Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT DIY Shop

[Prospecter]

I like a 6" mini roller sleeve on a longer handle for projects like this. I can even get the corners well enough so I just brush them out afterwards. You won't even need a drop cloth!

Yup. Paint is up like everything else. Maybe even a little more since they are trying to reduce VOCs. On the other hand, the new water based paints flow out nicely, cover well, and are easy to clean. And same day recoat if needed.

 

[drivesitfar]

Sorry no painting tips from this old guy cause my bride grabbed my brushes and rollers and claimed them do she’s responsible for any painting and staining (except spray painting).

Sounds like you’ve got a good plan so best of luck.

P: sounds like a good tip!!

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I like a 6" mini roller sleeve on a longer handle for projects like this. I can even get the corners well enough so I just brush them out afterwards. You won't even need a drop cloth!

Yup. Paint is up like everything else. Maybe even a little more since they are trying to reduce VOCs. On the other hand, the new water based paints flow out nicely, cover well, and are easy to clean. And same day recoat if needed.

Sorry no painting tips from this old guy cause my bride grabbed my brushes and rollers and claimed them do she’s responsible for any painting and staining (except spray painting).

Sounds like you’ve got a good plan so best of luck.

P: sounds like a good tip!!

Good suggestion. Did it the old fashioned way - 1.5" angle brush for cutting in followed by a 9" roller on an extendable handle to deal with the 9' + ceiling. Threw the brush away rather then cleaning it (already had some unwanted buildup). The extendable handle was a pain in the rear in the small space - but, I was too lazy to take it off and on. Cherish your bride!

I am sure I have doomed myself to some unintended consequences down the road. I have always kept the leftover paint from a job in case I mar or nick the job. Started pulling cans out of the cabinet to see what I had. Two partial quarts of primer that I could still stir up took care of that need. Next up, I found a partial gallon and 2 partial quarts of white paint that are currently sitting in the shop with the lids off to finish drying up so I can throw them away. Then, I was overjoyed to find a partial quart that I could do the cutting in with. Used it up and decided to go get 2 more quarts to finish the job. That is when I discovered I was using external paint. Oh well, going to finish the job with matching paint rather than starting over. Off to Sherwin Williams to get matching paint - "we don't sell that Sherwin Williams paint here - that is Lowes Sherwin Williams."

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Wednesday morning, they tied the street up in front of my place to deliver this trail bridge to the biking/hiking trail they are building along the one mile stretch of road in front of my house.


At least I am starting to put some things back together after painting the bathroom - it is actually fairly bright white - the discoloration is caused by compressing the images.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Today, I vacuumed the floor (again). Then I poured a bit of full strength Krud Kutter on the floor where the stick-down tiles used to be and scrubbed with a scrub brush. Then I mopped that up with clear water. Then, I used a bit of Dawn detergent in a bucket of water and mopped the entire floor.

Of course since my water supply is off, I had to make trips to the house to get buckets of water in the laundry room. Have I mentioned it has been hot here? Not quite as bad as 1980, the year I moved here, but we have had a significant number of days above 100 degrees and no rain for some time. I was concerned my water would boil between the house and the shop. As I was making that journey, I heard a strange noise and paused to listen - I swear I heard the Bermuda grass saying "Where's Alaska? Please show me the way to Alaska?"

I may actually have to start laying tile tomorrow! I did remember to measure the diagonals of the room and came up with the same measurement so I plan to stick to my idea of starting in the SW corner.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

"Peanut butter" ready in blue bucket. After deciding the room was square based on diagonal measurements, I was still concerned about getting that first tile square in the corner. Decided to use 2 4' yard sticks as a spacer to the wall. Set my tiles right up against the stick and moved the stick down the wall as I progressed.

The first 32 sq ft set! Couldn't get myself motivated to start early this morning, so by this point I was feeling the heat. The shop is air conditioned with a window unit but it is quite a ways away from the office area. I have the thermostat set for 77 degrees, but when I quit the shop area was up to 80 with an outside temp of 106. Probably several degrees higher in the office area.

 

[drivesitfar]

Looking good!!

 

[bugnut]

most excellent but 106 no thanks...

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Yesterday's progress.

Today's progress. 71 sq ft down. The hardest part so far has been trying to be consistent with the grout mix. 1st try - about right, 2nd try - little dry, third try - little wet. Upper right corner shows my first 2 cutting templates in place.

 

[drivesitfar]

Great work. Is it still over 100? Make sure to take breaks and hydrate.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Yesterday and this morning, I focused on cutting tiles to allow me to make it through each of the doorways. I don't think I can get myself and gear into either the closet or bathroom to allow me to work towards myself from the tiles that are already set. Therefore, I think I will have to work from on the already set tiles away from me into those spaces. I don't think I will be able to reach more than 2 tiles away from me without falling on my face. And, I would like to minimize the number of times I have to mix thinset.

Started by dragging out my 7" tile saw. Soon discovered it would not work to trim 1/4" off the side of a tile. My fence cannot be moved far enough from the blade (11.5").

So then I set up to use a diamond blade in my angle grinder.

The 4 tiles ending in the doorway to the shop are the ones that needed just 1/4" taken off the door edge so the door will close without interference. Obviously the notching had to be done with the angle grinder as well.


Starting where I did, I end up with a lot of trimming to do in the closet and the bathroom, including a lot of small pieces. However, I still think it was the right way to go as the larger area (office) will look nice and the tiles will flow into the other areas.

 

[M.Brane]

Doing the right thing is rarely easy.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Doing the right thing is rarely easy.

I am not sure I am doing it the right way - certainly not following conventional wisdom of starting in the middle of the room. Sometimes the hardest part of a project is figuring out what the right way seems to be.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Yesterday I had 2 sessions of thin-setting the tiles I had cut to fit the previous days. Finished all but 3 tiles due to reach problems.

Since I finished late yesterday, I got a late start today due to the need to not walk on newly set tiles for at least 24 hours. Once I got out there, I started laying fresh tiles without thin-set so I could determine layout and measure for tiles to be cut. Got all the tiles measured and marked ready to cut.

When I painted the bathroom, I thought I was being smart to lay some cardboard down instead of drop cloths in the small space.

While making templates for around the toilet flange, I discovered a problem - broken flange. Got to looking at it and trying to figure out how to repair when I realized the flange had never been installed correctly. It is a wonder I was able to use the toilet all these years without problems.

So, tomorrow morning, when it is reasonably cool, I will cut and put in place all the pieces needed to finish the floor, then cutoff the old flange and do it properly before I proceed with thin-setting.

That still leaves:
1) Grout
2) Grout seal
3) Cut, paint and install new baseboard
4) Clean and paint baseboard heater and reinstall
5) Clean shower and shower curtain
6) Polish and reinstall splash guard over sink
7) Cleaning and moving back in the items took out of this area

 

[M.Brane]

One piece at a time. My projects get overwhelming at times, but I just take a break to think a bit then get back at it. Racing taught me that consistency is more important than raw speed.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

This morning I managed to get all the remaining pieces cut to finish the floor!




Other chores to take care of before I pull the pieces and stack them to the side for thin-setting.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Got out this morning and spent way too much time cleaning and putting away the tile cutting equipment and cleaning and repackaging the tile remnants large enough to save. Purchased 148 sq ft of tile and have 28.76 sq ft left over.

Then I moved inside and started on the toilet flange.

First I cut off the perimeter of the old so my oscillating saw would have the reach to cut this off level with the floor, which is what I did next. The new flange has a 45 degree transition just under the top and would not go into the pipe far enough to get the flange down on the floor. So, next I cut around the inside of the pipe about 3/4" down from the floor level. Forgot pics - sorry. This allowed the new flange to go to the floor.

Of course 2 of the 6 tap-cons snapped off on me, but 4 should be sufficient.



Finally, all tile thin-set in place! Next up - grout.