Capstone
Well-known member
Awesome thread. Thanks for sharing this big project!
Big jim's big project
- Thread starter Big_Jim
- Start date
HOTFR8
Banned
Great progress Jim.
CodeRedZ
Well-known member
wow awesome project.
MajorLeeGassole
Well-known member
Boy, am I observant. I noticed the O&G on the truck and said to myself, "Connecticut?!" Looked at your location. I'm originally from Thomaston. Living in WV now. Like the project!
Thanx and Good eye. Yup I'm from that neck of the woods as well.
Almost all the sheet rock is up. They didn't do where the tub is going because the tub needs to be installed & one living room wall (facing the existing garage). That wall has to be 5/8'' (Fire code) and that sheet rock is down in the garage. I was going to say tomorrow is another day then noticed the time.
I have taken the next two weeks off from work to do a ton of work before she moves in so updates will be sparse. The cabinets will be here on the 19th so I need to be all painted by then.
On with the pictures:
I have taken the next two weeks off from work to do a ton of work before she moves in so updates will be sparse. The cabinets will be here on the 19th so I need to be all painted by then. On with the pictures:
Is there no insulation in the garage ceiling ?
It doesn't look like the same place as before.
Is there no insulation in the garage ceiling ?
It doesn't look like the same place as before.
Thanks Eric, Yes there is. Tough to see with the glare of the flash. I put R30 in the ceiling.
We worked on the deck railings today. I cut 1-1/2" off of each side (that took a while to do 94 balusters) welded it all up then painted it. That was a mistake! Next I'm going to paint first (all but welding areas) then weld, then touch up. One down 10 more to go. In the picture the top plate is not installed and the top shoes need to be put up and the set screws tightened.
Omphaloskeptic
Well-known member
Man, those balusters are fancy, but what a pain they must be to paint, and repaint, and....
Yeah the first one is the toughest. They get easier as you go....I hope! I suppose it's just like anything else in this world; if ya got a system it's easy. The hard part is all the prep work but it will be worth it in the long run just having something different. As we were finishing up cutting all the balusters I just looked up at the wife with "The look". I thought it but she said it "Ya know it would have been so much easier to just buy vinyl railing from home depot" (pause) "But then we wouldn't be having all this fun together".
It still amazes me how we think of each others thoughts! I guess after 28 years together we were bound to start thinking alike.Well it's been a while since I posted an update. We have been very busy getting things done so Mom can move in (Hopefully) before thanksgiving. Most of the railings are done. We have emptied the storage unit with all the stuff that goes into the garage (Boy that filled up fast). The storage unit is gone and a purple dumpster is in it's place. All the cars are down in the garage & back yard. The garage doors are all installed as well as lights. We have power to all the plugs in the garage only. The yard is shaping up as well. All the drainage is done, the yard is leveled off, and almost ready for seed (No C/O without grass). As for the apartment; the kitchen, bathroom, & living room are all painted. The kitchen cabinets are almost all installed. The heated floors & tile are (Suppose to) be done Monday & Tuesday. Next is rugs. One room left to paint. All the doors are installed they just need to be stained (solid pine 6 panel). Gutters are done. The furnace is all done (it had to be wired for all 3 zones). We had fun getting the 3 cars down the hill and into the garage. We used a tow strap hooked to the bumper of my 02 Impala and let gravity do it's thing but with no brakes or steering it was a lot of fun. Getting my big tool box down the hill was fun as well. It weighs at least 1200 pounds. The whole family worked like rented mules this past 2 weeks. Now the big push to get prepared for the big storm (Sandy) that is going to hit tomorrow night. We are all gassed up, have the generator ready, water, batteries, etc. Bring it on *****!
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HOTFR8
Banned
Now you will have to tell us more about those projects you have moved into the Garage but only when Sandy has been and gone. Sandy has been on the news here.
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HOTFR8
Banned
Take Care. Hope all is ok. Seeing it all on the TV news here.
Well we came through the storm without so much as a scratch. We filled up about 50 containers of water, filled the tub for flushing to toilet, filled everything I owned with gas, tuned up the generator, took everything inside that I could & nailed down what I couldn't, and we never lost power. The lights flickered a couple of times was about it. Had some washout because I have no grass yet but all looks to be a okay. Now if I had not done all this we would have lost power for a week.
HOTFR8
Banned
Now if I had not done all this we would have lost power for a week.
Oh how true. Good to hear you are OK.Been real busy but it's time for an update: The kitchen cabinets are all installed, the tile in the kitchen & bath are all done (including the wire under the tile for the heated floors and the tile in the shower area), all the rooms are painted, the doors are all stained as well as the jambs stained, extension jambs on the windows are all painted, the ramp for the front door is 99% done, the front & back concrete stoops are poured, the front walk (free pavers) is done, the front yard is grated-seeded-& hayed, heat is now operational (including the garage), & all the vents are installed for the A/C. Next up is rugs, toilet, vanity (I have the sink for the bathroom), counters (Granite), plugs-sockets-lights, door knobs, alarm system, & hot water heater. Then its moving day.
Pictures? I thought you'd never ask.
Pictures? I thought you'd never ask.
HOTFR8
Banned
Looks like the storm never slowed you at all.
I like the cabinets !
I bet you and the wife can't wait for the mess to be gone.
I bet you and the wife can't wait for the mess to be gone.
Thanks Man! We actually found a bathroom vanity that is real close to the kitchen cabinets. We liked the cabinets so much the same exact style and color are going in our kitchen. Have them already but can't install them till Mom is in. One mess almost done then on to the next.
After the wife's kitchen is done then I can work on the hot rods!
Here is a picture of the vanity & mirror.
Time for another update: We have the storm doors installed, rugs are in, counters are done, the heated floors in the kitchen & bath are working great, we started to trim out her closet, the washer & dryer are in place, the pocket doors are hung, the vanity is in place, the toe kicks on the kitchen cabinets are all done, & most of the electrical is done (About time). I pretty much can't stand the electrician. (Slow as hell) On a lighter note....Mom had a Dr's appointment today and afterwards the wife brought her here. She took one look at the kitchen and started to cry? I thought she didn't like it! She said no they were tears of joy she loved it & she loved the lavender bedroom. She said it felt warm in there even though it was only 62°! It made me feel real good to see her so happy. It makes all the hard work worth it. Enough with the mushy stuff on to the pix!
(Slow as hell) On a lighter note....Mom had a Dr's appointment today and afterwards the wife brought her here. She took one look at the kitchen and started to cry? I thought she didn't like it! She said no they were tears of joy she loved it & she loved the lavender bedroom. She said it felt warm in there even though it was only 62°! It made me feel real good to see her so happy. It makes all the hard work worth it. Enough with the mushy stuff on to the pix!
Been a while since I posted an update so here goes: I am happy to announce that we are almost done!!!! All that is needed is the hardware on the kitchen cabinets and a few pieces of trim. Then it's move in time! WOO HOO!!! We have done almost all the trim, doors are all coated in clear poly, all the plumbing is operational, washer & dryer work great, lights and ceiling fans are all done, the alarm system is all installed, storm doors are in, vertical blinds in the living room & mini blinds are installed everywhere else, & the heat is working in the garage (although we have had issues with it being air-bound). The building inspector is coming over tomorrow so hopefully he signs off on the C/O. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Now on with the pictures!
farrbar
Well-known member
Looks great! I just put in a very similar bath vanity as part of a big project. If you are at all like me, I don't want to have to pick out another faucet, cabinet, door knob or anything of the sort for a good long time.
Best of luck with the inspector!
Best of luck with the inspector!
muddy tires
Well-known member
You might consider buying term life insurance on you parent lives for just that reason.
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muddy tires
Well-known member
We even got my kid (Amber) to help out hooking up all the mafia blocks.
Fun to get the family involved but with no hard hat, gloves, or safety boots our health and safety guys would be having a fit!
Great build. The apartment turned out great.
HOTFR8
Banned
Looking good Jim.
Plus the fact it is being done with a backhoe and not the correct crane lift equipment.
Oh well lucky the Union is not involved they would be after Ambers card.
Plus the fact it is being done with a backhoe and not the correct crane lift equipment.
Oh well lucky the Union is not involved they would be after Ambers card
.Thanx for the kind words and you are correct she should be wearing some kind of safety gear. You would think; with all the things that happened on this job that I would have made her wear some protection. But in my defense I was at work when this was going on. Damn it! I will give the wife a stern talking to! All kidding aside I suppose growing up we all did stupid and dangerous things but no sense in pushing our luck.
Looking good Jim.
Oh well lucky the Union is not involved they would be after Ambers card
He actually paid her $20 to help out. I suppose it helped teach her some responsibility & a little work will never hurt. She did this on more then one occasion but while I was watching; she would only hook the chain for him to save him time getting in and out of the excavator. Then she would stand well clear of the blocks as he lifted & set them. The wife was taking the picture. If I was there we wouldn't be discussing it now. I was an injection mold process tech for over 20 years (nick name: "The steel *******") I have seen chains separate with 4 ton's of steel hanging from them and chainfalls fail. It isn't pretty if your in the way. Thanks for looking out for us it is appreciated.
HOTFR8
Banned
Some time I wonder how we got to get all these rules but then it only takes one person to do something stupid. Do not start me on what I did when I was younger some would think we would have been crazy. Try chasing Roos whilst sitting on the Bull bar of a 4WD at 50 mph on a flat dry lake bed or riding on a wheat bag towed by a drag chain on wet clover.
I would guess the back how opperator knew what he was doing and was making sure your girl was well out of the way before he lifted or moved anything.
I would guess the back how opperator knew what he was doing and was making sure your girl was well out of the way before he lifted or moved anything.
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Thanx Man! Once she is moved in I'm going to work on my hot rods...Hopefully.
Congratulations and congratulations !
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
It seems like it was a long build, but if you look back at when the 'hoe was unloaded and the first scoop full of dirt was moved, it really hasn't been long at all. But man, does it ever look good. Now you need to get the insurance company out there for them to look it over so you can make sure you have adequate insurance if (God forbid) anything would happen. You probably should have the place reappraised too.
You did good, and the write ups you did on here will let anyone else know what to look forward to if they decide to do something similar.
And yep, time to kick back with a cold one in the garage with the cars now!!!
You did good, and the write ups you did on here will let anyone else know what to look forward to if they decide to do something similar.
And yep, time to kick back with a cold one in the garage with the cars now!!!
Well it's been a few months now. Mom is settled in and it's time for more fun...I mean construction. The plan is to make 3 rooms out of the old 16X22 garage. A long galley room (6X22) that I will be doing my work in, an area for Mom to keep "Some" of her collectables in(10X13), and a shed area for me to keep the lawn care implements of destruction in (9X11). I know the door configuration is a little strange but we are going for maximum wall space.
The framing is pretty much done.
This is looking (to the right)out my existing kitchen door leading into what was the old garage.
This is looking out the same door but straight ahead.
And to the left.
We had to put a small jog in the wall because the double doors didn't line up with the door to the right that leads into Mom's apartment. The doorway in the straight ahead picture has to be there to gain access to the attic. The door to the left is there so after I'm done snowblowing or coming home from work (1AM) I don't have to track through her apartment to get into my home. The third door is there just in case something ever happens and we have to get her out on a stretcher we have a straight shot. Trying to think of everything here.
We are also doing a kitchen remodel at the same time. These two projects will get a ton of junk out of my garage so I can finally have room to work on my cars, my house will finally get organized and back to normal.
Here is a link to some pics of us ripping apart the old kitchen.
http://public.fotki.com/BIG-JIM/kitchen-remodel
The framing is pretty much done.
This is looking (to the right)out my existing kitchen door leading into what was the old garage.
This is looking out the same door but straight ahead.
And to the left.
We had to put a small jog in the wall because the double doors didn't line up with the door to the right that leads into Mom's apartment. The doorway in the straight ahead picture has to be there to gain access to the attic. The door to the left is there so after I'm done snowblowing or coming home from work (1AM) I don't have to track through her apartment to get into my home. The third door is there just in case something ever happens and we have to get her out on a stretcher we have a straight shot. Trying to think of everything here.
We are also doing a kitchen remodel at the same time. These two projects will get a ton of junk out of my garage so I can finally have room to work on my cars, my house will finally get organized and back to normal.
Here is a link to some pics of us ripping apart the old kitchen.
http://public.fotki.com/BIG-JIM/kitchen-remodel
Well guy's I haven't been on here for some time. My Mom moved into her new apartment on 12/12/12 and in just 3 years (almost to the day) she has passed on. I was hoping she would have been with us a lot longer but I suppose it just wasn't meant to be. I have no regrets and truly cherished the moments we had with here. I did get a bunch of work done on the Hot rod and was hoping to take her for a spin this coming spring. I would take her down to the garage and show her what I was working on and she would get all wide eyed and say "Wow that is neat". But as her health started to decline I would take pictures up to her room and show her. I was really pushing to get it done for her but as she got worse less got done on the car. Though it's been almost 3 weeks now I still feel as though I have to be quiet in the garage so I don't disturb her. I suppose this feeling will pass. Hoping to get back at it soon.