D.TRECE - Garage + House

[Audicon]

Re: D.TRECE - 62x36 - My first garage + house

The house is looking great. I went back to look at the renderings again. Can't wait to see it finished as well.

And don't worry. Any update we get will not disappoint.

And to remind us what is coming:

Everything was made in CAD and I just have a CAD viewer so I have not been able to extract a decent resolution picture of the plans so far. Still trying tho.

I have some Architectural renders, I just hope the thing ends up looking as them, because the background is far from reality as you can see in the progress pictures

And "Night" shot

 

[55cadillacking]

It is going to be an epic home for sure. I saw some similar stunners when I lived in Tokyo. I just love the modern concrete fortress look.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Those computer renderings are incredible.

 

[LCG]

Great update. Again, a new, to me, construction technique. I have never seen a floating plaster ceiling. How is the frame for the lath fastened to the overhead? Looks like copper tubing?!

The color gave you that impression, I thought the same at first glance haha.
Its VERY thin steel.

Great house, crappy neighbor.

Indeed, have not seen him in a good while tho

The house is looking great. I went back to look at the renderings again. Can't wait to see it finished as well.

And don't worry. Any update we get will not disappoint.

And to remind us what is coming:

The angle of the picture does not help but I think its going just about!, however the middle wall won't be exposed concrete, that thing just did not work.

It is going to be an epic home for sure. I saw some similar stunners when I lived in Tokyo. I just love the modern concrete fortress look.

I have seen a lot of Tokyo pics and Japan is just crazy

Those computer renderings are incredible.

You should see the even more expensive ones! Which I didn't buy

 

[LCG]

Update:

Faux ceiling on the garage is done, it is super smooth. I know I will lament the fact that I did not ran the electrics first but I need to finish the house ASAP, so will deal with that later.

Made a cut for the stairs just in case, May run with "Jordan's lucky way" on this.

Garage ramp is done

Instead of rebar I bought a roll of "electrowelded" 8gauge steel mesh, easy to use and quite cheap!

Washed concrete finish, I thought they would actually wash it with a hose while still wet but they laid the concrete, smoothed the gravel and gritted it with some sponges.

Relief cuts on the first section

The Neighbor Association asked me to demolish some stuff, in act of good faith I accepted, not very happy about it but we can make it work.

1st floor lightning preparations done and faux ceiling foundation going fast.

A couple more tubes and the panel will be ready. I have been talking with some automation guys but as a handy DIYer prices seem to be VERY high for something not that complicated. I got an estimate for 18k without including labor there must be something I can install myself and save some money.

Extra picture

Current state

Base and Paint coming soon

 

[BeachBoy]

Wow coming along nicely!
***** for the HOA

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[OHSCrifle]

What are you removing? Why were you asked to remove it?

 

[ConCretin]

How cool is to watch your home take shape to match the renderings, which are incredible by the way. My little cardboard model pales in comparison.

I think you made the right choice in eliminating the exposed concrete on the the big center wall. I was thrilled to see it originally but it would have been very, very difficult to pull off.

This project continues to amaze. I'm really ooking forward to the next phase.

 

[roscoe2000]

fantastic

 

[LCG]

fantastic

Wow coming along nicely!
***** for the HOA

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

What are you removing? Why were you asked to remove it?

House must have 2 service zones, those should not have any construction on them, Rear is 3 meters and Right side is 2 meters.
However, rulebook says you can build up to 25% of the rear zone, so I did.

on 2014 the HOA changed and the new administration asked me to demolish that 25% of extra construction. It was just a wall separating the pseudo garden from the clothes washing "zone".

How cool is to watch your home take shape to match the renderings, which are incredible by the way. My little cardboard model pales in comparison.

I think you made the right choice in eliminating the exposed concrete on the the big center wall. I was thrilled to see it originally but it would have been very, very difficult to pull off.

This project continues to amaze. I'm really ooking forward to the next phase.

Always being so modest D

Its always good when you find someone that knows concrete and can advice you into not ruining the project .. Thank you!

 

[jsherid1]

Great looking house, I ran into the same issue on home automation so I decided to go with Lowes Iris system as a DIY alternative. I know I am giving up features and some integration but I'm really just interested in handling lighting and it is good for that.

 

[BHR4CE1]

I would go with an in-ground scissor lift to maximize your floor/parking space. I used one in one of my garages, and it is perfect. You can park one car, or two cars without any trouble.

 

[LCG]

Great looking house, I ran into the same issue on home automation so I decided to go with Lowes Iris system as a DIY alternative. I know I am giving up features and some integration but I'm really just interested in handling lighting and it is good for that.

Thanks! I'm working with a Bticino rep and seems like we could get that going. It integrates Security/Audio/Lightning/Shading. They don't support DIY installs but as soon as they install it I'm sure I can takeover.

I would go with an in-ground scissor lift to maximize your floor/parking space. I used one in one of my garages, and it is perfect. You can park one car, or two cars without any trouble.

scissor wont work for me as I need a free under car clearance to drop the engine and trans etc.

 

[LCG]

Much Update.

I have been going to the house taking pictures and not taking pictures of other stuff. This is what has been happening in the last weeks.

PART A - Not everything is smooth

* Cement plaster on the right side of the garage cracked good from bad anchoring to the concrete wall. Some patches have been removed and replaced with a much stronger bond additive.

* As petition of HOA I dropped the level of the "garden" and a lot of drainage stuff was made for the taller level so there goes the money on the drain!

* I don't have pictures of this as I was pretty much shocked about the quality of the tiles for the garage. I asked the installer to lay them with a 2mm gap for the "smooth" one piece floor. He calls me and tells me that I have to go and check the tiles.

I arrive and he installed about half garage of the tiles and asks me to rub the gaps with my hand. HOLY ****, the tiles are all fat or skinny for a lack of better explaining they just felt like going over a speed bump (note the exaggeration) . After ranting and cursing the floor maker, the installer calms me down and tells me to wait. So I wait. He lays about 3 meters of floor with a 5mm gap and tells me to feel it again. Of course it still fits awfully but it looks 100 times better. He tells me that he will pull the floor for free and won't charge for the work already done and install the floor on that gap. God Bless Him.

PART B - The smooth part

The rear of the house is done for the most part. Plaster is done and the drainage registers were slimmed down.

Had to add some steps to the already mini garden.

Final electric lines going to the outside lightning.

And lastly. This is what has been taking all my time away from the house and the reason I was rushing the project. It didn't work as I expected but sure I feel like the tallest guy in the universe right now. Nothing beats the excitement of your first child I guess.

Yes she looks like a boy.. No she is not.

 

[ConCretin]

Holy cow! Did I miss something somewhere along the way? Like the fact that you're expecting a baby perhaps? Congratulations my friend, she's beautiful. A fantastic new home and a healthy child - You are truly blessed. Thank you for sharing. You made my day.

 

[E12-535iTurbo]

Wow that came as a surprise! Congratulations!! It's an awsome feeling.

 

[rixtrix1]

Congratulations!

 

[Shoottx]

That package is way better than any of the house or garage stuff!

Congratulation to all three of you!

 

[TwoBytes]

Yeah, that was a surprise! Congratulations!

As awesome as your house is going to be when it's finished, nothing I've done so far in my life beats becoming a Dad.

 

[LCG]

Thanks guys, it sure feels like nothing I have felt before. Almost like you don't know exactly what to feel haha

 

[1/2 Cup]

Congratulations, its a truly special time for you.

 

[Pointbock]

M-F'n Pancakes! (from Gregor's thread)

Congrats on all fronts!

 

[Jimbo..]

Congratulations!

 

[vonhef]

Congrats on the baby girl! Your place is going to be impressive.

 

[jsherid1]

Congrats on becoming a Dad! Enjoy these times as they fly by, I still think of my daughter as a baby sometimes even though she is now a boy-chasing (already, I had some karma coming for my behavior as a single man) six year old!

 

[gotfromfrance]

congrats man
Awesome building. Really really impressed.

 

[LCG]

even though she is now a boy-chasing six year old!

oh please let me live with the joy! don't take it away so soon!

thanks everyone, really really proud of her.

 

[dreesemonkey]

oh please let me live with the joy! don't take it away so soon!

thanks everyone, really really proud of her.

Beautiful baby girl, congratulations.

It gets better and better, I have a 2.5 year old and he is so much fun!

 

[LCG]

I just can't stop staring at her, just mesmerizing. And there is no way you can talk to them with your normal voice. Gotta be some idiotic childish voice haha.

I left her with her mom at Grandmas to dedicate the week on buying the "final" parts of the house. Here is a nonsense update:

Garage tiling going on for the second time.

As I explained some posts above had to remove it because the 2/3mm gap was showing the tiles were ****. So here it is with a 5mm gap.

Installer pulled a cleaned the tiles as best as possible to reuse them without breaking even one of them...

And the ramp lost its virginity! almost shed a tear... ok not

blinding white paint is being applied!

Also sealed and "painted" the board concrete wall. It came out really dark, It's supposed to light a bit on time but for now it just looks well.. dark.

I have been working on designing some stuff!

First the stairs for the Garage to 1st floor, OBVIOUSLY not as cool as Doug's but hell that would be kinda hard as HE ***** .

The main stairs are still a work in progress as I have to deal with some engineering on the looks side.

I have not found a single faucet hardware I fancy in terms of feel and I always liked the old stereo knobs so I bought a chunk of these:

To try and work it to something like these

Still looking at options but I think I will have a set made just to check if they come out as I imagine them.

That is it for now, tomorrow is grout time for the garage and looking at wood for the 100th time!

 

[rixtrix1]

Coming along nicely; another reason to be proud.

 

[MajorLeeGassole]

Thanks for sharing. We're all looking forward to more updates. Congrats on all the progress being made!

 

[rmantoo]

LCG, tu casa Y nina son hermosa. Muchas gracias, y buena suerte.

 

[LCG]

Muchas Gracias!

 

[LCG]

I don't have anything groundbreaking thing to show. Paint is going on so no cool stuff happening right now.

I can't understand where all the dirt comes from, but it gathers so quickly that now I'm afraid the location will be VERY VERY dusty and a black floor was just a terrible idea

The front entrance will be a "wood wall". This was a nice idea from the architectural point but I think we should have done a full size wall door. With the thickness of the door, on a 5' total opening the door will take 1.5'!

Rear took its first coat of blinding white sealer.

Being a new father made me want to be with my newborn all the time, visits to the new house decreased a lot and I was "controlling" the thing by phone calls. SOOOO...

Kitchen ceiling design was nice on paper. Plaster guy calls me and says they finished. I come over and it was horrible. I would explain it but won't bother you with details. So I ask them to redo it, we make some drawings on the wall (high tech stuff). I leave them and come back 2 days later.

Well, seems like we agreed on different things, he was thinking 5 while I was thinking 50 and in the discussion we both lost it. Once again I took the fault and asked for a third try.

This time I stayed there till they made the level lines and everything. He also suggested an Island drop, which at the time I thought would look good with some lights on it.

And this is it. The second drop does not convince me enough yet. I may wait till the kitchen progress a bit more to decide if it stays or not.

Sealer and Sanding going on all over the interior.

Windows are FINALLY being made after a long discussion with the installer. Seems like Mexico is WAY TOO YOUNG on aluminum finishing, NO powder coating anywhere. Basically you have 4 options.
1. White glossy (like plastic)
2. Black anodized
3. Bronze/Gold
4. Raw
Other than that and you get a very mad installer because you are crazy and everyone likes them. So I go to my regular paint shop, ask them for a paint sample of the tone I was looking for and give it to the installer. He calls me next day saying there is a shop that is making a "similar" tone.

This is the sample

Not that close in the brightness side but I will live with it.

And this is the progress on the main staircase. Not much as it has been like this for a week now.

Made a trip to the store to buy appliances and bathroom stuff and it was good! I felt like a pretty Lady buying a lot of shoes!

 

[ConCretin]

I've been missing your updates but I had a pretty good idea what's been taking up all your time. That little cutie would occupy ALL my attention.

The place is coming along beautifully. Color, even if it's white is going to transform the structure. It's really going to pull out all the great detail.

I love the kitchen ceiling detail. I don't know what your vision is but it looks pretty awesome already.

Building these things is so difficult. All the little details are complicated and expensive and people often don't get what you are trying to achieve. Kudos for keeping at it until you get what you want.

We may have to arrange a cultural exchange. I'll come down to see your place in February and you pay me a visit in August.

 

[JordonMusser]

Looks good man!

 

[LCG]

I've been missing your updates but I had a pretty good idea what'e been taking up all your time. That little cutie would occupy ALL my attention.

Oh you can bet big bucks on that.

The place is coming along beautifully. Color, even if it's white is going to transform the structure. It's really going to pull out all the great detail.

I love the kitchen ceiling detail. I don't know what your vision is but it looks pretty awesome already.

I think its too much for the size of the kitchen, but thanks, makes me feel better about it

Building these things is so difficult. All the little details are complicated and expensive and people often don't get what you are trying to achieve. Kudos for keeping at it until you get what you want.

You are right, I have such a "creative" imagination and some times people or available hardware can't achieve my ideas so I have to improvise a lot. I could not find any faucets that I liked, so I bought a bunch of bathtub exits and plan to use them as wall exits. Lets see how that pulls out.

We may have to arrange a cultural exchange. I'll come down to see your place in February and you pay me a visit in August.

I'm up! just as you say, don't judge too hard, it may not live to the expectations

....

 

[LCG]

Looks good man!

Likewise

 

[LCG]

Small update.

Most likely when you are not sure if you like something is because you don't REALLY like it so, off it goes.

And for the kicks, the only place in the house that won't be blinding white. The garage!, still dirty but without doors and windows its just impossible to make it worth cleaning yet.

 

[memphisnate]

Interesting that you went with black in the garage...what's the reasoning? I would think it would make the space feel small/confined.