TXST8tj's Jeep Workshop

[TXST8tj]

My wife and I are buying a house in progress of being built. We jumped in on it two weeks ago. The pictures below are from the weekend we signed the papers on it.
We are selling our current house, so I am leaving that 2-car garage project and will be moving over to this 3-car garage.

The good thing is it is a 3-car garage. The bad thing is I can't make any wiring or plumbing additions/changes to it. As it is, we are lucky they put the ordering of the interior materials on hold long enough for us to pick out and upgrade the tile/carpet/granite.

This is the only shot of the inside of the garage I have at the moment. The weather has been poor lately, so while they have not done much work at the house, we have not been over there much either. Sheetrock is supposed to go up this week, so I need to get over there to snap some more pictures and take measurements of wall studs, etc.

It has tall ceilings and a ledge at the head of the garage space. It does not have very many outlets currently; however, the breaker box is in the garage, so adding a 220 down the road should be easier.

I will install plenty of light on the ceiling, and I plan to run air lines across the walls.

I work on Jeeps and trucks 'on the side' so the extra space will be nice for a dedicated tool area and work area. My Jeep will also be at home in a nice large space.

 

[TXST8tj]

We close on the sale of our current house the first week of March, but won't close on this new house until the end of March. We will have our stuff in storage for a few weeks. The upside to this is that I will be able to treat the garage floor with some sort of coating. I will likely go with an epoxy, and likely one of those kits from HD or Lowes.

I will use the '3rd' car, single garage space as my storage and tool space. I will build a workbench in this area. I will be able to park a Jeep in this space if need-be.
My work space will be the larger 2-car section. When I am not working on a Jeep, my wife's Suburban will park there.

The walls will be finished and painted, but I plan for my own paint scheme.
I will shove as much light in there as I can afford. I hate a dim workspace.

 

[Nighttrain]

You should see if they could change the height of those garage doors before it's too late. I don't understand why they go so low on those. Our truck would hit the door on the way in on our house in Houston.

Congrats on the house.

 

[TXST8tj]

I don't get it either. They make the ceiling so high, but the doors are the standard height. I would much rather the taller opening. I've had to air down tires before just to back a Jeep out of the garage. My dream has been a 3-car garage, but tall doors would've been the icing.

Unfortunately, we can't make any changes. They held off long enough to let us change a couple things inside, but no construction, plumbing, or wiring changes can be made.

They finalized the inspection of the structure as it stands, yesterday. They will be laying brick and limestone this week (weather permiting) and hanging drywall.

 

[HSpencer]

With our crapped economy, it is amazing that anybody is able to buy any kind of a home these days. Congratulations!

 

[TXST8tj]

With our crapped economy, it is amazing that anybody is able to buy any kind of a home these days. Congratulations!

Thanks! Regardless of the economy, we are lucky to have all that we do.

Luckily the Houston area economy (and most of Texas for that matter) has stayed fairly normal.
The appreciation rates have always been more reasonable in Texas than most states, keeping our real estate market in check. Basically that means that hardworking people like my wife and I have no problem getting home loans, and our buyer has no problem buying our current home as an investment property.
Other than company down-sizing passed down from a national office, the economy in Texas/Houston is affected mostly by the media and not an actual down turn in our area.

 

[TXST8tj]

We went by the house yesterday after work. They started laying brick and they hung the sheetrock through the whole house.

 

[yamaharacing21]

looks awesome so far!!! can't wait to see more

 

[TXST8tj]

Thanks......I can't wait to see more myself!

It turns out that we will have to put our stuff in storage for a few weeks between the closing of our current house and the closing of the new house. This works to my advantage for the garage because it should give me the chance to get the concrete cleaned, prepped, and coated before I have to start moving the tools in. I just hope there is enough cash left to do that...haha.

 

[csp]

Any insulation under that sheetrock in the garage?

 

[TXST8tj]

There is insulation under the ceiling sheetrock where the 2-car garage is. There is no 'house' above the 3rd car spot, so no insulation there.
There is insulation along the back wall of the garage and the far right wall (if you're outside facing the garage). The opposite, exterior wall does not have insulation behind the sheetrock.

Cold is not an issue down here. Heat is, but the insulation is not going to fix much for the heat.

 

[TXST8tj]

a couple updates...

They are waiting on a couple more cubes of brick to show up so they can finish the limestone and brick work.
It's coming along though. We should be closing at the end of March. I think granite goes in today, and they should start leveling the yard to install the sprinkler system and then begin on the landscaping and fence.

 

[ZenMoto]

It's looking great! Congratulations!

 

[csp]

Cold is not an issue down here. Heat is, but the insulation is not going to fix much for the heat.

You'd be surprised. My garage isn't air conditioned, but it's a good 10-15° cooler inside than outside on 100+ days.

Of course it cools off here at night, whereas it probably stays hot 24/7 where you're at.

 

[TXST8tj]

Yeah, that's pretty much how I look at it. I know the insulation would help, but I can't loose sleep over it since I know it is going to be hot in there regarless. And you're right...cooling down at night means 92* instead of 100* during the day.

I am going to have to look into/work on some sort of fan system in there. I am thinking about a couple wall mounted fans. Even if it is warm/hot air blowing on me, I still need air circulating on my 6'5", 270lb self.

 

[Travis E.]

That looks great. Adding electrical will be easy with the panel in the garage. I love the brick.

 

[TopSpin80]

Congrats on a nice looking shop/home.

I'm cleaning my 2-car today so I may post some before/after pictures.

I live on the Richmond/Katy border @ the Westpark and 99.

Ernie

 

[TXST8tj]

Congrats on a nice looking shop/home.

I'm cleaning my 2-car today so I may post some before/after pictures.

I live on the Richmond/Katy border @ the Westpark and 99.

Ernie

Thanks!

I guess we're neighbors....this is in Westheimer Lakes North.



All I could think about was my 3 car garage as I was working on a Dodge 2500 in my parent's driveway today. It can't be done soon enough!!

 

[TXST8tj]

That looks great. Adding electrical will be easy with the panel in the garage. I love the brick.

That is the upside for sure. I will be adding a 220v for a larger air compressor as soon as I can swing it. I sold my 60gal compressor when we moved into the house we just sold (didn't have a 220 and the whole house needed rewiring, so adding a panel just for my 220 wasn't going to happen).

I've been using my 120v 12gal and it runs the impact ok, but having that thing run all day got old at day-one.

Something that made me kinda mad is that there are only three wall outlets. For such a space, there should be more standard (I think). We got in early on the build, but too late to add wiring.

 

[TXST8tj]

They finished the masonry last week.
They poured the flatwork on Friday. It will be easier to explain with the updated picture of it, but they had to curve the driveway portion for the 3rd car garage to go around the fire hidrant.....as opposed to a full 3-car width driveway. I talked to the 'super' about it and he said it would be the cost of a small car to have the hidrant moved. It's silly looking, but it is what it is.

 

[Nighttrain]

You may ask the building inspector about the hydrant being in-line with the door. The developer is responsible for moving it. Sounds like your builder is not allowing you to make a lot of changes. Don't let them drag you past these littel items. I am sure they are happy to be selling houses and should make you happy. Did they consider flip'floping the house to have the floor plan the other way so the doors would be on the otherside? House is looking great !

 

[TXST8tj]

I ran over there after the gym yesterday evening to see what had been done over the last few days. They are pretty much at the point of finish-work on the inside. It's really looking great in there.
They dropped off a bunch of dirt yesterday, so I imagine the sprinkler system will be going in in the next day or two.


You can see what I was talking about with the driveway in the new pics below.

 

[steven083008]

Looks like they are going to have to move the hydrant anyway, since it is in the middle of the sidewalk. I'd definitely be getting the builder to fix that issue.

House looks great, I'm sure you can't wait to have it finished.

 

[justbummin1]

Your new place looks really nice! I noticed that hydrant earlier and if that was at the end of my driveway my wife would end up moving it for them! The girl cant back up for ****! My question is if they are moving it why did the genius that poured the concrete pour right up to it? they are going to have to break it up to dig up the hydrant and if they aren't moving it why would they run the sidewalk right through it???? Maybe I missed something??

Rob

 

[TXST8tj]

I have concerns about the hydrant as well. After being out there again last night looking at its placement with the driveway and sidewalk, I am hoping it is not going to be an issue.

The second picture is sort of an optical illusion and there is several feet between the hydrant and the edge of that part of the sidewalk (easier seen in the first pic), but it is still close. They would have the make a sharp curve and turn around the hydrant to clear it. It's not really up to me, but it will be unfortunate if that's how it goes.

The Jeep will probably spend most of its time in the 3rd garage spot, and being small, I don't think it will be an issue with the hydrant, but if anything else larger was there....and someone else's wife was driving (hahaha) we could have a waterpark in the front yard.

 

[TXST8tj]

I just got off the phone with the const. manager. He gave me the breakdown of our schedule for the next week and a half before our "blue-tape" walkthrough.

We also talked about the hydrant. He said it is in the correct location per the Mud district and the survey company. He said they would curve the sidewalk around it, and didn't really have much to say about it being right behind the back edge of the 3rd driveway portion.

 

[Nighttrain]

I would wrap that hydrant in blue tape and tell them you will not go to closing until it's moved. Once you close it's game over. I'm sure it will be ok but don't let those builders let stuff go easy. We had a David Weekly house in Houston. There were things that needed to be complete prior to closing. They said they would have them done that morning. Got back from closing with the keys and yes they were done, they removed the blue tape from the defects and only fixed about half of them. At least the blue tape was removed Just giving you some advise. It's a bussiness deal with these guys and not a friendship. It does not cost them much to have a crew come out and change things. They just add it on to the cost of the next house they build. (Ask the Fire Marshall if the hydrant is and issue). Best of luck and hope the move-in goes well.

 

[TXST8tj]

I put a call in to the fire marshall. I am hoping to hear back from them tomorrow. The builder basically told us to contact whomever we choose, but they would not take the steps to move it themselves. They agree though that it is in an unfortunate position/location and understand why we want it moved....but they are not going to do it.

 

[TXST8tj]

Nighttrain, I appreciate your words. My wife and I are more firm in our stance that, like you said, this is just business for them. We have to stay focused on the future of the house; i.e., an extra few days to get things right goes a long way over the life of the house.

I finally got in touch with someone about the fire hydrant. The fire department said it is a Mud Dist. responsibility. The Mud Dist. is sending someone out to 'investigate' the placement. We'll see what happens.


We do our 'blue-tape' walkthrough today. We went through yesterday and updated our list. We figured it would help us today not feel so rushed today.
It's going to be interesting....

 

[csp]

We also talked about the hydrant. He said it is in the correct location per the Mud district and the survey company.

So that just means that it matches the location on the drawing they made. It also means that the guy who made the drawing had his head up his ***.

So glad I don't live in a subdivision anymore......

 

[TXST8tj]

Last Friday was 'fun'. We spent a few hours laying the blue tape. We handed the construction manager our 4-page typed list of things (sounds worse than really is). 90% of the issues are trim and paint related.

I stopped by the house yesterday and they were installing the appliances. They had replaced a good amount of the trim downstairs.

They originally (early on in the paperwork phase) were charging us $900 for 2" blinds throughout the house. We told them to take them off because we are going to have plantation shutters made, and we could buy the blinds for a 1/3 of the price in the meantime.
We pulled up Friday and there were blinds installed in the whole house. I told the const. manager that we were not supposed to have them and he said the PO was still in the system for them....so in they went. I've already verified that we are not being charged for them.


We're still set to close Friday, as long as everything else is done.
Friday afternoon, my wife and I will be painting the garage. It is painted the same color as the interior of the house, but I am going with the grey/white/red and black stripe scheme. I was going to put it off for a little while, but my wife insists. She said she doesn't want to hear my whining about it and it's obviously easier to do when nothing is in there. When the paint is done, I will start with the epoxy floor coating.

 

[TXST8tj]

Today is the day; we close at 1:00. It will be 6alls to the wall right after that to get things moved in from storage and get started on the garage. I have a few people waiting to have work done, so I need to be up and running ASAP.

 

[Nighttrain]

Looking good! Hope the closing goes well. I think I would move that tree in front of the hydrant while it's still in a small root ball. Put it out back maybe. From this angle the hydrant does not look like it will be too much in the way. Again congrats on the new house and looking foward to seeing the garage take shape.

 

[TXST8tj]

Thanks!
I will hopefully get the tree moved within the next week (after moving of course). We will be moving it to the backyard. It's just plain dumb where it's at, but knowing I was going to move it, we decided not to make a big deal of it.
We're going to pick up two more larger Oaks for the front yard (opposite side of yard as that larger one). We have a large side yard since we have the corner lot, so they will go over there.

I am getting a hand moving the furniture out of storage this afternoon, so I am taking the help while I have it. I should start painting the garage tomorrow morning. I feel that if I can get it going, it can be drying while I'm doing other things.

 

[TXST8tj]

I haven't updated in a while. I will follow this up with pictures later.

The hydrant was moved two weeks ago. The Mud district just showed up one Monday morning (luckily I was home from work that day) and moved it. They poured the new sidewalk last week, and came yesterday to replace the sod.
I had not contacted them in a while, but I guess I made enough stink about it to get it done. The guy apologized for taking so long to get to it. I told him I figured they blew me off.

At the same time the hydrant was being moved, the tree was also moved. The guys dug it up for me, so that was a bonus and free labor for me . I replanted it in the back yard and it is doing well so far.

Our new front door is being installed this afternoon (finally) after a 3 week delay. The iron portion came in a little bit too big, so they sent it back to be redone. I'm holding my breathe that it's going to happen today because of two other cancelled delivery/installs. They are refunding a couple hundred dollars for sticking it out with them.


For the garage, I started getting things hung on the walls and am working to get everything to its home. I began building some shelves over the last couple of evenings. It will be the main shelf unit in the garage, but there will be some more, in smaller fashion on the other side.

I never got to paint the walls or do the floor like I planned. I'll survive though. I can still see painting the walls, but I don't think the floor is going to get done.


This is the only pic I have that resembles any progress. It shows the yard impliments hung to the left and my Jeep doors hung on my new bracket (which I think I am going to lower).

 

[smschriefer]

Am I understanding the doors hanging are on a bracket that replicate the body hinges? That is an awesome idea. When I had my Jeep I had a shelf with a groove that they sat on. I like the hinge idea as it makes it easy to rotate the door out for ease of removal/installation.

 

[R Walter]

Nice house for a Horton home. Why did you buy in a subdivision? My brother lived in one many years ago, and swore he'd never live in one again.

 

[theroyz71]

House looks great. Any plans to fill in the driveway now that the hydrant has been moved?

 

[TXST8tj]

Am I understanding the doors hanging are on a bracket that replicate the body hinges? That is an awesome idea. When I had my Jeep I had a shelf with a groove that they sat on. I like the hinge idea as it makes it easy to rotate the door out for ease of removal/installation.

That is correct. There is a company making the brackets. It's a pretty simple design, but that is all that is really needed. The bracket bolts to the wall with 5 long lags.
I thought about just buying a set of Jeep hinges and configuring my own, but for what those cost vs what this cost....and I didn't have to rig anything up....it was a no brainer just to buy the ready-made product.
I would've spent more trying to make something myself.

http://skinnypedal.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=40&products_id=67

They are heavy somabishes, so I am going to lower the bracket (and get it level this time!).
You can hang them flat against the wall like I have, or reverse them and have them stick straight out...if you had a narrow mounting area.

 

[TXST8tj]

Nice house for a Horton home. Why did you buy in a subdivision? My brother lived in one many years ago, and swore he'd never live in one again.

Thanks. DR Horton is not highly revered in some areas, but they seem to build their better product in Katy. Our home is surrounded by Perry, Highland, and Westin homes, so Horton has to hang with them.

In our part of the world, everything is a subdivision. Katy is a suburb of Houston, and like houston, 98% of homes are in Subdivisions, or planned areas of some sort.

I think subdivisions are great. I love having neighbors. I love living in a planned community. I love having an HOA. I love driving through my neighborhood and seeing everyone's yards in top shape because that is what is required. I enjoy shooting the bull with my neighbor at the mailbox or BBQing on the weekends. Pulling out the lawnchairs and watching the kids play is an ideal evening for us.

The people that hate subdivisions are usually the people that the rest of us wish would move away.


At the same time, I admire a little 'land' and some space. For us, that is what a secondary residence will be....one day.