The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Workshops and Garages My new shop!

Is that a serious question?

A little bit more site work. Improving the view of the pond. Previously, from the upper deck, all you got was a nice view of the canopy of these trees. Now you can actually see the pond. 3 sweet gums, a maple and a cherry. The gums went straight to the burn pile. The maple is getting cut and split for firewood. The cherry is getting milled.

The trees were all leaning towards the water so I used the big machine to keep them from going for a swim My neighbor, George, did the cutting whilst I operated "Triple Nickel" George's cutting was expertly done and we lined the trees all up neatly on dry ground (and not on the machine )

I'm leaving the stumps because I didn't want to disturb the pond bank. Probably turn 'em into benches.

Yes sir. Just my personal experience and opinion, but diverting the run off through gutters and downspouts away from the perimeter of the structure is advisable. It will help reduce potential foundation and slab and maybe drive from shifting, sinking and/or heaving over the years that can be caused by the concentrated run off landing in the same localized area. Thinking long-term here.

I'd also want to prevent the roof run off from landing on the entry stairs and landing. The treated wood can tolerate regular rainfall directly, but the concentrated run off from the roof is likely to speed up decay of the wood (yes even though it's treated) and could increase slippery conditions on the stairs. It could also affect the footings on the stair support posts.

It's your place and absolutely your call, but if I were doing the same build myself I'd add them for my own peace of mind.

I do really like what you have going!

Dan, I only asked that because your reasons stated above are exactly why it never even entered my thought process to consider *not* putting gutters and down spouts. So that's why I thought you were giving me a hard time.



This is the look I give when I'm asked questions like that. :P

Not trying to give you a hard time there boss , but maybe I accidentally did yank your chain just a wee bit - hahaha.

The "look" accepted and I'll do my penance. But in my defense, sometimes the "obvious" gets overlooked when so many things are going on at once like with your build. I figure it can't hurt to ask a question, but it can be a royal pain in the backside when the obvious "oops" presents itself.

On another note, that cherry wood will make something beautiful for sure.

Don’t worry about it Dan, that is John’s normal look. I have seen it every time I have been around him.

Nice new addition John and Peggy! My question is , when we stop by and stay, is the stay all inclusive, including food and drinks, and how long will the stay be good for? I’m thinking at least three weeks with room service and the whole stay is free!

Don

Sure, Don -- the stay is free. Room service, stocked beverage fridge, wifi/internet, the whole works .... but wait, there's more!

You'll also get free membership to our gym and outdoor fitness program -- we'll wake you up at 0600 then you'll get a full 10-hour workout including log toting, lumber stacking, weedwhacking, yard pickup, hay stacking (team building exercise -- those bales weigh approx 1,500 lbs each ), yard raking, rock pickup, fence repair, barn roof painting ....

I get to sleep in till 6am with only a 10 hour day? Now that is a vacation! Log toting? What about the sawmill/planner work before you stack the wood?
Weed whacking, I use a sprayer with weed killer maybe twice a season. Bucking square hay bales is better done in the afternoon after baling in the morning so the barn is nice and warm to stack the hay in. 1,500 lb round bales are handled with the tractor and left outside. Yard raking, just mow over it, rock pickup, just mow around it.
Vicki does the fence repair and barn painting. You forgot the say anything about the lake holiday house 1-1/2 hours away and the maintenance on it. Waterline leak under the concrete well house is on my list tomorrow after breakfast with some other retirees, then maybe a swim and a cold one.

Don

We stocked our pond with Amazonian piranhas so jump right in. Be sure to give yourself a little cut, first.

Coming along. Sprayed insulation and drywall are the big updates.

Exciting times!

Ready for occupancy before you know it!

Getting there.
The drywall covers up all the exciting stuff in the structure though.

Are you going to heat and insulate the out house also? A heated seat would be a nice touch.

But, it is looking good!

Don

Don ... If I heat the seat, you'll spend too much time in there.

John, we could probably figure out a way for you to run refrigeration to the seat. LOL! Then it could be like an Alaskan outhouse in the winter.

Kevin -- probably easier just to wire the seat to the nearest 110V outlet.

If you just wire the seat for a little voltage, you can mount a switch on the outside of the door and if you are taking too long, someone can just flip the switch to hurry them up.

Wait! A refrigerator next to the toilet?? GENIUS!!

I sense I'm in the presence of Greatness!

Ron ... Indeed we are -- Mark has been with us a long time. In fact, heading west to go meet Mark is No. 3 on my Bucket List. FWIW, that Western Roadtrip (in da Bus) is going to knock out a number of items on the ole bucket list. Just ahead of him is also in SoCal at No.2 but that's highly personal and I'm not going to share it. No. 6 is "See Wyoming" and No. 5 is "See UP 4014" Yes, I can probably combine those two, but ... Oh, No. 8 is "Spend an entire week at Pima Air and Space Museum." No. 10 is more MidWestern but depending on the time of year, I might get it in -- drive a combine in a gigantic field for hours.

Some items on my bucket list have been crossed off and replaced -- mainly because I accomplished them early. Such as "Drive a 6-horse Belgian hitch," "solo in an airplane," and "drive a battleship."

Enough idle chatter...

We have paint! Next at bat -- the masonry guy to come do the rock exterior. Also this inning: electrician; flooring; and plumber.

The shop pictures show it in primer. I didn't bother to take any pictures in paint because they would look the same anyway.

Yesterday, we had a heat index here of 104 and humidity to match. With the doors open (not there ...yet... anyway) and the slider open, there was a delightful cross breeze through there. Even better upstairs. It won't require much A/C ... except for thick-blooded Yankee visitors.

The decks will be getting a cable railing system.

I like the wood work above the deck - nice.

Looking good John!

Looks great. How long before it’s totally finished? Workshop and all. Have you hired out everything or are you saving a few finishing touches for yourself?

Just curious, and extremely jealous.😀 Actually, very happy for you and Peggy.

John

Thanks John!

By trade, I am a truck driver/dirt mover, not a hammer swinger. I have been doing all of the dirt work -- the initial site prep (including removing 4 mature hardwoods and a cedar tree), trenching for the water, septic and power lines, backfill/leveling for the slab pour, backfill against the foundation, site prep for the exterior HVAC unit siting, rock wall for the landscaping, fill and pea gravel under the decks, and I will be doing the final grading and lawn. Not the least of which is siting and creating the swales to move water away from the slab to where it best needs to flow. I'm also the logistics support for final appliance and flooring install.

I did *not* do the footers for the foundation -- the concrete guys wanted to do that as their total package and I was happy to let them. I would have wasted concrete ... They do it all day, every day. I haven't dug footers on a job site in two years. And even then, I wasn't proficient at it (i'm a truck driver ... )

I have been taught by a great mentor/teacher (Pat Guy) how to move dirt around (but I'm just a journeyman at best, not the master that he is) and have been using the basic tools of the dirt trade -- track loader, mini excavator and tractor/box blade. My little dump truck has been very useful as well. As well, I am using the standard hand tools of the dirt trade -- shovel (trench, flat and pointed), rake, laser and story pole, chain saw, and (my fav) Pulaski axe. I use a shovel more than a rake -- a good man with a shovel can get on grade and level faster and better than with a rake. Not that I am a "good man" but I do find that I am better with the shovel than with a rake. At this very moment, I can tell you exactly where my pointed shovel is. I'm not sure where the rake is ...

I am familiar with septic systems, too, but I haven't told my plumber that ...

Excavating -- first on the job site, last off.

Another of the fun jobs is that John will be doing srom inside woodworking ... making some furniture and shelving.

Um......is John aware of the furniture and woodworking? Not that it's optional, just wondered if he had received this directive yet.

Oh he sure is!! He's been making various things around here. A music stand. Several bookcases. A small table with two drawers, one on each side, a little stand with two shelves that fits perfectly next to the night stand.
Some picture frames. Two wall shelves for the wall in an interesting design. A combo shoe rack and l shaped bookcase that fits under a window at the kitchen table.
He did a few things for church. Is making a knife holder for one on the contractors.
Once that woodshop is done. I'll be lot easier to do stuff. Plus all this time he's be getting logs to our friend who's got a small sawmill. AND he's been working in a super cramped space and for awhile, with equipment that was only ok.

He made up a logo for our farm and now is able to burn it on the product.

He's having a grand time.