Above 1200 Sq/FT Garage Refurb®

[NUTTSGT]

Snapped this picture of what I am looking forward to tomorrow. I'll be using a portion of these 42 bags.

So with some basement work yesterday, the stack went from 42 bags to 27 bags left.



Fifteen 80lb bags, mixed hauled down to the work area.

 

[NUTTSGT]

For reference, here's what it looks like now.



West wall at South corner. This wall is done. You can see the back stone wall that is crawl space on the back side.


The concrete pad the well pump and pressure tank are sitting on were done prior to going all in on digging out the floor and repouring it.

A little bit of a tool storage area as I have worked down here. A keen eye will spot a drywall mud bucket that needs tossed out.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Front north wall. One full course left and the top course will need cut down. The full course will need core filled before the top course is laid due to clearance issues.

Once that is done, it will get all spray foamed to seal up the sill/stone area.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Here's the East wall that I am tying in to the front wall. I did the block work under the drain pipe several years ago. The back wall was tied in after putting in the newer (used) water heater. It's awaiting how I do the area around the stairs.

Notice the water heater and softener sit on two different concrete pads. The softener was done about 15 years ago when it was replaced. The heater pad a few years ago when I swapped out the heater.

 

[tj675]

That’s an impressive amount of block work.

 

[Jayman17]

That looks like a lot of hard labor but the improvement is worth it. Looks so much cleaner and orderly.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That’s an impressive amount of block work.

That looks like a lot of hard labor but the improvement is worth it. Looks so much cleaner and orderly.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Yes, pretty hard work but good exercise.

I wish I had a few pictures when we bought the place.. . Scary enough that the wife would not go down there.

 

[Johanfpa]

Nice job, having done something similar I know it can be back breaking work and good to keep in shape.
On the ramps, I take they are galvanised, does the Herculiner stick well to that without a primer?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nice job, having done something similar I know it can be back breaking work and good to keep in shape.
On the ramps, I take they are galvanised, does the Herculiner stick well to that without a primer?

It stuck to them but not sure how long it will stick. If it peels off, that's fine, I wasn't expecting to do the entire ramps until I destroyed the can trying to open it.

 

[captain14]

Block work looks good. It must make the basement look brighter also.

Sometimes it’s a good idea to keep at least one clean paint can with a lid for those moments.

 

[rharman]

Block work looks good. It must make the basement look brighter also.

Sometimes it’s a good idea to keep at least one clean paint can with a lid for those moments.

I just had that experience last week with a paint can. I did have a clean empty on-hand though.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The stack is getting smaller, mixed and poured 10 bags today. I should have mixed 1-2 more but I have a few other things to get done.



Work in progress.

 

[NUTTSGT]

At the other end of the work area.



I had to go buy half dozen corner block for the end here. It's starting to take shape.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Yesterday work included some moving of data cable, fuel tank full line and future proofing. These included both sides of the basement wall.


Flexible blue conduit holds Cat5e going out to the shop.


It previously came in between the fill pipes for the fuel oil.



I decided to run it through the old phone line conduit and add to it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Fill pipes stuck back in place. I also made a hole for a PVC electrical conduit.



This is behind the wall in the garage. I built a false wall to hide the dryer duct and easily cover the side of the old house. I think you can see the routing of the PVC conduit. It will get stubbed out later through the wall.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Block laid up yesterday. Part of the core fill is three blocks tall.


The fill pipes are going to be set in PVC pipe rather than formed completely in concrete. Again, future proofing.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Unfortunately, I don't think I have enough concrete to do a complete pour for what is ready.

So.... back to Lowe's for more.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Poured 18 bags today and my stack of mix has grown again.

 

[NUTTSGT]

So my temp implement rack is not working too well. I dumped the grapple off the top on to the floor.



It landed on the fitting and cracked the concrete. If it wasn't by the control joint, it probably wouldn't have been as bad.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Damage to the grapple.



Hopefully, it's confined to these fittings and not the cylinder.



Add something else to the to do list.

 

[RickP]

Hopefully, it's confined to these fittings and not the cylinder.

Bummer. I'll bet we've all done stuff like that though...

Having recently replaced a bunch of fittings on hyd cylinders, I'm thinking you're right about it just being a broken fitting. Those cylinders are usually built pretty tough.

To fix the concrete, you might consider using some of the self leveling caulk. I've used it on a bunch of cracks in my basement, and it doesn't look too bad (especially considering how easy it is to apply).

 

[NUTTSGT]

Bummer. I'll bet we've all done stuff like that though...

Having recently replaced a bunch of fittings on hyd cylinders, I'm thinking you're right about it just being a broken fitting. Those cylinders are usually built pretty tough.

To fix the concrete, you might consider using some of the self leveling caulk. I've used it on a bunch of cracks in my basement, and it doesn't look too bad (especially considering how easy it is to apply).

Got a new fitting from a place that advertised on the radio and recommended by the Deere dealer.



As far as the concrete goes, I have some Sika Concrete Fix in a tube. I'm going to try that. It's what I bought originally to fill in the control joints.

 

[Sifan]

Once again, proving there are two kinds of concrete ... those with cracks and those that are going to have cracks ... sorry it happened so soon.

 

[NUTTSGT]

It happens and nothing I can do about it. I had 4 tubes of Sika Concrete Fix yesterday. Needless to say, there's 4 tubes in the trash.

Apparently there's a shelf life on them. Nothing a trip to the big box store won't fix....as it looks like I need something else.

In moving wires, I must have kinked, pulled apart or broke a wire in the Cat5e that goes out to the garage. Looks like a new run of Cat6 is going to be needed.

 

[RickP]

Throwing away tubes of Sika -- I feel your pain, as I made the mistake of buying in bulk and thinking I'd make the time to get it all applied. (and mine were the big 2.5" tubes, making it even more painful)

For your Cat 5e cable, could you have broken just 1 or 2 wires inside it? If so, you could swap the wires at each end pretty easily -- there are usually 4 spare wires that are completely unused in a standard Ethernet cable. I've used the spares to hook up two jacks using one cable in a few rooms. Swapping the wires at each end might take 15-20 minutes. How time consuming would it be for you to run a new cable?

Testing the cable is pretty easy with a cheap Ethernet cable tester: eBay

(Before getting a tester, I used a multimeter to test a cab!e or two -- too painful to do that more than once or twice...)

 

[Bob Heine]

Eric, I'm with Rick on the cable tester. I went for a more expensive one that tests USB/BNC/RJ45/RJ11 cables, mostly because my security cameras use BNC connectors.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NZJSYG9/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It's also possible it's the plugs on the cable. I put Keystone sockets on the cables in the attic and it wasn't that hard a job. I screwed a Keystone plate down temporarily to hold the socket and used the high-tech tool that came with them to punch the wires down.

 

[madison069]

It happens and nothing I can do about it. I had 4 tubes of Sika Concrete Fix yesterday. Needless to say, there's 4 tubes in the trash.

Apparently there's a shelf life on them. Nothing a trip to the big box store won't fix....as it looks like I need something else.

In moving wires, I must have kinked, pulled apart or broke a wire in the Cat5e that goes out to the garage. Looks like a new run of Cat6 is going to be needed.

I feel ya on having to throw tubes of stuff away. It doesn't pay to keep stuff on hand anymore when it's tube/liquid stuff. If it's a rarely used item, I just do my best to order just what I need for the job. Otherwise, it's a waste of money. I've been slowly throwing stuff like this away cause it's stilling on the shelf and I'll grab it and notice it's solid instead of soft in the middle. Or the silicone tube that you have to pierce a hole in the end of the tube to get any more out.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Throwing away tubes of Sika -- I feel your pain, as I made the mistake of buying in bulk and thinking I'd make the time to get it all applied. (and mine were the big 2.5" tubes, making it even more painful)

For your Cat 5e cable, could you have broken just 1 or 2 wires inside it? If so, you could swap the wires at each end pretty easily -- there are usually 4 spare wires that are completely unused in a standard Ethernet cable. I've used the spares to hook up two jacks using one cable in a few rooms. Swapping the wires at each end might take 15-20 minutes. How time consuming would it be for you to run a new cable?

Testing the cable is pretty easy with a cheap Ethernet cable tester: eBay

(Before getting a tester, I used a multimeter to test a cab!e or two -- too painful to do that more than once or twice...)

Eric, I'm with Rick on the cable tester. I went for a more expensive one that tests USB/BNC/RJ45/RJ11 cables, mostly because my security cameras use BNC connectors.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NZJSYG9/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It's also possible it's the plugs on the cable. I put Keystone sockets on the cables in the attic and it wasn't that hard a job. I screwed a Keystone plate down temporarily to hold the socket and used the high-tech tool that came with them to punch the wires down.

It's quite possible it's a couple of broken wires and I think that is the issue.

There's no jacks, just RJ45 ends like a long patch cable. I have a tester, I just haven't been able to get a chance to test it.

I've only cut and crimped a few ends on and it didn't resolve the problem. I need to trouble shoot more, life has just got in the way.

If I had a coupler, if it is a broken wire(s) outside the house foundation, I could repair with a short section rather than a new complete run.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I feel ya on having to throw tubes of stuff away. It doesn't pay to keep stuff on hand anymore when it's tube/liquid stuff. If it's a rarely used item, I just do my best to order just what I need for the job. Otherwise, it's a waste of money. I've been slowly throwing stuff like this away cause it's stilling on the shelf and I'll grab it and notice it's solid instead of soft in the middle. Or the silicone tube that you have to pierce a hole in the end of the tube to get any more out.

I bought 2 tubes at HD Monday night, they will get used tonight or Friday.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I laid the last course of block for the corner yesterday. Today will be core/back filling with concrete.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Today's concrete is done. I'm not sure of the bag could, 10-12, I think. What really sucked was scooping it in with a small pint sized scoop since it was close to the floor joists.

Kind of hard to see but as far as block and concrete work for this city, it's completely done. Up next is spray foaming the rest of the gap.

 

[captain14]

Let us know what the temperature is after everything is spray foamed and closed up.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Let us know what the temperature is after everything is spray foamed and closed up.

It won't make a huge deal but will stop some air leaks... just every little bit helps.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Well, we don't have a broken wire in my Cat5e. I finally got a chance to test it and we're good there.

It's a connectivity issue.

I had a hard time getting this to work when I first put it in.... some tech guys in a foreign country wanted to take control of my phone to get it working... yeah, no thanks.


Supposedly a plug and play. Not quite.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Internet is still a no go after trying a few things. I'll work on it again Friday and I downloaded the Netgear app.

After changing the oil in the wife's Jeep, I moved on to the floor repair. I definitely need to get a new caulk gun, mine is wore out .

 

[madison069]

The Newborn 930-GTD caulk gun I bought off amazon has been very nice for $12. Alot better than the **** Home Depot sells.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The Newborn 930-GTD caulk gun I bought off amazon has been very nice for $12. Alot better than the **** Home Depot sells.

I'll have to check it out.

I bought a Kobalt years ago and it's been a good caulk gun. Unfortunately, they don't make it the same now.

 

[LeonardY]

This is the one I have. Yeah, It's pricey but it's really good one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YU324/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've had mine for over 30 years and it's got heavy use.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Fuel oil tank is back in place, plumbed and refilled with what was in it before. Just waiting on the local distributor to come fill it back up.



Here's the back corner. As you can see, it is next and I laid a few blocks to get started.



There's a few other blocks on the front wall now in place as well.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Then I made some time for the garage. I filled the last two control joints in the addition. I still need to fill about 3' under the back hoe.


I cleaned out the expansion joint.


Then tried using a torch to melt the top edge of the foam down. I have about 3/4 of that wall joint filled. However, it will need a little clean up or touch up.


I'm using Sika Concrete Fix.