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

[TomcoPDR]

Thanks for nudging me to update Drives haha.

Ok now I have some time, then hustling. Well, because instead of operating my own dent shop/ auto shop (seeing the Vaults garage condo unit still haven’t sold out, haha, I owe PhatomEB �� cause he never believed in the Vaults real estate, welllll our city’s real estate market is bad these years)

Ok anyways, going to turn this 1968 cinderblock 2,000 sqft into a rental unit now lol. And move back to the Vaults garage condo. Till real estate market strengthens a bit more.

Ok. My diy bar sink area

 

[TomcoPDR]

Even though disappointed having to turn this into a rental unit. (Just a self target aim, no point in paying for owning 2 private play shops... but I don’t want to sell the centrally located 1968 cinderblock 2,000 sqft. While the further on Vaults garage condo it doesn’t feel like a right time to sell to break even)

Anyway, doesn’t mean I’m not going to follow through finishing my DIY shop shower, it just means I don’t have as much funds to do a steam shower here...

Now, as for the shower door... I’ve got something in the works (something custom made, so that’ll have to get updated)

 

[drivesitfar]

I know you'll figure it out. did you sell your condo? are you allowed to live in the Vaults?

I think you are getting the hang of this tile work don't you?

keep doing what you do cause it always seems no matter what you are looking forward to the future.

 

[TomcoPDR]

I know you'll figure it out. did you sell your condo? are you allowed to live in the Vaults?

I think you are getting the hang of this tile work don't you?

keep doing what you do cause it always seems no matter what you are looking forward to the future.

Awwww thanks for remembering about my small condo, you are the godfather of all GJ posts.

So what happens is, mother is what they call “snowbird” (I think it’s a term where Canadians, during our winters would go down to the states to hang. Such as Florida lol). Except her version is in Cali cuz of my brother.

Ok so condo... I have a small spare bed in mama’s unit (bigger apartment; I have my own room, ensuite bathroom in her unit, so it’s not even that bad), since I’m condo-sitting when this happens... and my small unit, I guess this is why I’m so Mia on GJ... in top of my small 2 warehouses, and regular work (I don’t even know what’s better chase hail out of town and just stand in hotels and only work... or hailing within a dent guys own hometown, but then you also try to do your regular home stuff)

Ok so with condo... I’ve also been chipping in an hour here and there at night when I’m done my regular local hail dent repair contracting at the bodyshops, insurance hail repair centre shops. (Ok that’s when I put my warehouses reno on hold)

So when mom does snowbirding (especially with current covid travel rules, mandatory health hotels... instead of doing 1-2 month back forth, it’ll be a longer one shot hang and back)

So... my furnished small studio 500 sqft all inclusive, just gets snapped up pretty quick once listed. (So it’s not Airbnb per sa. Can’t deal with 1-5 days turn over). It’s a proper local province rental contract for full 1 month. Where it’s rare most landlords would want 6 months +. But living in same apartment, it’s easy for me to do move in move out. Most tenants so far become friends. Had couples all the way from Iran/turkey, Australia, etc. So yeah kinda like Airbnb but not at that high price, but still a combo of full service and hotel like feel.

 

[drivesitfar]

you flatter me with your comments when I just try to keep track of a few of the members that I like. I think it's good to keep some or all of your memory in tact so you have less chance of getting dementia or Alzheimer's. speaking of my memory didn't you put white vinyl wrapping on a big tool box and then put casters on about 3 6 foot tall 6 foot wide shelving racks at your old house?

now I have to ask what TV or movies were you watching or do you have them as your screen savers?

thanks for the 411 and sounds like you are not getting much sleep so remember to take a day off every week or too JUST BECAUSE you need to spend time with your gal if she's still around or just to smell the roses so to speak and give you a little chance to RE CHARGE.

good luck

 

[TomcoPDR]

you flatter me with your comments when I just try to keep track of a few of the members that I like. I think it's good to keep some or all of your memory in tact so you have less chance of getting dementia or Alzheimer's. speaking of my memory didn't you put white vinyl wrapping on a big tool box and then put casters on about 3 6 foot tall 6 foot wide shelving racks at your old house?

now I have to ask what TV or movies were you watching or do you have them as your screen savers?

thanks for the 411 and sounds like you are not getting much sleep so remember to take a day off every week or too JUST BECAUSE you need to spend time with your gal if she's still around or just to smell the roses so to speak and give you a little chance to RE CHARGE.

good luck

- you’re correct on the white vinyl carbon fibre tool chest, came from the triple detach residential to vaults. But when I emptied vault garage condo thinking cinderblock 2,000sqft will be the final and only play, work registered garage, I sold it on Facebook directly at vaults so I didn’t have to move it. And yes I still got the 4 large industrial shelving on heavy casters

- that’s Pam Anderson from original Baywatch... part of a is going bigger better in tv theme photo series lol

- nope, no gal pal, anyways lol


Ok coming up to catching up...

A long time ago, I tried spraying the ceiling with a handheld sprayer and it crapped out. Then went to a professional store and spent $$ on a professional sprayer, and it just sat there, because my adhd just couldn’t process how much stuff is still laying all over the place.

But eventually, the progress will force me to do this still. And that’s movement was a few weeks ago, especially when an industry friend offered his help over lunch...

So we sprayed a 2,000 sqft ceiling (with trusses. So multi dimensions) in about 7-9 hours

This stuff even though should turn into dust after falling 7’, it still leaves a mess... at least a scrubbable and washable residue.

 

[PhantomEB]

HEY!!! To each their own I thought we agreed....I’d have beers with you at either place. I guess I best get my EB mobile to visit!

 

[TomcoPDR]

HEY!!! To each their own I thought we agreed....I’d have beers with you at either place. I guess I best get my EB mobile to visit!

The Bronco yesss

 

[TomcoPDR]

Even though this ceiling paint is fall dryfall (dries as it falls?). But during spray we had to take turns cracking the doors open a bit. But it didn’t have a chance to fall very far

These required a bit of scrubbing though

 

[drivesitfar]

that ceiling was a HUGE JOB not only the application, but the clean up. I bet you are happy to have that behind you.

here's another reminder to smell the roses and get out and get some fresh air or just read a book if too cold cause you will come out on the other side of this Covid BS and all your investments with plenty of your life to live.

cheers and thanks for sharing your awesome projects and work with all of us. I know not many of the other members post on here, but i'm guessing more than a few read your adventures.

if you'd like to get to know more members spend a little time each day reading other threads and just making a quick comment post or ask questions if you have any and i bet you'll have more members posting here too.

enjoy your day!!

 

[TomcoPDR]

Drives: yeah, when I’m on a just lurking/ browsing mode. I’d like to click on as many project threads as I can. I think a good combination of; I love reading a good “title” to click, and for me I’m more visual. So I love posts with photos. Even if it’s wordy like myself, but backed up by photos. Sometimes, (ive mentioned my thinking on this) is that GJ moves soooo quick. It even feels like some live off of here, and STILL get their crazy garage projects done. Where as with me. I lose so much focus. Like tiling, that’s allllll I focused on in life during that. Nothing else mattered to me lol


Ok anyway. Now that the ceiling is sprayed; I can finally call companies that does Fire stopping. What an industry that is.

So they would spray Hilti products (I’m sure tons of other brands) over the gaps of my firecode drywall boards. As well as fire caulking where there’s gas line, electrical line punctures from neighbouring bays.

I kinda chuckle, to me, it’s one of those necessary evil payments, to get the “paperwork” (receipt, their certificate a hilti fire stop product trained company sprayed it etc). Like it’s not incorrect, however, if someone reads into what’s required (thickness, the product model to be sprayed on which materials etc. I’m just sad the average Joe can’t do it themselves and prove it’s done according to manufacturer specs; because our local Hilti store would sell to consumers; and the big sprayer store says they rent out these larger machines to push this stuff thru the sprayer lines) but those store also says, they’d rent it to consumers, but mostly it’s fire stop companies that’ll rent from them lol. I guess rightfully so, not many consumers walk into those stores like they would to Home Depot/Lowe’s and look for fire stop sprayers (welllll I could be wrong on that comment too lol)

 

[BoilermakerFan]

Nice updates! The shower turned out amazing.

I'm getting ready to spray about 500sq/ft of ceiling in our basement. I bought a resi grade Graco X7 to do the job and the accessories I need to make it easier arrive tomorrow. I know it's going to be a little messy, but it definitely beats trying to apply it with brushes and rollers!

Did you just spray on the paint or did you use a primer first?

 

[TomcoPDR]

Now that ceiling black is sprayed, then fire stop white (fire stop spray from info told to me comes in 3 colours: red, white, grey)

So now that the Firestop company did the fade look “cutting” for me, I can just spray my white under his. I used a low sheen, low gloss white, because of all the patches or holes, low gloss will hide a lot.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Nice updates! The shower turned out amazing.

I'm getting ready to spray about 500sq/ft of ceiling in our basement. I bought a resi grade Graco X7 to do the job and the accessories I need to make it easier arrive tomorrow. I know it's going to be a little messy, but it definitely beats trying to apply it with brushes and rollers!

Did you just spray on the paint or did you use a primer first?

I just sprayed the actual paints. Now, disclaimer, cuz it’s an old building (side wall), it’s had so many other paint as a “primer”, as well as my attitude with this 1968 old Reno. I ain’t wasting time prepping it super clean, turning into rental where the grinded off old anchors, non patched chips, ain’t going to matter how value of rent should/shouldn’t be.

The ceiling. I tried vacuuming as much old dust as possible, but yup as i sprayed, there’s dust that blew out as black paint went on lol.

This is how careful I was washing the sprayer really well after just 2 sessions. Me and the co worker (in auto dent repair; what a great friend helping me over just buying lunch and snacks, I guess that’s what buddies are for) Made sure we had “mojo” to finish ceiling black in one shot then super clean it... then (a week later after Firestop), made sure mojo to do all white walls (which is way easier than my ceiling)... then another super duper clean.

I’m worried it’ll lose resale value lol...

My advices are: stir paint well, filter (screen) the paint that’s going to sprayer siphon hose pail, also add a filter bag to the siphon house intake (in both sessions, there’s lumps in the filter bag tied to siphon intake)

Listed mine on Facebook marketplace for resale. Had 1 lowball offering half of what receipt disclosed. I’m hoping to sell for 75-80% what I paid. ($1,600 cdn). So will see. The lowball was $800... i cried on the inside as I politely asked the buyer to please give me a few weeks listing it. That I’d like to get closer to $1,150-1,200 cdn

 

[Wreckster23]

read this in a couple days downtime at "work". You, my friend, have the same trouble I have with projects it would seem. Spend too long on one and you lose interest completely. I have so many projects going on at the same time it seems they'll never be done. I'll typically start back up again on something that has sat for a month or so.

I can definitely appreciate your drive to make everything perfect. I do it on a much smaller scale, and afraid to try my own tile due to this. I'd be so peeved if there was even the slightest mistake. I can see why you got into the dent repair industry. I considered looking into it myself some years back. Alas, I get a little too anxious working on paint. Too easy to make very expensive mistakes.

Looking forward to what happens between your two warehouses and where you end up next.

 

[drivesitfar]

can't you also use that sprayer to paint a house so maybe keep it and put it in your tool inventory. who knows you might end up needing it or come across a guy that needs it more than you and he has the cash or something else in trade.

Do you really have a nice white cabinet with glass hung with a plant on top while all this work is going on?

I know you don't mean it about doing things just OK cause it's a rental cause otherwise you wouldn't have tiled the floor or done a bunch of the other stuff. do the PREP right the first time and you won't have to probably ever have to do the job again whether it's a rental or something you'll be selling or setting up your own business in I think is more in line with the way you think.

anyway keep up the great progress!!

 

[TomcoPDR]

read this in a couple days downtime at "work". You, my friend, have the same trouble I have with projects it would seem. Spend too long on one and you lose interest completely. I have so many projects going on at the same time it seems they'll never be done. I'll typically start back up again on something that has sat for a month or so.

I can definitely appreciate your drive to make everything perfect. I do it on a much smaller scale, and afraid to try my own tile due to this. I'd be so peeved if there was even the slightest mistake. I can see why you got into the dent repair industry. I considered looking into it myself some years back. Alas, I get a little too anxious working on paint. Too easy to make very expensive mistakes.

Looking forward to what happens between your two warehouses and where you end up next.

I’m fingers crossing once the 1968 cinderblock gets turned into a tenancy occupied (soon, I shouldn’t talk about exact privacy of the contract).. but I have a feeling for me in my mind. Once it turns into a rental, the spark is gone for me. Like it’s Reno’ed now, updated within reasons... then rent income covers amortization etc. But... I THINNNKKKKKK I’m gonna take a break once my stuff moves back to the Vaults garage condo. (I’ll post pics, it’s coming up)... I ordered a 5 ton truck with a powe lift gate, just because I’m too lazy to take apart those shelves that I converted to work bench with many fasteners to wrap them as a work area unit

can't you also use that sprayer to paint a house so maybe keep it and put it in your tool inventory. who knows you might end up needing it or come across a guy that needs it more than you and he has the cash or something else in trade.

Do you really have a nice white cabinet with glass hung with a plant on top while all this work is going on?

I know you don't mean it about doing things just OK cause it's a rental cause otherwise you wouldn't have tiled the floor or done a bunch of the other stuff. do the PREP right the first time and you won't have to probably ever have to do the job again whether it's a rental or something you'll be selling or setting up your own business in I think is more in line with the way you think.

anyway keep up the great progress!!

Don’t jinx more work for me Drives... I figure the more stuff I shave down, sell off Facebook etc. Then I can shrug shoulders and not be interested in future crazy projects (this topped my level of what I’m capable of doing, skill wise, money wise, organization headache wise, stress wise)

Oh. Those white shelves with glass, to be fair. (This is the lazy attitude of me talking). Those were bought off Facebook marketplace. (Ok I won’t disclose price to make y’all think cheapen of me, but it’s off used marketplace, so for the bar sink area, the 1 off above the garden hose by tv wall, and the one above the toilet/bathroom... it was veryyyy reasonable, purely sold as garage shelves)


Photo with washer dryer: here’s story lol, so bought washer and dryer off an auction (took a risk); picked up from auction, and unloaded at 1968 cinderblock, BUT, during the change of heart to turn into a rental property and move back to vaults garage condo for realism, I was thinking. Well not giving the washer dryer to tenant they can Facebook marketplace their own, I’ve already spent money to do washer rough in, dryer 240v plug. Sooooo. Brought these from auction, to cinderblock, to the vaults car condo... only to realize, the Vaults 60” (5’) bathroom wall, well there’s an 15” diameter hvac duct return (I can take pic next time I’m up at garage condo)... so these full size 27” wide set (54”) won’t fit inside vaults garage Condo’s bathroom’s laundry rough in area, with the hvac ductwork. (So will need apartment size 24” wide machines)

So then one night, went to the vaults garage condo (by myself) and was like urgh. What the hell, just put it in the cinderblock rental warehouse, AGAIN Whatever. Since I was by myself, I ain’t one of those worlds strongest man. This was my way of loading washer dryer by myself. Lol. Onto my spare tires (yup, its cold up here fellow American friends where our roads are covered with snow and ice, a lot of vehicle owners run with summer tire/rim set, and winter tire/rim set; in photo are my “summers” on the moving dolly).


Then since I put in landlords as-is shop use washer dryer... it’s like. What the hell, then picked up a used beer/garage fridge off the marketplace/Kijiji... after one night from cinderblock work... but after picking up used garage fridge was too tired to unload right away at 10-11pm... just glad we’re in a city where you can still leave stuff unlocked on the streets and it’ll “most likely” still be there in the morning lol.

 

[drivesitfar]

I hear you on your wanting to get finished and see some income coming in as soon as possible so best of luck with that.

as far as lifting heavy stuff up in to your pick up bed I traded an old vintage toolbox for this Jet brand pallet jack lift that works great and especially if you have bigger spaces and flat surfaces like you do.

I wish I would have kept the steel platform that came with it when I sold it after moving from my big shop, but I guess if I ever get a bigger place again I will probably be able to make another one.

I used a small trailer 4x8 and a Melcher ramp (or most any heavy duty ramp will do) and a dolly with ratchet straps to move appliances which is also usually by myself and at 65 there still isn't much I can't move.

if I could get into Canada I'd probably buy another expresscustom.ca aluminum 4x8 or maybe a 5x10 trailer cause they are so easy to move when empty and also they look great. prices were really good before Covid and still are not too bad, but we are not allowed to cross the boarder. these are located a couple hours north of Victoria on Vancouver Island in British Columbia if you'd like a nice road trip this summer once you have your place rented and you just have the VAULTS.

that said you are still young so to think you wouldn't buy another piece of real estate with your skills probably isn't reality, but I know some of this is very overwhelming at the minute.

keep up the great work and thanks for showing another way to load some appliances into a pickup.

cheers

 

[TomcoPDR]

Drives. Yeah so I’m associate friends with our high rise full time maintenance guy (not sure if u remember. I got boxes of apartment air duct filters, to use as grout water filter pours before it gods down the drain)

Anyway. So as I was chit chatting with him 1-2 years ago knowing him. Dressing up my condo, doing own maintain work on my condo stacked washer dryer, changing parts etc.

He’s like how u getting dryer down. I’m like with my hands??? He’s like dude the apartment has appliance lift. I’m like naw.

Soooo I know 1968 cinderblock is turning into a rental property. Sooooo this idea for a shower door is just stuck at my head... nooooo idea why. I guess, it’s probably all the covid restaurant shut down, and self isolation tiling makes me miss the restaurant industry maybe. (I’ve been a “dish pig” dish wash boy/ bus boy at younger age). So probably this shower door is a tribute to the food industry.

 

[drivesitfar]

that shower door is TOO COOL & CREEPY all at the same time. I can't say i've ever seen one of those EVER. I can just hear the gal you take to the shop after a day at the beach and you ask if she wants to take a shower. we'd need to have a youtube video about her reaction.

I hope you know i'm kidding (or am I).

I think inviting your gal into your Vaults and it's steam shower is a much better option.

keep up the great work and you are heading down the straighaway with the finish line in sight.

cheers

 

[TomcoPDR]

that shower door is TOO COOL & CREEPY all at the same time. I can't say i've ever seen one of those EVER. I can just hear the gal you take to the shop after a day at the beach and you ask if she wants to take a shower. we'd need to have a youtube video about her reaction.

I hope you know i'm kidding (or am I).

I think inviting your gal into your Vaults and it's steam shower is a much better option.

keep up the great work and you are heading down the straighaway with the finish line in sight.

cheers

Each shower from both shops has its pros and cons. If I was rich, I’d keep both and switch between both at pleasure.

Haha Drives, no need to disclaimer the joking phrase.. I’m a blue collar guy man, worked as a dishwasher when I was a kid, and I’m in the dog eat dog automotive industry (on the hands-on side, not even the suit and tie selling cars or finance; I hear from those friends it feels to me it’s like wolf of Wall Street in their “bullpen” I’m sure one dealer finance guy referenced with that word)

 

[TomcoPDR]

I think these are some cool shots of the 1968 cinderblock 2,000 sqft warehouse, purposely with road slush melting off the wheel wells; especially for you American GJ friends living in climate that never snows.

I still never imagine, to run industrial/warehouse on this scale and ownership and “quick reno”. (Yes they’re small, in the world of commercial ownership), the scene of a nice vehicle with snow running off, sitting on a tiled floor, is something you’d usually see on those large car dealership online ads, with the same area the digital marketing sales person does.

I also find it funny, in the old old old days, these small 2,000 sqft places would be a business. Now, it’s just treated like garage condo, hobby shop size. And small viable businesses are going into 5,000-8,000 sqft as “entry level” size

 

[TomcoPDR]

Starting to move my stuff back to Vaults, from the 1968 cinderblock lol. Cinderblock has been a july, 2019 purchase. Just have to be realistic not “burning” (expenses) from 2 places... it’s one thing to rent income from one and use 1 yourself. So maybe during the next vacancy of the 1968 cinderblock. That the vaults would be sold. (Within these few years)

Another brag for “team porcelain”. My DIY tile job for both shops holding up to a 5 ton truck with power liftgate landing on them.

 

[PhantomEB]

That works! One easy move!

 

[TomcoPDR]

That works! One easy move!

I’m so burnt out... otherwise normally, I’d take the racks off and transport one at a time. (And with the tight timing). And you see those grey shelves, with the tin wrapping, a LOTTTTTT of screws nuts and bolts are anchored there... if I take them off, I ain’t putting them back in again.

 

[drivesitfar]

well I have to say that is one PROFESSIONAL way to move your stuff. great to see that the tile floor held up to that big truck's weight too.

I hope your new renter treats your 1968 shop as well or even better than you do and he/they(if a company) pay on time so you can maybe start working on your next adventure while maybe enjoying life a bit more.

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[TomcoPDR]

well I have to say that is one PROFESSIONAL way to move your stuff. great to see that the tile floor held up to that big truck's weight too.

I hope your new renter treats your 1968 shop as well or even better than you do and he/they(if a company) pay on time so you can maybe start working on your next adventure while maybe enjoying life a bit more.

GOOD LUCK!!

I need a break for a while. Fingers crossed.

Let’s see how good my cheapo iPhone 8 takes pano view. Sorry, I’m still really frugal. Can’t afford professional photographers, or up to date camera phones.

 

[drivesitfar]

it looks pretty nice for a rental that is for certain. NICE WORK!!

only thing i'm a bit concerned about since you won't be around to monitor it is what might end up in your big floor drain. the grates be can be lifted easily i'm guessing, but can the pipe (if that's what it is at bottom of drain) be cleaned out if needed?

any rules on what can go in there maybe in your lease so you don't have to do industrial clean up even if new business only does auto body work? or what is the business that is your new tenant?

 

[Bob Heine]

Thomas, I really like the 1968 shop. Dark floor and ceiling separated by white walls shows really well.

I had to smile at the 2,000 sf shop being 'hobby' size. I was a pre-boomer wartime baby and grew up thinking a Levittown home was a perfectly good size for a family of four.

My parents were able to afford a slightly larger home further from "The City" with two bathrooms and 4 bedrooms in a 1200 sf home with an attached 1-car garage and unfinished full basement.

These days a home for a family of four has to have at least three bathrooms, five bedrooms along with family, living, dining and media rooms. Bare minimum 3-car garage.

We had a hard time finding our current home because I wanted a 3-car garage. Every house that had one was 5000sf or more. The day we saw this 1680sf living space single story house with a 700sf 3-car garage and 216sf detached workshop we bought it for the asking price. I feel like it's as big as we can handle.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bob: have I ever mentioned that I LOVE YOUR POSTS!!

I raised 5 kids in a 2000 square foot home with a small 2 car garage that only had one bathroom until I made an additional 1/2 bath when my daughters were about 10 cause we never stood a chance of draining the lizard so to speak quick if one of them was in the only bathroom.

now that the kids are gone and grown up with homes of their own our house is about perfect size for the two of us.

YEP I could use Bob's 3 car garage and shop or TOMCO'S spare 1968 shop especially if it wasn't far from my house.

Tomco: so is your tenant moving it this weekend? best of luck with all that being a commercial landlord entails and maybe you can take a nice long STEAM SHOWER and pat yourself on the back cause it's been hard work and you did it without quitting.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Drives and Bob

It’s awesome having you boomers with experience reading my thread. Such an honour. (Lol. I read in Bobs page, I’m give or take his oldest age... so the oldest of the millennials: still pretty darn old if someone googles the era in age range)

Drives: ur correct with ur thinking with floor drains, ultimately it’ll be the land title owner responsibility unfortunately for what does down. So I’ve see Industial where it has those sumps, but at time of viewing the potential purchase, the sump and trench has been filled back up with concrete (not useable)... also like say I owned a 15,000 sqft. And a huge diesel trucking SERVICING (not washing) mechanic company were to go in, and rent offer and long term was there. As a business decision, I’d probably fill the trench up too. (You don’t want that going down city. And city coming after you). Well I guess when the business is heavy duty mechanical, city will make property (should be tenant) also put in proper oil separator systems if there’re floor drains.... there’s also a case, know a guy that owns a small menu buffet in a strip mall (the whole 2-3 acre outdoor mall was owned by those on the stock market REIT real estimate income trust so they don’t care)... so one day. City detected a clog let’s say, and with modern tracking system, they found its coming from that land with the huge strip mall complex... so the city fined the complex... in return the REIT real ester Corp will investigate (cameras, track chemicals?). And said it was coming from his restaurant, (among other fast food places); and just handed him a $30,000 cdn invoice. Saying he needs to clean or upgrade his grease separator. Now, in a good continuous money making flow era, what do ya do, just pay it and life goes on, write it off... but when it’s some new business tenant or someone without integrity/responsibility, well that’s another topic lol

Oh, this coming tenant is only using my unit for warehousing, storage of pallets and forklift stuff (shouldn’t say much in here. Since there are ppl from my hometown. It’s mostly respecting privacy of the tenancy, that’s the issue... terms of sharing my GARAGE and Reno builds, I’d say I’ll flex my landlord powers and say I should be able to be proud to share my diy Reno work here, and talk generic Reno topics).


Yes, haha love hearing Bob’s and Drives views of the craziness of inflation and perception of how generations keep upping expectations.

 

[drivesitfar]

it's great that you share a ton of pics and information about your projects and your life and we certainly understand that you can't or shouldn't divulge everything.

let's just say your new tenant has a business that shouldn't fill that drain/hole with any industrial waste and leave it at that.

I'm sure he/she will enjoy working there and they will benefit greatly from your work.

I know you are still busy doing what you do, but would always like small updates if you are doing projects at the Vaults or on the road while you are working.

I bet you are also waiting for things to warm and green up like most of us.

 

[drivesitfar]

sorry to bother you, but missing your updates? did the new tenant move in and are you back to living the good life or super busy at work and no time for much except counting your money?

cheers and hope you are having a great weekend!!

 

[racer-john]

I'm wondering at 88 if I'm the oldest on GJ?

 

[TomcoPDR]

I'm wondering at 88 if I'm the oldest on GJ?

sorry to bother you, but missing your updates? did the new tenant move in and are you back to living the good life or super busy at work and no time for much except counting your money?

cheers and hope you are having a great weekend!!

Racer-john: wow, thanks for tuning in. And very impressive you’re on forums, I bet you’d even remember when radios aren’t even invited. My “boomer” age mother even says she rmb the days her dad (my grandpa) bought the household a black/white tv with only 1-2 government station available.


Drives: haha thanks for thinking about me still... yup the 1968 cinderblock 2,000 sqft tenant is settling (established business, just renting mine to have extra storage of materials)... they haven’t bothered me, so no point me being the landlord would bother them (learn that over the years lol, no point calling “hey how’s the place”. If there’s a problem, of course tenants will call ya, learn that from mentors, experience, 2nd generation doing this trial and error... so no contact with paid rent, is good policy lol)

Well, since I’m being asked, guess I’ll post something. (I didn’t before in fear getting accused of being boring lol)

So I’m not liking these Covid travelling restrictions and horror stories (ie. need negative test before flying. Some test doesn’t come back in time or inconclusive, so travellers can’t board plane. And once u back in ur hometown more quarantine etc). So for now I’m just hanging in my hometown lol

Just literally wandering downtown lol... it’s a sad scene, from my understanding our downtown office space has 20-30% vacancy (not just Covid work from home WFH, but our oil “bust” few years ago. Like dropped oil prices, since our city is an oil city)

These are photos of our large downtown commercial office building(s) during week days, 11-1pm business hours. I literally feel like a boomer using these facilities for my random walks.

This is a 7,000-8,000 sqft sqft atrium of a newly built tower, area closed due to Covid. normally, you’d just see tons of white collar office goers hanging out here having lunch, meetings, hanging, general public like me passing thru etc

Food court of another downtown building, this was like 11:20am... normally seats should start filling up. But office workers still aren’t back to full force yet. And many are actually enjoying WFH lifestyles, of course chatters big firms are doing phases to have workers come back into downtown towers

This is cool, it’s an indoor garden in the food court of an office high rise, and downtown shopping centre. It’s an extremely large multi pond, live forest urban garden. The name is Devonian Garden, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (for those who wants to google more info)

This normally would be filled with pedestrians, and office goers, a popular downtown spot. “Stephen Avenue Walk”. Filled with restaurants, pub, window shopping stores... kinda sad there’re quite a bit of For Lease signs (high rent I bet, so it doesn’t matter how great the location, your business still needs paying customers to keep it alive)

 

[TomcoPDR]

Out of shear boredom (and survival I guess), here are some food pics I’ve been having during my downtown, within walking distance around the home, urban exploration. And sometimes friends would come chill bringin food. Lol, these are probably just half or 1/3 of the food I’ve been slamming since “losing my shop” (rented out the 2,000 sqft warehouse bay), which is only shy Of 2 weeks lol... while I was working in the 1968 cinderblock it’s usually a quick Mcd, or a sub sandwich nearby. But now I’d drag on an entire morning just to walk to some downtown place for lunch.

Sometimes I’d even get together with the residential tenant of the fully furnished condo... she’s from another town within our province 3 hrs drive away. She’s just testing out a job our city, so the month to month small place works for her for the time being.

 

[drivesitfar]

thanks for posting pictures of your awesome city. at least yours is still in great shape while ours (Seattle & Portland) look like a war zone. I won't get into the politics behind why that is and i'll move on to your cool town.

you've also got some great (and not so great) meal choices and if you'd like to join us in our GET HEALTHY thread and post up a few I'd love to see more. I'd also like to hear how you use your little blue foam roller cause I was going to put one that size in my golf bag years ago.

sounds like you found a great tenant for your 1968 shop space so congrats and maybe better tenants for your furnished condo so even though others are having a ton of issues with rentals it seems you've mastered the art of not only renting them, but also getting paid to do so.

cheers and see you over on the get healthy thread while you contemplate your next projects on here. link in my sig line!!

RACER: my dad is your age (88) and no way he could keep up with a forum so keep up the great work and you can also get on the get healthy thread too if you have time cause we'd all like to know how to keep active til were in our 90's. also I'm not aware of anybody as old or older than you, but i'll let you know if I hear of any. keep up whatever you are doing to keep your wits about you.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Drives: that’s sorry and sad to hear the condition Seattle/Portland is turning into by your description. I know friends who used to hang at both places while they drive to Vancouver (Canada), then they’ll hang a day or two in Seattle. I’ve driven thru Portland a good 10 years ago coming back from California visiting late grandma. (That’s just passing thru, gas up, short breaks, etc)


Lol, so here’s 1 diy project I did between these 2.5 weeks (reference drives asking what I’ve been doing without having diy garage projects for time being)

Got a text from a friend, just saying hey Thomas can I ask for a favour (sometimes I cringe reading those texts)... got sent these photos

The descriptive story I got was, during our winter, this guys wife was pulling out of their kids daycare and sort of moved this flowerbed (lol 9’ across the parking lot), guys wife claims she didn’t notice lol (drivin a f150, and and was winter weather with snow/ice), but yes still we’re all asking the same “how do you not know?”... the school director/owner reviewed their surveillance lol. Sent them a nice old email (it was actually so professionally written), I had a good laugh, it’s like telling the parents they need to go to the principles office for a meeting, for an incident.

He’s saying that was 5-7weeks ago. Which I’m so impressed the school hasn’t hounded them to get fixing. To be fair, with our winter season, he was able to use the reasoning that everything is frozen (which is true, snow banks, everything is in ice piles when snow plow shoves the parking lots). laughed so hard, when buddy told me, it was so uncomfortable for him since he does the kids morning drop off, where he’s the one waving to the school director/owner in morning (after informing the couple, of the wife’s driving incident with the flower bed, please fix it)... while his wife gets the afternoon pickup where the school director is gone by then.

A small 3-5 minutes project, while earning a meal lol. But it was easy with 2 ppl, truck, and a tow rope. We just dragged out the night as a hang out, didn’t tell his wife it only took 5 mins.

On a related, but different topic... have you GJ guys had bad experiences using your diy skills but end up helping unappreciative friends? Since a lot of us tidy up our own garages/builds, that’ll catch attention with those around us. I’ve been caught when I was younger, helping friends with an emergency sprucing up on their RENTAL INCOME property (just to get into decent shape for next tenant), for lunch/dinner; while getting a critic of the quality of my quick paint,drywall patching, etc While I guess for you Boomer readers, that’s call the golden rule of no good deeds goes unpunished. Lol, which might be why you all see I’d rather do my own DIY over decorative work with my own properties, just so no more ungreatful friends would take up those time slots lol. Especially with the convenient era of social media marketplace, you don’t even need to drive to a “cash alley” near your hardware stores for cheap labour. Just post your small job online, and tons will apply with what they expect.

 

[shortykorte]

All that food makes be hungry.

Yes have ran into to “I need your help and I’m supposed to appreciate it.” It’s really great when it’s family. I now choose very carefully who gets help.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[TomcoPDR]

All that food makes be hungry.

Yes have ran into to “I need your help and I’m supposed to appreciate it.” It’s really great when it’s family. I now choose very carefully who gets help.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

Yes shortykorte lol, it’s like people giving us GJ diy guys the honour to do their maintenance, but to the expectation of professional results.

Yup thanks for confirming, older we get, the tighter the circle to give our help.