perfectly together. Using small stones to even out the big ones is not the right way to do it. They are only used to fill gaps afterward, the weight of the wall must be carried by the big ones alone. Either the big stones are put together in a stable way, or the filling stones need to be supported by concrete, imho.
Tight joints that you can't put a piece of paper in, these are stable. Courses of these correctly installed make solid structures. You can see the time the StoneMason took on the old work to make sure that all of the joints were correct before going to the next course above. If you are going to do work by hand you have to have the proper tools to dress the stones correctly. I noticed that the lintel that they installed had a door slot and a pivot hole in the "side"😂 since they're framing it out in wood it's unnecessary , but a nice bit of old craftwork .
Yup. That old wall was built with mortar and grout. They should have replicated it. Drystone stacking is an art that takes a lot of time to learn in order to properly build a structurally sound wall that will support the load of the roof and not buckle. They should go back and use non-shrink structural grout and pack those large stones in the best they can. Without something I would really be worried with how structurally sound it will be in a year from now. Especially because they didnt key in the two corners.
@@BeenThereDundas yeah. Not sure they read these. I have over 30 years masonry experience, the advice I was giving was serious and I don't think anybody read it. In the old days they would put a lathe over all that bare masonry with a scratch coat then a stucco coat with a nice cement polished finish. We have so many new materials we could use now for that lathing, you can make it bulletproof if you wanted. With a nice old school texture and finish. But I'm seriously in doubt about the structure, just like you are. I hate to say this but if it was me I would take it down and redo it correctly and with rebar every course; Drilled down as far as possible into the existing structure. They did used to be "ruins" how do you suppose they got ruined?? If they're built properly and they burn down, they're the worst masonry structure ever. Stone is pretty much impervious to flame, is it not?
Congratulations on all that hard and heavy work. As a Safety Officer I had my heart in my mouth, and if I had have come across a similar job in England I would had stopped it. But at least you had a lifting device, although I suspect those lifting bands were designed to secure a road vehicle tarpaulin, and not designed for lifting weights. You need to check their maximum lifting load. and check for damages to the bands.. I hope you know how much granite weighs so that you can calculate the maximum size (and therefore weight) of large stones. I would think that you need to use cement to keep the structure stable and watertight. I hope you will also have a sturdy wooden frame Inside the house. Once again a great job done, and I hope the next phase of building is successful. Best Wishes Pete (Manchester UK)
@@peterhicks3516 The whole thing looks unstable to me. It's pointed with clay, not mortar. The stones just rest on each other rather than being fitted and mortared. The walls are too narrow for this.
Noticing the stone shift at 21:53 makes me think that it's not going to end well. I believe the stones should be chiseled with dished surfaces to make them more stable, which would hopefully eliminate the need for tiny stones as load-bearing support. I have been stacking clutter to above eye level ever since, so trust me, I know my stuff.
The sheer amount of labor this took even with the aid of a modern chain hoist and a power chisel is a testament to the men who would've built the original structure. I'm delighted you relocated that cornerstone also. Sure, it took more work but the results speak for themselves.
This project is a great reminder that the great cathedrals and castles of Europe took decades to build and have stood for centuries and will continue to do so for centuries to come. Glad you are doing it the traditional way. It will ensure that the building will last for generations.
@@jimstratfordflYou have to visit the pyramids then. And then imagine how one would lift, drag and place one of those giant blocks into a giant pile. Not feasible, even in modern times.
Not only did they take a long time to build, they also took a massive amount of manpower and coordination which had to be maintained through those decades
Actually, lift with a naturally straight back, using your core muscles, take a breath, use valsava technique, bend at the hips and knees. Watch a few deadlift vids mate 👍
I commend your energy to reconstruct, at the same time there are earthquakes there, probably the reason those stones came down in the first place I would strongly suggest you use proper mortar and consult a proper mason for safety, the next quake anyone inside its a death trap, i live in california and have been through quite a few and have seen the results of poor construction good luck always enjoy your videos
I'm an old craftsman and I got a little sick watching you today. Moving and lifting stones weighing more than half a ton, no safety equipment whatsoever (helmets and steel-capped shoes would be the minimum). And when you pull a 600 kilo stone uphill with a chain hoist, you don't stand behind the stone. If the old, weak belt breaks, you can get a nasty whiplash in the face just before the stone breaks your bones. And do you know that there are several fairly active earthquake zones in Portugal? Strong earthquakes are rare, but what do you think? How strong does an earthquake have to be to bring your 600 kilo stone down from up there? And: You put each individual stone in a bed of mortar; subsequently smearing mortar into the cracks hardly improves stability. I'm sorry I can't say anything more positive - but I thought in this case I couldn't keep it to myself. All the best, Georg (from Germany)
I'm a Journeyman Mason and I have to agree with a lot of your statements. Earthquakes don't occur very often in Portugal ( do they ?I didn't check)but they do still occur and this building with the proper reinforcement might stand one. However in its current condition it will not hold up to an earthquake as can be evidenced by the pile of rubble that you found by nearly every one of the ruins, yes? As it is too late now, you can still retro reinforce. This can be achieved by using rebar, drill into the wall and the foundation from most likely inside , pound rebar spikes in and create a wall of rebar , form up around it and pour a solid concrete wall at least 8 inches thick, a buttress I think it is called. Research block and tackles, snatch blocks and pivot cranes. Old stonemason techniques such as dressing stones will be useful There are several simple crane models you can use, that will make moving these blocks a lot easier. As this man said before putting your blocks in a bed of mortar is far better than dry fitting. At least use dry mortar. I have a thousand other techniques and tips for you but I didn't want to make this too long if you have any questions just ask...
@@redpecker12 We had a 5.4 magnitude earthquake 6 weeks ago. But I don't think it did any real damage... This building was probably fine from it without the motar yet.
I don't quite agree about lifting the rock uphill that way. Was quite clever actually. Those belts are made to hoist more than 1/2 tons for sure without problems
Yah, I sometimes wonder at the lack of safety features and the lack of understanding about how things work. "It's probably fine" is not a good thing to hear when talking about stonework with only clay mortar which can resist downward compression but not up-and down movement or side-to-side movement that occurs in earthquake tremors. (I kinda winced when I heard "yeah, the granite is decomposing and weak, but the inside is probably fine.") Most of Asia Minor is littered with the fallen stones and columns of the Greeks and Romans who didn't build for earthquakes. And does no one remember the Lisbon earthquake of 1755? I admire the perspicacity of the group and the energy dedicated to the cause, but putting safety second is the same as putting safety last. When we are young and strong, our bodies can fool us into thinking we can just do something w/o long-term consequences.
@@redpecker12 That's a lot of very good advice, I think. I'm not a bricklayer, so I only have a limited knowledge of this trade - thank you for your post. I'm a bit sensitive about earthquakes because I live in an active area. Strong earthquakes are rare here too - but you always have to expect them. In my experience, an earthquake of magnitude between 2 and 3 could be enough to cause the building in its current state - the new structure - to collapse. We have earthquakes like this every few weeks. In Portugal, the dangerous zones are concentrated in the south of the country, but there are also isolated hotspots in the middle. Specifically: In the earthquake areas of Portugal (except the Azores) there were 9 earthquakes in the last 24 hours. The strongest reached 3.2, and three others were between 2 and 3. Georg PS: 6 weeks ago we have had a 5,4 quake 84 km south of Lisbon. I dont know, were you located in Portugal - but be careful!
From a long term standpoint, you should really be using Lime Mortar and not Clay Mud. It would make a much stronger structure over all and be safer in the case of an earthquake.
It's called using common sense, really - you’ve got a point there. Using something that will last 10+ years. This entire project they are doing is more about getting it done and revisiting it later - Generation 1, revisit; Generation 2, revisit; Generation 3, revisit. It’s not necessarily what you're proposing - to get it done once and not have to revisit it!
About 30 years ago I watched a video about a man building a stone fence. There was one point that I still remember; "it's tempting, but never use small rocks to stabilize the big ones. The little rocks will act like wheels and the whole thing will come down in the wind."
A single quake or tremor later, it would level out. Praying yall reinforce with some steel and rebar. Experience: Being in Haiti following the 2010 'quake. Witnessed how bldgs reinforced with rebar did not tumble over; Mission: help and retrieve those who were buried under the rumble 😢. Enough said...
Im worried about the fact that you cut the masonry corners each side of the future window. It affects the stability of the whole front and back facades, i don't believe you can rely on the window frame to compensate. A narrower window would have both spared original building and effort, and made a safer building, without a critical loss of light...
@@michaelcravens3767 The placement of the stone or brick that provides the strength. The Mortar provides stability against movement and ingress of water into the wall. The mortar is dependent on the adhesion with the rock which is to crumble to really bond well. Even the use of rocks between rocks to fill the gaps and steady the rock weakens the wall. but can be done if the contact between the rocks is flat and smooth and makes contact over as much surface on both sides. I have had my knuckles cracked by stone masons for doing so.
I agree with that, these walls are very dangerous. They should used lime mortar between the stones like the old ruin was built. And they should have build reinforcements with metal rebars in concrete, at least on the two corners near the future window linked to a belt around the roof. Their construction skills are good to build dry walls in a garden, but not to put people inside. If you really want to made a dry stone wall, you have to shape perfectly each stone, in order to flatten them to put nothing between them, it take a lot of skill and a very big amount of time. just a little bit worried for the futures users, not trolling. see you.
The lintel stone is upside down, the arch should be underneath and the flat should be on top. Stone has excellent properties in compression, not poor in tension.
God I love this channel. I always enjoy the episodes where you are building something, but this stonework was a whole new world of construction techniques and challenges. Super cool that you're doing dry stonework in keeping with the techniques that were traditional in the area. I would love to learn more about stonework in future episodes!
I love living on the edge, but those stone walls doesnt look safe. Would avoid staying in that building for longer periods of time. Rain, wind and, as some people mentioned, earthquakes will take that building down quite fast
Well done team!!! What a joy to watch, might be my fave video - lots of new insights in how to renovate such a structure. Respect to the team! ❤🎉 curious to see the progress of this project!
like probably many of the viewers i got goosebumps watching all the activity with the big stone over the door. please guys invest some time in safety. i have a background in architecture and house building and was just waiting for something to happen at any moment, with happily didn't. also i have a question you might have to consider. "What is the structural benefit to have that big stone over your front door?" if you decide to keep it that way, please reinforce it with something really strong like a metal rectangular frame Really love your videos! watching you from year one, but this time you got me real scared. keep you guys safe
@@wolk2 "not a lot". So there are a few? It only takes one for someone to be killed by falling rocks. These guys are putting someone elses life on the line by not bedding those stones with mortar.
This large opening weakens the corners . Walls at each ends can collapse inward. Also this granite is rotten . Rot should be scraped out of the building stones for having a sound material .
Hey team, please consider reinforcing the lintel stone. It’s upside down. You’re unsure of its integrity, have weight stacked on it over a wide expanse and someone is standing under it. Love the hard work, suggest you recruit an engineer maybe ❤
When you use the chain hoist to lift heavy loads, and you need to push or pull on the load, you don't want to get your load close to the chain hoist. The longer the chain under the hoist, the lower the lateral forces on your scaffold structure will be. You should aim for a 10:1 margin of chain between load and hoist to horizontal movement. For example, if you need to move a stone 30cm horizontally to lower it to the ground, you should have a minimum of 300cm of chain from the stone to the hoist when the weight of the stone is taken. Positioning the stone and pushing horizontally at the very top of the hoists travel of lift is VERY DANGEROUS.
Hi Team, If you are moving very heavy stuff with a wheel barrow use webing (like from an old seat belt or a rachet strap) to connect around the wheel hoop. This enable 2 people to pull at the front while one lifts and pushes.
Sometimes I wonder why I watch all these videos, but seeing the chain hoist suspended on scaffolds and being used as a crane made me realize I could do work with my own similar hoist at home. Seemed smart at first to pull that log with the hoist, but a motorized winch on a vehicle would be really nice. If this were America, one of the Kampers would definitely have a Jeep with a winch. One time our over-preparedness would come in handy. Cheers!
Hey Project Kamp team, I’ve been following your journey and absolutely love the innovative spirit you bring to your projects. However, watching this latest video has me genuinely worried for your safety. The dry-stacking of the old granite stones, especially after enduring bushfires, feels risky-especially with no mortar support and such heavy stones involved (that 600kg lintel stone on a column, yikes!). While your passion for rebuilding is inspiring, I can’t shake the concern about the potential structural instability. We’ve already seen professionals flag the risks of collapse or serious injury in the comments, and many supporters, myself included, are really worried. It would be a relief to hear if you’ve had an architect or engineer assess the structure as safe, and if not, I urge you to consider an expert review. Please, for the sake of everyone involved, address these concerns in the next update. There's a real risk that someone could get seriously hurt or worse if something goes wrong. Your health and safety are far more important than the rebuild. Stay safe and keep the amazing energy going! Please know this comes from a place of love and concern, not criticism and hate.
I would have like to see longer internal reveals where the opening is, the strength is in the corners and you have removed them. UK building regs have 650mm internal reveals
Lifting rocks and other heavy things around camp, one idea is building a swivelling Davit arm off the back of your Ute then putting a chain block on it, mount through the tray onto the chassis rail
Sorry, but this is unstable and really unsafe. Granite should not be crumbling like that. The Egyptians carved statues from granite, which are still standing today. Your stones have clearly been subjected to intense heat and have now lost integrity. Granite should not be this pliable. That you can shape them so easily with basic hand tools and a bit of chipping tells you everything! Normally an angle grinder cooled with water would be needed. When stone buildings have been subjected to fire, they need inspecting by professionals to establish if the stones are safe. You have so many people there, working in good faith. At the very least you should ensure their safety by getting those ruins inspected first. And having a lintle (installed upside down btw) resting on a single column is .... just no! Please inspect first. Then take down and re-do, with better corner support for the lintle - plus bedding each stone in a bed of lime mortar as you go up. People are going to get seriously hurt otherwise.
In the last Q&A you told us u cant force everybody to wear protection while working with chainsaws etc. If you dont change the way of thinking about safety on buildingsides at some point somebody will get hurt. you showed us in this episode a 600kg toothpick what was laying in the sun,rain,fire for years. before you showed us how breakable it is. Than this pice is gonna be used to catch the weight of the wall and the roof. I mean what the fuck this ''stones' are nothing more than compressed dirt :D this is not a wet roof or mould on the wall. This looks like russian roulette.
Great point! I remember thinking the same during that Q&A too, and I get that it can be tough to get everyone on board with wearing protective gear, but safety really needs to be a top priority-especially when working with such massive stones or dangerous equipment like chainsaws. I think it could help if Project Kamp agreed on clear guidelines that make safety gear non-negotiable. Maybe even designate someone on-site to lead by example and make sure everyone’s equipped with helmets, steel-capped boots, and gloves before any heavy work starts. In this episode, seeing the 600kg stone after years of exposure to the elements, it’s clear that just a small mishap could be catastrophic. I really hope they focus on a solid safety plan moving forward-something that can help prevent any accidents before they happen. Maybe even sharing a safety checklist with viewers could inspire others too!
If you split mimosas in half and strap these halfrounds to the flat sides of the stones, the get nearer to a round shape and can be rolled like a charm ...
This is my favourite episode of the season so far ! The video quality is top notch ( In some episode the video quality is so bad, I have t squint my eyes and put on the highest quality available). Beautiful work they made. I do have to say that I love when you build things. Mostly houses.
Interesting approach and great job, are you installing a ringbeam to interconnect all walls? The ruin was a ruin for a reason - so you may actually think about some concrete ring beam and/or some metal to ensure structural safety. Wood beams are also possible....
30:43 Serving up Project Kamp cat walk?! 😂 On a serious note, I love that ya'll respect the history of the land and rebuild and reuse the ruins ❤. If more people would fix up was is existing, we'd have a lot less waste in the world.
From my admittedly slight knowledge of stone building granite is an extremely hard stone, so it’s so easily cut that means that it’s been damaged by the fire and shouldn’t be used for construction
It can't be granite. Granite that has been damaged by fire flakes of in flat sheets. And the grain structure is also all wrong, it's supposed to be parallel lines, that's why it flakes. The quarts and feldspar are supposed to be mixed together homogenous, not separated out into crystals. It has to be some kind of gneiss. Granite just don't look or behave like that. At least no granit I ever seen and I have seen a lot of it, everything is basically just naked bohus granite bedrock where I am.
1. I'd have had the lintel with the holey side face down. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near it if there's an earthquake of any serious magnitude. It doesn't leave me feeling confident that its structural integrity would remain intact. I certainly wouldn't fancy sleeping in there. 2. You have all of those mimosa logs you keep piling up. Is there any way that you could build some kind of log cabin out of them? I was thinking about perhaps using a variation on the wattle and daub technique. 😮❤❤❤😮
Great job guys! I bet the people moving the bulk of the stones felt it on their back. I know I had to learn how to move tons by hand the hard way... I agree with other people in the comments, that you should definetly reinforce the building somehow from the inside. Be it wooden beam structure or what ever.
This is the most amazing and hard working update yet! You guys did great stone work, and even looked like ancient Egyptians rolling that huge door lentil stone on the mimosa logs. Best ever!
Great job! Sure had me worried a few times! I recently saw something about it's been discovered how ancient Roman concrete has held up so long, when modern concrete construction does not. It has something to do with the lime, and sea water being used. Maybe that will help y'all. Peace.
Hard work, Suggestion to put the stones in front of the wheelbarrel as much as possible for or a the wheel, it will be less heavy to lift. Help with the wheelbarrel is fine, but use a rope to tear the wheelbarrel. And finally a tip for the real big stones, try it with 6 or more pipes, like a 50mm pvc pipe and roll the stone on these pipes. I hope it helps. Good luck!
Cutting that big cornerstone is a BAD idea ! You'll destabilise the whole structure as all its mortar will crumble with the cutting and chiselling. Bad idea guys. Really really bad idea guys.
Look into bringing a heavy machinery operator on for next season. Even if it is for 1-2 months, it could accelerate a lot of project growth and free up many hands. Someone with experience with your digger can make 10x progress vs someone new and still learning. Not only for digging but moving heavy objects around the land.
Hellooo Everybody ! A question did you not put some mortar or cla or lime under the stone, just a little, just to stabilize, reinforce and glue together ? Ty. Miguel
This was a wildly ambitious project, and I really enjoyed the crew's humor. Would love to know how long the original building has been standing with that old masonry technique.
You know what would be cute ? With project kamp having a history of putting up signs it would be sweet to have signs in the finished buildings honoring all the people who have worked on it :)
Up you go
Or maybe in remembrance of everyone who died in it when it collapses
@@opticaltrace4382 Do it onion style and put up the sign before the tragic accident that will have been preventable.
@@opticaltrace4382negative Nancy 😂
@@emilyfromvic No. I'm just living in the real world of well, you know... physics
Coming from an earthquake prone country, New Zealand, this whole episode made me extremely anxious!
Ahhh kiwi brother, or sister
@@courtthompson2236
Kia ora
Small world......
😃👍🏼
FYI, Tane boomer
@@kiwi_welltraveled4375 Kia ora bro
Same here...I'm in California. There were a few times I had to look away. 😬
Well your anxiety is correct! Portugal is also an earthquake zone and those walls are not built well, I am sorry
You might want to get a structural engineer in to assess the build and sign off on it. If they refuse to sign off, don't use the building for habitation. Also, consider getting some stress indicators put in so you know if the walls are shifting.
It's not just earthquakes that can bring that down. Simple settling from the new weight, erosion, your changing the soil profile from the shovel work, removing plants that hold the soil together, etc ... small things you don't even consider ... will change things. The structure has compressive strength, but is very weak from lateral motion.
I'm scared.
I hope they didn't brush off and mock this advice like the others they got before. Go ask legitimate advice from a structural engineer if you don't think fellow netizens' concerns are valid!
Keeping everybody safe is one vital way to really keep this project "sustainable".
I would be happily mocked if you can come back with a sound endorsement from someone pro who can really assess the safety of the site.
A 600 kg elongated stone taken from a forest-fire, placed in a house you can tear apart with your bare hands as shown in the video. I am by no means an expert, but I wouldn't even walk close to that building. I hope they reinforce a lot, but the "traditional clay" approach is worrying. I just hope that thing holds for the safety of the hard-working people over there, but also that they do have at least one expert come out and look at it, as you suggest, before they have people inhabit it.
Yaayaa, engineer certificate in rural living..
Hakuna matata, trust your gut
Death is natural, namaste 😘
I watch your videos from the beginning, and love to see how motivated and positive you approach all the difficulties.
Dry stone walls get their stability from the big stones, they should fit perfectly together. Using small stones to even out the big ones is not the right way to do it. They are only used to fill gaps afterward, the weight of the wall must be carried by the big ones alone.
Either the big stones are put together in a stable way, or the filling stones need to be supported by concrete, imho.
Yes!!!!
Tight joints that you can't put a piece of paper in, these are stable. Courses of these correctly installed make solid structures. You can see the time the StoneMason took on the old work to make sure that all of the joints were correct before going to the next course above. If you are going to do work by hand you have to have the proper tools to dress the stones correctly. I noticed that the lintel that they installed had a door slot and a pivot hole in the "side"😂 since they're framing it out in wood it's unnecessary , but a nice bit of old craftwork .
Yup. That old wall was built with mortar and grout.
They should have replicated it. Drystone stacking is an art that takes a lot of time to learn in order to properly build a structurally sound wall that will support the load of the roof and not buckle.
They should go back and use non-shrink structural grout and pack those large stones in the best they can. Without something I would really be worried with how structurally sound it will be in a year from now. Especially because they didnt key in the two corners.
@@BeenThereDundas yeah. Not sure they read these. I have over 30 years masonry experience, the advice I was giving was serious and I don't think anybody read it. In the old days they would put a lathe over all that bare masonry with a scratch coat then a stucco coat with a nice cement polished finish. We have so many new materials we could use now for that lathing, you can make it bulletproof if you wanted. With a nice old school texture and finish. But I'm seriously in doubt about the structure, just like you are. I hate to say this but if it was me I would take it down and redo it correctly and with rebar every course; Drilled down as far as possible into the existing structure. They did used to be "ruins" how do you suppose they got ruined?? If they're built properly and they burn down, they're the worst masonry structure ever. Stone is pretty much impervious to flame, is it not?
👍
Geez, I was holding my breathe as the long lintal stone was rolled along the path and then raised into position. Excellent work Team Kamp.
I enjoy every episode from Project Kamp, but this was one of my favorites. I’m amazed at what you all have accomplished so far with this ruin.
Congratulations on all that hard and heavy work. As a Safety Officer I had my heart in my mouth, and if I had have come across a similar job in England I would had stopped it. But at least you had a lifting device, although I suspect those lifting bands were designed to secure a road vehicle tarpaulin, and not designed for lifting weights. You need to check their maximum lifting load. and check for damages to the bands.. I hope you know how much granite weighs so that you can calculate the maximum size (and therefore weight) of large stones. I would think that you need to use cement to keep the structure stable and watertight. I hope you will also have a sturdy wooden frame Inside the house. Once again a great job done, and I hope the next phase of building is successful. Best Wishes Pete (Manchester UK)
I think they also need a "ring beam" to cap the walls and hold them all together.
@@peterhicks3516 totally agree, you really need to up your safety protocols
@@peterhicks3516 The whole thing looks unstable to me. It's pointed with clay, not mortar. The stones just rest on each other rather than being fitted and mortared. The walls are too narrow for this.
@peterkilver2712 "I hope you know how much granite weighs"
Have you watched the video?
Well, the cable held, so no need to check it now:p
“now it’s just two people watching a stone” hey sometimes that’s the best you can do 😂
Wow! this was a big and heavy job. I like how you preserve the old ways and are building in the traditional way
The update quality is very much improved and these are quality presentations.
Noticing the stone shift at 21:53 makes me think that it's not going to end well. I believe the stones should be chiseled with dished surfaces to make them more stable, which would hopefully eliminate the need for tiny stones as load-bearing support. I have been stacking clutter to above eye level ever since, so trust me, I know my stuff.
Don't worry, they claim it is safe.
Oh shit they really moved 😅
I’m so glad they decided to save the cornerstone instead of cutting it, so much material history preserved.
They should have kept it in place, the angle is now superunstable !
I was very glad you found a re-use for that big stone rather than cutting it!
Yaaaayyyy it‘s Monday and we get our Project Kamp fix. ❤❤❤❤❤
The sheer amount of labor this took even with the aid of a modern chain hoist and a power chisel is a testament to the men who would've built the original structure.
I'm delighted you relocated that cornerstone also. Sure, it took more work but the results speak for themselves.
This project is a great reminder that the great cathedrals and castles of Europe took decades to build and have stood for centuries and will continue to do so for centuries to come. Glad you are doing it the traditional way. It will ensure that the building will last for generations.
I had visions of the Egyptians building the pyramids. 😁
@@jimstratfordflYou have to visit the pyramids then. And then imagine how one would lift, drag and place one of those giant blocks into a giant pile. Not feasible, even in modern times.
...and they didnt all speak the same language.
@@MarcoReekers01you don't have to imagine. They've worked it out how it was done, it's all online if you care to look.
Not only did they take a long time to build, they also took a massive amount of manpower and coordination which had to be maintained through those decades
That scaffolding gave me so much anxiety! LOL The ruin is looking more like a little house every day. Great work!
Watching them pick up the stones made my back hurt. Lift with your knees, not your back! lol
Actually, lift with a naturally straight back, using your core muscles, take a breath, use valsava technique, bend at the hips and knees.
Watch a few deadlift vids mate 👍
@@gb8628^don't listen to this guy^ power through with a curved spine, ez laxative every time
I commend your energy to reconstruct, at the same time there are earthquakes there, probably the reason those stones came down in the first place I would strongly suggest you use proper mortar and consult a proper mason for safety, the next quake anyone inside its a death trap, i live in california and have been through quite a few and have seen the results of poor construction good luck always enjoy your videos
You should be real brave to stand under this lintel after weakening the corner wall.
👍👍
I'm an old craftsman and I got a little sick watching you today. Moving and lifting stones weighing more than half a ton, no safety equipment whatsoever (helmets and steel-capped shoes would be the minimum). And when you pull a 600 kilo stone uphill with a chain hoist, you don't stand behind the stone. If the old, weak belt breaks, you can get a nasty whiplash in the face just before the stone breaks your bones.
And do you know that there are several fairly active earthquake zones in Portugal?
Strong earthquakes are rare, but what do you think? How strong does an earthquake have to be to bring your 600 kilo stone down from up there?
And: You put each individual stone in a bed of mortar; subsequently smearing mortar into the cracks hardly improves stability.
I'm sorry I can't say anything more positive - but I thought in this case I couldn't keep it to myself.
All the best, Georg (from Germany)
I'm a Journeyman Mason and I have to agree with a lot of your statements. Earthquakes don't occur very often in Portugal ( do they ?I didn't check)but they do still occur and this building with the proper reinforcement might stand one. However in its current condition it will not hold up to an earthquake as can be evidenced by the pile of rubble that you found by nearly every one of the ruins, yes? As it is too late now, you can still retro reinforce. This can be achieved by using rebar, drill into the wall and the foundation from most likely inside , pound rebar spikes in and create a wall of rebar , form up around it and pour a solid concrete wall at least 8 inches thick, a buttress I think it is called. Research block and tackles, snatch blocks and pivot cranes. Old stonemason techniques such as dressing stones will be useful There are several simple crane models you can use, that will make moving these blocks a lot easier. As this man said before putting your blocks in a bed of mortar is far better than dry fitting. At least use dry mortar. I have a thousand other techniques and tips for you but I didn't want to make this too long if you have any questions just ask...
@@redpecker12 We had a 5.4 magnitude earthquake 6 weeks ago. But I don't think it did any real damage... This building was probably fine from it without the motar yet.
I don't quite agree about lifting the rock uphill that way. Was quite clever actually. Those belts are made to hoist more than 1/2 tons for sure without problems
Yah, I sometimes wonder at the lack of safety features and the lack of understanding about how things work. "It's probably fine" is not a good thing to hear when talking about stonework with only clay mortar which can resist downward compression but not up-and down movement or side-to-side movement that occurs in earthquake tremors. (I kinda winced when I heard "yeah, the granite is decomposing and weak, but the inside is probably fine.") Most of Asia Minor is littered with the fallen stones and columns of the Greeks and Romans who didn't build for earthquakes. And does no one remember the Lisbon earthquake of 1755?
I admire the perspicacity of the group and the energy dedicated to the cause, but putting safety second is the same as putting safety last. When we are young and strong, our bodies can fool us into thinking we can just do something w/o long-term consequences.
@@redpecker12
That's a lot of very good advice, I think. I'm not a bricklayer, so I only have a limited knowledge of this trade - thank you for your post.
I'm a bit sensitive about earthquakes because I live in an active area. Strong earthquakes are rare here too - but you always have to expect them. In my experience, an earthquake of magnitude between 2 and 3 could be enough to cause the building in its current state - the new structure - to collapse. We have earthquakes like this every few weeks. In Portugal, the dangerous zones are concentrated in the south of the country, but there are also isolated hotspots in the middle.
Specifically: In the earthquake areas of Portugal (except the Azores) there were 9 earthquakes in the last 24 hours.
The strongest reached 3.2, and three others were between 2 and 3.
Georg
PS: 6 weeks ago we have had a 5,4 quake 84 km south of Lisbon. I dont know, were you located in Portugal - but be careful!
Best to use eye protection next time. When I took a wall down a stone hit my eyeball - I was very lucky that my eye and sight were saved at A&E. 🤓
From a long term standpoint, you should really be using Lime Mortar and not Clay Mud. It would make a much stronger structure over all and be safer in the case of an earthquake.
totally agree
It's called using common sense, really - you’ve got a point there. Using something that will last 10+ years. This entire project they are doing is more about getting it done and revisiting it later - Generation 1, revisit; Generation 2, revisit; Generation 3, revisit. It’s not necessarily what you're proposing - to get it done once and not have to revisit it!
About 30 years ago I watched a video about a man building a stone fence. There was one point that I still remember; "it's tempting, but never use small rocks to stabilize the big ones. The little rocks will act like wheels and the whole thing will come down in the wind."
They don't want to use lime because of the emissions
@@sestun And somebody used small stones decades ago and it is basically still standing.
A single quake or tremor later, it would level out. Praying yall reinforce with some steel and rebar.
Experience: Being in Haiti following the 2010 'quake. Witnessed how bldgs reinforced with rebar did not tumble over;
Mission: help and retrieve those who were buried under the rumble 😢. Enough said...
Im worried about the fact that you cut the masonry corners each side of the future window.
It affects the stability of the whole front and back facades, i don't believe you can rely on the window frame to compensate. A narrower window would have both spared original building and effort, and made a safer building, without a critical loss of light...
I agree I would not want to be in this building in even a small earthquake. the lentil will fall outwards. I hope. So will the back wall.
Also, they really be using Lime Mortar and not Clay Mud to hold all the stones together.
@@michaelcravens3767 The placement of the stone or brick that provides the strength. The Mortar provides stability against movement and ingress of water into the wall.
The mortar is dependent on the adhesion with the rock which is to crumble to really bond well. Even the use of rocks between rocks to fill the gaps and steady the rock weakens the wall. but can be done if the contact between the rocks is flat and smooth and makes contact over as much surface on both sides. I have had my knuckles cracked by stone masons for doing so.
I agree with that, these walls are very dangerous. They should used lime mortar between the stones like the old ruin was built. And they should have build reinforcements with metal rebars in concrete, at least on the two corners near the future window linked to a belt around the roof.
Their construction skills are good to build dry walls in a garden, but not to put people inside.
If you really want to made a dry stone wall, you have to shape perfectly each stone, in order to flatten them to put nothing between them, it take a lot of skill and a very big amount of time.
just a little bit worried for the futures users, not trolling.
see you.
Where I live there are technical rules that prohibit opening windows and doors flush with another load-bearing wall in that way.
What a perseverance, i'm impressed!
The lintel stone is upside down, the arch should be underneath and the flat should be on top. Stone has excellent properties in compression, not poor in tension.
God I love this channel. I always enjoy the episodes where you are building something, but this stonework was a whole new world of construction techniques and challenges. Super cool that you're doing dry stonework in keeping with the techniques that were traditional in the area. I would love to learn more about stonework in future episodes!
I love living on the edge, but those stone walls doesnt look safe. Would avoid staying in that building for longer periods of time. Rain, wind and, as some people mentioned, earthquakes will take that building down quite fast
Several times I had trouble watching ... YIKES! Take care guys!
Corner stones on the window wall being cut may compromise the stability if the two taller walls.
What a mistake and unnecessary work also...
Well done team!!! What a joy to watch, might be my fave video - lots of new insights in how to renovate such a structure. Respect to the team! ❤🎉 curious to see the progress of this project!
The lady that placed the mortar a few videos ago did an excellent job.
like probably many of the viewers i got goosebumps watching all the activity with the big stone over the door. please guys invest some time in safety. i have a background in architecture and house building and was just waiting for something to happen at any moment, with happily didn't. also i have a question you might have to consider. "What is the structural benefit to have that big stone over your front door?" if you decide to keep it that way, please reinforce it with something really strong like a metal rectangular frame
Really love your videos! watching you from year one, but this time you got me real scared. keep you guys safe
Better hope there is no earthquakes!
There are not a lot of earthquakes in Portugal
@@wolk2 "not a lot". So there are a few? It only takes one for someone to be killed by falling rocks. These guys are putting someone elses life on the line by not bedding those stones with mortar.
@@wolk2 Takes only one.
@@wolk2 look up lisbon 1755
This large opening weakens the corners . Walls at each ends can collapse inward. Also this granite is rotten . Rot should be scraped out of the building stones for having a sound material .
I love ALL Project Kamp videos!
Even the ones where they only cut mimosas?
The last one was a bit boring...
Hey team, please consider reinforcing the lintel stone. It’s upside down. You’re unsure of its integrity, have weight stacked on it over a wide expanse and someone is standing under it. Love the hard work, suggest you recruit an engineer maybe ❤
When you use the chain hoist to lift heavy loads, and you need to push or pull on the load, you don't want to get your load close to the chain hoist. The longer the chain under the hoist, the lower the lateral forces on your scaffold structure will be. You should aim for a 10:1 margin of chain between load and hoist to horizontal movement. For example, if you need to move a stone 30cm horizontally to lower it to the ground, you should have a minimum of 300cm of chain from the stone to the hoist when the weight of the stone is taken. Positioning the stone and pushing horizontally at the very top of the hoists travel of lift is VERY DANGEROUS.
Well done ! Good job you can be proud 🫡
Hi Team, If you are moving very heavy stuff with a wheel barrow use webing (like from an old seat belt or a rachet strap) to connect around the wheel hoop. This enable 2 people to pull at the front while one lifts and pushes.
In italy i think is not possible to renovate with dry stack. there is a reason that people stoped using it
Sometimes I wonder why I watch all these videos, but seeing the chain hoist suspended on scaffolds and being used as a crane made me realize I could do work with my own similar hoist at home. Seemed smart at first to pull that log with the hoist, but a motorized winch on a vehicle would be really nice. If this were America, one of the Kampers would definitely have a Jeep with a winch. One time our over-preparedness would come in handy. Cheers!
Hey Project Kamp team, I’ve been following your journey and absolutely love the innovative spirit you bring to your projects. However, watching this latest video has me genuinely worried for your safety. The dry-stacking of the old granite stones, especially after enduring bushfires, feels risky-especially with no mortar support and such heavy stones involved (that 600kg lintel stone on a column, yikes!). While your passion for rebuilding is inspiring, I can’t shake the concern about the potential structural instability. We’ve already seen professionals flag the risks of collapse or serious injury in the comments, and many supporters, myself included, are really worried.
It would be a relief to hear if you’ve had an architect or engineer assess the structure as safe, and if not, I urge you to consider an expert review. Please, for the sake of everyone involved, address these concerns in the next update. There's a real risk that someone could get seriously hurt or worse if something goes wrong. Your health and safety are far more important than the rebuild. Stay safe and keep the amazing energy going! Please know this comes from a place of love and concern, not criticism and hate.
couldn't say better :)
So super impressed with you all!!!!!
Good job legends very difficult terrain let alone doing a task very labour intensive
Hey Dave Hakkens, I really enjoy your content /progress. Health and safety must be a priority. That was a scary video, one slip , big problems.
wonder if Dave ever has to ask people to leave because they are lazy and dont want to work?
idk why but moving that 600 kg rock was intense
I am sweating it not falling on someone. Wild. And it seemed like I was watching how people have been moving stones for many centuries.
It wasn't 600kg. One man does not roll 600kg with just a crowbar. Their grasp of reality is as precarious as their masonry.
@@ratheskin58 That's the power of leverage. Also that's a big ass crowbar. But yeah 600kg does seem unlikely
Very Hard Work! It came out nice! Well done!
Oh man... the way you dealt with the wasps was like a Jackass stunt. Hilarious lol
Did you stack the lintel on top of the crumbling stone? This is… dangerous…
I would have like to see longer internal reveals where the opening is, the strength is in the corners and you have removed them. UK building regs have 650mm internal reveals
Yes their choice is very unsafe...
Good job lads. That old building has potential
What a beautiful stone structure - good work!
Lifting rocks and other heavy things around camp, one idea is building a swivelling Davit arm off the back of your Ute then putting a chain block on it, mount through the tray onto the chassis rail
You are renaissance men. You would make your grandparents and great grandparents proud. Be safe.
Sorry, but this is unstable and really unsafe. Granite should not be crumbling like that. The Egyptians carved statues from granite, which are still standing today. Your stones have clearly been subjected to intense heat and have now lost integrity. Granite should not be this pliable. That you can shape them so easily with basic hand tools and a bit of chipping tells you everything! Normally an angle grinder cooled with water would be needed. When stone buildings have been subjected to fire, they need inspecting by professionals to establish if the stones are safe. You have so many people there, working in good faith. At the very least you should ensure their safety by getting those ruins inspected first.
And having a lintle (installed upside down btw) resting on a single column is .... just no!
Please inspect first. Then take down and re-do, with better corner support for the lintle - plus bedding each stone in a bed of lime mortar as you go up.
People are going to get seriously hurt otherwise.
Yes !
And both corners are precarious, now you've suppressed the angle stones... The door corner is terrible.
I was wondering of the stone isn't granite. Our granite in New England is so hard, I can't imagine a chisel doing anything at all.
In the last Q&A you told us u cant force everybody to wear protection while working with chainsaws etc.
If you dont change the way of thinking about safety on buildingsides at some point somebody will get hurt.
you showed us in this episode a 600kg toothpick what was laying in the sun,rain,fire for years.
before you showed us how breakable it is.
Than this pice is gonna be used to catch the weight of the wall and the roof.
I mean what the fuck this ''stones' are nothing more than compressed dirt :D
this is not a wet roof or mould on the wall.
This looks like russian roulette.
Great point! I remember thinking the same during that Q&A too, and I get that it can be tough to get everyone on board with wearing protective gear, but safety really needs to be a top priority-especially when working with such massive stones or dangerous equipment like chainsaws. I think it could help if Project Kamp agreed on clear guidelines that make safety gear non-negotiable. Maybe even designate someone on-site to lead by example and make sure everyone’s equipped with helmets, steel-capped boots, and gloves before any heavy work starts.
In this episode, seeing the 600kg stone after years of exposure to the elements, it’s clear that just a small mishap could be catastrophic. I really hope they focus on a solid safety plan moving forward-something that can help prevent any accidents before they happen. Maybe even sharing a safety checklist with viewers could inspire others too!
Pat yourselves on a great job, fellas! Well done!😊
I believe it is time to start thinking about constructing a log arch.
Play safe from Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada.
It’s so nice to watch “real work “❤❤
Great work, must feel good!
Also must be nice to say it went superb, to all the “worst-case” thinkers here in the chat ;)
If you split mimosas in half and strap these halfrounds to the flat sides of the stones, the get nearer to a round shape and can be rolled like a charm ...
Is there a reason why you don't "cement" clay layer for layer like with normal brickwork?
Cement has a lot of CO2 emissions to produce.
@@mircomuntener4643 Safety is more important than small emissions. They live very green lives as it is, there can be some compromises
hammer plus scissors equals protective glasses... 😯 Please take care of you..
Welcome to Project Kamp, friend! Would you like to stay in the mold -infested slaughterhouse trailer or the structurally compromised Portuguese ruin?
This is my favourite episode of the season so far ! The video quality is top notch ( In some episode the video quality is so bad, I have t squint my eyes and put on the highest quality available). Beautiful work they made. I do have to say that I love when you build things. Mostly houses.
2:30 Hello! I tied a wide ribbon between the handles on my cart so that I could push it not with my hands, but with my hips!
Interesting approach and great job, are you installing a ringbeam to interconnect all walls? The ruin was a ruin for a reason - so you may actually think about some concrete ring beam and/or some metal to ensure structural safety. Wood beams are also possible....
Yes, a concrete ringbeam is the minimum to add on the top of the walls, this is the first that came in my mind. Dont let the roof spread your walls.
30:43 Serving up Project Kamp cat walk?! 😂
On a serious note, I love that ya'll respect the history of the land and rebuild and reuse the ruins ❤. If more people would fix up was is existing, we'd have a lot less waste in the world.
Loved the stonework!!! Jim in California
Wow! Nice work guys!
From my admittedly slight knowledge of stone building granite is an extremely hard stone, so it’s so easily cut that means that it’s been damaged by the fire and shouldn’t be used for construction
It can't be granite. Granite that has been damaged by fire flakes of in flat sheets. And the grain structure is also all wrong, it's supposed to be parallel lines, that's why it flakes. The quarts and feldspar are supposed to be mixed together homogenous, not separated out into crystals. It has to be some kind of gneiss.
Granite just don't look or behave like that. At least no granit I ever seen and I have seen a lot of it, everything is basically just naked bohus granite bedrock where I am.
1. I'd have had the lintel with the holey side face down. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near it if there's an earthquake of any serious magnitude. It doesn't leave me feeling confident that its structural integrity would remain intact. I certainly wouldn't fancy sleeping in there.
2. You have all of those mimosa logs you keep piling up. Is there any way that you could build some kind of log cabin out of them? I was thinking about perhaps using a variation on the wattle and daub technique.
😮❤❤❤😮
I luv the duo comedy in working it was great to see😂
Next week ruin falls down after intervention by Kamp inhabitants
Great job guys! I bet the people moving the bulk of the stones felt it on their back. I know I had to learn how to move tons by hand the hard way... I agree with other people in the comments, that you should definetly reinforce the building somehow from the inside. Be it wooden beam structure or what ever.
Stonehenge Craft 101. A joy to watch.
This is the most amazing and hard working update yet! You guys did great stone work, and even looked like ancient Egyptians rolling that huge door lentil stone on the mimosa logs. Best ever!
Great job! Sure had me worried a few times! I recently saw something about it's been discovered how ancient Roman concrete has held up so long, when modern concrete construction does not. It has something to do with the lime, and sea water being used. Maybe that will help y'all.
Peace.
Roman concrete has something to do with lime and water? Never would have guessed.
I love the scene with the large stone moving, that was very funny
Hard work, Suggestion to put the stones in front of the wheelbarrel as much as possible for or a the wheel, it will be less heavy to lift. Help with the wheelbarrel is fine, but use a rope to tear the wheelbarrel. And finally a tip for the real big stones, try it with 6 or more pipes, like a 50mm pvc pipe and roll the stone on these pipes. I hope it helps. Good luck!
Tip: If you loop a rope around the metal bar around rhe wheel, one person can pull the wheelbarrow while the other pushes using the handles as usual.
Next project, haul a fishing boat over the mountains from Porto and build an opera house ❤
At last, a video with some content worthy of watching. Well done lads, not the best stone to work with but your masonry skills held the day.
amazing work, i can only imagine how that will look like at the end
Cutting that big cornerstone is a BAD idea !
You'll destabilise the whole structure as all its mortar will crumble with the cutting and chiselling.
Bad idea guys.
Really really bad idea guys.
Obrigado pelas legendas, muito grato. Continuem o bom trabalho. Beijos e abraços de um fã.
25 28 - a pair of safety glasses seen, well done. The rest of this is just an accident waiting to happen. Really frightening.
Think of how amazing your chain hoist would be to the original builders of this hut😂
Look into bringing a heavy machinery operator on for next season. Even if it is for 1-2 months, it could accelerate a lot of project growth and free up many hands. Someone with experience with your digger can make 10x progress vs someone new and still learning. Not only for digging but moving heavy objects around the land.
Stuff like this is why I disassembled my wheel barrow and wrapped the handle bars in angle-iron.
my back hurt watching this.... amazing work
I have a feeling you guys will need to lift those stones up again and redo it.
5:38 "Reloading, mate, cover me."
Fantastic results, Big stones put in a New place to Bring a New Life to the Kamp history. BRAVO!!!👍👍👍🔧🛠️🔨🔨🛠️🔨🏁🏁🏁🏁
Hellooo Everybody ! A question did you not put some mortar or cla or lime under the stone, just a little, just to stabilize, reinforce and glue together ? Ty. Miguel
This was a wildly ambitious project, and I really enjoyed the crew's humor. Would love to know how long the original building has been standing with that old masonry technique.
Loving the masonry work!!
That was some serious manual labour and a good job that health and safety were not in the vicinity to shut you down.