Above 1200 Sq/FT Thomas' garage projects (Canada)

[PhantomEB]

I liking how this ‘Urban shop’ is progressing!

 

[TomcoPDR]

Hope everyone and their family/friends are holding up decent in this current situation. (I won't talk about the buzzkill, as there're tons of forums, media or Reddit that'll cover the topic)… but, just sharing a thought hope things will be ok, or soften around the world.


Yesterday the tile store called saying all my tiles were in. (for those tuning in, I have 3 pallets of tiles ordered, I was contemplating renting a forklift to unload when tile store delivers to my site, or visit 3 times in my passenger pickup to the tile store)

So something I didn't write about, last week, I had my typical migraine happens few times yearly; some say it's our city's air pressure or "chinooks" we get (I get the ones where I need to be in complete darkness, then my head starts spinning, then I throw up, then I got to sleep it off 16-20 hours straight)… So the timing worked because my entire tile order weren't "in" my city anyways, and our city got hit with some -20 to -30 (with wind chill) cold spell, and plus observing current world events unfolding.

Anyway, so yesterday headed to the tile store sanitarily. (it's one of those with low retail walk-in, mostly contractors type of stores)

Love their warehouse, their showroom is just as impressive. (I say the entire place showroom/warehouse) totals about 25,000 sqft or more. (I know, not Texas size impressive, but I get starstruck with these modern mega warehouses)


Here they are, my 3 pallets of 1,800 sqft worth of tiles for the 1968 Warehouse re-build/reno

So my order was messed, by 4 missed boxes being loaded. (came from their Vancouver, Canada headquarters so 1,000 km/ 625 miles from me) And my store's manager was just being considerate and professional, just calling me in (to pay) in one shot instead of choppy (oh we've got some pallets in, take some, oh, I owe you a few boxes come again, etc.); just easier one and done; but, I guess this isn't your average open to public big box store home department places. (been there done that, ordered lumber for fences, and it got so confusing)

lol, so I guess with this post, we know I folded and went with the forklift rental route. (next post, which will be today's update)

While at the tile store, called the forklift rental simultaneously with the tile delivery driver, unfortunately our city's economy and the current situation, things are slow everywhere, so it was easy to organize both parties. (I know easy is a good thing, but not the reasons behind it)


So with the odd ball 4 boxes (50 lbs each = 200 lbs) on a half pallet, the tile store just loaded to the back of my F-150...

It was an ahhhh moment, when they pulled their forklift out, I saw how even 200 lbs kind of "plunckered" the truck down a bit. And to think, each pallet is about 36-40 boxes at 50 lbs each (so 2,000 lbs); and I've researched my truck (and reading F-150 forums) members taking sod pallets, and specs does say it can handle 2,600 lbs weight. And even though it's a lease, lol lol; am I glad I folded for a forklift.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Today's update of the 1968 warehouse reno.

Forklift rental driver call to confirm my availability being on site before heading over, truth is, he was my wake up call, it's good I'm 15 mins away from home.

So clean, so new, wonder how much these things cost (through my research looking for a "cheap" used one, lol... I'd peg this for $35,000 new?) My rental (posted on their website, so not disclosing trade secrets), my total was $250 Cdn all-in

I can't believe they trust me with one of these, never driven one, ever, but researched 1-2 hours of safety videos on YouTube, and understanding as most of the 3 levers are reasonably standard functions.

This particular rental place was so responsible too, instructing drivers to take health cautions, so we kept our distance. They needed my driver's license, so that was placed on a table for him to log down, and the receivership signature was "suppose" to be on their smartphone device, but for this situation they're instructed nobody should transfer/touch the rental company's device so he just scribbled for me. Driver also said they sanitize controls after each return.

So the tile store manager when I paid, actually changed what I said to the tile driver (a set time)… the manager was just "call me once you get the forklift at your shop"

The forklift was early morning, so I called the tile store, and they said they'll load my stuff up and come right away. (they're close, like 7km/ 4.5 miles ish)… Maximizing downtime waiting on tiles, and also not to embarrass myself in front of the tile delivery driver or if business neighbours come visiting (it's a quiet older complex, everyone just stays in their own place anyways, small bays, so usually 1-5 employee each bay type of complex)… I guess 20-30 mins was all I needed to put my video lessons to life.

And it arrives, the main course.

So a little neat thing to write about, the reason why it's unloaded like in the photo, initially when I flagged the driver down, I was thinking he would just park on the driveway/stall in front of the bay door and I was just going outside to grab em. Of course, this guy knows what he's doing as a pro warehouse guy, says there's high chance the forklift will get stuck on the icy parking lot. It's always humbling to learn these little pro tips than failing the hard way.

Here's my driver's view (not operating while taking photo)

Notice only two pallets fitted their flatdeck, so driver had to get the 3rd pallet.

Here's how bad my OCD/visual is, while waiting on the 3rd pallet, I couldn't stand how the 2nd pallet is crooked, even though we know this is temporary

But, what else am I gonna do while waiting on 3rd (didn't want to get coffee/morning snacks and driver comes back), so yes, took the time to straighten out my 2nd pallet lol

Alright, final tile delivery

(sorry to the contractors for the overload photos of the same thing, different angles, I know you guys do this daily, but as a DIY guy, it'll probably take me years/decade to get into another project like this; love the end vision I'm aiming for, but honestly hate hate putting in the hours lol)

And here they are, all the tiles that'll get laid to rest in this 1968 warehouse. (so the place is 2,000 sqft and I ordered 1,800 sqft; because of mezzanine posts, bathroom I'm going to cheap out looking for discounted sqft tiles, the corridor hallway same thing look for cheaper per/sqft tiles since it won't be within a single view, it bugs me with small places having 2-3 different floor colors and transition of different materials within the same line of sight; but since bathroom/enclosed hallway will be different rooms divided by doors)

After the 3 pallet photo pose, spreading the pallets evenly so off to same wall, and a pallet by garage door (so I can just walk 5-10 steps to cover the trench drain area); fingers cross I don't have to mess around moving the 3rd pallet, which will be directly underneath the future stair and mezzanine framework. Called the forklift rental during this time (lol, guy drops it off in morning, then just 1.5-2 hours later on a minimum full day's charge, I call the driver back... but that's all I needed it for, and you'll all see, the forklift is in the way of where I want to start tiling)

Still lots of time in the day to do stuff... well, so super excited to start laying. lol, yes, the way I do things is probably laughable to pros. Suppose to renovate from "top down" (i.e. ceiling, walls, last is the flooring; but, I have two reasons of this, one is just this is a shop after all, and two, while I'm working on ceiling and walls; there's nothing I'd love, than to enjoy a nice looking tiled floor) That's my logic I guess.

And yes, I know tiling is suppose to be centre/center of the room, but here's what I wanted to do... I wanted the steel covers for the 2 compartment sump (that you see in warehouses and car washes), I want mine to be the fulcrum point of the shop... So it's subtle because I'm incorporating it as if it's just another porcelain tile lol, but the rustic of them, will make these two "tiles" stand out. (I've gotten suggestions to powder coat them, get it bedlinered, etc; but combination of frugal, and believing no powder coat/line-x will prevent any coatings peeling once you start driving over it on a commercial bases; and it annoys me seeing that half paint peeling effect, so yes, I THINK I'm just going to leave them rusty)

Here's the first tile, so nervous. (so I lost my cool Bosch 90 degree tiling laser, had to buy another $60 Lowe's on sale Bosch "x" leveling laser just to draw straight lines, then Sharpie on the Ditra) I'm also lasering the distance from the sump covers, to the trench drain. (keeping in mind, they're probably not going to be exactly 90 degree of each other)…

Not many photos while I'm tiling cause when I get into "a bucket" (a 50 lbs thinset bag), wearing these surgical gloves, always watching my steps, knowing thinset has time expiry, etc.

Here's 1 bucket's worth

And this is how I ended my day, another 1.5 bucket. (so 2.5 bucket total, with forklift rental/return, tile delivery management)… I can see why and how general contractors has their value to keep everything organized through a project. (I just can't afford the 1 mega invoice shock of "Thomas everything is completed, you owe us THIS amount"; so I got to piece all this together, AND put in the work lol)

Well tomorrow pending when I get up (pretty late now updating this 2 am, and cousins in California blowing up our family group chat about closures, their work environment); but hoping I'll inch along once I get to the shop

 

[fourbyford]

Hey Thomas,
Looks like you did a good job with the fork lift... another few hours on the machine and you'll be driving like a pro.
Very nice work on the tile job! If I ever get the walls in my shop finished, I'd like to put tile on the floor... but I'm not sure my knees would last through a job like that...
Anyways, I'm liking your progress!

...D

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: i'll get the popcorn popping and get ready for your next post cause this is going to be GREAT.

nice start and glad to hear you and the fork lift and tile delivery worked out ok.

good luck!!

 

[TomcoPDR]

Hey Thomas,
Looks like you did a good job with the fork lift... another few hours on the machine and you'll be driving like a pro.
Very nice work on the tile job! If I ever get the walls in my shop finished, I'd like to put tile on the floor... but I'm not sure my knees would last through a job like that...
Anyways, I'm liking your progress!

...D

I say do it... imo, just take it in strides (I'm not on a time limit-ish) For me, I have to constantly prep myself mentally to size up/down my projects. (don't get ahead of myself, don't exert myself). Not going to lie, everytime I show up to these tile property, I ask myself WTF am I doing, omg this is overwhelming for me. But I just take it literally "a visit at a time", some days, I only lay 2-4 tiles (half a thinset bucket), and then just wander off in my own world moving junk back and forth (nothing gets dumped, nothing gets assembled, nothing gets photo'ed and attempted to be sold online; just mindless wandering)… And I get too bored doing any one action single task (and like you said, knees or certain body parts hurting thru repeatition); So yeah, I'm all those clichés; ADHD, OCD, all of it.

Tom: i'll get the popcorn popping and get ready for your next post cause this is going to be GREAT.

nice start and glad to hear you and the fork lift and tile delivery worked out ok.

good luck!!

Day 2 spending on tiling at 1968 warehouse

Got my wet saw station setup, this thing at this point paid for itself (bought purposely for Vaults garage condo, before pulling trigger to do tiles here, I wanted to sell it, the waste in real estate (SPACE) for this thing annoys me)

But even something cheapo Princess Auto (i.e. Harbor Freight), with a quality Dewalt blade, can cut 1/2" trim piece off a 24" tile (can't do that with that slicer thingy, whatever tile guys call it lol)

Haha, ok this sentence is an embarrassing post. So my $200 Bosch 90 degree (specifically designed) for tile work laser that I got just to do the Vaults garage condo; ummm yeah, during moving **** around, I can't find it. And too lazy to toss the whole place to find it. (lol, of course I'm sure it'll show up once I'm done the entire reno on 1968) I'm so mad at myself because while sizing up/researching before tiling the Vaults (to do the very first tile correctly); I hmmm and uhhhhh thousand times whether I should drop $200 just to do ONE tile. (yes, you can use it continuously to check your work; I kinda half *** didn't use it after 20% was installed and some lines were going off, and hoped for the best during Vaults install)

So now I dumped another $60 at Lowes on this on-sale Bosch regular "X" kind of laser. (I'm sure it's only suppose to be for walls, hanging picture frames or wall tile)

Trying to rig this thing to do floor lines to cut a tile. Tried this cart, not stable enough

Then tried clamping on this 1990 era cheapo Black & Decker stand inherited from dad's garage arsenal of DIY tools lol (I sold my Walmart cheapo camera stand on FB marketplace last year lol, that would had worked perfect; but it was taking up our condo storage cage space)

BUT, it was a failure. I don't think it's the right tool (laser), the gyro keeps resetting, so the laser would click off every 2 seconds (like blinks), because my body was in the way. And somehow the "angle" where it's clamped, pointing to the floor, projects different "stretched" red beam if that makes sense. How I'm trying to cut the tile where the end grate is, so the tile is also raised up a bit, so this laser is throwing off wacky beams.


So what I ended up doing? lol... just a simple Sharpie marker, and my inherited dad's straight edge level, and just drew a line to mark my cut. (I know, snapping chalk lines, but I sold my chalk line tape on FB marketplace for $5 lol and I'm too lazy/frugal to get one for this project, don't ask why, sometimes if I don't see a frequent use for tools, I just don't want to have it in my possession)

And then worked on the tiles surrounding the sump catch basin covers. (I figure it'll take about 2-4 sessions, to let certain parts dry, then you can do the next, etc.) And of course, if I took a close up, it won't be 3/8" gap through out like pros, but did the best I could with non-pro tools, and DIY skills (there's a part at one side of the transition where the gap to grout is 5/8" the wet saw couldn't get the cut any tighter)

Ended my 10 hour day with grouting the dried stuff from yesterday's tiling.

Trying this $150 grouting kit bucket that's so popular, my verdict is, it does save your hands (grip) from constantly squeezing traditional sponge; however, for this brand, I had to press down on the handle really hard to ring out the sponge on the rollers, otherwise the sponge is still too damp and you're diluting the grout.

This is day 2 tile work as it sits

It's so depressing however, look at the PALLETS of tiles looks as if they're untouched. (so about 50 tiles laid, that's 12 box ish, but I barely made a dent in one pallet, imagine if the pallet would still be in my F150 lol)

This is all being used up in the first pallet. (i.e. because 4 boxes were in my truck, so that's 16 tiles, then on a certain pallet had 4 boxes on top; so that's 8 boxes.... then only using up 4 box breaking up the 1st pallet; to make the the 48-50 pieces laid) I guess 100 boxes (400 large tiles) to go lol

 

[TomcoPDR]

Day 3 tiling at 1968 cinderblock warehouse, aka: social distancing, self isolation

Well fellows, so glad I got through today, and just sitting back updating.

Started off in late morning, dragging my feet into the shop.


My sweet mother makes me lunches now in this social distancing era, she's in boomer age range so we only go out to stock up groceries and then stays in her apartment like everyone else; I'm at the shop because well, it's only me there; in my car, to the shop, back to apartment. (I'm back in her spare room; rented my small unit out, but I get it back end of this month when tenant leaves, unrelated to covid 19 situation. I've been doing fully furnished full month rental for the last 4-5 months)

So in this photo, lol... Me and mom budget our ration (and storage of them) accordingly in apartment, and then time our grocery visits. When I get into these full day projects (especially tiling where there's dust and such, I usually slam tons of water bottles); However, I'm anti-sheep mentality with these panic buying (Costco/Walmart), so I'm avoiding getting cases of bottle water just for tiling, and I'm NOT drinking from the shop's old copper pipe tap, usually if the property is newer, I don't mind drinking our city's tap. Asked mom to prep me a big jug of our home's boiled-then cooled water, but it's not like we're the type of family that'll spend $500 on some hipster Yeti jugs. As we're trying to be minimalist, so neither of us own any large size water jug... but, my sweet mother, this is what she gave me, a rinsed out vinegar jug to bring to the shop.

Ok, so got my lunch ready on tailgate... few tasks I wanted (a bucket of thinset at least, grout yesterday's tiles, some tile pieces require cutting, finish the trim work around the 2 compartment sump)… Quite the list I want done... First thing within my morning wandering, is to put some tiles on a dolly; make the pallet look less (lol), and so I can have a rolling stack of tiles

Hope this doesn't freak anyone out, not sure if anyone believes in ghosts/spirits or at least some higher power/voice. So as I was moving boxes from pallet to dolly, a little voice inside my head (i.e. my father?), was telling myself, now that the security straps are randomly cut, you better make sure each box is secured on the pallet and not fall. But then the lazy inside voice was like, nobody is in here but myself, naw it looks safe enough to me... So I start grout work... The shop is nice, peaceful and quite, all to myself; then what do you know... (Reference a page or two back; how we found an old abandon concrete sewer silo exactly where my 2 compartment sump install is; where my father was always the practical joker type of guy lol)

So yeah, my idiot real life voice, telling my inside voice/daddy-spirit I'm good... I was only 2 feet away on the ground grouting and I literally felt this gust of wind knocking this over.

Was so mad ($60 bucks right there) and creeped out at the same time. (because it wasn't like I was oblivious not knowing potential hazards, it's that while putting them onto the dolly, I pretty much pretended to have an argument as if my father was still alive "ahhhh, what do you know old man, it'll be fine, just let me do my thing, nothing's gonna tip over")


So pissed at myself almost just packed up and went home. And I think Drives might be able to related (in your thread, I read the reference of you took a moment thinking about 1/2 Cup/Steven randomly)… so almost giving up the day crying like a 5 year old because of the broken tiles, then started to calm a bit, then thought about my father, and then all of a sudden it's like listening to my father (or what any fathers would do)… "awwww little Thomas boy, cheer up butter cup, it's not the end of the world/your world, come on, let's keep going"


So I wiped my tears (finished grouting everything that's tiled at the point)… wandered around again, then started small. Just a notch cut for this grate piece.

Still not feeling happy (breaking those tiles), so still not in the mood to whip up a bucket of thinset yet... wandered a bit more.


Then I knew certain supplies would run out on the next session, so I better make a non-existent traffic drive to the tile supplier shop (i.e. floor trims, grout because I buy per bag as grout are easier to foresee running out, etc.) I get to the flooring supplier at 1:45 pm, they've blocked off the asles (i.e. social distancing, don't want people touching stuff), and only desk ordering with staff getting items. Here's the 2nd freaky part of my day. I look on the counter, they've shortened operating hours from 8am - 2 pm... so I JUST made it (otherwise, I've lessen my option of tasks for tomorrow's session) What are the chances through out my moody morning, at the exact moment to decide to make my supplies run, and the fact not knowing how the flooring store would reflect shortened operations from covid19, that some kinda spirit wouldn't want me disappointed.


Grabbed some McDonald's drive thru (mom's lunch still at the shop; that could be for later; because I only want to make 1 drive outta the shop)


Starting to feel better, but haven't forgotten my dummy move, still can't get into thinset groove. So I knew I need to do the trims (around 2 compartment sump) before thinset anyways.

The middle part between the two sump steel covers, it's about 2" wide (yup, I did ask the flooring store if Schluter makes a 1/2" 12mm thick transition like that, naw, gotta build my own)


Needed a 1/2" width full 24" length tile, this little piece took a good 30-45 min to make. Since now I'm over cautious about my work ethics and give more efforts into my tasks (yeah, thanks dad, lol), I've already burnt my parlay.

When cutting a long 24", but narrow piece like that, it'll usually break. This piece took so much time, because I'm stopping (really carefully) this crappy wet saw a few times, and made sure the exit end is taped up

Here it is, tile for the middle between the two sump steel plating.

Stashed it way in the rear of the shop, so my moronic self don't get bored touching and breaking it before install

Now time for the trim piece for this middle sump part... (sold my dad's mitre box years ago), so now I'm just rigging these plywood pieces to prop the trim up off the table. Using hand saw vs. chop saw to prevent heat burn for this bronze/copper color (silver burn isn't as noticeable, I used silver at Vaults garage condo)… but back to caveman tools for this build, handsaw, then hand file the burs

Because of how narrow it is, the bottom of the trim overlap each other

Grinder cuts off excess pretty quick

This should work

Put these 3 important pieces safely where I'm no where near, notice, yup that box of broken tile still on the floor by the man door pallet. It's to remind myself not to make anymore stupid moves

Hitting evening time at this point... but feeling decent enough to do 1 bucket (1 bag) of thinset now... that'll cover 8-9 full pieces of tiles... Here's the middle sump trim being installed, so time consuming

More paste to place the tile insert

Tile insert installed

The tiling around the 2 compartment sump

And this is how my night ended, (yup, the broken box of tile still laying there; think I'm gonna leave it as a reminder to work-smarter)

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: your write ups at midnight after working all day in the shop are pretty entertaining to say the least.

yep that voice in your head could be your father or just words you recall him saying as he was trying to teach you some valuable lessons.

i probably would move the boxes of tile once they are unstrapped to flat on the floor. is there a reason why they can't be stacked on top of each other? also I bet you'll find that you'll use some of the smaller broken pieces for some project so I bet your $60 won't be totally lost.

great job on the tile between the sump pump covers. are you going to paint them or maybe just wipe some of the surface rust off and put on some BLO?

keep up the great work and keep posting all the great pics and stories of your hard work.

cheers

 

[PhantomEB]

That box may come in handy later when close To doing the edges. Perhaps enough to do a small toe kick all the way around?

 

[BoilermakerFan]

Thanks a lot Tom... been following along since the thread started. But now I want to tile my new garage when we move to a new house in a few years.

The '68 floor looks great so far. And keep the broken box of tile. Like phantom said, I'm sure you will find uses for it. Worst case, make a mosaic back splash with it for the bathroom. You'll just have to break it up into smaller pieces.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Thanks a lot Tom... been following along since the thread started. But now I want to tile my new garage when we move to a new house in a few years.

The '68 floor looks great so far. And keep the broken box of tile. Like phantom said, I'm sure you will find uses for it. Worst case, make a mosaic back splash with it for the bathroom. You'll just have to break it up into smaller pieces.

That box may come in handy later when close To doing the edges. Perhaps enough to do a small toe kick all the way around?

Tom: your write ups at midnight after working all day in the shop are pretty entertaining to say the least.

yep that voice in your head could be your father or just words you recall him saying as he was trying to teach you some valuable lessons.

i probably would move the boxes of tile once they are unstrapped to flat on the floor. is there a reason why they can't be stacked on top of each other? also I bet you'll find that you'll use some of the smaller broken pieces for some project so I bet your $60 won't be totally lost.

great job on the tile between the sump pump covers. are you going to paint them or maybe just wipe some of the surface rust off and put on some BLO?

keep up the great work and keep posting all the great pics and stories of your hard work.

cheers

Thanks fellows, here's up to date from this weekend's and today's work. In my update, I should be able to address all at the same time.

And yes BoilermakerFan Please join "team porcelain" (I guess from what I gather you GJ guys/gals are calling it here, versus epoxy/coating; for me, I just don't like the wavy reflections epoxy gives, the flakes are too much distraction to look at, metallic (the Vaults garage condo's clubhouse had it in 2,000 sqft, it was always dirty, so the developer just porcelain tiled over it as well) )


Yeah initially I just wanted to toss the broken box of tiles out (i.e. done and over, don't want to be reminded of idiotic move), but of course we all in agreeance the clear corners can be useful in the end on the edges and the 4"-5" baseboards) So I put it in the "tile graveyard", on top of the 3rd pallet, where other odds and end cuts sit.

Down to two pallets

But, lol. That's just optical illusion, I cleaned up the 1st pallet by putting the rest on 2 moving dollies.

I was putting it off, but I have to work on raising the 2 sump steel covers. Drives; I think I'm going to leave the "rustic" as a look. I'm wondering if powder coating will last, and once vehicles are driven on it, it bugs me if (if I paid for coatings) half peels... So I might as well for the time being go for the rat-rod look on these covers lol


Between the 1968 rough floors, Schluter Ditra uncoupling membrane, thinset spread, 10mm tile, I'd say the cover needs to be raised anywhere from 5/8" - 3/4", in order for the steel plates to be flush with the tiles. On top of this non-uniform difference, the "slab" (entire 20'x20' sections of concrete floors) in those days, they sloped it probably 0.5 degree towards the garage door. (i.e. in newer industrial builds, I notice floors being completely level)… and when they installed the sump, I instructed them to follow the floor, and not sink it in like when you go to a commercial car wash; annoys me working on a car on a "slope", it's like working on a hill. The end closer to the door is lower than the end to the rear, following the flow of the slab, but level to the slab.

Not really up for this challenge, but here's my DIY first time ever trying to make this work.

So I'm going to build a curb (if that's the right term), and fill he rim with leveling compound.


First, protect the copper trim. The cardboard pieces are for the inside.

This weird looking thing...

Because I want the inside to have some structure when pouring the leveling compound

Stuffed it with more cardboard (between the structure ring and the cardboard that's against the inside sump)

First session of pour. (I think it'll take 2-3 sessions to let it layer dry, than having a thick *** 3/4" liquid trying to dry)

And well, this is my 1 week solo self-isolation tile work (forklift rental/tiles arrived last Tuesday). But to be fair, this is my only "job" nowadays, so it's not even like being a weekend warrior, so no excuses not producing any progress.

 

[wasfast]

Would rust converter be an option for the covers?

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: you sure go to a lot of extra work to make things RIGHT or better that is for certain. I might have put in some steel in those edges to raise the drain covers or if I had welding skills and some scrap steel I might have welded on some steel around the edges. your idea might work even better so best of luck with that.

great to see all the progress cause even though you have 6 Saturdays and a Sunday currently it's still hard to be self motivated to do some things that seem to go on for days at a time.

keep up the great work and always nice to see what you have invented or thought of to do some jobs.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Would rust converter be an option for the covers?

Worth a try, or maybe even clear coating it. I think it just all depends on my mood lol lol lol. But definitely putting that on lower priority for some reason, doesn't bug me sporting the rust look. (yet)

Tom: you sure go to a lot of extra work to make things RIGHT or better that is for certain. I might have put in some steel in those edges to raise the drain covers or if I had welding skills and some scrap steel I might have welded on some steel around the edges. your idea might work even better so best of luck with that.

great to see all the progress cause even though you have 6 Saturdays and a Sunday currently it's still hard to be self motivated to do some things that seem to go on for days at a time.

keep up the great work and always nice to see what you have invented or thought of to do some jobs.

Oh man, if I had tons of tools like some GJ members... even a quality hobby DIY welder, I'd never be able to take a break. I HAD a cheapo Canadian Tire (for sake of argument, it's the Canadian version of Sears hardware department), I had a Mastercraft brand entry level welder, except it didn't have shielding gas feature; so the splatter was annoying me on the results, because people will think that was my "work" And really, these hobby size gas shielded welders go on sale from time to time $400-600 ? ish. But even if I had a welder to do a raised "ring" to lift these covers, I feel using a liquid product will prevent rocking, or clicking noise everytime you drive over it. (at least I hope, we'll find out tomorrow)


Today's work... 1 week and 1 day into this 1968 cinderblock warehouse reno...

Testing my 2 compartment sump cover raising, a cheesy depth gauge lol

Ok, fingers crossed, final depth pour... this is the 4th session.

Then onto 1 bucket of thinset session


The last row by the non-mandoor wall

The end 4" last piece takes so much time... because I have to leave a full tile, dry fit it, measure with spacer (and every end wall piece is slightly different, with tiles unlike vinyl or laminate if it's a hair too much you can't force it in place, as well, I understand that you should to leave 1/4" gap from wall for movement; but if you leave too much gap, then the baseboard won't cover it)

This update might not seem like much, but still took hours (but like Drives stated, if I can, easier to throw a few photos asap, rather a mega post...) But, I guess little by little, she's coming along.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

<snip>

And yes BoilermakerFan Please join "team porcelain" (I guess from what I gather you GJ guys/gals are calling it here, versus epoxy/coating; for me, I just don't like the wavy reflections epoxy gives, the flakes are too much distraction to look at, metallic (the Vaults garage condo's clubhouse had it in 2,000 sqft, it was always dirty, so the developer just porcelain tiled over it as well) )

<snip>

Oh, I'm pretty much sold on the idea, especially if I will be building my next detached space at our next house from scratch. At least half the space will be tiled. It's probably the most durable option for the hobby projects I will do in the space.

I'm not a fan of epoxy floors so the only other option I would consider is tinted concrete with a densifier/sealer, but I'm really prone to spilling oil; old, nasty oil (no matter how careful I try to be, I always end up spilling some or dripping it everywhere)... so tile is the best option for me in the motorcycle fab and cnc mill area. I'll probably use high quality LVT in the finished lounge half of the space.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Oh, I'm pretty much sold on the idea, especially if I will be building my next detached space at our next house from scratch. At least half the space will be tiled. It's probably the most durable option for the hobby projects I will do in the space.

I'm not a fan of epoxy floors so the only other option I would consider is tinted concrete with a densifier/sealer, but I'm really prone to spilling oil; old, nasty oil (no matter how careful I try to be, I always end up spilling some or dripping it everywhere)... so tile is the best option for me in the motorcycle fab and cnc mill area. I'll probably use high quality LVT in the finished lounge half of the space.

Especially the amount of projects you do, I think you'll love walking on a porcelain tiled shop. Don't forget to consider installing heating coils where your work bench area is for your RC stuff (haha speaking of RC stuff... I remember the very first "big boy" RC car dad bought me was a Tamiya Striker; problem was, he was only able to spare time on the weekend, my memory serves that it felt like it took forever to get that thing built)

 

[TomcoPDR]

Day 10 straight on this, definitely losing a bit of wind, but just got to keep tracking.


1968 cinderblock warehouse

Removing the first of 2 form for raising the two compartment sump lip with leveling compound, heart was pounding as I walked over with the rusty steel plate, hoping it'll go as planned.

And it works, sitting flush with tile surface.

Love shuffling my feet along tiles over the plate, so smooth. (well, as smooth as a DIY guy can get it; but casters, chairs rolling over, no problem)

Time for the second cover... this time with more experience (of doing it ONCE, lol)


But of course, motor skills got more efficient, taping off the copper trim

Some wiser tricks up my sleeves now... example, double row the tuck tape (in the first cover, 1 row and when the level compound got on the cardboard, it stuck)

Instead of stuffing cardboard in the gap to give pressure against inside concrete rim, use hot glue to seal it before pouring. (in the first cover, there was some leakage of liquid thru the gap between cardboard and inside rim)

Now I can claim to be the master of sump cover height raising.

Today's 1 bucket challenge (i.e. every time I visit, I try to at least do 1 bag of thinset)

The row before garage door transition

And more additions to the non-mandoor wall... I love seeing it hit the wall, just so alluring to stare at

Random update here, I foresee needing to fasten stuff on the cinderblock, so needed a rotary hammer drill. Home Depot, $250 Cdn with delivery to condo concierge for this Ryobi kit, even has the cute carrying pouch. Hope it'll allow me to drill up to 1/2" holes to put anchors or tapcon concrete fasteners thru the cinderblocks. It ain't no contractor Tim Taylor high power $2,000 Hilti (hope most GJ will get that reference)

And pretty crazy, gas is $0.629/LITRE Cdn in our town. (so 3.8 litre to a US gallon I guess... $2.39 Cdn/ gallon doing rough conversion)… I remember when I got my license at 16, gas was $0.45/litre... that was ages ago, but I'm sure some of you fellows have way more interesting stories of how things/prices were back in the days.

 

[Bob Heine]

Tom, on a trip from New York to Alaska in 1957 we passed through a gasoline price war in the Midwest. Dad paid $0.18 a gallon. Same trip he paid $0.50 a gallon on the Alcan Highway and $1.00 a gallon in Mt. McKinley (aka Denali) National park (5-gallon can flown in by Piper Cub).

In today's money that was $1.66 for the price war gas, $4.60 for the Alcan Highway gas and $9.21 for the National Park airlifted gas. Right now gas on the Alcan Highway is selling for around $4 a gallon so not really a huge change.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: great job on the leveling for the metal lids and nice progress on the tiles too. you might think you are not working quick enough, but you are making steady progress and keep going.

I do like my Ryobi 18v tools, but I have a Dewalt and Milwaukee rotohammers with SDS bits along with a few big drills and plenty of cement drill bits. that said i'm good at drilling holes in cement, but haven't figured out the best way to attach things to them. Be careful not to drill to hard or fast or you'll bust the cement unless your cavities are filled with cement.

i've had some luck with the plastic holders and screws holding shelving that held a lot of books, but when I mounted our murphy bed and went to bigger bolts or tapcon screws it wasn't working as well. slow and steady with your wall drilling and make sure to wear a good mask and have your shop vac close cause that dust goes everywhere.

yep my first fill up on my 1963 Mercury Comet was .29 per gallon, but at 16 my wages were $1.65 per hour which was a lot more than the $1-2 per day to deliver papers to the 60-100 neighbors when I was younger.

keep on keeping on and you are doing great!!

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom, on a trip from New York to Alaska in 1957 we passed through a gasoline price war in the Midwest. Dad paid $0.18 a gallon. Same trip he paid $0.50 a gallon on the Alcan Highway and $1.00 a gallon in Mt. McKinley (aka Denali) National park (5-gallon can flown in by Piper Cub).

In today's money that was $1.66 for the price war gas, $4.60 for the Alcan Highway gas and $9.21 for the National Park airlifted gas. Right now gas on the Alcan Highway is selling for around $4 a gallon so not really a huge change.

Tom: great job on the leveling for the metal lids and nice progress on the tiles too. you might think you are not working quick enough, but you are making steady progress and keep going.

I do like my Ryobi 18v tools, but I have a Dewalt and Milwaukee rotohammers with SDS bits along with a few big drills and plenty of cement drill bits. that said i'm good at drilling holes in cement, but haven't figured out the best way to attach things to them. Be careful not to drill to hard or fast or you'll bust the cement unless your cavities are filled with cement.

i've had some luck with the plastic holders and screws holding shelving that held a lot of books, but when I mounted our murphy bed and went to bigger bolts or tapcon screws it wasn't working as well. slow and steady with your wall drilling and make sure to wear a good mask and have your shop vac close cause that dust goes everywhere.

yep my first fill up on my 1963 Mercury Comet was .29 per gallon, but at 16 my wages were $1.65 per hour which was a lot more than the $1-2 per day to deliver papers to the 60-100 neighbors when I was younger.

keep on keeping on and you are doing great!!

It's crazy how quickly these numbers inflate, it doesn't even seem like a progression, but it just multiples.


Coming up to week 2...

(1968 cinderblock warehouse): Finally got the two compartment sump steel plates flush, so that part can be completely driven on.

Got the trench drain area, minus 1 last piece (between garage doors) to cut

Making my way towards inside of bay.. (I'll stop to where the mezzanine support will be framed, so about 15' from wall to inward)

 

[fourbyford]

Thomas, you're making amazing progress and your workmanship is top-notch! This project will be yet another to be proud of!

Do you have any sketches or drawings of how the mezz will be built... areas above and below?

Keep up the great work!

...D

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: i'm guessing when you say you have another piece to cut and install where the tile meets the garage door since it's so small maybe your epoxy or cement or some other leveling compound might make a more durable edge?

I can't believe you are already driving your truck on it.

looks great AND you are making great progress.

keep up the good work and thanks again for posting all the pictures and your stories.

 

[PhantomEB]

I so can’t wait to see it fully tiled out.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Thomas, you're making amazing progress and your workmanship is top-notch! This project will be yet another to be proud of!

Do you have any sketches or drawings of how the mezz will be built... areas above and below?

Keep up the great work!

...D

Yes, these are from the architect/engineer. Keep in mind, had I known I was going to rip the entire old mezzanine down, I would had wanted to spend time with him with different designs.

Originally (lolololololol), it was suppose to be a mezzanine "extension" (build as legally big as I could; there's a main level to mezz ratio 40-45%, don't quote me)…. Move the existing bathroom wall an extra 1' foot, etc lol.

Obviously, it's kind of a blank slate now. But I already paid $ 5-figures for those drawings, with city approval, with structural engineer stamps, electrical, plumbing, hvac; to the way it's drawn above. So the benefit is, at least I know (and documented) the new mezz. will be up to code and structurally built as per modern specs.

I so can’t wait to see it fully tiled out.

Tom: i'm guessing when you say you have another piece to cut and install where the tile meets the garage door since it's so small maybe your epoxy or cement or some other leveling compound might make a more durable edge?

I can't believe you are already driving your truck on it.

looks great AND you are making great progress.

keep up the good work and thanks again for posting all the pictures and your stories.

Drives, Oh, I literally meant, 1 full tile remaining to cut between the two garage doors. It's just that there're more buzzkill measurements than it looks, and then to hand grind the curve (where garage door rail ends on floor)… so was dreading it, some of the other door rails didn't actually touch the floor, so I was able to just place a tile under.

The end pieces at the garage doors, the "ramp" is Schluter's (the model is call Reno-U) 12mm spec (since it'll meet accessibility code; if I'm understanding the building code correctly)

It's a little dull with the thinset / grout haze... I can't wait to shine it up for you guys... the copper trim color on these sparkling dark gunmetal tiles is such an awesome contrast. (not by professional design per sa, it's just something I thought will look cool lol)

Yes, and I chuckle at the horrible cracked outside apron concrete. There's two theories behind that:

- when I had concrete pros, I asked... they're giving their honest friendly advice (hey, no problem taking my money if instructed): but their thought process was, "how crazy do you CHASE updating a 1968 place; and they would need to cut and remove to meet the 5-6 inch of existing depth" (and Drives has mentioned it's a point of diminishing returns; as well, Drives was correct in wondering, maybe cheaper (but I wouldn't want to clear out all my junk neither) to look into replacing the ENTIRE 2,000 sqft floor with modern polished concrete pour (but then it wouldn't make this thread interesting watching me suffer laying these large format tiles by myself here lol)


- If I owned this as a stand alone (not a condo bay); I actually would tile all the way outside, so the garage door would sit on the tile. Reason why with this and the Vaults garage condo I did the Schluter Reno-U ramp INSIDE; is because; when the condominium snow removal contractor comes with their truck with shovel attachment, just as a precaution in case they come close to the garage door (outside), most the time operators will stop about 18-20" from the garage doors I notice. But you never know. And secondly, I'm just kind of using residential condo rules (anything inside your walls are yours)… so I just don't want tiling to be revealed OUTSIDE of my garage doors; though I love that look.


Which leaves us to leaving the cracked up garage door apron lolololol… I think it can grow on me; from the outside it's aged like the rest of the neighbour's 1968 cinderblock building complex... till you open the door and drive in. Maybe later on, I can pressure wash, do a little V grind, then pour some leveling compound to smooth it out.



Ended my 1 bucket's work day with starting to do tiled baseboards on the non-man door garage door corner.

 

[fourbyford]

Everything is coming together nicely... I love the color and size of the tiles... the copper trim and the black grating where the floor drain meets the tile. And, I think the "rusty" look of the sump covers will add an interesting effect... I think you mentioned maybe lightly cleaning them and then a clear coat? Should be awesome! You could always change them later... if you were to change your mind... but, once the floor is finished, I would be surprised if you did (change).

The areas above and below the mezz are well thought out. This will be an incredible space when finished!

You know you're making progress when you start installing baseboard trim!! Keep up the great work!


...D

 

[PhantomEB]

I wouldn’t worry about the concrete outside, it just leads more to the wow factor when the big door is open.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: thanks for clarifying the edge tiling work. that said can you maybe trim that rail a 1/2 inch since other rails don't go to the floor? might be easier than having to make all those cuts on your tile?

I see a cool tool advertised on YouTube a lot that measures angles and odd shapes for cuts around pipes and stuff so you can draw it on your piece to cut. do you have a dremel with a diamond blade and if not having a little dremel tool might come in handy for other stuff with all the attachments you can buy for them. or a Fien or Festool multytool might have a blade that cuts tile?

that entry apron does look a little beat up so maybe to keep it from getting worse is there an exterior cement epoxy you can buy to maybe level it up and keep the pieces in place since it's really not yours to cut out and replace?

carry on and i'm heading to go make guacamole now for some chips to continue reading and watching the Tomco show.

cheers and hope you are maybe getting a bit of spring weather soon as the frozen north warms up a bit

 

[shortykorte]

On the mezzanine plans, change orders were invented for a reason

Floor is looking good. Agree with you doing a little clean up on concrete approach.


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[TomcoPDR]

Everything is coming together nicely... I love the color and size of the tiles... the copper trim and the black grating where the floor drain meets the tile. And, I think the "rusty" look of the sump covers will add an interesting effect... I think you mentioned maybe lightly cleaning them and then a clear coat? Should be awesome! You could always change them later... if you were to change your mind... but, once the floor is finished, I would be surprised if you did (change).

The areas above and below the mezz are well thought out. This will be an incredible space when finished!

You know you're making progress when you start installing baseboard trim!! Keep up the great work!


...D

I wouldn’t worry about the concrete outside, it just leads more to the wow factor when the big door is open.

Yea, I'm just going to roll with the "some stuff are new, some are old" As much as it bugs me wanting to update everything, it just comes a point there's got to have a limit. Yea, I'm thinking the same thing, from the outside, it looks like an outdated building, just boring paint... but then open MY garage door, it's a nicely refreshed interior (once it's done)

Tom: thanks for clarifying the edge tiling work. that said can you maybe trim that rail a 1/2 inch since other rails don't go to the floor? might be easier than having to make all those cuts on your tile?

I see a cool tool advertised on YouTube a lot that measures angles and odd shapes for cuts around pipes and stuff so you can draw it on your piece to cut. do you have a dremel with a diamond blade and if not having a little dremel tool might come in handy for other stuff with all the attachments you can buy for them. or a Fien or Festool multytool might have a blade that cuts tile?

that entry apron does look a little beat up so maybe to keep it from getting worse is there an exterior cement epoxy you can buy to maybe level it up and keep the pieces in place since it's really not yours to cut out and replace?

carry on and i'm heading to go make guacamole now for some chips to continue reading and watching the Tomco show.

cheers and hope you are maybe getting a bit of spring weather soon as the frozen north warms up a bit

- I do like the aesthetic look of these garage door rails touching the floor (it's just one or two of the rails weren't for this old building)… and even if I was to purposely grind them, you'd need at least 1" clearance to "slip" a thinset'ed tile under.

- For the Vaults garage condo tiling, I did buy a cheapo Amazon angle tracer tool (returned it), got buzzkilled because it's not the model that "locks"... so when I did tracing (I didn't know it moved), cut my tile, and it was more work for me trying to fix the mistake. Funny you mention, if you go down the rabbit hole on YouTube watching real tile pro's in those foreign countries doing door jams, they'd spin the tile so quick, make their pencil marks, ... then only takes them about 5 minutes to cut, and it sits 99% perfect.

- Yeah, I think putting some exterior graded leveling compound type just to make it look like a "patch attempt" will be G.E. (Good Enough lol)

- eeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkk, speaking of wishing us having good weather, we still have light 2-5mm of snow (doesn't stay long to stick around) still -6 ish

On the mezzanine plans, change orders were invented for a reason

Floor is looking good. Agree with you doing a little clean up on concrete approach.


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

Don't temp me lolololololol…. no, but in times like these I need to conserve $....





Up to date look today, it might be marginal difference. (but like Drives says, better than a crazy huge update after MIA)

1968 cinderblock warehouse:

Baseboard between two garage door. Broken record, but I just love staring at a tiled baseboard

And in the non man-door corner, a second full strip of trim

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: thanks for the update and trim looks great. I know if something bugs you and you let it go and don't fix it then it can always bug you so best to do things the way you want them first (of course if not too expensive) and smile such as cutting around the garage rails.

I wish I could send you some warm weather, but it hasn't been a lot above freezing here lately even though i've been mowing my lawn since January every week sometimes 2 or 3 times.

since I know lifting and placing all the tile and being up and down might be taking a toll on your body so you might want to buy an inversion table. i've used one for 10 years and I can't tell you how much better I feel. I hang 100% from my ankles for 5 minutes (I try to do it daily even if not in pain) and I haven't taken an Advil for back pain since i started using it.

I wish I would have bought stock in Teeter Up cause they make the best inversion table I know of and i'm actually thinking of selling my used one and buying a new one cause it has a better ankle holder. here's the link i'm looking at https://teeter.com/fitspine/

keep up the great work and your progress is coming along nicely.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom: thanks for the update and trim looks great. I know if something bugs you and you let it go and don't fix it then it can always bug you so best to do things the way you want them first (of course if not too expensive) and smile such as cutting around the garage rails.

I wish I could send you some warm weather, but it hasn't been a lot above freezing here lately even though i've been mowing my lawn since January every week sometimes 2 or 3 times.

since I know lifting and placing all the tile and being up and down might be taking a toll on your body so you might want to buy an inversion table. i've used one for 10 years and I can't tell you how much better I feel. I hang 100% from my ankles for 5 minutes (I try to do it daily even if not in pain) and I haven't taken an Advil for back pain since i started using it.

I wish I would have bought stock in Teeter Up cause they make the best inversion table I know of and i'm actually thinking of selling my used one and buying a new one cause it has a better ankle holder. here's the link i'm looking at https://teeter.com/fitspine/

keep up the great work and your progress is coming along nicely.

When I was at the 5 bedroom (triple detached garage) suburb bungalow, I pondered about an inversion table in the basement (lots of space in a suburb home). But knowing within years I'll be doing what I do now (cheaper small condo, with a business industrial space as a garage/work), I didn't drop $400-500 for a new inversion table. Of course if a good used deal/ garage sale came along, I'd totally grab it. From time to time at the condo's gym (our HOA currently closed our condo's gym and clubhouse due to Covid-19 of course on government orders); but I would do hand stands as long as I can.

But you know what, your advice never fail us Drives; when the right deal (or if I know I'm really settling into the 1968 warehouse as my income work shop); I can buy an inversion table for the mezzanine at the shop. I've never really tried one in comparison to just hand stands.


Embarrassed some days this past week, I just can't get myself out of the condo lol... Isolation might be the excuse, but really, I just couldn't leave the condo.

Anyway. So these older buildings using these steel pole columns to support the roof I-beam, and the TJI truss would sit on top of them. (actually, because the building was 1968, there's parts of my roof that just uses 2" by 10" joists resting on the I-beam support, and another section of the roof was updated with modern TJI truss onto of the I-beam.


So these round column roof supports, I wanted them SQUARE or boxed in, so it'll be easier and more aesthetically pleasing for the tile baseboards. (instead of messing around trying to cut round tiles, or do little strips of tiles for baseboard around the pole.


Of course not trying to patronize the professional carpenters here, these were a pain in the *** to do for me as a DIY. I'm sure the pros can box these in within a few minutes, this took me a few days to PLAN (what anchors to use, what materials, and just general dragging to get on it).

So I decided to sure just 3/4" sheathing plywood (in future, I can always add drywall as a finish, or thin MDF if I want high gloss, or if there's special deal on those stone veeners) The "straps" that are anchored on the wall, I reused the plywood from the trench drain forms, the math works out where I have had to buy one sheet 4'x8', and it covered the two poles. (the two poles on the other side of the bay, that'll be where the fire hallway would be, but I'll have to put 2x4 framing, so that it can structurally stand storage items on top of the hallway)

Haha, wow these steel plates are really rusty sometimes. I kinda like the changing of colors pending if I'm washing something, or if it's been dry for days with dirt on them. But doing anything with them, would be low in priority at this point.

Then I ran out of little things to do at the end of my work day (i.e. didn't wanted to start anything that'll take 2+ hours)… So jumped the gun and swamped out of winter tires back to summers. For our city (think I've referenced in a previous post); some of the car forum people would use our MAY long weekend (after) as a marker before swamping summers in.

I really love how the jack just glide over tiles while moving it around.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Fantastic job on the tile!!

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: doing handstands doesn't stretch the back out like hanging from your ankles on an inversion table, but happy you can do one and not sure i still can. hanging from a rafter would be better but you put a lot of stress on your arms and shoulders not to mention you have to hold your weight in the air for 5 minutes.

i'm actually selling my 6 year old (I've own a version of INVERTALIGN inversion chairs since 2005) and buying the new Teeter up (they bought out or always owned INVERTALIGN) cause it can be shoved into a corner after I do my daily 5 minute hanging and the ankle holders are finally so much better that its worth the $300 upgrade (new chair $450 and selling my neighbor my old one for $150).

I won't tell you to search out and use someone's inversion chair today, but as soon as you feel it's safe for you if you can you'll love it. or find a used INVERTALIGN for $100-$250 (they sold 100,000 new ones at costco for $225 and normally $450 online until Teeter Up put their name on these tables). i'm sure there are more than a few Canadians that crossed the border and shopped at Costco and bought one. or bite the bullet and buy one and I bet you'll love using it. I hang even when i'm not in pain.

there are a couple threads in Free Parking like UPSIDE DOWN WORLD or one that is about BACK PAIN you can read my comments and sorry i'm getting an early start on my moving stuff and organizing today so you or maybe another member can post the link.

nice work in the garage and yep having a tile floor would be awesome for anything on wheels.

dress warmer and get out and i'll try to send you some heat. BAD WEATHER is really only bad clothing choices is what I hear, but damn it does get cold in your part of the world.

cheers

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: doing handstands doesn't stretch the back out like hanging from your ankles on an inversion table, but happy you can do one and not sure i still can. hanging from a rafter would be better but you put a lot of stress on your arms and shoulders not to mention you have to hold your weight in the air for 5 minutes.

i'm actually selling my 6 year old (I've own a version of INVERTALIGN inversion chairs since 2005) and buying the new Teeter up (they bought out or always owned INVERTALIGN) cause it can be shoved into a corner after I do my daily 5 minute hanging and the ankle holders are finally so much better that its worth the $300 upgrade (new chair $450 and selling my neighbor my old one for $150).

I won't tell you to search out and use someone's inversion chair today, but as soon as you feel it's safe for you if you can you'll love it. or find a used INVERTALIGN for $100-$250 (they sold 100,000 new ones at costco for $225 and normally $450 online until Teeter Up put their name on these tables). i'm sure there are more than a few Canadians that crossed the border and shopped at Costco and bought one. or bite the bullet and buy one and I bet you'll love using it. I hang even when i'm not in pain.

there are a couple threads in Free Parking like UPSIDE DOWN WORLD or one that is about BACK PAIN you can read my comments and sorry i'm getting an early start on my moving stuff and organizing today so you or maybe another member can post the link.

nice work in the garage and yep having a tile floor would be awesome for anything on wheels.

dress warmer and get out and i'll try to send you some heat. BAD WEATHER is really only bad clothing choices is what I hear, but damn it does get cold in your part of the world.

cheers

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom: doing handstands doesn't stretch the back out like hanging from your ankles on an inversion table, but happy you can do one and not sure i still can. hanging from a rafter would be better but you put a lot of stress on your arms and shoulders not to mention you have to hold your weight in the air for 5 minutes.

i'm actually selling my 6 year old (I've own a version of INVERTALIGN inversion chairs since 2005) and buying the new Teeter up (they bought out or always owned INVERTALIGN) cause it can be shoved into a corner after I do my daily 5 minute hanging and the ankle holders are finally so much better that its worth the $300 upgrade (new chair $450 and selling my neighbor my old one for $150).

I won't tell you to search out and use someone's inversion chair today, but as soon as you feel it's safe for you if you can you'll love it. or find a used INVERTALIGN for $100-$250 (they sold 100,000 new ones at costco for $225 and normally $450 online until Teeter Up put their name on these tables). i'm sure there are more than a few Canadians that crossed the border and shopped at Costco and bought one. or bite the bullet and buy one and I bet you'll love using it. I hang even when i'm not in pain.

there are a couple threads in Free Parking like UPSIDE DOWN WORLD or one that is about BACK PAIN you can read my comments and sorry i'm getting an early start on my moving stuff and organizing today so you or maybe another member can post the link.

nice work in the garage and yep having a tile floor would be awesome for anything on wheels.

dress warmer and get out and i'll try to send you some heat. BAD WEATHER is really only bad clothing choices is what I hear, but damn it does get cold in your part of the world.

cheers

Haha Drives you sold me on giving inversion table a try... (when things aren't so hectic and on sale) I do agree to the benefits based on my previous research on it.

Fantastic job on the tile!!

Thanks Sean


The tedious cuts around the boxed in column, good thing they're straight edges and not round.

I know, should get the painting properly finished first, etc... I'm just on too much of a tiling gung-ho right now. But within 2 day's worth of session, I'll have to put floor tiling to a pause because I'm coming up to the future (to be built) mezzanine area... So after two more full day sessions, I'll work on different stuff around this project.

 

[fourbyford]

Your shop is looking absolutely awesome! Nice detail around the post!!!!

...D

 

[TomcoPDR]

Nothing crazy to update.

1968 cinderblock warehouse...

I've reached the end of tiling for a while, made it from the garage door, into 2/3 into the bay to the second support post... (not doing the last 15' till the mezzanine and structure walls get put up)

So I scour these local online auction companies, the ones that purchases returns from Amazon, Costco, Walmart by the pallets and re lists them for individual bidding. Kind of like the year 2000 of the Ebay excitement (Ebay isn't that exciting to me anymore, it's changed for the worse imo)


Had to pick up some items I won over the weekend (they'll take your credit card, and charge you, and you must pickup within a few days) This particular auction in a trailer office with a huge yard is pretty close to the 1968 warehouse anyways.

With these local auction companies who lists and bids online, sometimes I just can't help myself to place minimum bids... So I won a pack of TP... and some cookware. Think I overpaid for the TP after you factor in the 15-18% auction fees. But at least there weren't any line ups (just show up, show receipt, get your item and leave the trailer office, 5 second process)

 

[PhantomEB]

Hmm some of the pics not showing up. I ain’t been on this thread for a few days, sure can’t wait for a pic from outside now it’s getting WARM here in Calgary!

 

[TomcoPDR]

Hmm some of the pics not showing up. I ain’t been on this thread for a few days, sure can’t wait for a pic from outside now it’s getting WARM here in Calgary!

Old pic here (I don't have the white VW anymore), but because it's a condo/strata (i.e. HOA rules, condo rules)… this is as update as the exterior will get.

It's a neat lowkey complex, management owner (the company that bought the entire complex, then divided and sold off individual bays, but by law there needs to be a third party management company to a condo strata so it's still the same management company that did the conversion) says it's good to keep the exterior as heritage as possible. Of course someone that owns the entire lot might update it with the modern trend dark grey/gunmetal exterior, do some smooth metal panels to top to make it look taller, maybe even stucco over the cinderblock.

Did another micro project, another caddy for wash bucket; might start washing with the layman 2 bucket system (soap, and water bucket). Did the copper color one, wow, like 3-3.5 years ago at the Vaults garage condo when I got that place. The awesome thing is everything you see in this new grey wash bucket caddy are "Free", everything I already have sitting around: the tiny casters, plywood from the form from trench drain concrete pour, the removed conduit piping, nuts, right down to the paint. (I'm sure Drives can relate, oh man, if I ever spent a few months at your place with your collection of random stuff, I'd just go nuts, it'll take me a lifetime to build random quirky projects)…

Here's comparison pics. (the "before" is a little out of focus, that's the only pic I have from upper mezzanine; that'll mimic current pic from high grounds scaffold)

 

[PhantomEB]

That looks deadly!

Gonna be going straight over to the man door side? Or is that staying like is until the mezzanine is done.