Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[Growlertdi]

OMG I did it. I have reached the end.

Amazing work Thomas & Chris.

 

[Brian R]

OMG I did it. I have reached the end.

Amazing work Thomas & Chris.

No. For this epic thread, as Winston Churchill said -

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Chris, extra points for quoting historical figures???

Amazing work, as always.

 

[71 MKIV]

Thomas, If I may?

A stainless steel micromesh gutter cover, Leaffilter, Gutter Glove, and the like, work very well. I have a friend who lives in a pine woods, and this is the only thing that keeps the needles out.
It's a very fine 50 micron screen that lets water through but nothing else.
A consult with the patron saint of ignorance would divulge whats available where you are.
I have generic ones on my house, and while it has its drawbacks, it's been two years since I've had to crawl up there.

Can't wait to see a picture of a fire in fire place.

Steve
AKA 71 MKIV

 

[BB767]

No. For this epic thread, as Winston Churchill said -

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Chris, extra points for quoting historical figures???

Amazing work, as always.

Now that was a brilliant post Brian! I got a good laugh from it. Maybe the post of the month?

Chris, the force is strong with this one.

Thomas


Winston Churchill's speech: The Bright Gleam of Victory
November, 10, 1942. Mansion House, London.

 

[drivesitfar]

BB & Mark8: you both have done an amazing job on the house. It just seems like the other day when i was watching you move in the framing materials.

keep up the great work and your attention to details and design are some of the best I've ever seen.

WELL DONE

 

[rick8928]

Thomas and Chris,

The new house: Wow, just Wow! The amount of thought, energy, skill, effort, and artistry you two put into everything is just stunning. It's also humbling when I think about how much of a lazy procrastinator I've become. Do you not know the meaning of retirement? LOL

What have I been up to since we hung out together at Road America last summer? A few motorcycle trips is about it. Oh, and my wife Constance and I recently spent several weeks in Europe taking European Delivery of a Porsche Cayman S. When they announced that the 2017s were switching to a 4 cylinder turbo, I finally bit the bullet and bought a 6 cylinder Porsche after wanting one for about 50 years. I'm sure hoping it will grace your driveway on some future visit!

Until the next time,
Rick

 

[markviii]

It sounds like you've kept yourself busy since RA, Rick. We really enjoyed spending time with you and your brother. And we look forward to your next westward journey and perhaps seeing your new acquisition (and maybe meeting your wife one of these days).

Almost everything we get ourselves involved in happens because we choose to do it, not because we have to do it. We considered ourselves to be "retired" many years ago (around 2005?). We could have stopped our jobs at that time and maintained our lifestyle, but we enjoyed what we were doing. Takes so much pressure off when you know you can just walk away if you want to.

I decided to retire from a 34+ year teaching career in 2009 (spent the next 5 years running my picture framing business among all the other things I'm involved with). Tom followed 4 1/2 years later from flying. Neither of us ever planned for social security or our respective retirement funds to still be around after the economy went south in 2008, so we always had investment property with the intent of it financing our retirement. I continue to manage the apartments, while Tom keeps busy with the restored 1930s auto shop and building our retirement house. We'll eventually sell off the apartment buildings. Maybe then people will look at us and say that we're 'retired".

Living the dream,

Chris

 

[Nelson58]

The use of stone in that house is superb. It gives it an elegant and stately look.

 

[Nuts]

Living the Dream..... well said


Doug

 

[Bigbandguy]

There is one word that in a very limited way describes this thread:

Brobdingnagian

Look it up !

 

[BB767]

Driveway

Thomas and Chris,

The new house: Wow, just Wow! The amount of thought, energy, skill, effort, and artistry you two put into everything is just stunning........

........ my wife Constance and I recently spent several weeks in Europe taking European Delivery of a Porsche Cayman S.........

......I'm sure hoping it will grace your driveway on some future visit!

Until the next time,
Rick

Very cool Rick, beautiful Porsche! Soon I'll have ...









...a driveway for your new Porsche to grace.

No rest for the wicked Thomas

 

[oldironfarmer]

Very nice!

Driveway looks great! I like wire mesh but it seems everyone has gone to rebar, and rebar is easier to work with.

How thick? And what did you use for expansion joint between the slab and the house?

And I love the hickory doors. I guess you had to have them built as your wood shop is somewhat stored at this point.

Keep up the good work!

 

[Finallygotit]

Oooooooooowwww...... Lot's-O-Concrete!!

 

[BB767]

Nice to see hickory used for something other than hammer handles!

Pete

Pete, you're going to eventually see that all the interior doors and jams, window sills, casing trim, stairs, newel posts and spindles, kitchen, utility room and bath cabinets as well as the floor in the great room, my office and library along with some book cases will all be solid hickory. It's hard, durable with wonderful varied grain that will be stained and sealed, NOT painted!! I love the warmth you get from looking at natural wood.

The use of stone in that house is superb. It gives it an elegant and stately look.

Thank you Nelson58, I think so too.

There is one word that in a very limited way describes this thread:

Brobdingnagian

Look it up !

Of course I had to look it up Bigbandguy and you're right, that word works. Now where in the world did you find it?

Very nice!

Driveway looks great! I like wire mesh but it seems everyone has gone to rebar, and rebar is easier to work with.

How thick? And what did you use for expansion joint between the slab and the house?

And I love the hickory doors. I guess you had to have them built as your wood shop is somewhat stored at this point.

Keep up the good work!

There is both rebar and heavy mat being used as appropriate.

In places the concrete is...





...up to 10 inches thick. On average it's a minimum of 6" thick.



Between the brick and concrete we used a hard, closed cell foam panel...



...and between the stone and concrete, softer, open cell foam panel was used. Both are 1/2" thick and will be caulked with Sonolastic NP 1 and SL as necessary.

Oooooooooowwww...... Lot's-O-Concrete!!

I'll say, 50 yards of it so far. We're pouring about 2/3's of the remaining loop this Wednesday. Stand by for that.

Thomas

 

[SiGmA_X]

Lookin good, Thomas! Is that red truck a pumper truck or some other remote delivery system being used?

Roman

 

[BigDaddyUSMC]

Y Manifold Gang,,,,,
Thomas & Chris,,, just wanted to check in & say HI
Sorry I didn't make Bonneville but the Baggo team made it & GOT R DUN
2 Records
We were on TV a few weeks ago .... Here is a link to it on youtube

 

[MacTexas]

Thomas

What is the little yellow vehicle in the middle of this picture used for?

 

[csp]

That's a vibratory compactor, used to compact the gravel/ground before the concrete is poured.

You can see the marks it left in the dirt below the rebar in this photo:

 

[BB767]

Lookin good, Thomas! Is that red truck a pumper truck or some other remote delivery system being used?

Roman

That's right Roman, it's a remote concrete delivery system.



Because of the low overhang of the carport, trucks couldn't back under it so...



...via a series of conveyor belts...



...concrete could be delivered...




...anywhere on the driveway including...



...under the carport. The fellow on the left is operating the system remotely and the delivery chute is just to his right, poking under the carport.



I didn't ask what the exact range of it was, but it was impressive.

Y Manifold Gang,,,,,
Thomas & Chris,,, just wanted to check in & say HI
Sorry I didn't make Bonneville but the Baggo team made it & GOT R DUN
2 Records
We were on TV a few weeks ago .... Here is a link to it on youtube

Very cool TV spot Randy. Yeah, Lou and I missed you at Bonneville this year.



We helped Jacob...






...get his pit set up and register the bike. Then he and Jake Jr proceeded to set two records with it.



We were even there as he was leaving, helping power wash...





...salt off of the bike and equipment. 4 runs, 2 records; it doesn't get any better than that.

That's a vibratory compactor, used to compact the gravel/ground before the concrete is poured......

Quite so csp. It's a BOMAG BMP 8500 to be specific.



It can be operated remotely or tethered as seen above, operated by the fellow in orange on the left.

It's a very slick piece of engineering. It is articulating which allows for maneuvering in close quarters, employs a vibratory system with 2 selectable amplitudes creating centrifugal force of 8000/16000 lbs (36/72 kN). When it was operating it shook the whole house. Amazing amount of force being generated by such a compact little machine. Here's a link to showing more of it's features and seeing it in operation:

As a guess, any or all of this is all might be on The Test!

Thomas

 

[bryceaugustine]

i have never seen concrete delivered in that method. around here if you dont dump it directly from the trucks they use buggies or a pump.

 

[C_F]

i have never seen concrete delivered in that method. around here if you dont dump it directly from the trucks they use buggies or a pump.

Same here, I haven't seen one of those before. I bet those conveyor belts take a while to clean off once the job is finished.

The house & driveway are looking great so far, I'm looking forward to future updates as usual!

 

[drivesitfar]

BB: when you first posted that picture of the new concrete and no workers i thought man that guy really gets things done without any issues and doesn't sweat the sort of small stuff. then you show a 10 inch pour, a pump sort of truck that i've never seen in my life and some sort of ATV gravel stomping tool with maybe a dozen guys helping.

no wonder you are the most popular thread on GJ's garage gallery. you really know how to post up great pictures and tell a story.

again another VERY WELL DONE and the house is looking even more awesome.

 

[markviii]

That ******** compactor was doing its work today on the temporary lane to get us through the winter on the part of the lane that won't get concrete until the spring after the old house we're living in is gone. I was inside the house working when everything started shaking! My feet actually got a bit numb from all the vibration. And was it ever loud!

Chris

 

[BB767]

BB: when you first posted that picture of the new concrete ...........

......... with maybe a dozen guys helping.

.........

Besides myself and the concrete truck driver there were 6 other guys on the pour team. With that large a pour (50 yards) you really need helping hands. The plastic on the house was to protect it from splatters which are a Royal Payne to have to clean up.




This is Dillon wearing orange, using a hook tool to pull the heavy duty reinforcing mat up during the pour. Ideally you'd like the mat about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom of the concrete. Here it's a 6" thick pour so he's placing the mat about 2" from the bottom.



Lot's of concrete to level.



Because I have so many curves on all the edges, we decided a straight broom finish wouldn't look as good as a power mag finish.



A power mag (not to be confused with a power trowel-same machine, different blades) leaves swirl marks that visually look better with all the curved edges. Note Jerome's footwear in the above picture...



He's using the plastic bags ice comes in over his shoes so they wouldn't stick to the new concrete as readily and leave faint marks.



The next day control joints were cut into the concrete. There are about a dozen cut lines but they don't show up very well. Concrete is going to crack, you're just trying to encourage it to crack in a straight line by doing this. Once it was all cut, then it was sealed to slow down drying time and to help repel water. That's why it looks wet.



Next we're working on the forms for more of the driveway...



...which will circle around the house to the street.



The exterior work for this fall is rapidly getting completed. Next spring I'll finish back filling and start the next phase of landscaping.

I've been busy inside as well..........but I'll save that for another post. Things are really starting to shape up around here. Thanks everyone for your patience, support and interest in my little corner of the world. I've enjoyed sharing it with you.

Thomas

 

[oldschoolbob]

"Concrete is going to crack, you're just trying to encourage it to crack in a straight line by doing this."

When they poured my concrete the contractor said he guaranteed three things
1-It'll get hard
2-It'll crack
3-nobody will steal it.

 

[Boosted1]

That's a lot of concrete.
Garage doors look good. Not plain white.

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

"...a royal Payne";aargh! That did give me a good laugh. Thanks.

 

[bryceaugustine]

i figured you would stamp the control joints. i personally think they look nicer then cut ones. maybe you dont? or maybe you did not because of the thickness of your pour?

 

[BB767]

Garage Doors

..........

When they poured my concrete the contractor said he guaranteed three things
1-It'll get hard
2-It'll crack
3-nobody will steal it.

And I bet he made good on all three. Really like #3

........

Garage doors look good. Not plain white.

In fact there isn't a speck of white...



.... anywhere on the exterior.



It's all earth tones ...



...which helps it blend into the site much like the barn does in the background to the right. That's assuming you overlook the bright red gas pump out in front of it. Hey, I like my gas pump!

As for my non-white garage doors, I know you couldn't see it from a distance...



... but as you get closer...



...you'll discover...



...that the garage doors are...



...actually not painted at all...



...but stained and sealed real wood, mahogany in this case, and not vinyl printed on metal. When these pictures were taken the complete installation wasn't done yet.



Mahogney, sometimes called the King of all Cabinet Woods is often associated with fine furniture from the 1700's. It's rot-resistant and dimensionally stable, takes stain readily making it an ideal choice for garage doors.



These doors are finished like fine cabinetry that I find I love running my hand over as well as looking at them.



In different lighting conditions they continually turn...



...different shades of color.



I looked and looked but couldn't find any doors painted or otherwise, that I thought looked right with the house especially since they are so prominent in front of the home.

Granted I'll have to reseal them every few years. Along with resealing the man doors, that's the only exterior maintenance requirement on the house. The warm feeling and beauty they convey, to me, makes that all worth it. After all, I am a sucker for beautiful wood when I see it.

Gobsmacked Thomas

 

[BlueBomber]

Re: Garage Doors

In fact there isn't a speck of white...

.... anywhere on the exterior.

Thomas & Chris:

First off, congrats on a bee-u-tiful retirement home! Like so many other commenters on this thread, I've learned tons from reading your incredibly detailed posts of the build process. I'm especially blown away by the garage doors--as they say around here, they are wicked awesome!

I've been studying for the test, however, and I have to raise my hand for a question of the professor regarding the above post:

Aren't your windows and lintels white?

 

[71 MKIV]

Thomas, would you put a minute into explaining the thought process to a concrete driveway rather than a pad in front and asphalt for the rest of it?

Thanks
Steve
71 MKIV

 

[oberst]

"...a royal Payne";aargh! That did give me a good laugh. Thanks.

That's a good one! Made me laugh, too!

I work with a guy whose last name is Berlin, his favorite joke, used each time charity is suggested, is that he is feeding the hungry children of Berlin. (You have to be a certain age to get this one...)

Mister Payne, I do love those mahogany garage doors. Holy cow, I am living the good life vicariously through your adventures! Thanks!

 

[BB767]

i figured you would stamp the control joints. i personally think they look nicer then cut ones. maybe you dont? or maybe you did not because of the thickness of your pour?

I could go either way with stamping vrs cutting the control joints, especially in a more normal layout. Personally either is fine but I think just cutting them makes them less obtrusive.



This is an approximation of the pattern we came up with to put all the cut joints in with the stone columns, the various curves etc and you can see it was pretty busy. We thought it would be best not to call attention to them.

Thomas & Chris:

First off, congrats on a bee-u-tiful retirement home! Like so many other commenters on this thread, I've learned tons from reading your incredibly detailed posts of the build process. I'm especially blown away by the garage doors--as they say around here, they are wicked awesome!

I've been studying for the test, however, and I have to raise my hand for a question of the professor regarding the above post:

Aren't your windows and lintels white?

The doors are wicked awesome indeed thanks BlueBomber.



Pictures truly do not do them justice. They need to be seen and felt.

The windows are a light sand color.



Above is one installed with the white Tyvek in the background all around it.



With a white background that really brings the color of the windows out and makes it apparent they are not white.

The lintels, while light in color...



...are not white either as you can see.



They're about the color...



...of dried mortar.

Tough to see the differentiation in the pictures but it's apparent in person.

Thank you for raising your hand before asking a question BlueBomber. Duly noted.

Thomas, would you put a minute into explaining the thought process to a concrete driveway rather than a pad in front and asphalt for the rest of it?

Thanks
Steve
71 MKIV

Oh sure Steve. 3 important considerations.... no wait, 4, I just thought of another.

#1. Note all the trees in the vicinity of the where the driveway runs.





The tree roots near the driveway over time, would push asphalt up and slowly break it apart. We're installing rebar near tree roots to strengthen the concrete.

#2. Asphalt needs to be sealed annually and with that much asphalt, sealing it would be an enormous task.

#3. Concrete over the long term is pretty much maintenance free and very durable.

#4. Load carrying capability. We used 6 bag concrete with heavy duty mat and rebar throughout giving me a load bearing capacity in the neighborhood of 80,000 lbs. (36,287 kg) I don't know the specific load carrying capacity of asphalt but it's not anywhere close to concrete, especially once asphalt ages.

That's a good one! Made me laugh, too!

I work with a guy whose last name is Berlin, his favorite joke, used each time charity is suggested, is that he is feeding the hungry children of Berlin. (You have to be a certain age to get this one...)

Mister Payne, I do love those mahogany garage doors. Holy cow, I am living the good life vicariously through your adventures! Thanks!

I'm happy to help you out Mike.



The granite stone and brick combination, the large porte-cochére, the distinctive front door limestone surround and those fabulous, rich mahogany doors really make the front of the house distinctive I think. Not flashy or showy just handsome in a time honored traditional way.

As I mentioned earlier, the interior is progressing along nicely as well. Stand by for more on that.

Thomas

 

[TomcoPDR]

Gorgeous

 

[oldironfarmer]

Of course nice all around, but the garage doors are top notch, very nice!

 

[bulletpruf]

Of course nice all around, but the garage doors are top notch, very nice!

^^^This! They are beautiful.

 

[71 MKIV]

Thanks Thomas. Makes sense, as I stare out the window at my needs to be replaced driveway. Fortunately mine's only 50 feet long.
Lovely garage doors, but sorry, first thing I thought of was "the springs on that mechanism would lift a truck". My aspergers kicking in again.

Steve
71MKIV

 

[C_F]

I love the photos of the sun setting on the front of the house. At first, I was guessing the doors were painted aluminum or something...silly me, I should have known better! The doors are absolutely fantastic, thanks for giving us an up-close personal look at them. How about a quick peek at the back side?

 

[Boosted1]

Wow! Those doors are beautiful. The lack of white anywhere is something I hadn't put my finger on, but I agree it makes the house blend it and look really nice.

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

I know that you are just getting started on the interior; but please remember to put a fire escape device by the second story windows. Hopefully you will never need them. Sometimes you really need them!