Dan,
Thanks so much for the encouragement! Much appreciated, and we are getting really excited. I've completely answered any question I may have had regarding ever wanting to retire full-time in an RV. A resounding NO!
Texaco Station Renovation - Moving In
- Thread starter Bad67300
- Start date
Dan,
Thanks so much for the encouragement! Much appreciated, and we are getting really excited. I've completely answered any question I may have had regarding ever wanting to retire full-time in an RV. A resounding NO!
Thanks! It was a really clean, original car and I was tempted to keep it. But, I'm up to my eyeballs with projects and I'm not a huge Charger guy, so I ended up selling it. Made a little extra coin that went into another project.
Holy smokes what a project. You're certainly a tenacious fella ain't ya. I've got a suggestion about the porcelain wall issue to consider. Maybe one of the standing seem panel companies have a close to matching design. If you had those powder coated with a primer, then white, then high gloss clear I'd bet it'd be a darn close match. If that's something you might want to explore I'd suggest you PM Cudachick, she's a rock star at the PC thing and could probably offer up a better solution to match that look.
Keep up the fantastic job and here's to you getting moved in by the end of the year.
One last question though. How pissed off will the spouse be when someone comes knocking at the door around midnight wanting gas???
Thanks LX! Sometimes tenacious, sometimes stupid.
We're putting flat steel on the outside that looks similar to what was on the inside. Hidden fasteners, but with a seam. In the lighter gauges I can get it in 24 inch widths. That's an option, and I like your thoughts on it. Thankfully I don't have any gas station signage up or that could be a problem. We still have people come up thinking it's the RV repair business that closed a couple years ago.....really gets the dogs riled up!
So the siding finally showed up! Also have all of the soffit installed. I had hoped to have wider siding panels, but they were only available in lighter gauge steel, there was an issue with getting a sand color, and some of the panels were stood too far off the wall which would have made the windows look inset rather than flush.
The install started yesterday with putting J trim around the windows and the upper and lower channel trim. Didn't get too far and today it's raining. Regardless, we have siding!
We were also able to mimic the fascia of the gas station onto the new construction. Ordered flat stock along with the siding so we can bend metal covers to cover the wood structure.
The install started yesterday with putting J trim around the windows and the upper and lower channel trim. Didn't get too far and today it's raining. Regardless, we have siding!
We were also able to mimic the fascia of the gas station onto the new construction. Ordered flat stock along with the siding so we can bend metal covers to cover the wood structure.
95riosnake
Well-known member
Looking great! I think that width of siding is a good fit scale-wise for the building. And it's pretty remarkable how well the spacing from the corner of the building to the window worked out with the siding panel width, can't complain about that one bit. Very nice added detail with that angled portion under the overhang. In addition to mimicking the original building, that also gives it a more finished look than just a flat overhang.
Thanks much! It's coming together, some by design and some by luck. And some things we've just had to accept that's how it's going to be due to code and grafting new construction onto an old, slightly out-of-square building.
Siding started off good, but hit a snag when it was realized the steel supplier made and error on the siding length - too short. 18 total pieces since it's too short going around the corner too. Bad news is we're held up on this side until the correct stuff arrives. The good news is we got a credit for the correct lengths and we get to keep the steel to use on another side that hasn't been ordered yet.
This side is looking good - this sliding door is on the second floor out to the deck.
They've also turned the corner and started on the south side. Needed to put some sort of rat guard on the bottom to weatherize the seam between new and old steel. Best solution was to make something that follows the basic shape of the old fascia.
This side is looking good - this sliding door is on the second floor out to the deck.
They've also turned the corner and started on the south side. Needed to put some sort of rat guard on the bottom to weatherize the seam between new and old steel. Best solution was to make something that follows the basic shape of the old fascia.
The roof steel has also been installed on the transition between the new construction and the flat roof of the bay area.
Here's a few shots of the top of the eaves on the original station, which stand water and some of the decking below is rotten. These will be pulled up, new treated decking installed, and new rubber roof material installed.
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/9830/mVuGKi.jpg
The bottom of the eaves have old fluorescent light fixtures all around. I'm in the process of removing them and they will be replaced with new LED fixtures on dimmers.
Here's a few shots of the top of the eaves on the original station, which stand water and some of the decking below is rotten. These will be pulled up, new treated decking installed, and new rubber roof material installed.
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/9830/mVuGKi.jpg
The bottom of the eaves have old fluorescent light fixtures all around. I'm in the process of removing them and they will be replaced with new LED fixtures on dimmers.
New windows are in the front. Originally, the station had almost floor to ceiling front windows. We were able to keep the width, but didn't want the length. These new ones are Marvin picture windows where the entire window can be pushed out about an 1.5" for air flow. Love the look of having a full window, but still getting a cross breeze. Do have a couple screen quality issues, which the Marvin rep said they will absolutely address. The incorrect siding steel we received will be cut to fit around these windows since we hadn't ordered it yet.
Now just need to find a suitable front door. Was looking for something commercial, but based upon recommendations from my glass/window guy he's saying a swing in commercial in this application is going to create problems. Will be looking for a high quality residential door with the commercial look.
Now just need to find a suitable front door. Was looking for something commercial, but based upon recommendations from my glass/window guy he's saying a swing in commercial in this application is going to create problems. Will be looking for a high quality residential door with the commercial look.
And finally, we're working on the island for the kitchen. This is part of an old counter out of a Woolworth's. It's complete with the fluted stainless steel package/purse tray that sits below the counter, four spring loaded stools, and a marble foot rest that goes all the way around it. A new marble counter top is being cut to match the rest of the kitchen counters and the island will have a flush mounted natural gas 3 burner stove top. A pole will be dropped from the ceiling to hide the gas line and electrical.
The kitchen area is what was previously the gas station's office/parts area.
The kitchen area is what was previously the gas station's office/parts area.
Have had quite a bit of progress since the last update, or at least my checkbook says there has been lots of progress!
The hot tub door is installed. It's from Marvin and pretty slick, but definitely wasn't in the budget when I was planning on installing a garage door.
The vent to the left of the door is for an automatic fan that will run if it gets too humid in the room.
The Mitsubishi mini-split units are in place and the 5-ton exterior unit set in place on a concrete pad. Due to the sometime extreme cold, we will also be installing electric cove heaters when the mini-splits either can't keep up or shut down.
No mini-split units in the bathrooms, decided to go with in-floor heat underneath the tile.
The hot tub door is installed. It's from Marvin and pretty slick, but definitely wasn't in the budget when I was planning on installing a garage door.
The vent to the left of the door is for an automatic fan that will run if it gets too humid in the room.
The Mitsubishi mini-split units are in place and the 5-ton exterior unit set in place on a concrete pad. Due to the sometime extreme cold, we will also be installing electric cove heaters when the mini-splits either can't keep up or shut down.
No mini-split units in the bathrooms, decided to go with in-floor heat underneath the tile.
Some more work done also on the exterior steel. The fascia has been installed on the south side. While not exact, it does mimic the original style pretty well. The color is as close as I could get.
The canopy has always had a couple damaged fascia pieces that I think happened when it was moved 30+ years ago. Due to adding on the new construction, I was able to save some of the fascia off the station and it's the same as what was used on the canopy. So, I took off the trashed ones and replaced them, eliminating a significant bird's nest in the process.
The canopy has always had a couple damaged fascia pieces that I think happened when it was moved 30+ years ago. Due to adding on the new construction, I was able to save some of the fascia off the station and it's the same as what was used on the canopy. So, I took off the trashed ones and replaced them, eliminating a significant bird's nest in the process.
Hadn't been in the basement since before the walls and floor were poured, so had to climb down to check it out. I'm not going to do much immediately here so I can concentrate on being able to live in it. Hoping this winter I'll tackle finishing it off myself.
Thanks DoubleOT! Definitely been a learning experience!
With snow already falling in higher elevations of WY and MT, I'm slightly freaked out about the runway left to get out of the RV we're living in before winter hits. I'm hoping that it holds off until late October or early November!
Metal installed on another side now. Still have the one full side to do, then some smaller areas on the front and around the hot tub door. Definitely will be getting the siding buttoned up before winter.
And, we have spray foam done on the roof and the 2nd floor walls. 3" on the roof and then will be blowing in 6" on the ceiling for sound deadening. The walls have 2", then will get batt insulation also for sound.
These pictures were just after it was sprayed, so still need to clean off where sheet rock will be installed. The guy spraying it was a little more expensive than others, but he shows up on short notice, gets it done and done right - very meticulous.
Metal installed on another side now. Still have the one full side to do, then some smaller areas on the front and around the hot tub door. Definitely will be getting the siding buttoned up before winter.
And, we have spray foam done on the roof and the 2nd floor walls. 3" on the roof and then will be blowing in 6" on the ceiling for sound deadening. The walls have 2", then will get batt insulation also for sound.
These pictures were just after it was sprayed, so still need to clean off where sheet rock will be installed. The guy spraying it was a little more expensive than others, but he shows up on short notice, gets it done and done right - very meticulous.
95riosnake
Well-known member
Wow, awesome progress! That Marvin door is a really classy looking setup.
We've gotten quite a bit done since the last update, but still not close enough to see the end.....aka, moving in.
All the spray foaming, sheetrock, taping/texturing, and most of the painting is done, with the exception of sheetrocking the bay area - I'm going to handle that. We ended up either using bat insulation or blow in with the foam to create sound barriers.
The kitchen cabinets and granite have arrived, and next week we will be diamond grinding the floors in the kitchen and bay area. We're also going with metallic epoxy. Can't wait to be done with that, because then we can get the front door in and I can start cranking on the baseboard trim.
We're also working on the tile in the upstairs bathroom and then the hardwood flooring. Going with an engineered wood. The bathrooms have heated floors. I was apprehensive about it, but my wife talked me into it.
One side of the upper bay windows has arrived. We're putting in solar cool bronze to try and eliminate some of the heat that comes in through the windows. Here's the first one going in. The black trim around them will go back on.
Here's the view from the inside of the bay area of the row of windows.
All the spray foaming, sheetrock, taping/texturing, and most of the painting is done, with the exception of sheetrocking the bay area - I'm going to handle that. We ended up either using bat insulation or blow in with the foam to create sound barriers.
The kitchen cabinets and granite have arrived, and next week we will be diamond grinding the floors in the kitchen and bay area. We're also going with metallic epoxy. Can't wait to be done with that, because then we can get the front door in and I can start cranking on the baseboard trim.
We're also working on the tile in the upstairs bathroom and then the hardwood flooring. Going with an engineered wood. The bathrooms have heated floors. I was apprehensive about it, but my wife talked me into it.
One side of the upper bay windows has arrived. We're putting in solar cool bronze to try and eliminate some of the heat that comes in through the windows. Here's the first one going in. The black trim around them will go back on.
Here's the view from the inside of the bay area of the row of windows.
timbitca
Well-known member
Great progress!
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Well, as much as I had hoped to be moving in by year end it's just not going to happen. While we've had plenty of good progress, too many setbacks have occurred. From broken kitchen cabinets (and a 4 week lead time) to the flooring taking waaaaay longer than it should means likely end of January.
We did get all the solar cool bronze windows installed on one side of the bay area. Really like how they turned out. With as much glass as there is, these will hopefully reduce the summer heat and with the old glass single pane it will improve the heating as well.
Also ground the floors, starting with the kitchen. This ancient concrete grinder was a beast! Can do about 1000 sq ft in 3 hours.
After grinding the kitchen, we put down epoxy. We had access to CTM. Got it down in the kitchen with mixed success. Ended up with some bubbles that wouldn't resolve and ended up putting a clear on it that we weren't happy about, but it's going to stay for now. Color is a charcoal metallic with some hot chocolate metallic for contrast.
Finally we got most of the kitchen cabinets in.
Should be able to provide another update the end of this week, including upstairs flooring and the elevator install. Hoping to have the bay area epoxy down by year's end. Also been doing the trim work - window returns, baseboard, etc. Can't wait to be able to start moving stuff in and then start in earnest on the bay area/living room!
We did get all the solar cool bronze windows installed on one side of the bay area. Really like how they turned out. With as much glass as there is, these will hopefully reduce the summer heat and with the old glass single pane it will improve the heating as well.
Also ground the floors, starting with the kitchen. This ancient concrete grinder was a beast! Can do about 1000 sq ft in 3 hours.
After grinding the kitchen, we put down epoxy. We had access to CTM. Got it down in the kitchen with mixed success. Ended up with some bubbles that wouldn't resolve and ended up putting a clear on it that we weren't happy about, but it's going to stay for now. Color is a charcoal metallic with some hot chocolate metallic for contrast.
Finally we got most of the kitchen cabinets in.
Should be able to provide another update the end of this week, including upstairs flooring and the elevator install. Hoping to have the bay area epoxy down by year's end. Also been doing the trim work - window returns, baseboard, etc. Can't wait to be able to start moving stuff in and then start in earnest on the bay area/living room!
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
^^^^^^ What he said. 
theundermount
Well-known member
really looking sharp great work
Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
Progress has been slow. With the holidays, weather, work, blah, blah, blah....I knew the detail work was going to take time, but definitely underestimated it. Anyway, here's an update of some of the work over the last month.
The counter tops are installed. I was skeptical of how they would look, but wife nailed the colors.
These are shots of the upstairs. Flooring is in and I'm now working on the trim.
As soon as the bathroom tiling is done I can install the bathroom doors and vanity, then finish all the trim upstairs. Did manage to get all the ceiling fans installed and put down a rubber floor for the wife's workout area.
The elevator has been a problem from the start. The contractor is horrible on meeting deadlines or showing up when they say they will. No communication either, I've had to continually call and get pissed with them to get the work done. Makes me wonder how maintenance will be and if there are breakdowns.
Here's a couple shots of the mechanism and equipment in the basement. Supposedly they are bringing a 3-man crew this week to finish it up.
My goal is to finish all the trim, including filling holes and re-touching up the paint by the end of the month. Also plan on using 3/4 black pipe and cedar for the shelving. Hoping I can get those done this month too.
Once we are actually living in it, then I can start working on the bay area which should be more in line with what the Garage Journal is all about! While it's going to be the "living room", I'm going to have a lift with a couple cars and our motorcycles in it as well. I may have posted these pics before, but here's what I really want to be working on!
Won't be doing any work on cars/motorcycles here. That's what the other shops are for, but it's going to be a great place to hang out, watch tv, and drink a beer.
The counter tops are installed. I was skeptical of how they would look, but wife nailed the colors.
These are shots of the upstairs. Flooring is in and I'm now working on the trim.
As soon as the bathroom tiling is done I can install the bathroom doors and vanity, then finish all the trim upstairs. Did manage to get all the ceiling fans installed and put down a rubber floor for the wife's workout area.
The elevator has been a problem from the start. The contractor is horrible on meeting deadlines or showing up when they say they will. No communication either, I've had to continually call and get pissed with them to get the work done. Makes me wonder how maintenance will be and if there are breakdowns.
Here's a couple shots of the mechanism and equipment in the basement. Supposedly they are bringing a 3-man crew this week to finish it up.
My goal is to finish all the trim, including filling holes and re-touching up the paint by the end of the month. Also plan on using 3/4 black pipe and cedar for the shelving. Hoping I can get those done this month too.
Once we are actually living in it, then I can start working on the bay area which should be more in line with what the Garage Journal is all about! While it's going to be the "living room", I'm going to have a lift with a couple cars and our motorcycles in it as well. I may have posted these pics before, but here's what I really want to be working on!
Won't be doing any work on cars/motorcycles here. That's what the other shops are for, but it's going to be a great place to hang out, watch tv, and drink a beer.
Lucky13driver
Well-known member
Nice looking place sir.
54earl
Well-known member
Looking good.
95riosnake
Well-known member
Really coming along nicely! It takes some imagination to successfully convert a space like this station into a proper living space but from what I have seen you have nailed it. Really looking forward to seeing the living room take shape.
How did you come up with the design? Was this all you or did you have a architect/ designer help out? Man it looks awesome so far.
Thanks Bugthug! I had an architect/engineer before we started. We met, went over specifics that had to be included. He did one floor plan that had none of the mandatory design items and lots I didn't want. Then the first bill for $2,500 showed up and he indicated there would be 3 or 4 more iterations before getting it finalized. I sent him packing, bought SketchUp for $19.99 and designed it myself.
Have been able to generate my own plans/drawing to the point of passing muster for building permits and good enough for the contractors to work from.
I know now there are some things I'd do differently, but that's probably the case if we had stayed with a professional designer too. I just couldn't bring myself to likely pay $10k for the architect, especially when it didn't seem like he was listening.
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Good for you, I think the architect are a lot like lawyers. If they find a way to drain you dry, they will.
I really like everything you are doing, it sure gets me a dreamin.
What state are you in? I was going by Midwest and was thinking Oklahoma cause of the hills I see in the background, but then you said something about Montana and Wyoming so now I'm not sure.
Keep up the good work, at least you have plenty to do inside if the weather's not cooperating.
I really like everything you are doing, it sure gets me a dreamin.
What state are you in? I was going by Midwest and was thinking Oklahoma cause of the hills I see in the background, but then you said something about Montana and Wyoming so now I'm not sure.
Keep up the good work, at least you have plenty to do inside if the weather's not cooperating.
slik560
Well-known member
I really applaud your efforts in using a former service station for the project. This is an idea I might steal, as we've been thinking about downsizing, but it's hard to find a smaller house with a really huge garage In Kansas, the Department of Health & Environment started a program that owners of properties with underground tanks can sign up and participate in a sort of "co-op" for the monitoring or remediation of a property with UST's - like old gas stations. A friend bought an old Marland Oil station and converted it to his shop. SO....I will be searching for similar situations - and the best part is that the wife is on board with the idea.
In Kansas, the Department of Health & Environment started a program that owners of properties with underground tanks can sign up and participate in a sort of "co-op" for the monitoring or remediation of a property with UST's - like old gas stations. A friend bought an old Marland Oil station and converted it to his shop. SO....I will be searching for similar situations - and the best part is that the wife is on board with the idea. Just stumbled upon this thread! Wow!
Are those solar bronze windows you installed impact resistant? Seems like with all your wind - and strong storms - you'd want exposed panes like that to be able to take a beating.
Are those solar bronze windows you installed impact resistant? Seems like with all your wind - and strong storms - you'd want exposed panes like that to be able to take a beating.
Hey BugThug, sent you a message. May also need some tips on a '67 VW I latched onto for the wife.
I really applaud your efforts in using a former service station for the project. This is an idea I might steal, as we've been thinking about downsizing, but it's hard to find a smaller house with a really huge garage
Thanks much Kevin! When my wife agreed, I also jumped at the opportunity. Sooooooo, I may have an option for you that would save you time, money, and give you lots of flexibility on where you locate a shop/house. I have a completely disassembled porcelain Sinclair station. Coincidentally, it came from Gardner, KS just southwest of KC. It was going to get torn down to build a CVS so I bought it and took it apart. I have tons of pictures and video of the process. Also, lots of the pieces are numbered and they were sold as a "kit".
With other projects and priorities, I would sell it and could deliver it as well. If you're interested, PM me and I can get you more info and answer any questions. Below is a pic of before I took it apart. The addition on the left was left behind - it was a wood structure added to the station.
Bonneyman,
Yep, those windows are tempered and dual pane. One of my best buds owns a glass business so he hooked me up. Whether wind and hail they should withstand it. Surprisingly, the single pane plate glass windows survived for a long time.
BoilermakerFan
Well-known member
Very cool. I hope you negotiated with the architect to get that original bill cut down since he didn't listen to you to begin with.
I follow a designer that specializes in small houses. He had posted a design that for him, was actually quite large (~1400sq ft) and at the time I was able to download the entire plan for free. It looked like the house plan would be easy to modify to increase the sq. footage on the second floor and add a mud room to attach the house to a garage yielding about 1600sq ft to meet the covenants for minimum square footage on the property we own. I wanted the second story of the mud room to be a WIC on the upstairs master bedroom too. I reached out to him to get an idea of the cost to make the changes and provide the plans. I was expecting a quote for about $3K. He came back at $500-$750 with most of that being the costs for the full set of blueprints.
So I found my architect! Thanks much Kevin! When my wife agreed, I also jumped at the opportunity. Sooooooo, I may have an option for you that would save you time, money, and give you lots of flexibility on where you locate a shop/house. I have a completely disassembled porcelain Sinclair station. Coincidentally, it came from Gardner, KS just southwest of KC. It was going to get torn down to build a CVS so I bought it and took it apart. I have tons of pictures and video of the process. Also, lots of the pieces are numbered and they were sold as a "kit".
With other projects and priorities, I would sell it and could deliver it as well. If you're interested, PM me and I can get you more info and answer any questions. Below is a pic of before I took it apart. The addition on the left was left behind - it was a wood structure added to the station.
OMG! So you actually have TWO old stations!?!?!
That one is so cool! I love it. I know it's small so it wouldn't really work as a house, but man that would be an awesome detached garage.
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