Strut'n My Stuff
- Thread starter akdiesel
- Start date
Getting Ready for the Wedding
My daughter is getting married next month and we still have a lot of work to finish before the day. She is getting married in the back yard where we built the pond and pergola. I am still in the process of placing the rocks we have gathered from all over the state but the inside of the curve wall is approx 3/4 finished. My 12 year old and I built a new bridge to replace the other one. I like this design much better and it allows for two people to walk next to each other like in a wedding.
The bricks we chose we at Lowes. They were the 1 1/2" tall pavers with a bit of wave on the sides. They are 6 x 9 and 6 x 6.
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This is where I had formed the location for the new bridge last year when I poured the and stamped the patio. The bridge goes over the river I made a few years ago.
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This is the design I came up with. I rolled the 1 1/2" x 1/4" angle iron to get the ramp angle I wanted. Then we welded the expanded metal to the bottom inside edge to support the brick pavers. I also added three sections of 1/2" rebar in tension to help keep the bridge from flexing when walked on.
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I thought about making it out Unistrut since I use it so much but I had to resort to standard methods.
We had to place the bridge in place prior to putting the bricks on the new bridge since it would be too heavy to move and position. When I started to put the pavers in place it sat to low to the existing nation height. So I got some 3/4" x 1/" square tubing and rolled it to match the bend. I then installed it onto of the expanded metal and place a sheet of 1/4" cement board on top and secured it with self tapping screws. This gave me the exact height I needed to match the patio.
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The color of the pavers are a tan / brown color, as where the patio is a slate grey stain color. The pavers are also in a different layout then the stamped patio but I hope this gives the bridge and the fire pit a accent color as she (the wife) calls it. Plus Lowes did not have them in a grey color.
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The fire pit can be removed for the wedding since it is just sitting on top of the same pavers as the bridge.
The pavers on the bridge are held in place with Sika construction adhesive from HD. I use the same stuff to hold the rocks in place.
I also made a toe kick on the side two high using the same Sika stuff. As the Sika was setting up I spread the sand for pavers on top to also help it stick to the Sika glue. I waited a day to do the toe kick layers so the main pavers would not move.
Still have some painting to do to the extra 2 x 6 installed once I got the curved 1 x 6 in place on top.
My daughter is getting married next month and we still have a lot of work to finish before the day. She is getting married in the back yard where we built the pond and pergola. I am still in the process of placing the rocks we have gathered from all over the state but the inside of the curve wall is approx 3/4 finished. My 12 year old and I built a new bridge to replace the other one. I like this design much better and it allows for two people to walk next to each other like in a wedding.
The bricks we chose we at Lowes. They were the 1 1/2" tall pavers with a bit of wave on the sides. They are 6 x 9 and 6 x 6.
This is where I had formed the location for the new bridge last year when I poured the and stamped the patio. The bridge goes over the river I made a few years ago.
This is the design I came up with. I rolled the 1 1/2" x 1/4" angle iron to get the ramp angle I wanted. Then we welded the expanded metal to the bottom inside edge to support the brick pavers. I also added three sections of 1/2" rebar in tension to help keep the bridge from flexing when walked on.
I thought about making it out Unistrut since I use it so much but I had to resort to standard methods.
We had to place the bridge in place prior to putting the bricks on the new bridge since it would be too heavy to move and position. When I started to put the pavers in place it sat to low to the existing nation height. So I got some 3/4" x 1/" square tubing and rolled it to match the bend. I then installed it onto of the expanded metal and place a sheet of 1/4" cement board on top and secured it with self tapping screws. This gave me the exact height I needed to match the patio.
The color of the pavers are a tan / brown color, as where the patio is a slate grey stain color. The pavers are also in a different layout then the stamped patio but I hope this gives the bridge and the fire pit a accent color as she (the wife) calls it. Plus Lowes did not have them in a grey color.
The fire pit can be removed for the wedding since it is just sitting on top of the same pavers as the bridge.
The pavers on the bridge are held in place with Sika construction adhesive from HD. I use the same stuff to hold the rocks in place.
I also made a toe kick on the side two high using the same Sika stuff. As the Sika was setting up I spread the sand for pavers on top to also help it stick to the Sika glue. I waited a day to do the toe kick layers so the main pavers would not move.
Still have some painting to do to the extra 2 x 6 installed once I got the curved 1 x 6 in place on top.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Looking awesome, the brown accent works well and will be a nice transition to the lawn.
Regards
Regards
crooklyn
Well-known member
Dude, just had to say "WOW"!! I'm not going to lie, I will be coping some of your ideas 
How does the ladder stide across the top of the unistrut? I might use that idea to access my mezzanine.
How does the ladder stide across the top of the unistrut? I might use that idea to access my mezzanine.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Dude, just had to say "WOW"!! I'm not going to lie, I will be coping some of your ideas
How does the ladder stide across the top of the unistrut? I might use that idea to access my mezzanine.
Agree.
Dude, just had to say "WOW"!! I'm not going to lie, I will be coping some of your ideas
How does the ladder stide across the top of the unistrut? I might use that idea to access my mezzanine.
Crooklyn
Thanks for comments and you are more then welcome to copy or improve any of it.
The ladder rolls inside the strut but to help eliminate the binding I had to include a piece of Teflon block to each roller. The Teflon helps keep the rollers centered and reduces drag on the sides.
1/2 Cup
Thank you for stopping by. And your page is worth saying many great ideas can be found there.
don long
Well-known member
So How was the wedding?
Did the back yard get finished in time?
Yuor place is sure lookin good
don
Did the back yard get finished in time?
Yuor place is sure lookin good
don
don
Thank for the kind words.
The wedding went very well, and everything was finished for the most part except the back side of the rock wall. Know one could see it unless they went looking and I need a lot more rocks to finish it.
There was one unexpected event that happened just before I walked my daughter down the isle. Three horses (one brown, one white, and one paint) came running to the back yard where every one was waiting, then they stopped and started eating the grass. The owner showed up approx 10 minutes later to get them. They came from 2 miles away and we have never seen them before.
Somewhat of a "Runaway Bride" story but she stayed.
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Thank for the kind words.
The wedding went very well, and everything was finished for the most part except the back side of the rock wall. Know one could see it unless they went looking and I need a lot more rocks to finish it.
There was one unexpected event that happened just before I walked my daughter down the isle. Three horses (one brown, one white, and one paint) came running to the back yard where every one was waiting, then they stopped and started eating the grass. The owner showed up approx 10 minutes later to get them. They came from 2 miles away and we have never seen them before.
Somewhat of a "Runaway Bride" story but she stayed.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Awesome akdiesel and job well done.
How timely on the horses part, talk about getting "hitched"
Great to hear the day went well
How timely on the horses part, talk about getting "hitched"
Great to hear the day went well
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
bry@n
Well-known member
wow.....awesome is all I can say. Really like how you set up the seating and the horses...whew.
Great job.
Great job.
upndown
Well-known member
Gotta agree, benches looked way cool! Beautiful setting for a special day.
Nermal43
Well-known member
Wow, just found this thread. Great work and subscribed!
upndown
Thank you. We got the cottonwood logs for free from a local clearing, and bent the metal to a 75 edge angle for the back rests. 6 8' benches, 6 12' benches, and 6 16' benches.
Nermal43
Thanks. I am in the process of changing over the 9 noisy 8' dual t12 light fixtures with 18 4' Metalux LED light fixtures. One bay is done and is noticeably brighter.
I will try to post pre and post pictures of the two types of lights in use for a comparison.
Thank you. We got the cottonwood logs for free from a local clearing, and bent the metal to a 75 edge angle for the back rests. 6 8' benches, 6 12' benches, and 6 16' benches.
Nermal43
Thanks. I am in the process of changing over the 9 noisy 8' dual t12 light fixtures with 18 4' Metalux LED light fixtures. One bay is done and is noticeably brighter.
I will try to post pre and post pictures of the two types of lights in use for a comparison.
bonecrrusher
Well-known member
Those benches look great!
Those horses - thats just an awesome added bonus to that special day!
Those horses - thats just an awesome added bonus to that special day!
Shop Lighting
I currently installed 12 of the 4' Metalux Commercial LED hard wired lights in the shop to replace 6 of the 9 8' dual T12 light fixtures.
I have a 12'6" ceiling with white finished walls and a grey painted floor, so there is some good reflection in the shop.
From what I researched the two of the T12 bulbs put out approx 8000 lumens and two of the 4' Metalux Commercial fixtures put out as much or a little more lumens. But it is deffenatly noticeably brighter and no noise. It is so quiet in the shop unless I am working on something and saying some choice words.
I have mentioned it before that photos have a hard time showing the true lighting effect because they don't really capture all the scattered light, but here are a couple of photos showing the LED lights. One is with the light in the picture and the other is without.
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I am very impressed with the lights. Lower profile, no noise, less power consumption, longer life, and brighter then most fluorescent lights.
I currently installed 12 of the 4' Metalux Commercial LED hard wired lights in the shop to replace 6 of the 9 8' dual T12 light fixtures.
I have a 12'6" ceiling with white finished walls and a grey painted floor, so there is some good reflection in the shop.
From what I researched the two of the T12 bulbs put out approx 8000 lumens and two of the 4' Metalux Commercial fixtures put out as much or a little more lumens. But it is deffenatly noticeably brighter and no noise. It is so quiet in the shop unless I am working on something and saying some choice words.
I have mentioned it before that photos have a hard time showing the true lighting effect because they don't really capture all the scattered light, but here are a couple of photos showing the LED lights. One is with the light in the picture and the other is without.
I am very impressed with the lights. Lower profile, no noise, less power consumption, longer life, and brighter then most fluorescent lights.
A surprised guest
While working in the shop my wife and daughter calls me on the phone to come outside and look at a penguin that is on our driveway. Of course I called her on this.
It turned out it was a Common Murres that landed on our driveway. Maybe it thought it was water since we just had the drive way recoated and it was wet.
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Apparently they have had a rash of them landing inland all the way from the Coast of California to Alaska. They are starving from what some have said due to the wales eating more of their types of food. We handed this one off to a bird specialist to help it back to its habitat.
While working in the shop my wife and daughter calls me on the phone to come outside and look at a penguin that is on our driveway. Of course I called her on this.
It turned out it was a Common Murres that landed on our driveway. Maybe it thought it was water since we just had the drive way recoated and it was wet.
Apparently they have had a rash of them landing inland all the way from the Coast of California to Alaska. They are starving from what some have said due to the wales eating more of their types of food. We handed this one off to a bird specialist to help it back to its habitat.
Richard Cranium
Well-known member
I had started to read your thread back when you started it, But some how it got lost in th shuffle. So when it popped back up this morning I went back and reread the entire thread. Looks great. I like the benches you made. Looks like they worked out just great. Thanks for sharing Richie D.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
akdiesel, the lights look great.
Out here 4 footers are more the norm. I haven't tried LEDs as yet they are a little pricey at the moment to warrant a change.
Are you far from the water? Certainly a nice surprise guest.
Regards
Out here 4 footers are more the norm. I haven't tried LEDs as yet they are a little pricey at the moment to warrant a change.
Are you far from the water? Certainly a nice surprise guest.
Regards
Taking a break
Toke a day with some friends to go riding in Broad Pass (next to Denali mountain range).
A beautiful day ring with about 6 feet of powder.
The way back home (150 miles) I tagged a moose with my mirror. Slammed on the brakes and kept control of the truck and the enclosed trailer. Scared the **** out of me. No damage but her rear hip I'm sure.
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Back to work
Now I am tackling a 1400 square foot laminate floor install. Two days into it and my wife and I have got just over half of it done. We are glueing the seems instead of just clicking them together to help seal the edges and hold better.
Toke a day with some friends to go riding in Broad Pass (next to Denali mountain range).
A beautiful day ring with about 6 feet of powder.
The way back home (150 miles) I tagged a moose with my mirror. Slammed on the brakes and kept control of the truck and the enclosed trailer. Scared the **** out of me. No damage but her rear hip I'm sure.
Back to work
Now I am tackling a 1400 square foot laminate floor install. Two days into it and my wife and I have got just over half of it done. We are glueing the seems instead of just clicking them together to help seal the edges and hold better.
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1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
It just looks fantastic akdiesel way to cold for this black duck.
We have Kangaroos out here that do the same as your Moose did, not nice.
Where are you doing the Laminate?
Regards
We have Kangaroos out here that do the same as your Moose did, not nice.
Where are you doing the Laminate?
Regards
1/2 Cup
I can relate. Your area would bake me to well done, but it is still a place I want to visit.
The flooring is replacing the whole main level. We are having to remove the kitchen cabinets and even relocate the dog temporarily.
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The Armstrong flooring is nice but the little lock tabs have a tendency to break off easy making installation harder looking for little pieces in the groove. The color and texture is different also. Not a one some would choose but we like the rustic barn style.
I can relate. Your area would bake me to well done, but it is still a place I want to visit.
The flooring is replacing the whole main level. We are having to remove the kitchen cabinets and even relocate the dog temporarily.
The Armstrong flooring is nice but the little lock tabs have a tendency to break off easy making installation harder looking for little pieces in the groove. The color and texture is different also. Not a one some would choose but we like the rustic barn style.
don long
Well-known member
I've tried that snowmobiling up in Utah a couple of times.
That is some really hard work, especially when you stick it in a ditch lol
They don't steer, you just point and hope!!
The flooring is quite an undertaking I'll bet it will be great when you are done and the dog won't get much traction either.
That is some really hard work, especially when you stick it in a ditch lol
They don't steer, you just point and hope!!
The flooring is quite an undertaking I'll bet it will be great when you are done and the dog won't get much traction either.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
WOW is an understatement! Absolutely fantastic work. Love you shop and yard.
I may have missed this but after reading through all six pages I didn't see the size of your shop mentioned. Do you mind if I ask what size it is?
Mike.
I may have missed this but after reading through all six pages I didn't see the size of your shop mentioned. Do you mind if I ask what size it is?
Mike.
LCG
Thank you for the support. I learn as I go but I also research as best I can to save time and money, so a lot of trial and error does go into it.
The stamp was my first attempt. Not the best but it does work.
zmotorsports
Thank you. Our female American Bulldog puts a tole on the yard with her acidic urine. There is a location in the back yard she always visits.
The shop is 40x60. I want to add a 15'x40' addition to the side for our motorhome but I need to find out if I can fit a 12' tall by 10' wide door on the addition to the shop with out changing the roof line. It will need to allow for a 6' header and I believe I can use a metal I beam or I have to raise into the attic. Not sure if that is possible.
Thank you for the support. I learn as I go but I also research as best I can to save time and money, so a lot of trial and error does go into it.
The stamp was my first attempt. Not the best but it does work.
zmotorsports
Thank you. Our female American Bulldog puts a tole on the yard with her acidic urine. There is a location in the back yard she always visits.
The shop is 40x60. I want to add a 15'x40' addition to the side for our motorhome but I need to find out if I can fit a 12' tall by 10' wide door on the addition to the shop with out changing the roof line. It will need to allow for a 6' header and I believe I can use a metal I beam or I have to raise into the attic. Not sure if that is possible.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
1/2 Cup
I can relate. Your area would bake me to well done, but it is still a place I want to visit.
The flooring is replacing the whole main level. We are having to remove the kitchen cabinets and even relocate the dog temporarily.
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The Armstrong flooring is nice but the little lock tabs have a tendency to break off easy making installation harder looking for little pieces in the groove. The color and texture is different also. Not a one some would choose but we like the rustic barn style.
Your flooring looks great akdiesel.
Welcome here any time.
Regards
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks 40x60 is a very nice sized shop. I would love to be able to keep our coach inside as well.
Mike.
That's quite a flooring project there AK. The results will be worth it though. Are you getting closer to completion?
Interesting carpet story... When we pulled out our carpet, there were perfect 2' wide sand paths underneath on the concrete slab in the high traffic areas. It looked like sidewalks around the house. I wish I would have snapped a picture before it got messed up. Apparently this FL sand goes right through the carpet weave!
Interesting carpet story... When we pulled out our carpet, there were perfect 2' wide sand paths underneath on the concrete slab in the high traffic areas. It looked like sidewalks around the house. I wish I would have snapped a picture before it got messed up. Apparently this FL sand goes right through the carpet weave!