Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[56vette461]

Thomas

I'm completely blown away. Clocking screws, crowning lumber, using hammers with 16 and 8 penny nails. What will you think of next? Nail sets, plumb windows and doors, leveling window sills and doorways. Can't wait for the next installments.

Love the progress.

 

[BB767]

.....
Not to be demanding...where is today's update! I saw you had posted, Thomas, and thought we were in for a Monday photodump!

My camera and computer are not playing nicely together right now. I haven't been able to down load pictures from my camera to my computer for a few days now. My daughter is working through some long distance remedy's for the problem with me, but so far - no luck.

If it helps, the floor trusses on the second floor are now installed, roof sheeting has been installed over about 1/3 of the roof and the 2 block posts for the car port have been erected.

The following pictures are a few days old but....



Here's the roof sheeting being unloaded.



Some of the roof sheeting installed...



Like I said much more is done than I have pictures to share but this is what it looked like late last week. Most of this has now has sheeting on it.



We'll install enough sub-floor on the second floor tomorrow so that we can build the dormer window wall, circled, and finish that roof section. Then we'll concentrate the rest of the week getting the roof all sleeted so we can get it blacked in and keep the interior drier.

I've got more pictures of the roof trusses being installed that are pretty interesting...



...but those will have to wait for a bit. The roof truss system is very complex on this home but it is interesting how it all meshes together.

Thanks everyone again for your keen interest. Very much appreciated and glad you're coming with us on this project. It's something different for sure.

Thomas

 

[AZpilot]

Looks like a Mickey D's roof. I jest! But it does seem different. Dutch Colonial?

 

[Boosted1]

So what will the square footage be of the top floor?

 

[gasgas17]

Will the roof remain flat on top or is there a stack of peaks that we have not seen yet? I love framing , but my body no longer loves it. I plan to build a retirement house some day and that will be the last hurrah of my carpentry career. Enjoying your thread still all these years later!

 

[bryceaugustine]

i know we are not there yet. But will you be using an equal pressure plumbing system? If you are not, have you considered it?

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

i know we are not there yet. But will you be using an equal pressure plumbing system? If you are not, have you considered it?

What is this? Please explain.

 

[bryceaugustine]

What is this? Please explain.

a decent article is below. but the basics of it are that you run all you water lines to one point (close to your main shut off) and have a manifold there that distributes water to all your various applications. because the water is split at even points you maintain a more even pressure in your system. i have seen them where they have individual shutoff valves at the manifold so you can shut down certain rooms or fixtures and not effect the rest of your system.

a typical system has water come in and go to the closest fixture then the next, and so and so forth. that way when you are taking a shower and your wife turns on the washer you lose pressure because the washer is a closer fixture.

you will definitely spend a bit extra on pipe and labor to install, but it may be worth it.

http://www.handcraftsandhandyman.co...ng-and-making-your-own-pex-plumbing-manifolds

 

[SiGmA_X]

The 1950's house I am renting was replumbed using Pex in ~2001 and they did this. Its great to never have a drop in hot or cold when I shower! My folks did this at this house, too, with the exception of the kitchen sink and dishwasher which tee.

 

[csp]

What is this? Please explain.

It's also known as home-run plumbing. Lotsa info on the web found via google search.

 

[PLOWJEEP]

Not many plumbers running copper in the walls anymore. We use copper where it will be exposed. Pex is hard to support and will sag quite a bit, especially when it gets hot. I'm sure what ever Thomas does it will be first class.

 

[AZpilot]

I'm sure what ever Thomas does it will be first class.

Nickel plated copper with pex inside.

 

[Zippercat]

Nickel plated copper with pex inside.

Ya forgot the powder coating!

 

[bryceaugustine]

It's also known as home-run plumbing. Lotsa info on the web found via google search.

thanks for that. i did not know that was the name of it. that explains why i never found to much info on it before.

 

[MG David]

The flat top is so he can land a Hawker Harrier on there.

 

[BB767]

Mighty Trusses - Some Assmebly Required

So my Darling Daughter, DD, makes a special trip to help out Dear Old Dad, DOD, with his camera/ computer problems. I showed her what was happening and..............everything it worked perfectly without her having to do anything or lift a finger. She smiled sweetly and said, "That's why I get paid the big bucks. When you're good, you make it look easy"

Well anyway it's always good to see her and she got caught up on progress out here at the ranch. She was duly impressed and rather liked what she saw. Computer is downloading just fine now so off we go.

The following are some pictures of the roof truss system taken from the second floor.



As I mentioned before...



...this house...



...has a fairly complex truss system...



...that is very robust. Note the quadrupled girder on the right.



That girder was 42' (12.8 m) long...



...and the crane operator even commented...



...as he was lifting it, "that's a heavy one!"



The roof will eventually get caps that make the roof peek at the height seen here above the dormer. The trusses had to be shipped in 2 parts because they would have too big to transport otherwise. Sorry David, but no Harrier landing port. Good thought though!

I'll answer the questions previously posted later, promise.

Thomas

 

[JeremyBurke]

Huzzah. A fixed computer camera connection is a big win for us all. Three cheers for DD. Hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray. Thomas thank as always for bringing us all along for the ride.

 

[Shoottx]

Dang

Stayed away for the fall and winter remodeling a house and I missed a lot. When I get caught up I find a new house almost closed in.

Thomas and Chris, congrats on the project. After completely renovating a 1952 house, I almost believe building from scratch might be easier.

Thanks again for letting us ride along on the adventure.

 

[bluestripe67]

Great progress Thomas. I'm half way finished with BS. Should be ready for next reader next week. Who do I send too?

 

[BB767]

Great progress Thomas. I'm half way finished with BS. Should be ready for next reader next week. Who do I send too?

Great news Dennis, many thanks for moving it along so quickly. That's how it's suppose to work. Send it to me. I'll PM the mailing address.

I knew a Corvette guy would come through for us!

Thomas

 

[rixtrix1]

Nice to see things moving along, Thomas. Pretty complex framing, indeed!

 

[Maine Coon]

very classy

 

[charlief1]

Will do Charlie. I'm sure I'll have some left and I'm using the commercial grade Tyvek which is unbelievably tough stuff. I'll try rolling it in a tube. Give me a idea how much you need and I'll do my best to make it happen.

Thomas

Internet fails and when I get it back a week later I'm on page 485 trying to catch up. Somewhere around a 10 x 15 sheet would be great Thomas. it's only a 4.1 meter craft and doesn't need that much sail to get moving fast. Estimated weight is 65 lbs with a 42" beam so it should be a fun shallow draft craft. Now I've got to go back and read from 485 until I catch up.

 

[BB767]

Carport Posts

Here's some additional "behind the scenes" work on the posts for the car port.



I used re-bar in the center core of the posts.



I will be bolting an "L" shaped 3/8" (.95 cm) thick plate to the re-bar and then through bolting the plate to the micolams that will support the carport trusses. Once I get pictures of that it'll be very apparent what I did. It's all to prevent high winds from getting under the carport and lifting it off the posts. I welded these "J" bolt anchors to the top ends of the re-bar so I'd have something to bolt that plate to. I did almost the exact same thing on the shop carport columns a few years ago.



You get to see some of the shop equipment in action. On the left is the portable pedestal grinder and center is the portable dirty room I fabricated a few years back.



Using the MIG welder...





...I attached the J bolts...



...to the re-bar. I used the pedestal grinder stand to support the long ends of the re-bar while I was welding them.



We set up scaffolding and I supplied the mortar and blocks using a skid loader.



Then the posts were laid up...



...17 courses high. Squint hard and you can see 2 re-bars in each core poking a couple of inches above the last course of block. After the the block mortar had set for a day, the center core and block webs were filled with concrete. Doing that any sooner and we'd have risked blowing out the mortar seams before they had set. There are wall ties on the columns that will be used when they are faced with stone.

Those columns are now very strong and will get even stronger with granite stone facing.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

So what will the square footage be of the top floor?

The second floor will be around 700 square feet. That's where the library and my office will be in the balcony area overlooking the great room. There is also a spare bedroom and full bath upstairs.

i know we are not there yet. But will you be using an equal pressure plumbing system? If you are not, have you considered it?

I'm not familiar with this but I'll bring it up to the plumber. It sounds like it has merit.

Not many plumbers running copper in the walls anymore. We use copper where it will be exposed. Pex is hard to support and will sag quite a bit, especially when it gets hot. I'm sure what ever Thomas does it will be first class.

Well I'm old school, so all the supply piping is going to be copper, big surprise right? Shoot, even the roof valleys and chimney saddle and flashing are going to be copper. It works good and lasts a long time.

Thomas

 

[red]

Well I'm old school, so all the supply piping is going to be copper, big surprise right? Shoot, even the roof valleys and chimney saddle and flashing are going to be copper. It works good and lasts a long time.

Thomas

Growing up had a neighbor, who was an electrician and he was using asphalt based shingles instead of the new fiberglass shingles when we were shingling his roof.

Being a kid I asked why not the fiberglass. He said not until it's been around for twenty or more years. I asked "Why?"
His answer was aluminum wire, and I understood immediately. Stick with what's been proven. Plus most of the time it's cheaper.

 

[PLOWJEEP]

Another benefit to home run plumbing is a shorter run of 1/2" Pex will deliver hot water faster than the traditional 3/4" trunk line with 1/2" branch lines. In a house that large you should consider running a hot water recirculating line. Even the farthest bathroom will revive hot water almost instantly. I can't wait to see the trades start working. Brian

 

[Craptain]

Another benefit to home run plumbing is a shorter run of 1/2" Pex will deliver hot water faster than the traditional 3/4" trunk line with 1/2" branch lines. In a house that large you should consider running a hot water recirculating line. Even the farthest bathroom will revive hot water almost instantly. I can't wait to see the trades start working. Brian

I was thinking the same about recirculating hot water. More work initially but much better in the long haul. Actually a money saver too.

Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

 

[Type3Tim]

Thomas,

With your aviation background; I'm curious as to what your morning "walk-around" and safety check-list looks like on this project.

 

[71 MKIV]

If I may?
Another solution to the "hot water at the other extreme end of the house" problem would be a small pump, and a handful of check valves.
Rather than a complete loop in the hot water system, there is a pump, which takes water out of the hot water system, and pushes it into the cold water line, and does so until a temp sensor on the output of the pump tells it the hot water is to the faucet. The pump is actuated by either a switch on the wall, or an occupancy sensor.
FWIW, it's less expense and less pipe than a complete loop in the hot water system.
71MKIV

 

[W_A_Watson_II]

If I may?
Another solution to the "hot water at the other extreme end of the house" problem would be a small pump, and a handful of check valves.
Rather than a complete loop in the hot water system, there is a pump, which takes water out of the hot water system, and pushes it into the cold water line, and does so until a temp sensor on the output of the pump tells it the hot water is to the faucet. The pump is actuated by either a switch on the wall, or an occupancy sensor.
71MKIV

Great system, just wish my plumber had installed the check valve.

 

[APEowner]

If I may?
Another solution to the "hot water at the other extreme end of the house" problem would be a small pump, and a handful of check valves.
Rather than a complete loop in the hot water system, there is a pump, which takes water out of the hot water system, and pushes it into the cold water line, and does so until a temp sensor on the output of the pump tells it the hot water is to the faucet. The pump is actuated by either a switch on the wall, or an occupancy sensor.
FWIW, it's less expense and less pipe than a complete loop in the hot water system.
71MKIV

My 3600 sq. ft. house actually has two water heaters (and two furnaces). I wasn't sure I was going to like that but it turns out it really nice. It doesn't take long to get hot water anywhere in the house, if you have a problem with one you've got hot water at the other end of the house and one person can use all the water they want in the kitchen and laundry room without effecting the shower at the other end of the house.

 

[eborcim]

I like your roll-around welding table. Does it have locking casters?

 

[SiGmA_X]

I like your roll-around welding table. Does it have locking casters?

Yessir it does. You can see them in the photos. And he has an excellent build write up a few* pages back.

*a metric few

 

[oberst]

Yessir it does. You can see them in the photos. And he has an excellent build write up a few* pages back.

*a metric few

Search for "Portable dirty room"

 

[BB767]

Thomas,

With your aviation background; I'm curious as to what your morning "walk-around" and safety check-list looks like on this project.

Tim I'm doing a progressive safety program. Most of it is done the after the crew goes home since we start @ 07:30 AM the next day. Any equipment problems that we noted during the day are addressed and routine maintenance is performed the night before as well. All scrap material is cleaned up daily. If you keep after it and never let it build up it's easy to perform.

I like your roll-around welding table. Does it have locking casters?

Yup it does...



...as SiGmA_X indicated, look back 4 years worth scared to page 269, post #5364. That's where I started posting about it's construction. The thread meanders around for several pages, visiting the Bonneville Salt Flats during Speed Week for example. It concludes on page 283, post #5654.

To be honest though...



...this is my roll-around welding table...



...not to be confused with my Portable Dirty Room, PDR. Easiest way to tell them apart is the welding table top is 5/16" thick, rather square in size and has blue casters and the PDR top is 3/4" thick, rectangular in shape with green casters.



Be that as it may, they both have locking Blickle casters.
Hope I haven't confused you too much!

Thomas

 

[SiGmA_X]

...as SiGmA_X indicated, look back 4 years worth scared to page 269, post #5364. That's where I started posting about it's construction. The thread meanders around for several pages, visiting the Bonneville Salt Flats during Speed Week for example. It concludes on page 283, post #5654.

Holy cow, time flies. I didn't realize that was four years ago!

 

[charlief1]

Did you save me piece of 10' x 15' tyvek Thomas?

 

[ZRX61]

I was thinking the same about recirculating hot water. More work initially but much better in the long haul. Actually a money saver too.

Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

Have it in the house here, it's a major ******** pain in the *** when it gets a leak....

 

[csp]

Actually a money saver too.

Provided that the pump is one of the newer, brushless motor types.