Garage in northern Norway

[rixtrix1]

Nice to hear the grapple turned out ok. That lamp kit is fantastic, a great find!

 

[wazzza]

Thanks Ric! I love the lamps.. Almost a shame to use them as they are never used before..

I am done digging out for the carport and have started laying drainpipes. A buddy will deliver a 20 metric ton load of gravel for the entire area.. I can only fill 2,5 metric tons of gravel in my trailer and without a tipping trailer it takes MANY trips and lots of hard work to empty the trailer(s).

 

[Cave Creek Ray]

Wazzza! LOL

My neighbor has a Cummins in his Dodge truck...

"VRRRRRRRR...CLAH-CLAH-CLAH-CLAH-CLAH-CLAH...VRRRRRRRRRRR..CLAH-CLAH-CLAH-CLAH-CLAH-CLAH...." LOL OMG. No need for a tunebox... you'd never hear it! I can hear the guy two miles away.

In fact, I hear one now! Are you driving yours in Norway? I THINK I CAN HEAR IT OVER HERE!

LOL!

Godspeed and great health my friend and keep the posting and projects going and thanks for sharing it with all of us.

Ray

 

[wazzza]

Thanks Cave!

Long time since my last post. Some update on the carport project. I have filled the ground with gravel an compacted this in such a way that the ground has a slight slope towards the front, the same as the garage has. The slab will be 15 cm thick around the edge, and 10cm elsewere. The ground is insulated with 50mm XPS. I have started doing the rebar, but I am unsure about how to tie the old and the new concrete togheter. So far I have drilled multiple holes in the old slab at put rebar in different angles in. The new slab will have steel fibres in the mix so I dont need full rebar nets in the foundation.. I will only need two rounds around the edge and the rebar to go vertical into the retrainingwall that will be pured afterwards..

Two noisy machines in sunset!

I visited my parents in law in Sweden this summer and got an old bolt cutter from my father in law. It is made by E. A. bergs in Eskilstuna, Sweden.. After googleling the name it turnes out Bacho bought EAB in the late 50s or something and I found an old advertisement dated back to 1932 were the cutter is pictured! I dont know how old thois cutter is, but probably from the early 30s.. It has a few chips in the jaws, but othetrwise in good working condition..

Some other new imperial sized sockets I bought..

This summer I had some friends coming over to unmount/mount tires since I am part owner of some tiremachines.. Offcourse we had to fire up the grill as well

 

[drivesitfar]

WAZZZA: any more updates on the carport that will be a garage? plan looks great as long as you have all the drainage figured out to go where it won't do any damage.

 

[wazzza]

Hi, sorry for no response here.. I have been working on various projects and have made some progress on the carport. The foundations are now ready for concrete. Concrete will be delivered thursday morning, so I am hoping for good weather.

Since we are entering the dark season I have installed extra backuplights on my girlfriends car. Wired from the power outlet in the trunk and triggered through a relay from the factory backuplight..

New oak benchtop. A friend got married in Florida and gave me an US flag as a gift. Since I have an american truck I felt I needed to have it in the garage.

I got a tip about a rare car that was about to be scrapped and since my dad, my brother an I all have these cars I got it for scrapprice and took it hope to strip it for useful parts.. We took drivetrain, some windows and some trim details as such things are hard to come by.. The body was way to rusted to be any useful. Love having a flatbed at work..

 

[Bib Overalls]

Around here aluminum wheels are worth a couple of bucks but only if you have your own tire machine. Paying someone to take the tires off eats up all the profit. Every year my wife and I can send four tires each to the county landfill for free. Otherwise it is $2.00 each. We rarely use up our allotment.

 

[wazzza]

Around here aluminum wheels are worth a couple of bucks but only if you have your own tire machine. Paying someone to take the tires off eats up all the profit. Every year my wife and I can send four tires each to the county landfill for free. Otherwise it is $2.00 each. We rarely use up our allotment.

I see. I can deliver wheels and tires for free to the scrapyard for free if the tires are seperated from the wheels. Having our own tire-machines makes it easier to buy used wheels and tires.. If I buy tires online and not through a tireshop they usually charge extra to have them fitted and balanced.. Our machines is not exactly state of the art, but we dont have any fancy wheels or high speed tires so they are sufficient for my use.

 

[wazzza]

The concrete was poured today. The job went great with no major issues. I only had my brother to help me but we managed ok. A buddy was supposed to help today but his boat came loose from its mooring during the night so he was obvously busy rescuing it today.

I had the same company as last time to deliver the concrete and the truck had a 9 meter long radio controlled shute so the operator could lay the concrete perfectly in place.. I had ordered a bit extra concrete in case my calculations were wrong. The extra concrete was poured in plastic bins with a joist hanger(?) in each for future terrace upgrades. The concrete is packed with steel fibres so I dont need normal rebarnets.

I ran into an issue with the rental-helicopter. I did not notice when I picked it up but the blades were full of hardened concrete from a previous job by someone else.. A bit pissed off, but the rentalcompany came straight out and replaced the blades..

Off course it started to rain just after the pour was done so we had to make a simple tent in a hurry.

Now I have to wait a week or so before I set up the retaining wall and fill it with concrete as well.

 

[s123]

Really love your build!

 

[madoc1]

looking good. great idea using the excess concrete for future use. now that's thinking ahead, which is one advantage of working off shore-i guess.

jim

 

[jon_beer]

Wazzza I'm really enjoying your build. I just spent a week in Denmark and really enjoyed seeing Scandinavia so getting to check out your shop here is extra special. I lived in Germany for a little while as well and have gotten to really love European design and build projects. Great work!

 

[drivesitfar]

WAZZZA: quick thinking with the tarp. i have a couple questions on the cement pour. did you leave the 1 x 4's in the middle or did you take them out as you were getting closer to having the cement finish work done? or do tell if you don't mind?

great idea with the extra cement too and hope they come in handy.

do many of you up in the land of the midnight or no sun have headlights on the rears of your cars? looks nice.

all in all some more great stuff going on at your piece of Heaven.

cheers

 

[wazzza]

Really love your build!

Thanks! What part of Norway do you live in?

looking good. great idea using the excess concrete for future use. now that's thinking ahead, which is one advantage of working off shore-i guess.

jim

Thanks. If I had done more thinking ahead I would make a form outside the personelldoor on the other side of the garage anf pour concrete there as well...

Wazzza I'm really enjoying your build. I just spent a week in Denmark and really enjoyed seeing Scandinavia so getting to check out your shop here is extra special. I lived in Germany for a little while as well and have gotten to really love European design and build projects. Great work!

Thank you, I appreciate it!

WAZZZA: quick thinking with the tarp. i have a couple questions on the cement pour. did you leave the 1 x 4's in the middle or did you take them out as you were getting closer to having the cement finish work done? or do tell if you don't mind?

great idea with the extra cement too and hope they come in handy.

do many of you up in the land of the midnight or no sun have headlights on the rears of your cars? looks nice.

all in all some more great stuff going on at your piece of Heaven.

cheers

Thanks. The boards in the concrete was temporary and was only used to check the heigh of the concrete while it was poured and was removed right after the concrete truck left. We dragged another board over the two boards to check height over the entire width and lenght of the slab.

What do you meen headlights on the rear of our cars? Its mandatory to have DRL or lowbeams on when its daylight, but you dont need taillights due to new EU-regulations. When its dark you need headlights and tailllights on.

 

[drivesitfar]

WAZZZA: you are calling the rear headlights extra back up lights that look like they might light up the area behind the car when backing up nicely. we have small back up lights in the same lenses as our turn signals probably like your Dodge truck and i hadn't seen lights (headlights sort of my take) on the rear of a car before.

thanks for the 411 (information) about how you used the 1x4's in the middle of your pour. how's it turning out so far and are your temps still in the 50's+- so you can pour a good retaining wall and have it cure nicely? sounds like you might form up a few extra things like a pad in front of the man door or maybe a sidewalk or some walking stones too if you get leftover cement from the retaining wall pour.

any pictures of the little car to show after you stripped it for parts for you and your relatives? also how do you store all those sorts of things?

cheers

 

[s123]

Thanks! What part of Norway do you live in?

I live 60 km south of Oslo in Østfold. Should be about 1800 kilometers (1100 miles) south of where you live?

So i will probably not pop in for coffee, even if I find your project quite amazing.

 

[wazzza]

Time for an update!

The temperatures have been below freezing at night so it was time to have the retainingwall done before it freezes over. The wall is made by hollow concrete blocks. They are very easy to set up, you just need to make sure the first layer is dead straight and level. The rest is just like lego. I have placed vertical rebar each 25 cm all along the wall and one horizontal rebar in each layer..



The blocks are superheavy. The two pallets weighs 2600 kgs (5700 lbs) and is maximum of what my trailer can haul legal.

It was nice using the excevator and grapple to move the blocks from the trailer to the carport.

I had my littlebrother and two friends come over and help me with the concrete.. I decided to mix my own concrete for this since the cost of having a concrete pump truck here would be like 10000NOK (1200 USD). Bought 25 bags of pure cement and a trailerload of sand for the mix. I bought 5 extra bags of cement and after we was done I had 5,5 bags left, so the gestimat was good..

Not much sand left after the pour.

 

[ajohno]

Great work Wazzza.

 

[TitusLloydPullo]

Very interesting thread. Thank you for sharing.

 

[drivesitfar]

WAZZZA: nicely done. how did the wood shims work to level the first row? i might have used morter or set the first row in cement, but maybe the wood shims was an easier method.

nice to see you estimated things perfectly and also that you had plenty of help.

hope you get the little carport done before the bad weather and snow shows up.

good luck and I never ever get tired of looking at your views so if you might want to take a few from the front of your home and post them here please do.

cheers

 

[wazzza]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the feedback!

@Drivesitfar. The wood shims worked great. I only needed to adjust the height 2-3 mm, so the gap was not big enough for the concrete to pass through. The finished wall is 1,4 meters (55") high and the producer of the blocks reccomends to only pour a maxumum height of 1,2 meter without running the risk of the blocks shifting caused by the pressure of the concrete. We filled up to the reccomended height all around the wall and by the time we had reached the other side the concrete had started setting were we started so we did the rest of the pour then.

I hpe to get the carport finished before winter, but it all depends on when I get the roof. I also have to do some backfilling behind the wall up agains terrain and this will be easiest done without the roof in place since I can manouver the excevator inside the carport and reach over the wall..

 

[drivesitfar]

WAZZZA: yes that little excavator/dozer is sure coming in handy and looks like you fixed the hydraulics nicely by the looks of how you are moving those cement blocks with it.

good luck and hope the weather stays decent for a few more weeks for you to get r done.

 

[Bib Overalls]

I'm guessing you will be offshore for the month of October. When you get back it will really be dark and cold. To dark and cold for anyone in his right mind to be carpentering outside. Not much time left. You need to hustle.

 

[wazzza]

So, the digging is almost done. I brought home the tractor and dump trailer that belonged to my grandfather. It came in handy when moving the big dirtpile behind the garage and dumped it further down on my property..

I only had 1 or 2 loads left when the excevator broke down. No hydraulics. I checked the returfilter for metalchips in case of pump failure, but could not see anything wrong. With the returnfilter out I noticed that there was no oil flowing, as in the pump not running.. This machine as no tail and is supercompact! I had to remove the counterweight in order to see the pump. It turned out the the pump had come loose and had destroyed the pump coupling. Luckilly the pump and shaft had no damage.

Replacing the coupling was a massive job outside, in the rain, in the mud, in the dark, in 3 deg C. The entire interior of the cabing had to go out, exhaustsystem with manifold, enginemounts, startermotor etc etc.. Not fun at all.. I had to go to work before I got the machine back togheter and when I got home after 3 weeks everything was frozen solid. The dirtpile in the trailer was like concrete and everything cold and miserable... Anyways, it took a day to put the machine back togheter and with good friend from my little brother we were able mount the counterweight using the loader on the tractor.

This is were and how it stopped.

New coupling.

 

[drivesitfar]

WAZZZA: are you making sort of a drive thru carport? what did you do with all those big rocks? i also see a lot of what we use as freeway lane dividers and what's the plan for those.

boy i can feel your pain being almost done and having your dozer breakdown. Dang and having to leave it for that long while you went to work. sorry the weather is getting so cold, but i know you are used to it somewhat. i'd still be digging that dirt by hand and maybe getting more exercise, but I don't have the skills you do to fix some things and that dozer you bought for a good price and rebuilt would be a money pit for me paying to have all that work done on it.

WELL DONE and keep taking and posting pictures as you have time to.

 

[wazzza]

The plan is to back the trailer through the carport for the winter. I dont use the trailer in winter anyways so when parking it back there it will not be stolen or in the way of snow removal.

The big rocks will be used as decorative retaingwalls. The ground is frozen now, so no more digging this year. I got the concrete barriers from a friend. The plan was to use them as retaingwalls, but I changed my mind.. Hope to get them sold..

Thanks, I coukd never have that excevator if I was not able to fix it myself.. I cant even imagine what professionals would charge to fix it were it broke down..

 

[drivesitfar]

WAZZZA: it's hard to believe stealing is an issue as far north as you are, but i guess anytime you are around people i guess that can happen.

great that you have the skills to keep the dozer up and running even if it is a PAIN IN THE *** at time where the fix needs to get done. WELL DONE.

nice work on the carport and your property and since it's winter are you heading back to finish the inside of the house or did i miss that you already finished the work in the basement?

cheers

 

[mburrus]

wazza, just got up to date on your thread. great thread, reminds me of vieux's thread!

i would love to have a mini excavator like yours, and as much land... but i wouldnt care for the cold! when i started my garage build (prior to starting, actually), i bought a 1966 clark forklift for $900... one of the best purchases i have made on the project. it also required some repair work, which i was able to do without (too) much difficulty. amazing how much more you can get done when you have a little bit of mechanical assistance on your side. very jealous of the excavator... they go for serious money here, but i have a small yard and not much room to store it... not a problem for you obviously!

well done, glad to see you accomplishing your goals... doing great quality work!

 

[wazzza]

@drivesitfar; I will start with inhouse projects when the snow falls. The plan is to make a new bathroom in the house, but first I have to get the carport done.. Days are getting shorter and shorter. It gets dark at 3PM and the temperature droppes further, so one have to be somewhat efficient when it comes to outside projects now.

@mburrus (I keep reading mrBurns )
Thank you for the feedback! The cold is not so much of a problem, you just need more clothes.. The problem is working with your hands with big gloves on.

I totally agree with you on the forklift! As you said, its amazing how much you can get done with a little hydraulic help! I use the excevator as a crane just as much as digging with it. These machines are quite expenaice here as well because this is the heaviest excevator you can legally transport on a trailer behind large passengercars around here. (maximum trailer weight 3500kgs).

I did some work on the carport today. I removed the gutters so that I could lift the new rafters in place. I have all in place now. I need to square everything off before i secure them to outher wall..

 

[madoc1]

looking good. much snow yet?

jim

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Time to hit the gas so it's covered before the big snow comes!

 

[wazzza]

No snow here yet, but parts of southern Norway have got almost 30" in a few days.. My father came over and helped me with the substructure for the roofing plates.. It took all day, so no pictures as we lost daylight before we was finished. Tomorrow we will put the plates in place.

I finally sold the concrete barriers. The buyer came with a 4 axle crane semi with trailer. Massive crane and truck for this job The trailer had a lifting 1st axle and hydraulic steering 2nd axle so it was no problem for him to manouver up to my house..

Nice to come in and heat up after a long day in the cold.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Ah yes! Nothing like a warm fire when your socks are wet and your feet are cold. Some times the best rewards for hard work are simple; a warm fire, a cold beer, the company of a pet dog, and the love of a beautiful woman.

 

[wazzza]

Ah yes! Nothing like a warm fire when your socks are wet and your feet are cold. Some times the best rewards for hard work are simple; a warm fire, a cold beer, the company of a pet dog, and the love of a beautiful woman.

That is so true. I dont have a dog though

The roof is finally done! My father helped me with the plates, but I had forgotten to buy screws for the roof, so I only had half a box so we just secured it with a few screws.. Today I have screwed it down firmly with (what feels like) 1 million screws. The biggest problem was that the roof is icy and superslippery, so I joined togheter all of my different towstraps so I could have something to hold on to..

The trailer is parked on the back side of the carport and the excevator just inside and there is still plenty of place for my girlfriends car. There i still some details that needs to be done, but the weathercritical tasks are done.. I will install some light and such..

 

[drivesitfar]

WAZZZA: i can see a dog in your future especially if you have theft issues there is maybe nothing better to have on your property than a good size dog.

love the new carport and congrats for figuring out a way to roof that with ice on it. seriously you are amazing,

i also saw the great pic of you warming your feet up and i truly remember a few of those days in my youth. not so much any more, but occasionally i'll work out in the rain all day and hop in the jacuzzi for a nice long soak.

cheers and another WELL DONE is deserved.

 

[rmalkow2]

The carport looks great. What a useful addition to your garage. Nice that it fits multiple vehicles as well to keep them protected from most of the weather.

 

[wazzza]

Thanks guys. I built the carport for my girlfriends car but its nice to fit the excevator partly inside as well. With the trailer and excevator tucked away, her car in the carport and my truck in garage its easy for my neighbour to plow this winter.

I bought myself a new (used) welding machine today.. I bought it from work so I know that it is very little used. Probably less then 2 rolls of wire.. It needs a good cleaning but other than that its good. It runs on 3-phase so I cant use it until I have upgraded the main fusepanel in the house. Hopefully I get it done during this winter. The winch in the garageceiling worked great for unloading the welder.

 

[rixtrix1]

A nice acquisition!

Sent from my SCH-I435 using Tapatalk

 

[drivesitfar]

WAZZZA: with your talent that big welder might see a lot of cool projects and fixes. speaking of fixes have you used those floor mounts you inset prior to pouring the cement floor in your garage.

in case you might want to improve your woodworking skills more and share some of the ones you already have we just started a Woodworking 101 thread and the link is in my sig line. it's becoming one of my favorite threads and i think you'll like it. we've got more than a few handy wood workers and wood butchers on GJ.

 

[wazzza]

WAZZZA: with your talent that big welder might see a lot of cool projects and fixes. speaking of fixes have you used those floor mounts you inset prior to pouring the cement floor in your garage.

in case you might want to improve your woodworking skills more and share some of the ones you already have we just started a Woodworking 101 thread and the link is in my sig line. it's becoming one of my favorite threads and i think you'll like it. we've got more than a few handy wood workers and wood butchers on GJ.

Hi, sorry for no response.

I have a few projects I want to do, but before I can use the new welder I will need 3-phase power to the garage. I have not used the metal pieces in floor if thats what you mean. I used them to secure the walls when building the garage and when then sent me the wrong trusses, but other than that no.. If I would do something like that again I would probably go another route like this:

I have seen some garages here on GJ that has that and it looks much easier to use.

I have not had the time to check out that woodworking link you sent me, but I will. I have started tearing into the old bathroom now so there will be some woodworking in the future..

We are in the middle of the dark season now and I feel that it affects my mood more this year that last year.. Its mentally harder to do things and I am constantly tired.. Still, I have made a bit of work on the carport.. I have no idea what you call it in english but I have put up boards between the beams for the carportroof and started some other details.. I also added a 10W LED lamp and a motiondetector so the light turns on when you approach the carport.. I reused some of the old boards that had to come down so thats why some of them are painted.

This is pretty much as bright as it gets this time of year