The Concrete Underground

[YoungMedic]

Congratulations on creating something so incredible from an idea in your head.

Summed my thoughts up ! Its boggling to me looking at all this, how it could be designed and then executed.

The views are amazing. Cant really get something like that in FL, its pretty flat here

 

[Bob Heine]

Critique: your garage isn't big enough. LOL

Are you referring to the attached garage or the detached garage? The latter is a 32x28 wood structure located up the hill. Doug describes it thus:

"Since I'm limited (by wifely edict) how big a shop I can attach to the house, this structure is a kind of garage annex to handle overflow from the main shop."

There's a post on page 10 showing some of the details of the annex (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2293741&postcount=190).

It's nice to have overflow like this:

 

[Bluteam]

Are you referring to the attached garage or the detached garage? The latter is a 32x28 wood structure located up the hill.

Yes, I read all of the nearly 100 pages inside a 24 hour period. My comment was a simple attempt at making a joke as in can you ever have a big enough garage, along with his recent post saying it's not tall enough to get his 5th wheel inside. That's all.

 

[Bob Heine]

Yes, I read all of the nearly 100 pages inside a 24 hour period. My comment was a simple attempt at making a joke as in can you ever have a big enough garage, along with his recent post saying it's not tall enough to get his 5th wheel inside. That's all.

Sorry -- I couldn't find a 'just busting your chops' emoticon. I'm also happy to keep "The Concrete Underground" bumped when the OP is in the deep freeze.

 

[Bluteam]

When I built my garage/shop I only had the foresight to make sure my p/u fit through the door and thought I was doing good by making the doors extra wide and extra high.
Then my kid started driving winged sprintcars and the doors are 6" short, so it makes it a PITA to get the car in and out without dropping the wings.

Won't make that mistake again. 14' from here on out!

 

[signcrafter]

Did all work freeze to a stop?! Hopefully you are surviving the cold and snow in the trailer.

 

[LCG]

Maybe all the snow covered the trailer and they can't get out of it!

 

[memphisnate]

Withdrawals are starting to creep in....hopefully all is well on the frozen river front!

 

[Bib Overalls]

Going to be 7 degrees here tonight. A freaking Arkansas blizzard without snow. Can't imagine what it will be like for the folks in Maine.

 

[luke7734]

Here's a screen shot of Ohio's week ahead... I'm sure Maine will be even worse for the wear again... I can onay imagine what all those windows look like frosted over when it's -16°F outside...

 

[ConCretin]

Not to worry, we haven't been frozen solid by the Polar Vortex. While life in the camper does elicit the occasional reference to The Shining and no one has claimed responsibility for writing 'REDRUM' on the mirror, we're getting by. Not sure though that the camper was the best idea for the worst winter in living memory.

We've definitely hit a flat spot in the construction trying to get my plumber and electrician moving on the rough-in, which is holding up the entire job. First it was the holidays, then it was the weather and now they're just too busy. Frustrating as hell. Well at least the place is warm and weathertight - probably more so than the damn camper.

I usually avoid posting on here unless I have an update to share to avoid disappointing folks with nothing but commentary but I did want you all to know everything is well. Thanks for your concern and continuing interest. I'll be back with something more interesting soon. Take care all.

 

[granada don]

Hi Doug

Glad to hear that you two are OK in your camper, an my dad used to say

' Don't worry this too shall pass ' least you looking at some great light at the end of the tunnel in the spring, and that would be a nice move in time too !!

Later, G Don

 

[memphisnate]

Not disappointing at all, we understand!

 

[Alexbn921]

Thanks for the update. I always look forward to news on the zombie apocalypse house.

 

[Bob Heine]

LLWillysfan,
I think the content and caliber of your posts has earned you at least 1,000 content-free posts with just "lol" and the emoticon of your choice. Thank you for sharing your amazing build.

 

[pertneer]

In northern Illinois it is cold, I can imagine it being colder. I think I would resort to pulling the camper into the garage for additional protection from the weather!!

Glad to hear it is weather tight and warm. That is a big milestone.

 

[UrsusMaritimus]

Well, I just read this thread from front to back... now I can't wait to see the outcome! I've subscribed so I won't miss it Amazing build and a beautiful site!

 

[Audicon]

LLWillysfan,
I think the content and caliber of your posts has earned you at least 1,000 content-free posts with just "lol" and the emoticon of your choice. Thank you for sharing your amazing build.

I second that motion.

 

[granada don]

I Third it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As this has to one of the best threads ever done

 

[ConCretin]

Where the hell did January go to? Thanks to some really bad weather and some really busy subs, it was pretty much a lost month. Now that we've finally got the rough-in started, we'll hopefully get this thing back on track.

I'll start with the electrical. With the exception of a few feature lights like this one, which will be mounted over the pool table



most of the lighting is recessed. Since there's so much of it, I wanted to use a fairly affordable LED fixture.



Here are a few of them installed in the dressing room. We simply cut pockets into the Litedeck panels to make room for the lights, cutting away any metal that's in the way. We've got 8" of foam between the 8" wide concrete beams that fall every 2'



To run the wire we just cut grooves through the foam



WE're using ordinary plastic boxes that are screwed to the metal studs. The boxes are the type that can be adjusted to flush them up with the wall surface. We're using plastic grommets to protect the wire from sharp metal edges.



As I mentioned before, we've had to put off the geothermal install due to budget constraints - spent too much damn money on concrete. We are installing any infrastructure that can't be easily accessed later. The chase created by the U shaped AC wall is almost full.



We've also started on the plumbing. This is the drain and vent for the bar sink and 18" dishwasher in the beverage area i.e. bar. We installed the drain many months ago under the concrete slab.



Since the beverage area is contained in a freestanding 'pod', I'm running the vent up through the structure at the corner and will hide it in a fake steel column to match the adjacent pod.



We've got a bunch of areas where plumbing must run within the foam. This is the drain and vent for a little sink in the laundry room. The black pipe are sleeves through the concrete for the hot and cold water supply.



This work in progress is the upstairs bathroom. We installed the 4" pipe for the toilet, a sleeve for it's supply and the shower drain when we placed the floor. The plumber just had to run a pipe up the chase and tie it all together



We walk each of the areas for the plumber and plan all the piping routes. I get the troughs pre cut in the foam so all he has to do is run pipe. Here's the cuts for the hot and cold hose bibbs I ran out to the future roof deck. Future plans call for a little hot tub and I though the water would come in handy.



Here's something you haven't seen yet. The front door finally came in and has been installed.



We wanted the main entrance to be something different so we opted for a pivot door. The door itself is 4'-6 x 9'-0. It's got a built in closer and it's pretty cool and unexpected when such a big panel swings open.



I think the rough in period will take a while to complete but we should pick up steam after that. The drywall sub is standing by and the flooring, cabinets and appliances are sitting in warehouses waiting. Hope springs eternal.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Outstanding! I'm very much looking forward to the next steps!

 

[J-man67]

Great update and as always thanks for sharing your adventure!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

[bshusted]

That is a BIG door! Great build. I look forward to seeing more.

 

[Oggy]

Looks great, get the subs moving!

 

[vwracer]

That's a neat door. I've been a pro window cleaner for 30 plus years and have never seen one like it. If I was closer I'd give you a gift of a free construction cleanup of windows. This will be a great home I'm sure impressed with it!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Great progress Doug, I think alot of people would be happy to see Spring come very soon.


What are you using to cut the foam ? I've used an old steak knife does a decent job.

 

[OHSCrifle]

Do you have a seat of the pants guess (or actual bills) for how much/little energy you are using now that it is 100% closed up and steady?

I'm curious if you're burning less gas heating the house than the camper... LOL

 

[Cemoto]

What a great door!

Nice to see progress . . . .

 

[Chucktown]

LLWillysfan, that looks like the 4" Cree LED recessed. We are using it in our house renovation.

 

[sakurama]

This is a really amazing project. I can't get my head around the scope of it as I'm a bit overwhelmed with my own small (by comparison) project.

Absolutely love the front door. We've been considering something similar if and when we get to revamping our entrance.

Keep it up - stellar work.

Gregor

 

[Bib Overalls]

Plumbing supply lines. Are you using copper or PEX pulled through conduit?

 

[red]

You may want to take precautions to protect your glass during the rough in. Taped Xs across the glass panels will help with visibility. Last thing you want is for a piece of pipe or lumber to be hitting one of those glass panels. Way too expensive to be buying a second time.

 

[Dusty-NZ]

Hi, is the foam polystyrene ?


quote["To run the wire we just cut grooves through the foam"]

Just wondered , as if it is , then the wiring needs to be in a conduit , or the poly will dissolve the insulation.

 

[Jimbo..]

Love the pivot door. A friend has one of those at his house and it really makes a statement. The ****** thing is made of steel and weighs a ton. Every time you go in, you feel like you're opening a bank vault.

 

[sickjuice]

Surprised to see your electricians using NMD. That would not be legal for a non combustible building in Canada

 

[Stuntmonkey]

I was going to say that, I would've thought BX would be more appropriate.

 

[slickgt1]

I was going to say that, I would've thought BX would be more appropriate.

I was also curious about that but not sure as it is in another state. Especially with all the metal studs, that would not be legal here too.

Also, those can light fixtures, they should have an insulation ring that goes on them before the sheetrock goes up. Like a gasket between sheetrock and the can. Can't tell if it is there in the pics. This would be a good time to make sure.

 

[Modern Jess]

Also, those can light fixtures, they should have an insulation ring that goes on them before the sheetrock goes up. Like a gasket between sheetrock and the can. Can't tell if it is there in the pics. This would be a good time to make sure.

They do. It's kind of a dark gray, and not easy to see. I have those same fixtures, and it's definitely there.

 

[stovebolt56]

You have to love when a plan comes together and works out as well as this project has with few problems.This is a project you walk throught when its done and say I remember that in the frame up and pour.we all are fullly involved in your project and like forward to the finished home.I am sure you and your wife will be happy to move from the travel trailer to the house.

 

[cderalow]

Surprised to see your electricians using NMD. That would not be legal for a non combustible building in Canada

I was going to say that, I would've thought BX would be more appropriate.

I was also curious about that but not sure as it is in another state. Especially with all the metal studs, that would not be legal here too.

Also, those can light fixtures, they should have an insulation ring that goes on them before the sheetrock goes up. Like a gasket between sheetrock and the can. Can't tell if it is there in the pics. This would be a good time to make sure.

I'd agree... if it was my place I'd sure as hell be using MC/BX with all the metal studs.

Pretty sure NEC requires it even.