Recent content by andyvh1959

I agree, what you did to me would not require a permit if it just updating the structure that is already there. Unless that structure of feature was originally compromising the structure itself. However, the proof in that is the longevity of what was previously there. San Fran is a lot...

Now that is some rational thinking. I'll tell my wife, "Honey I'm off tot he Ford dealership to get that back up power issue handled."

Two years? What are you building? Back in fall of 2019 I was traveling weekly for work. I submitted my 24x28 shop plans from Menards to the city of Green Bay via their webpage. Less than $250 and I had my construction permit a week after I sent it in online.

My wife said something like a solar powered backup power source may be a good idea. This was after she saw the commercial on TV for 4Patriots.com. Not to get into a whole different discussion on that webpage in general, the idea of a power backup is a reasonable discussion...

I have built three garages since the early 80s, each with a row or two of 8" block masonry set on the slab to get the sill plate 6" to 8" above the grade. Used normal sill sealing products and have never had an issue.

My 2019 Kia Sorento recently crapped the alternator, totally. Car went dead while driving, everything deae. Got it towed home. I replaced the alternator, $250 from CarQuest. Not a pleasant changeout; PS tire off, fender linder out, serentine belt off, AC compressor out (hoses connected) and then...

Having someone with a skid steer is a huge plus. Most of the flor can be lifted out in chunks with a skid steer. Grading the substrate inside the garage with a skid stter is easy too. Maybe get the structure lifted up on cribbing and then bring in the skidsteer to take out all of the concrete...

About three miles from the main gate at Road America: https://www.luxurymotorcourts.com/ I ride by there often and there are lots of very interesting cars there. Right in Elkhart Lake is Throttlestop, a gorgeous dealership/museum with the likes of exotic motorcycles and $1M Porches on the...

So how much work can you do inside where no one sees what you are doing? Anything you do know only improves the structure. Looking at the inside of the roof, maybe add new rafters spaced between whats there now. Then add some joists to better tie the walls rogether at the top plate. Add studs if...

$1100 just for a permit? That is ridiculous. I think in Green Bay I spent maybe $250 total iin permits for my 24x28 new shop build. I built my shop mostly by myself, or as the contractor, and I spent $25,000 back in the fall of 2019. I also built it in part to make my 1973 house feature...

You'd thinl so, but no, for snow and ice that is. For rain alone its less of an issue. But here in the upper midwest the snow can easily adhere and fill all the board gaps. Then it melts a bit, and freezes. And soon there are no gaps and you get constant wetness against the siding for the depth...

Aside from getting involved with the city and permits, it sounds like whatever you do is an improvement to the questionable construction of the structure to begin with. Just improving it means you should not have to adjust its position to meet current setback requirements, the grandfather aspect...

I agree with the others. That slab was just poured in place with no substrate prep.So I would not bother trying to repair/level what is there because it will never be good. I lve in a similar climate (Green Bay WI) and I built my 24x28 shop on a locled edge slab back in the wet fall of 2019. Not...

When the contractor built my house back in 1973 they simply bolted the deck ledger directly to the 24' length of the deck, right through the cedar siding and into the sill joist (dumb asses). That west side of the house is always directly exposed to wind, rain, snow, sun, etc, only 6" overhangs...

An alternative for my brother may be to build a storage loft above his truck bay. The attached pic is of the south half of his new shop, and you can see the girder truss. If he built floor joists across from the bottom chord of the girder truss over to the now 14" tall 2x6 wall it would in...