tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791401862102594752024-03-21T22:20:31.539-05:00One Man's HandsBrucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-30193081347377765452012-01-28T11:00:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.820-06:00First Steps - Demolition and ExcavationBy early 1990, Virginia and I had been married for a little over a year and we were broke. Our plan for getting out of trouble was to fix up a run down house and then quickly sell it for a small profit. The term "flipping a house" wasn't yet in use, but that's what we thought we could do.<br />
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What actually happened is much more interesting.<br />
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I had an engineering degree that I didn't want, along with plenty of frustrated ambitions and three years of residential construction work behind me. I knew a handful of people who lived in buildings they had reworked and the idea really appealed to me. Virginia worked at an art supply store and had no construction experience. My parents and grandparents agreed to finance our plan--with prommisory notes, names on titles, and interest payments--while Virginia and I would contribute a modest amount of cash and almost all of the labor.<br />
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For $74,000 we bought the shell of a building--with a working sewer line!--set on a double lot (45 ft by 100 ft).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.)</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The building had been partially "demoed" by the previous owner, a developer. He put it back on the market, unwilling to go ahead with his plans because of the poor economy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewed from the alley.</td></tr>
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Our plan was to turn the building into two units, a common arrangement in Chicago. A garden apartment on the first level would generate some income while we, or a future owner, would live in the upper two floors. <br />
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I was working as a small time general contractor/unemployed when we took possession. After we closed--fun fact, our real estate lawyer was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Despres" target="_blank">Leon Despres</a>--I started working full time deconstructing the old frame. Virginia came over after her normal work hours. The two of us would end up filling 6 or 7 thirty cubic yard dumpsters with all the debris.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I tore off the back of the building--all that remains in the photo above is the first floor and part of the second--in preparation for putting a new foundation that would support a new addition.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to view larger size</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up through the joists in the old addition.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire ground floor of the building was ringed with these roughly hewn tree trunks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewrRa2o-VoTSw89ygDWDmRuDqOmO6RQvHRw2yBjCuiTai29bty6ObCI4k3km1oANZdciCuQfu9k7ntpiAOP2OSVXcsda2c0P1XNbiN2LCohvbVoNRUYLilZ4X3dg0874iditgYCK27Yh0/s1600/South+Elevation+After+Inital+Demo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewrRa2o-VoTSw89ygDWDmRuDqOmO6RQvHRw2yBjCuiTai29bty6ObCI4k3km1oANZdciCuQfu9k7ntpiAOP2OSVXcsda2c0P1XNbiN2LCohvbVoNRUYLilZ4X3dg0874iditgYCK27Yh0/s400/South+Elevation+After+Inital+Demo.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We guessed that the addition was put on when indoor plumbing was added. We were told the original building was a farm house, built in 1876.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzayegjiuriJ8ntpFiLWOB2NC78N5ObXhTC8HBJgiEVOOgH9minptNFqZ5m0yoUlv_6VTmsoeOlvt9oy8N3dBrn8Jux56LXIsf9LSsNdf3axeaGfQocTcqL7P1OsaIItfQeN9bqU4L7R3/s1600/South+Elevation+after+rear+demo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzayegjiuriJ8ntpFiLWOB2NC78N5ObXhTC8HBJgiEVOOgH9minptNFqZ5m0yoUlv_6VTmsoeOlvt9oy8N3dBrn8Jux56LXIsf9LSsNdf3axeaGfQocTcqL7P1OsaIItfQeN9bqU4L7R3/s400/South+Elevation+after+rear+demo.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eventually we took the addition down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57lDFDb6owCVEH5NGJx0L23ArblcVXVLTMRuyVmHRAvKQSVKaddmlZrV9tqLRq0ZQzTYAgdqDAhF5j9F6UjwsKce9MlvlDzA7RMidwDD4TpyZElA2GWVSfiBni06jAfW-smvqeRalAARP/s1600/2nd+floor+Interior+During+Inital+Demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57lDFDb6owCVEH5NGJx0L23ArblcVXVLTMRuyVmHRAvKQSVKaddmlZrV9tqLRq0ZQzTYAgdqDAhF5j9F6UjwsKce9MlvlDzA7RMidwDD4TpyZElA2GWVSfiBni06jAfW-smvqeRalAARP/s400/2nd+floor+Interior+During+Inital+Demo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of the bldg wasn't much to look at either.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCkCEDNPzVCJ82rCOBpWEYs8rWvclmJ2BGo8wugDjcmUfPd5UlXAhW6tK6L-CeI88y0lIOrrtY4aOiW22ckJszoAGGHdq_8D0PYbjo_JPtv4QlLjK0xTcpdowSRRSLtutFZ-ksulC97Of/s1600/Partially+exposed+old%252C+shallow%252C+foundation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCkCEDNPzVCJ82rCOBpWEYs8rWvclmJ2BGo8wugDjcmUfPd5UlXAhW6tK6L-CeI88y0lIOrrtY4aOiW22ckJszoAGGHdq_8D0PYbjo_JPtv4QlLjK0xTcpdowSRRSLtutFZ-ksulC97Of/s400/Partially+exposed+old%252C+shallow%252C+foundation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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The old foundation. It was crumbling and didn't go down below the frost line, so needed to be replaced.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidlqkFqOxS7cDVtbF_o6f6wPPHt8wcvSibZjeEy9wZFcftDZPiNRgQ4r5nvI0dJnvWZAGGk7ETUraBiLP1Bp5bWNMdINXKEhQb890ZGnvEnqbxU_Op7rllxY2zslibNKHPvepQMP95_G3/s1600/Bruce+digging+out+old+foundation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidlqkFqOxS7cDVtbF_o6f6wPPHt8wcvSibZjeEy9wZFcftDZPiNRgQ4r5nvI0dJnvWZAGGk7ETUraBiLP1Bp5bWNMdINXKEhQb890ZGnvEnqbxU_Op7rllxY2zslibNKHPvepQMP95_G3/s400/Bruce+digging+out+old+foundation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm digging out the soil beneath the old foundation.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHJRKMZA5p3XaWJPcqCKRetAXx5ehlhxwbs-HoD2ot-LHtDUJhmj-if48DOzAlWqtgY8ZlUmccKTd5SovPfNbqKtZMYlCUSqQ7qny35jDBBhN6-_o5fl74U6Z-jyCLMJlbLE9TawjsCi7/s1600/Crystal+plot+plan%252C+excavation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHJRKMZA5p3XaWJPcqCKRetAXx5ehlhxwbs-HoD2ot-LHtDUJhmj-if48DOzAlWqtgY8ZlUmccKTd5SovPfNbqKtZMYlCUSqQ7qny35jDBBhN6-_o5fl74U6Z-jyCLMJlbLE9TawjsCi7/s400/Crystal+plot+plan%252C+excavation.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>How I ended up excavating for the new foundation by hand is a perfect example of one of the main dilemmas we faced. We didn't have much of a budget; even <i>if</i> we could borrow more, there was no certainty we could eventually earn enough to actually meet a higher mortgage cost. We tried to navigate between two unpleasant options: either borrowing money, at 10% interest, to hire someone to do tasks for us or to do it ourselves, saving on labor but taking much longer, and thus running up our accumulated interest on the money we had <i>already</i> borrowed. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHL478ii_Ma2CmYlvuOA43kaXdsbANXDSq5PcqEblYEA4kD90yFD03gNvunQ8b9yv3bVJrJqok3_fXIDyhIwgWyb_9yRbWs_ND6XM9Lqx-AwOsQY_mvGY0-LMeVl1kkLT-uhT5uhtN8_j/s1600/Bruce%252C+pick-axe%252C+digging+out+old+foundation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHL478ii_Ma2CmYlvuOA43kaXdsbANXDSq5PcqEblYEA4kD90yFD03gNvunQ8b9yv3bVJrJqok3_fXIDyhIwgWyb_9yRbWs_ND6XM9Lqx-AwOsQY_mvGY0-LMeVl1kkLT-uhT5uhtN8_j/s400/Bruce%252C+pick-axe%252C+digging+out+old+foundation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The soil was almost all clay, meaning I had to use the pick axe to loosen the soil before I could dig it out with the shovel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PEVUwe9CAzPHtVmjk58O2lErji7lHrJejvx0qTQO743Zl-KKt8WwctwC5tyvk6L-ECG_831YVKiO_pVkeNMW7QrUbCsr1Ak7eDC48CYptOIL0gJgEX3R8BynBaYH4CiuKSBYu-0wZIct/s1600/Excavation+finished+for+addition+foundation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PEVUwe9CAzPHtVmjk58O2lErji7lHrJejvx0qTQO743Zl-KKt8WwctwC5tyvk6L-ECG_831YVKiO_pVkeNMW7QrUbCsr1Ak7eDC48CYptOIL0gJgEX3R8BynBaYH4CiuKSBYu-0wZIct/s400/Excavation+finished+for+addition+foundation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ended up digging a trench 42 inches deep, 30 inches wide, and roughly 60 feet long. It took two weeks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyWB0d-WutIMTKZ2c-bFflr9n6mRayS8C0xt6VcElwIisOX1eht2OYi1IneoOict71jjWdMW1UE0tuq7AXeU-6OEjs5camLsM4MT2WZbf9iNu3g4MdBu-Am8ldOtGx-doohfNNtKcxEg2/s1600/Old+Plumbing+Stack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyWB0d-WutIMTKZ2c-bFflr9n6mRayS8C0xt6VcElwIisOX1eht2OYi1IneoOict71jjWdMW1UE0tuq7AXeU-6OEjs5camLsM4MT2WZbf9iNu3g4MdBu-Am8ldOtGx-doohfNNtKcxEg2/s400/Old+Plumbing+Stack.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We left the old sewer stack standing. None of it was usable, but it made for a nice photo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NR55vrWcUwZODdxfvU_O-G8aL-sdSMOQNXRZMFdt10DBiDNxMf28xg2HOlDIr265nnvfhFjFdbC1rE1-8-vtBPM-YJCibo_-VO9pPu3nb3QEp36aiKepIFofIoE6Nc5X6Pg_WIhf2q-x/s1600/South+Elevation+Interior+During+Inital+Demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NR55vrWcUwZODdxfvU_O-G8aL-sdSMOQNXRZMFdt10DBiDNxMf28xg2HOlDIr265nnvfhFjFdbC1rE1-8-vtBPM-YJCibo_-VO9pPu3nb3QEp36aiKepIFofIoE6Nc5X6Pg_WIhf2q-x/s400/South+Elevation+Interior+During+Inital+Demo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The floor joists in the remaining structure were 2x8 lumber and sagging. They were undersized for the span and would ultimately be replaced.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAtTQ6eEq2EJTjTEJdx4CHNd_GPTLvyUdEIuPEnCr-0lz2aUhkkLxuwm0kIXjSvYoUAquAqJa33xJrqaUp7dEQfgpY-uJVxuz3_WK7J4r2aRn8la_xERnjZKD-AVhcuIeK3xAxj5d1O0x/s1600/Looking+North+to+Alley%253AFuture+Garage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAtTQ6eEq2EJTjTEJdx4CHNd_GPTLvyUdEIuPEnCr-0lz2aUhkkLxuwm0kIXjSvYoUAquAqJa33xJrqaUp7dEQfgpY-uJVxuz3_WK7J4r2aRn8la_xERnjZKD-AVhcuIeK3xAxj5d1O0x/s400/Looking+North+to+Alley%253AFuture+Garage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out the back of the building. The covered box was our temporary electrical service. We ran extension cords out there for about 6 months.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-18443625602166803872012-01-28T09:00:00.005-06:002012-02-22T21:10:44.590-06:002: Pouring ConcreteWe spent about two months tearing down the old addition and excavating for the new foundation, and by the end of May, 1990, it was time to begin placing the concrete footings. We had a ready mix truck come to the alley, while we took wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of concrete over to be dumped into the previously dug trench. We poured about 60 linear feet of 12" deep by 24" wide concrete footings. Roughly 30 wheelbarrows worth of concrete.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any of the images for a larger view.) </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtGv49XL6vV-a5YbcKHRAm6y5OOe_hI7ugXRO9R9iK-QTk_0c2EvEB7GPpFLz6Oit1zsta1Fi63CEJlsJfVXRF8wTzoxNDfjSZo80szqmsSNBTgaVvasXTtPM7gh0hQGu7DvMWi6rEBdk/s1600/Bruce%252C+plus+%253F%252C+filling+wheelbarrow+from+concrete+truck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtGv49XL6vV-a5YbcKHRAm6y5OOe_hI7ugXRO9R9iK-QTk_0c2EvEB7GPpFLz6Oit1zsta1Fi63CEJlsJfVXRF8wTzoxNDfjSZo80szqmsSNBTgaVvasXTtPM7gh0hQGu7DvMWi6rEBdk/s400/Bruce%252C+plus+%253F%252C+filling+wheelbarrow+from+concrete+truck.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt66xq38dIQl16-kH5YHADpVuuZoaO59MZQFxIcmj5xA78bYAs27NzciSHeAUKHt056qffDbof6IvdeUOMDD1zEnMWTkI3FPReLAGByeb_tnYkgD5k9InEk5hH8Uv1A2eIP_G4SgGi8A_0/s1600/Bruce+filling+wheelbarrow+with+concrete.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt66xq38dIQl16-kH5YHADpVuuZoaO59MZQFxIcmj5xA78bYAs27NzciSHeAUKHt056qffDbof6IvdeUOMDD1zEnMWTkI3FPReLAGByeb_tnYkgD5k9InEk5hH8Uv1A2eIP_G4SgGi8A_0/s400/Bruce+filling+wheelbarrow+with+concrete.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look exhausted.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAbie2Wjx349pidb0Ou9ENpxum2xhh_4ixMgy1Hu-i61pYFbMvL0AhwXIdEnpmIP_3qo3tFzQKURx2RvzcAsyQAb1SNX28ZSp90ilHvmuZHiotRacLDS9eYwL3T_SXKIYBWtdpfaPUycd/s1600/Bruce+and+Richard+pouring+concrete+footings+for+addition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAbie2Wjx349pidb0Ou9ENpxum2xhh_4ixMgy1Hu-i61pYFbMvL0AhwXIdEnpmIP_3qo3tFzQKURx2RvzcAsyQAb1SNX28ZSp90ilHvmuZHiotRacLDS9eYwL3T_SXKIYBWtdpfaPUycd/s400/Bruce+and+Richard+pouring+concrete+footings+for+addition.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard and Bruce. My dad came down for the weekend to help out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt66xq38dIQl16-kH5YHADpVuuZoaO59MZQFxIcmj5xA78bYAs27NzciSHeAUKHt056qffDbof6IvdeUOMDD1zEnMWTkI3FPReLAGByeb_tnYkgD5k9InEk5hH8Uv1A2eIP_G4SgGi8A_0/s1600/Bruce+filling+wheelbarrow+with+concrete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF4-TE1a8Ca6x4WwUU67Mg8M83SwokfyPiC-wpUFpkqLKLVPmfJ336Zv52wBnjdcGXOhCKHKOg6kD7M-kGlDcELVslelpanm0YDdMm7lb4j9qVqNKldt7zx3ydWCc1MG1Qaf_Wb08N-X_/s1600/Bruce%252C+Richard%252C+and+Matt+pouring+addition+footings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF4-TE1a8Ca6x4WwUU67Mg8M83SwokfyPiC-wpUFpkqLKLVPmfJ336Zv52wBnjdcGXOhCKHKOg6kD7M-kGlDcELVslelpanm0YDdMm7lb4j9qVqNKldt7zx3ydWCc1MG1Qaf_Wb08N-X_/s400/Bruce%252C+Richard%252C+and+Matt+pouring+addition+footings.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruce, Richard, and neighbor Matt.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClxghMyhHRj1EblMCU3Nj7PfRDLYlW2xTxrzDzhEEVzEBjsTh-W-woYls_1xuhm8oQ4t52JU3Sm6Sr7k39Y8wb60BA5xa-3G2tQjCE3aDDHQ4uheQ9z8JoituKFij6WYoEEmGcy0U9e-l/s400/Bruce%252C+Tim%252C+and+Richard+pouring+addition+footings.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="301" /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9nGaae-A9PzYmwe55FQQzKY1IcRewOEGh8oxJcNncUPqoHyHAhRhcGZ6OhyphenhyphenvMFYFZL8Ht6vT-f1JednQ_f6yWw9-LS56SRvTUdGOzHFVmwb9xs8HwYCQl_CGvcwpxTK0MOUCsrfmbnKN/s1600/Bruce%252C+Richard%252C+and+Scott%252C%253F%252C+pouring+addtion+footings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9nGaae-A9PzYmwe55FQQzKY1IcRewOEGh8oxJcNncUPqoHyHAhRhcGZ6OhyphenhyphenvMFYFZL8Ht6vT-f1JednQ_f6yWw9-LS56SRvTUdGOzHFVmwb9xs8HwYCQl_CGvcwpxTK0MOUCsrfmbnKN/s400/Bruce%252C+Richard%252C+and+Scott%252C%253F%252C+pouring+addtion+footings.jpg" width="338" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You want to get close to the edge before you tip. Problem is it's hard to know where the edge is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW3_vFaJXdk1AVLFUO5iqJbFdHfFV2sPOhHo6v-FyLJwnmWlvXvpx_-PJpDCTr09Prbgvh-QoQkiXmvWJ-JiaK0KilsceTpJL1SV21rYyH46KAdjC-uJVOaeD1OkA1g_3b0gfKVRD7w3q/s1600/First+floor+framing+on+top+of+grade+beam%252C+6%253A8%253A1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA4vASO9tAt1XnjTefe7Ajvc2VpdtSYsvqhwZ_A5eFOINyCavkYfD8OKAi9_Req0krQwhHKeX8jmm2aXRuZLrM3eGty9bGfKO8UEF_By5YjMcCyKhemhQNrleAhfm88-e2Sit92Et6kh2/s1600/Pouring+concrete+footings+for+addition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA4vASO9tAt1XnjTefe7Ajvc2VpdtSYsvqhwZ_A5eFOINyCavkYfD8OKAi9_Req0krQwhHKeX8jmm2aXRuZLrM3eGty9bGfKO8UEF_By5YjMcCyKhemhQNrleAhfm88-e2Sit92Et6kh2/s400/Pouring+concrete+footings+for+addition.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UiVg5nUrvjL5G-OUp2ARWE7UI1jd9SY08WiB9BFwBYw8K3ERKbrI7gphlHUsPd138tghfQvkQnGkwG3jZFvIKHcecEqzwWuErh0gpk6x-Ng7F2sjsVaBOlsEm4uUlpXFd8gD9JG5lXQM/s1600/Richard+moves+concrete+in+footing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UiVg5nUrvjL5G-OUp2ARWE7UI1jd9SY08WiB9BFwBYw8K3ERKbrI7gphlHUsPd138tghfQvkQnGkwG3jZFvIKHcecEqzwWuErh0gpk6x-Ng7F2sjsVaBOlsEm4uUlpXFd8gD9JG5lXQM/s400/Richard+moves+concrete+in+footing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm roughly the same age now as my Dad was then. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVdKHoKoX6D6nv9KxdhMvosH8wbAAWshBCTSwWa3l-ENjYIOcHPGLUeh5ns0KbrWDnizyfZPAUg6q52D5cmIEg5Uw5NDben4RMDHtgetazD0y3MKMZ4YWFV2MTIQ80gN4JbEde1rQ5Pbp/s1600/Richard+working+in+concrete+footing%252C+5%253A26%253A1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVdKHoKoX6D6nv9KxdhMvosH8wbAAWshBCTSwWa3l-ENjYIOcHPGLUeh5ns0KbrWDnizyfZPAUg6q52D5cmIEg5Uw5NDben4RMDHtgetazD0y3MKMZ4YWFV2MTIQ80gN4JbEde1rQ5Pbp/s400/Richard+working+in+concrete+footing%252C+5%253A26%253A1990.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard slogs through the wet concrete.</td></tr>
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Now that the footing was poured, next was working on the grade beam that would cap the existing foundation for the old building. This was necessary because the old concrete was crumbling. There were roughly 80 linear feet needed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil5-FkeyD1_u7vi-jJ38KzGRXDlJsO0J2b5b-9_YJPz2MTorpgsDZOu9yYy3jQqnalVv7jADScPu33lnC7_pRK5H2_-KahbLY8jg8XsTbMfTCdPyDLz8xRfojX2HcmZmgVxhb6jBcaeAT/s1600/Crystal+plot+plan%252C+excavation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil5-FkeyD1_u7vi-jJ38KzGRXDlJsO0J2b5b-9_YJPz2MTorpgsDZOu9yYy3jQqnalVv7jADScPu33lnC7_pRK5H2_-KahbLY8jg8XsTbMfTCdPyDLz8xRfojX2HcmZmgVxhb6jBcaeAT/s400/Crystal+plot+plan%252C+excavation.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on image for larger view.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkihBoe3xJHrVi8u1nq54fQGIL62TTTFUzWHFfBGJR0xlDvkfBdoLhuaGFW76A2uIwRKuW60nqrj5nNVXLtdAgeXj3Oq0ahXDFaPUFT4S73ml95QEOBEoSB15nrV-GWVuMKlzj2VavoV_J/s1600/Grade+Beam+engineers+report.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkihBoe3xJHrVi8u1nq54fQGIL62TTTFUzWHFfBGJR0xlDvkfBdoLhuaGFW76A2uIwRKuW60nqrj5nNVXLtdAgeXj3Oq0ahXDFaPUFT4S73ml95QEOBEoSB15nrV-GWVuMKlzj2VavoV_J/s400/Grade+Beam+engineers+report.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The architect insisted on hiring a Structural Engineer to provide us with a drawing for the grade beam. I remember being pissed off that it cost something like $500 for this sheet of paper.</td></tr>
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The process was as follows. Build braces that rested on either side of the new grade beam that would allow for the removal of all the first floor walls and timber supports. Once the old building was no longer relying on the old first floor walls for support, I took out all the old framing and built plywood forms--to hold the concrete beam--on top of the old foundation. Before building those forms I needed to break out a section of the old concrete foundation where the new apartment entry door would be located.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS8Y8Ioc8K6EqJiC8JiAZjrz-xncsUJdcMVdgn5WeL0ip9m-OcK_1CdMH2P69iRSQZvwV7T2Zc2Kh-PrDuch5mA6Mq5nli9lMs9ljyCi3HynWJT6ujVKhR-mOeKxerehZ3uFCzA_LPxl3/s1600/Bruce+using+demo+hammer+to+create+bsmt+door+opening.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS8Y8Ioc8K6EqJiC8JiAZjrz-xncsUJdcMVdgn5WeL0ip9m-OcK_1CdMH2P69iRSQZvwV7T2Zc2Kh-PrDuch5mA6Mq5nli9lMs9ljyCi3HynWJT6ujVKhR-mOeKxerehZ3uFCzA_LPxl3/s400/Bruce+using+demo+hammer+to+create+bsmt+door+opening.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VRGTHwbj0J67dyla8rGYV8a9-YdsmYnzyi5q7oLIqtXNKowY8HcnVXghGyW_wxvj9vrJHXhZJMLpu2Mw9jZTP7wQp9wJbGilvcXqJj2S5mrif4AXJuCsLZuhRTvrs0bj8UqqU1Bmdz2r/s1600/Bruce+demos+old+foundation+before+grade+beam+installation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VRGTHwbj0J67dyla8rGYV8a9-YdsmYnzyi5q7oLIqtXNKowY8HcnVXghGyW_wxvj9vrJHXhZJMLpu2Mw9jZTP7wQp9wJbGilvcXqJj2S5mrif4AXJuCsLZuhRTvrs0bj8UqqU1Bmdz2r/s400/Bruce+demos+old+foundation+before+grade+beam+installation.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkihBoe3xJHrVi8u1nq54fQGIL62TTTFUzWHFfBGJR0xlDvkfBdoLhuaGFW76A2uIwRKuW60nqrj5nNVXLtdAgeXj3Oq0ahXDFaPUFT4S73ml95QEOBEoSB15nrV-GWVuMKlzj2VavoV_J/s1600/Grade+Beam+engineers+report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje49ggC72FG2vpvD5plPK8dAuRJJhPTuX37euk11UCXi5utr4EK1wJFZOjw8JBBvCJ84o1Ope1gzcOBOoVNn0KlrsJKEpVlc2dnvSNg2Usn5MhyphenhyphenKCdUgpKAhXdDbOdpElQkcY-KqQjF7x4/s1600/Finished+corner+of+grade+beam.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje49ggC72FG2vpvD5plPK8dAuRJJhPTuX37euk11UCXi5utr4EK1wJFZOjw8JBBvCJ84o1Ope1gzcOBOoVNn0KlrsJKEpVlc2dnvSNg2Usn5MhyphenhyphenKCdUgpKAhXdDbOdpElQkcY-KqQjF7x4/s400/Finished+corner+of+grade+beam.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plywood forms removed from one side of the grade beam. With more favorable terrain, the concrete delivery truck could pull right next to the forms and drop the mix straight into the forms. No wheelbarrows needed. Much easier. Though I do remember getting upset that one of my forms blew out because I didn't brace it properly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPzqfnVZv7Dm84iyDS9Y2dIqXBkGW5e-J1_g_VtHVceHOgZY6fW_VK5-ejq0RyqdTN0NL-ROI4nNGWzUpsb54oYQTRsaCrLfb0wuDaplCCcHv_TjO0zEvLyMfD_gnzOIwqZvXvrw9MNaP/s1600/Virginia+holding+up+sill+beam+brace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPzqfnVZv7Dm84iyDS9Y2dIqXBkGW5e-J1_g_VtHVceHOgZY6fW_VK5-ejq0RyqdTN0NL-ROI4nNGWzUpsb54oYQTRsaCrLfb0wuDaplCCcHv_TjO0zEvLyMfD_gnzOIwqZvXvrw9MNaP/s400/Virginia+holding+up+sill+beam+brace.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia "holding up" one of the temporary braces used to support the house while we built the grade beam.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW3_vFaJXdk1AVLFUO5iqJbFdHfFV2sPOhHo6v-FyLJwnmWlvXvpx_-PJpDCTr09Prbgvh-QoQkiXmvWJ-JiaK0KilsceTpJL1SV21rYyH46KAdjC-uJVOaeD1OkA1g_3b0gfKVRD7w3q/s1600/First+floor+framing+on+top+of+grade+beam%252C+6%253A8%253A1990.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW3_vFaJXdk1AVLFUO5iqJbFdHfFV2sPOhHo6v-FyLJwnmWlvXvpx_-PJpDCTr09Prbgvh-QoQkiXmvWJ-JiaK0KilsceTpJL1SV21rYyH46KAdjC-uJVOaeD1OkA1g_3b0gfKVRD7w3q/s400/First+floor+framing+on+top+of+grade+beam%252C+6%253A8%253A1990.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The temporary posts holding up the bldg are still in place while we built the new 2x4 walls on top of the new concrete grade beam.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Because the existing foundation didn't go down below the frostline, there was also a fair amount of "underpinning" of the existing foundation that we had to do. No pictures of that. Just more digging, more concrete, more money.<br />
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While I was building the forms for the grade beam, our masonry contractor built a block foundation on top of the footings we poured earlier. This allowed us to continue the grade beam concrete over the top of the block foundation, joining them both.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXhhs60kPfEy-V6crv3a5XzsaHS3KeoRX98HgBTjM0aNi5AbDtJV8YisGuUtqm9Zkcd7Ie2FanuIerItPG-_bM7YuE5H9oCJwvzJZ-tc6EZVT8gcL4sH3QFGx9_zacUTGtexkBn0qxSC5/s1600/Addition+foundation+and+new+grade+beam+in+place.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXhhs60kPfEy-V6crv3a5XzsaHS3KeoRX98HgBTjM0aNi5AbDtJV8YisGuUtqm9Zkcd7Ie2FanuIerItPG-_bM7YuE5H9oCJwvzJZ-tc6EZVT8gcL4sH3QFGx9_zacUTGtexkBn0qxSC5/s400/Addition+foundation+and+new+grade+beam+in+place.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A detail showing the connection between the grade beam and the new block foundation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-77390395982959405632012-01-27T09:00:00.003-06:002015-05-09T08:35:50.934-05:003: Building the Walls and Floors of the AdditionAs I did while working on it, it's best to think of the finished building as two separate "cee" shaped--viewed from above--wall pieces that are being covered by one common roof. They are: The old building, now missing it's back wall, and the new addition, being "open" to the old building, having only three sides.<br />
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(Click on any of the images for a larger view.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_BYG6FUwkhy1WIYWfKRhktYZLeTIGIiUhbo_eHo7upO2JbkA1OftjQq2KNIf2JDlDpnEH2QJZmZnCPIFnON2jgpDBnmo98mVrus_GhV4_e_fjndtzcP1wMc-6VeKdf1udJ56SeTGcGXu/s1600/Crystal+plot+plan%252C+%2522cee%2522+shapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_BYG6FUwkhy1WIYWfKRhktYZLeTIGIiUhbo_eHo7upO2JbkA1OftjQq2KNIf2JDlDpnEH2QJZmZnCPIFnON2jgpDBnmo98mVrus_GhV4_e_fjndtzcP1wMc-6VeKdf1udJ56SeTGcGXu/s400/Crystal+plot+plan%2C+%22cee%22+shapes.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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We built the addition walls and installed the floor trusses in the summer of 1990. For some of this work I needed another pair of hands. Virginia was usually working at her paying job, so I hired an architecture student from Univ. of Illinois - Chicago. Having someone to help hoist trusses and wall sections was invaluable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARhq-s5XabgA6u8pwROuTcxYMgKvrawlFhZIkpxOFpZBfYU75rRNex5hjQ5Y19geibA2N25HpmDB3gQ-_mPC8gkshkOVy6Ahc8WRMmXOlkG3UapQe0RuzpGfj2nHFRJpxzFpoiRimbXC_/s1600/First+floor+wall+framing+in+addition.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARhq-s5XabgA6u8pwROuTcxYMgKvrawlFhZIkpxOFpZBfYU75rRNex5hjQ5Y19geibA2N25HpmDB3gQ-_mPC8gkshkOVy6Ahc8WRMmXOlkG3UapQe0RuzpGfj2nHFRJpxzFpoiRimbXC_/s400/First+floor+wall+framing+in+addition.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2a4pAJxfjHZX9xFU2Z3DolBkjtLfq9_aE_nYzItA7DCGLleBgz35IuO0JsVo2gBC7l2S2zoGlLjLOtt-lOQEznGClIVylfwjNTvstpu6KKn-S2v28y8esK1R0dQdBtazfhzn_Hv_KKAZ/s1600/Looking+South+at+first+floor+addition+framing%252C+8%253A12%253A1990.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2a4pAJxfjHZX9xFU2Z3DolBkjtLfq9_aE_nYzItA7DCGLleBgz35IuO0JsVo2gBC7l2S2zoGlLjLOtt-lOQEznGClIVylfwjNTvstpu6KKn-S2v28y8esK1R0dQdBtazfhzn_Hv_KKAZ/s400/Looking+South+at+first+floor+addition+framing%2C+8%3A12%3A1990.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first floor walls are up and I'm crawling around on the floor trusses.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6Dowtzv7Mqg0zLBzLtyvhxioks-oo50uJm3OvXdvikCvOnYGRJ-HuIkJfbAb7fONsIreBtqK1m3u40by8Y3qvsHPpX3Ps1I6ncustncBWTrotdGCm3aSpL8-iqk66uvrLve0DlQsLYu-/s1600/Looking+up+at+second+floor+joists+in+addition.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6Dowtzv7Mqg0zLBzLtyvhxioks-oo50uJm3OvXdvikCvOnYGRJ-HuIkJfbAb7fONsIreBtqK1m3u40by8Y3qvsHPpX3Ps1I6ncustncBWTrotdGCm3aSpL8-iqk66uvrLve0DlQsLYu-/s400/Looking+up+at+second+floor+joists+in+addition.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from below of those same trusses.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThgGDmVUkO5wJOeYpJJ7nh_ZF9vGRlmnz_bxP9f3ypS11I4TxLYm1CV-pKwvWsM9gWhe0Cf8YGMlM4A9TS4kekb1BiqO-OIO_WSFr4W9Tz1wUVqp-0jnLNfV6ivE55mTRuvkObYrPcM-n/s1600/Framing+for+first+floor+addtion%252C+8%253A12%253A1990.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThgGDmVUkO5wJOeYpJJ7nh_ZF9vGRlmnz_bxP9f3ypS11I4TxLYm1CV-pKwvWsM9gWhe0Cf8YGMlM4A9TS4kekb1BiqO-OIO_WSFr4W9Tz1wUVqp-0jnLNfV6ivE55mTRuvkObYrPcM-n/s400/Framing+for+first+floor+addtion%2C+8%3A12%3A1990.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plywood sheathing covered the walls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYc3_VJWkEjDR816dt2LusFeyBHOGZtPmIM4KzBbauKL3r0L5bFOCD8kUmf7-P9awYX2aTXZn28SlylwvqnaagBC6nD0KHseewKZRQdhfUDmG0bsO0lSDN_UzffQNymlREVcUdycMT0QHZ/s1600/First+floor+sheathing+on+addition.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYc3_VJWkEjDR816dt2LusFeyBHOGZtPmIM4KzBbauKL3r0L5bFOCD8kUmf7-P9awYX2aTXZn28SlylwvqnaagBC6nD0KHseewKZRQdhfUDmG0bsO0lSDN_UzffQNymlREVcUdycMT0QHZ/s400/First+floor+sheathing+on+addition.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was critical to get the old and new sheathing to align.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPgk2t2L2VvQ8YUsJ1Ir23L1uA7LG0heTbwHQff6XWQQ0tNqxx4YcKmuJ66RMRQwJbo_7ZVUoLVVo-02facaON2DB8Rn9FzZBYRAg1ydR-wzfoVpsAg9vURfrpKrG17CFUl1oOKnFbcny/s1600/North+elevation%252C+framing+to+2nd+floor%252C+8.10.1990.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPgk2t2L2VvQ8YUsJ1Ir23L1uA7LG0heTbwHQff6XWQQ0tNqxx4YcKmuJ66RMRQwJbo_7ZVUoLVVo-02facaON2DB8Rn9FzZBYRAg1ydR-wzfoVpsAg9vURfrpKrG17CFUl1oOKnFbcny/s400/North+elevation%2C+framing+to+2nd+floor%2C+8.10.1990.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the first floor was sheathed, we repeated the process for the second floor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMCNA-QxS3XXv5qfDmxJI60i4BGZpjxsAwNqoLfi36kmSBqTC7jxXX-EmoNYXb79AUkT8k-Z8LyFWVwKpxyRoIeKymyBeYN2Rnp-LQZBs4p7D4wFZwVJG3OXU7rejRR05sV0bqYIcTmeC/s1600/Bruce+looking+up+at+joists+in+2nd+floor+addition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMCNA-QxS3XXv5qfDmxJI60i4BGZpjxsAwNqoLfi36kmSBqTC7jxXX-EmoNYXb79AUkT8k-Z8LyFWVwKpxyRoIeKymyBeYN2Rnp-LQZBs4p7D4wFZwVJG3OXU7rejRR05sV0bqYIcTmeC/s400/Bruce+looking+up+at+joists+in+2nd+floor+addition.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm admiring the 2nd floor trusses while standing in what is now my kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoji48qOCjrZypUWGTgFE-3me_HWS5kcH6S5mGsewv4wxkbwErhLRlVRaZAFNDHm3uhuQbCxQr8M7uhzn-rLHkQuzWG5uXBEWmwBkSx-usGelzjLtClwkWKnKBHE5eGQqAd7ZX1zRNGllu/s1600/Sheathing+on+2+floors%252C+east+elevation+of+addition.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoji48qOCjrZypUWGTgFE-3me_HWS5kcH6S5mGsewv4wxkbwErhLRlVRaZAFNDHm3uhuQbCxQr8M7uhzn-rLHkQuzWG5uXBEWmwBkSx-usGelzjLtClwkWKnKBHE5eGQqAd7ZX1zRNGllu/s400/Sheathing+on+2+floors%2C+east+elevation+of+addition.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sheathing goes up on the second floor walls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia160jMiHgEzdeeHsRjg8wJVFrA8cd-J0K_esFpruzlu1JfS4L9QF2Y8eLQ39c7DZWqy-EP2Z5qFnYlM7fVJUeKQOjis19dtrsWDg_V6TcTqxeQb0cyzbnjZjpWLruqLupPiaDk7r68pX6/s1600/East+elevation%252C+3rd+floor+addition.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia160jMiHgEzdeeHsRjg8wJVFrA8cd-J0K_esFpruzlu1JfS4L9QF2Y8eLQ39c7DZWqy-EP2Z5qFnYlM7fVJUeKQOjis19dtrsWDg_V6TcTqxeQb0cyzbnjZjpWLruqLupPiaDk7r68pX6/s400/East+elevation%2C+3rd+floor+addition.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to start putting up the third floor walls.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JHd_rS0bpytuyuRIbbNQejZN90Yv2ULbeWHXep2TV4JEaEGi3d1SMZ7lzwrpw1p_JnA9x1t9YewaQmrbPw1nwnNgjs0Sc0v9PsZ1RFPrQbW98zrkDtJDPl1pfQdLVWJVSeryLPP5_kUQ/s1600/North+elevation%252C+partial+framing+of+3rd+floor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JHd_rS0bpytuyuRIbbNQejZN90Yv2ULbeWHXep2TV4JEaEGi3d1SMZ7lzwrpw1p_JnA9x1t9YewaQmrbPw1nwnNgjs0Sc0v9PsZ1RFPrQbW98zrkDtJDPl1pfQdLVWJVSeryLPP5_kUQ/s400/North+elevation%2C+partial+framing+of+3rd+floor.jpg" width="283" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYc3_VJWkEjDR816dt2LusFeyBHOGZtPmIM4KzBbauKL3r0L5bFOCD8kUmf7-P9awYX2aTXZn28SlylwvqnaagBC6nD0KHseewKZRQdhfUDmG0bsO0lSDN_UzffQNymlREVcUdycMT0QHZ/s1600/First+floor+sheathing+on+addition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am standing on the third floor, in what is now my bedroom, just before the rafters go up.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2a4pAJxfjHZX9xFU2Z3DolBkjtLfq9_aE_nYzItA7DCGLleBgz35IuO0JsVo2gBC7l2S2zoGlLjLOtt-lOQEznGClIVylfwjNTvstpu6KKn-S2v28y8esK1R0dQdBtazfhzn_Hv_KKAZ/s1600/Looking+South+at+first+floor+addition+framing%252C+8%253A12%253A1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third floor addition with rafters in place.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjArFVRboENzhWiwDZ-5AFWUUdT6HNsu4Bsg_SLtlZ5MZGi6YQsrzYs56hibTTKsFA69xUUy2NeVZQF0tuYBsmR8HvjrdpJNSjCmkKwNkPFyueKMU0Z1ubrzsr9bZP-nN_IwyMjkEUxBi/s1600/North+elevation+showing+rafters+and+rear+stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjArFVRboENzhWiwDZ-5AFWUUdT6HNsu4Bsg_SLtlZ5MZGi6YQsrzYs56hibTTKsFA69xUUy2NeVZQF0tuYBsmR8HvjrdpJNSjCmkKwNkPFyueKMU0Z1ubrzsr9bZP-nN_IwyMjkEUxBi/s400/North+elevation+showing+rafters+and+rear+stairs.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We walked up those exterior stairs--no handrail, what a fool I was!--for at least two years. It took that long for me to get around to the building the front stairs. Even then we continued to use those back stairs for another couple years until I built the back deck.</td></tr>
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Looking back at these photos I see plenty of things that make me cringe. I can only say--if to no one other than myself--"Look at what I did with minimal experience and limited funds." Despite reading everything I could get my hands on in those pre-internet days, I still have all my <a href="http://www.finehomebuilding.com/pages/" target="_blank">Fine Homebuilding </a>magazine from those years, I was making a lot of it up as I went along.<br />
<br />
Still, not putting a simple railing on those back stairs was really stupid.Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-74868561272509059552012-01-26T11:00:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.822-06:004: Rebuilding the Structure of the Existing BuildingAs I mentioned in the previous post on building the new addition, it's helpful to think of the finished building as two separate "cee" shaped--as viewed from above--wall pieces that are being covered by one common roof. They are: The old building, now missing it's back wall, and the new addition, being "open" to the old building, having only three sides.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.) </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QGu09fsYDjwZtLTOyCdGPJAtgCJPBGbVIyXl104UpCT2AZ9Q29Re3a0IBHvZZg-TUtgMRgwix3SyNjkL7xalI340fQb9kiJGf4DMQ7DO62NaVrL0gN4JQz61PEHg8wpydY8bZt01E9q6/s1600/Crystal+plot+plan%252C+%2522cee%2522+shapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QGu09fsYDjwZtLTOyCdGPJAtgCJPBGbVIyXl104UpCT2AZ9Q29Re3a0IBHvZZg-TUtgMRgwix3SyNjkL7xalI340fQb9kiJGf4DMQ7DO62NaVrL0gN4JQz61PEHg8wpydY8bZt01E9q6/s400/Crystal+plot+plan%252C+%2522cee%2522+shapes.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<br />
The "original", or existing, building was structurally inadequate and needed changing for several reasons--<br />
<ol><li>We didn't want to keep a bearing wall in the middle of the space. The existing 2x8 joists could not cross the entire 21 ft. span without sagging.</li>
<li>The height of the existing floor joists only allowed for 8 ft. ceilings, we wanted more headroom.</li>
<li>The rafters were made from 2x4, rather than the 2x8 called for by modern building codes.</li>
<li>The existing walls were made from 2x4s. We wanted thicker exterior walls to allow space for more insulation.</li>
<li>The exterior bearing walls were balloon* framed, and so had a ledger board notched in them to support the floor joists. This substantially weakened the walls.</li>
</ol><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Balloon_frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Balloon_frame.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Diagram of Balloon Frame.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wall studs run all the way from sill to rafter, typically two stories. The more "modern" platform framing has wall studs that are only one story tall.</td></tr>
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The building itself is located about 7" inside the property line. Were we to completely tear it to the ground, in order to comply with modern zoning codes we would have to relocate any new structure 3 feet inside that same property line, a serious drawback on a small city lot. By keeping the existing building's footprint, or it's position within our property lines, we would be grandfathered in, or exempt, from those regulations. That meant keeping some of the old frame and foundation rather than building everything new.<br />
<br />
It also meant a lot of extra work.<br />
<br />
The old building wasn't plumb, nothing was level. Getting a twisted, wracked frame to merge with the newly built, and plumb, addition was a challenge.<br />
<br />
I decided that the way to solve this problem was to build a new structure <i>inside</i> of the old frame. With the new concrete grade beam in place, we had a wide enough foundation to accommodate a double exterior wall: the outer wall being the existing 2x4 balloon frame and a new inner 2x4 wall that would carry the weight of new floor trusses and rafters.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrlzCZ4COhoXga33HwX0_tfJAP9jY1Cwk7zrzYVHJMs4G94TeIUDZ5zGhm-jFwCe3EvGGHa3J8TFWHW-VluU9HSEtQEGhxluMhNjhSUgHQ5hZ0k_x4GwnPvHeHWfWd0WHoZNro_-zHzjA/s1600/View+of+2nd+floor+framing%252C+looking+south.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrlzCZ4COhoXga33HwX0_tfJAP9jY1Cwk7zrzYVHJMs4G94TeIUDZ5zGhm-jFwCe3EvGGHa3J8TFWHW-VluU9HSEtQEGhxluMhNjhSUgHQ5hZ0k_x4GwnPvHeHWfWd0WHoZNro_-zHzjA/s640/View+of+2nd+floor+framing%252C+looking+south.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a view of the second floor looking at, from what is now my kitchen, the existing building. Behind all the new framing you'll see the darker wood of the old balloon frame. The actual, weight bearing, floors and walls are all new material.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4Hkwma2faQnIDaCRrwK2yzEL5cnDXVWNAUFVgjZ8cXOHImKGYS_rEWSOcbk9kZ3R2X9OIz0gxE16vsrJDeNrKsBJbDeyim5BTGHyGeO0lhUmIS1F7ohSOZkrkjYZ_eTfQ3gqG2FvCGfO/s1600/Looking+south+at+Bruce%252C+who+is+standing+in+the+framed+3rd+floor+of+the+old+bldg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4Hkwma2faQnIDaCRrwK2yzEL5cnDXVWNAUFVgjZ8cXOHImKGYS_rEWSOcbk9kZ3R2X9OIz0gxE16vsrJDeNrKsBJbDeyim5BTGHyGeO0lhUmIS1F7ohSOZkrkjYZ_eTfQ3gqG2FvCGfO/s640/Looking+south+at+Bruce%252C+who+is+standing+in+the+framed+3rd+floor+of+the+old+bldg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of the third floor, looking in the same direction as the photo above. I'm standing in what will later become the hallway next to the staircase opening. The new framing on the right edge of the picture is the wall of the addition. I worked my way forward, dismantling the old roof and building the new walls at the same time.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE89qHGJSvq0fVSfuOkCkqC7hH4ofytOBBnd4AVr-t2KONVZ4hWFWPIUH6kvaGtXhq1J954wJ0Avb8SxSJAdsriZzDPX1nZYrvGB0kPyLDX0UDiXYVb_NB13f_UYSpRIPR4_AvL6elXdN/s1600/View+of+old+roof+framing%252C+looking+south+while+standing+on+3rd+floor+ceiling+joists.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE89qHGJSvq0fVSfuOkCkqC7hH4ofytOBBnd4AVr-t2KONVZ4hWFWPIUH6kvaGtXhq1J954wJ0Avb8SxSJAdsriZzDPX1nZYrvGB0kPyLDX0UDiXYVb_NB13f_UYSpRIPR4_AvL6elXdN/s400/View+of+old+roof+framing%252C+looking+south+while+standing+on+3rd+floor+ceiling+joists.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To remove the old roof, you had to climb out on the planks we set out on the old ceiling joists and use a sawzall to cut away one rafter at a time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6dxXUPtf6RNjEWR1vLeSbhX8MLPN7-TojzLBUCihl6llycY6H-SNjipoyEAE47F93lhqxmnw7w0yzHTrzR3bW-3sOTSqAqf55WqWcs-zun42s-G0RAwFlo3EBjwxXgcbVXv0wQoLhyphenhyphen50/s1600/Cross+section+of+old+roofing+material.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6dxXUPtf6RNjEWR1vLeSbhX8MLPN7-TojzLBUCihl6llycY6H-SNjipoyEAE47F93lhqxmnw7w0yzHTrzR3bW-3sOTSqAqf55WqWcs-zun42s-G0RAwFlo3EBjwxXgcbVXv0wQoLhyphenhyphen50/s400/Cross+section+of+old+roofing+material.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easier said than done. There were about 3 inches of material on top of each rafter. Every chunk you cut out had to be carefully tossed down into the dumpster.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE89qHGJSvq0fVSfuOkCkqC7hH4ofytOBBnd4AVr-t2KONVZ4hWFWPIUH6kvaGtXhq1J954wJ0Avb8SxSJAdsriZzDPX1nZYrvGB0kPyLDX0UDiXYVb_NB13f_UYSpRIPR4_AvL6elXdN/s1600/View+of+old+roof+framing%252C+looking+south+while+standing+on+3rd+floor+ceiling+joists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobBEjBZiIP9BT0S53uJJfdIBvVlMrFLAaN2uCqvQ8hpHwg420NLXAfI0DZCKxrneL_xVduA7VFZBMe8GBsmibG_jMhf-LOXHY5A7YgHm-ic6afoOddznUEQ5p1_1yypOJ5YOUkZqFDnji/s1600/Virginia+dirty+face+after+hard+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobBEjBZiIP9BT0S53uJJfdIBvVlMrFLAaN2uCqvQ8hpHwg420NLXAfI0DZCKxrneL_xVduA7VFZBMe8GBsmibG_jMhf-LOXHY5A7YgHm-ic6afoOddznUEQ5p1_1yypOJ5YOUkZqFDnji/s400/Virginia+dirty+face+after+hard+work.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia did her share of the demolition. It wasn't easy.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKUBicbQwUcnvdzoLsJgWX2xWqXJm83b_B1tXtQe4c2ckyC3GzWtVkkNblpHDxsydwSj_-OHCGGoBvpIN1Qaj7KlKS50UjU4A_wp4UYTZhtm4tiY-Ah7vOLMQVEcmH3cWaI756anKMLie/s1600/3rd+floor+old+bldg+double+wall+framing%252C+looking+south.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKUBicbQwUcnvdzoLsJgWX2xWqXJm83b_B1tXtQe4c2ckyC3GzWtVkkNblpHDxsydwSj_-OHCGGoBvpIN1Qaj7KlKS50UjU4A_wp4UYTZhtm4tiY-Ah7vOLMQVEcmH3cWaI756anKMLie/s400/3rd+floor+old+bldg+double+wall+framing%252C+looking+south.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After we removed the old roof, I continued building the new bearing walls and setting the ceiling joists on top of those walls.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaqQsUd5PB771vvgOzrSYc9vxBvsfpXrk6EnCWTJ2HDvjS6l3xdk9apN9G6Wp2-6fPmIu3bizaKhGNIpr7aUZVyMnGkJpFgaJvmphK2BfTN2PiKT3YyLABJRIRz6XSJ_Y2dUf8BRruiUX/s1600/South+elevation+showing+new+interior+wall+framing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaqQsUd5PB771vvgOzrSYc9vxBvsfpXrk6EnCWTJ2HDvjS6l3xdk9apN9G6Wp2-6fPmIu3bizaKhGNIpr7aUZVyMnGkJpFgaJvmphK2BfTN2PiKT3YyLABJRIRz6XSJ_Y2dUf8BRruiUX/s400/South+elevation+showing+new+interior+wall+framing.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken just after the one above. It shows the new bearing wall nestled just inside the old balloon frame.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlibsbhmO2is1X2Tb8iCEhN46LL-9pzeMH3shedb3MhbbquRF3Ji952QFT0trgS1tiTzb_WZpHnxyWFgs46wUPvMVrrQxCFr7uuvBGyWKSuQUk7lfbFRZHe-96jazN33RfZmCd0IV5APpG/s1600/View+of+3rd+floor+interior+framing%252C+looking+south.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlibsbhmO2is1X2Tb8iCEhN46LL-9pzeMH3shedb3MhbbquRF3Ji952QFT0trgS1tiTzb_WZpHnxyWFgs46wUPvMVrrQxCFr7uuvBGyWKSuQUk7lfbFRZHe-96jazN33RfZmCd0IV5APpG/s400/View+of+3rd+floor+interior+framing%252C+looking+south.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The existing building, almost fully rebuilt. I just needed to make three new window openings on the end wall. Look closely at the center bottom of the picture and you'll see a pile of rope. By running the rope through a pulley attached to the rafters above the skylight opening (in the upper right hand corner of the photo) we hauled all our materials to the top floor and/or roof. Sheets of plywood were the hardest to move this way. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jZnVl5bDblVm2XwyZNn2-1zY1H5LZ4K6Ank_t8ydu89I2JZJ5sPZUcHoK7MeemVW4WGeKJi8CsK-Sfle91NGDNWSVczvSpb1jtHoZ84_5WHB-WxA7NfvHn1Dg06rs79IiqOzgE9s3SEi/s1600/South+elevation+showing+new+sheathing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jZnVl5bDblVm2XwyZNn2-1zY1H5LZ4K6Ank_t8ydu89I2JZJ5sPZUcHoK7MeemVW4WGeKJi8CsK-Sfle91NGDNWSVczvSpb1jtHoZ84_5WHB-WxA7NfvHn1Dg06rs79IiqOzgE9s3SEi/s400/South+elevation+showing+new+sheathing.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The exterior view at the same stage as the above interior photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-74513485660381612602012-01-25T10:30:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.823-06:005: Building the RoofAfter the new walls and floor trusses were in it was time to put on the roof.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.)</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0okV_RX8VXtUlYtJogdJJpf0hA4T9lI6avLwDMnaQ921AMgfV4UaSTvVdI3qxaaPwjafrRnAARIH2CpdJey2VoHktrGgZ9zpNvuFm_XKFMYwUS0nUbAPW-TuFXBNphOK98ue_WSnI1aJX/s1600/Bruce+holding+nail+gun+while+in+between+rafters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0okV_RX8VXtUlYtJogdJJpf0hA4T9lI6avLwDMnaQ921AMgfV4UaSTvVdI3qxaaPwjafrRnAARIH2CpdJey2VoHktrGgZ9zpNvuFm_XKFMYwUS0nUbAPW-TuFXBNphOK98ue_WSnI1aJX/s400/Bruce+holding+nail+gun+while+in+between+rafters.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figuring out the angles to cut on each end of the rafter was a bit of a challenge. As was getting all the tops of the rafters to line up in the same plane--despite all my hard work getting things square down below, the top plates of one of the walls weren't properly aligned. This meant I needed to custom fit each rafter rather than making a template and cutting them all the same.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyzxj2RBrbqS3snbT7OS41fSCUTbHqhQJfJUmGwIczT3ICU0fK6b_9JzNcIJbR7rzBuN550DfQdM640md_jNHfugx9piRVVFMVSUm-qS4P8JPtmdCOvPRDhrmtHuhyJ_Asu6bYUgIiE4I/s1600/Looking+SE+toward+Loop+skyline+from+3rd+floor+ceiling+joists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyzxj2RBrbqS3snbT7OS41fSCUTbHqhQJfJUmGwIczT3ICU0fK6b_9JzNcIJbR7rzBuN550DfQdM640md_jNHfugx9piRVVFMVSUm-qS4P8JPtmdCOvPRDhrmtHuhyJ_Asu6bYUgIiE4I/s400/Looking+SE+toward+Loop+skyline+from+3rd+floor+ceiling+joists.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice view of the Loop skyline.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaGB50cpv0uhWEsHEzbs3pI0NSHsi0pMd0yInKSiYouEdwWWtvxSnnYdOSJO7tTRZugnvQisvYuN04DeV1K72UahDYT4PB2aevOqkZ0S_hpJUHa39yKtKxss13imUu1i9eQZuxZkvVemM/s1600/View+of+rafters%252C+showing+collar+ties%252C+looking+south.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaGB50cpv0uhWEsHEzbs3pI0NSHsi0pMd0yInKSiYouEdwWWtvxSnnYdOSJO7tTRZugnvQisvYuN04DeV1K72UahDYT4PB2aevOqkZ0S_hpJUHa39yKtKxss13imUu1i9eQZuxZkvVemM/s400/View+of+rafters%252C+showing+collar+ties%252C+looking+south.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What would later become my attic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mlFmOP7hCeyER-bIwaAVald8lHagHirkXSfGHO3FpgTXBpCEnZSzjr_D6WM61zKoYPbv1N-FrUk7IoyA3gXCyASB0BjnzyZhIC_5EnI4XOa9OPjUhO3oDU4LSuHZtqkiScioR4Qcea2d/s1600/Roof+rafters%252C+with+skylight+openings%252C+looking+north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mlFmOP7hCeyER-bIwaAVald8lHagHirkXSfGHO3FpgTXBpCEnZSzjr_D6WM61zKoYPbv1N-FrUk7IoyA3gXCyASB0BjnzyZhIC_5EnI4XOa9OPjUhO3oDU4LSuHZtqkiScioR4Qcea2d/s400/Roof+rafters%252C+with+skylight+openings%252C+looking+north.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those square openings in the rafters are for the skylights above my interior staircase.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvxLSh_v7LuRnsW8xIuKbcxYcs55h_beoJeOkxP3rRtcST-RRVgIcGO365tj6-j4OSGN_Tf8gh7KIAXCa4ARvPEAG1FLsC-LEOVtVm8Uv1JTwM9aH3h56aLxO1BoTsYU7OLyMwfScG8gV/s1600/View+of+attic+framing%252C+with+skylight+openings%252C+looking+south.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvxLSh_v7LuRnsW8xIuKbcxYcs55h_beoJeOkxP3rRtcST-RRVgIcGO365tj6-j4OSGN_Tf8gh7KIAXCa4ARvPEAG1FLsC-LEOVtVm8Uv1JTwM9aH3h56aLxO1BoTsYU7OLyMwfScG8gV/s400/View+of+attic+framing%252C+with+skylight+openings%252C+looking+south.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaGB50cpv0uhWEsHEzbs3pI0NSHsi0pMd0yInKSiYouEdwWWtvxSnnYdOSJO7tTRZugnvQisvYuN04DeV1K72UahDYT4PB2aevOqkZ0S_hpJUHa39yKtKxss13imUu1i9eQZuxZkvVemM/s1600/View+of+rafters%252C+showing+collar+ties%252C+looking+south.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LvAXl_HAQZK4GYpBPyugs20ukDPpY2fknO2AOb7SY2oeWwJkk2-P0_YmoGpYwBFrZwfefHGJUcgsARTsuYO3hhao69mFSekqQtj-VFjYqmX3pMP4qyJUYeain2v7xd1mVc3y9iUCuWgF/s1600/View+out+of+installed+roof+skylight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LvAXl_HAQZK4GYpBPyugs20ukDPpY2fknO2AOb7SY2oeWwJkk2-P0_YmoGpYwBFrZwfefHGJUcgsARTsuYO3hhao69mFSekqQtj-VFjYqmX3pMP4qyJUYeain2v7xd1mVc3y9iUCuWgF/s400/View+out+of+installed+roof+skylight.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An operable skylight installed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5iLi4CRGbOHwlxGgYvGqCwdlwQtaHKznjB9JqKO5k1Z7Xy2pPTEWidxEugztIDTAPWVbdvmKmEXnGZkodpI-sDIF6HvA9dpEedBC1BbRL5_JxeA5Hc65rNWmXsddvMUe_EQu6V29uY8r/s1600/View+to+the+eastern+horizon%252C+Sears+Tower+in+background%252C+out+of+roof+skylight+rough+opening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5iLi4CRGbOHwlxGgYvGqCwdlwQtaHKznjB9JqKO5k1Z7Xy2pPTEWidxEugztIDTAPWVbdvmKmEXnGZkodpI-sDIF6HvA9dpEedBC1BbRL5_JxeA5Hc65rNWmXsddvMUe_EQu6V29uY8r/s400/View+to+the+eastern+horizon%252C+Sears+Tower+in+background%252C+out+of+roof+skylight+rough+opening.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another skylight opening, this one sits above the bathroom. There are a total of five on the whole roof.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXETy7vEQtkVZQs06ghoH5yKJhjdAlfA65Xh8hm16dLiPF4z3flqW5PY7jZODD_GGPj3XpWUuMJXSjuzSbbaVLiMUA6sdBoFjot692Drk7YzF-lSNVrX1EJjbgbkSpPZGpW6DIfld1zVmQ/s1600/Andy+and+helper+installing+roofing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXETy7vEQtkVZQs06ghoH5yKJhjdAlfA65Xh8hm16dLiPF4z3flqW5PY7jZODD_GGPj3XpWUuMJXSjuzSbbaVLiMUA6sdBoFjot692Drk7YzF-lSNVrX1EJjbgbkSpPZGpW6DIfld1zVmQ/s400/Andy+and+helper+installing+roofing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Andy, and his helper, were indispensable. Especially when it came to working up high. Here Andy pokes his head out of a skylight opening to install the first layer of roofing material.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7oQXcl-KIZSQfgkkJFMbFQ5SJs8-kppNMn_jPhVg2QKaGxDSc6XDv-mi6G6W5sVgXQsqwfAouWQFGB49dTrKIELx4X0W_JTUnfgPvLtpQZewKGtkAUvxXwj6_z33xZZaheQAw7ZRYkZY/s1600/Andy+and+helper+installing+roofing+paper.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7oQXcl-KIZSQfgkkJFMbFQ5SJs8-kppNMn_jPhVg2QKaGxDSc6XDv-mi6G6W5sVgXQsqwfAouWQFGB49dTrKIELx4X0W_JTUnfgPvLtpQZewKGtkAUvxXwj6_z33xZZaheQAw7ZRYkZY/s400/Andy+and+helper+installing+roofing+paper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another shot of Andy in action. I swear he's part billy goat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-28957278112812579672012-01-24T15:50:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.823-06:006: Wrapping the Exterior of the BuildingNow that the exterior wall framing and the roof were done, it was time to get the building sealed before it got cold. By this point, October/November of 1990, I had been working 70-80 hours a week for seven months and was physically exhausted. My head was holding up pretty well, but I no longer felt invincible. No doubt Virginia was going through some of the same things.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.) </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYiZH4mAVF4vAxIrXA7qSi9JXkhgpo9mY7-CqgHWMqYAvMIlCEo_8W5hseoTYenWEXnVvQQwWoTBnCjQ_vArNiSdI3WnDOdTeLpbayM6S6OY1f_19AWFga2Dj-s7e5PhK_qS2hVUf3vom/s1600/Framing%252C+sheathing%252C+brownboard+on+N+and+W+elevations.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYiZH4mAVF4vAxIrXA7qSi9JXkhgpo9mY7-CqgHWMqYAvMIlCEo_8W5hseoTYenWEXnVvQQwWoTBnCjQ_vArNiSdI3WnDOdTeLpbayM6S6OY1f_19AWFga2Dj-s7e5PhK_qS2hVUf3vom/s400/Framing%252C+sheathing%252C+brownboard+on+N+and+W+elevations.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because my building is so close to the lot line the City required that I put two layers of brownboard over the sheathing on the north and west facades to protect the building against a potential fire . I was able to put the lower layers of the weather resistant gypsum board up by myself. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhtUWIVHznKFBnrfCGqKZQ4-N_LY8WznyUqS979-ksFjXnnDiVzlGGEr2kVy9TEMLOYRZ4y_5vDomqaaJ2j6_m805_mV1KunYJDz4oN3SY8hXgL8-4Z2YbpgirvYosadWsB1YRaANtUmV/s1600/North+elevation+showing+sheathing%252C+brownboard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhtUWIVHznKFBnrfCGqKZQ4-N_LY8WznyUqS979-ksFjXnnDiVzlGGEr2kVy9TEMLOYRZ4y_5vDomqaaJ2j6_m805_mV1KunYJDz4oN3SY8hXgL8-4Z2YbpgirvYosadWsB1YRaANtUmV/s400/North+elevation+showing+sheathing%252C+brownboard.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL-Yu8Q1m1yeZ6EJj9akrYFQ55_Jpe-jbxyBZzug9aJn2KvZTkRDsPcKz2i1T8Uuvoqqv27wDOg9UIlO-ENQ10tAC8W7RsgObCo39yB63nqJXjZeLPvwxJbUH-jrD6wO8rulZjOdiGcnM/s1600/Andy+on+scaffold+installing+sheathing%252C+brownboard+on+N+elevation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL-Yu8Q1m1yeZ6EJj9akrYFQ55_Jpe-jbxyBZzug9aJn2KvZTkRDsPcKz2i1T8Uuvoqqv27wDOg9UIlO-ENQ10tAC8W7RsgObCo39yB63nqJXjZeLPvwxJbUH-jrD6wO8rulZjOdiGcnM/s400/Andy+on+scaffold+installing+sheathing%252C+brownboard+on+N+elevation.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The higher pieces were installed by my friend Andy, who doesn't have a problem with heights. Unlike me.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUchy8NsT8mbqe5SEsKhNJwNfneozs4P-gKhpJcsnQoFVMprwK6LwNgMqwWvLyMj5bksa_eZAFrA7Shanh-W8G1nZP8MjFdtrF-LvHefObGjrrDxuSGcaJhgByGdNH7mMCJqj1wXI8c49i/s1600/Andy+installing+brownboard+on+N+elevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUchy8NsT8mbqe5SEsKhNJwNfneozs4P-gKhpJcsnQoFVMprwK6LwNgMqwWvLyMj5bksa_eZAFrA7Shanh-W8G1nZP8MjFdtrF-LvHefObGjrrDxuSGcaJhgByGdNH7mMCJqj1wXI8c49i/s400/Andy+installing+brownboard+on+N+elevation.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL-Yu8Q1m1yeZ6EJj9akrYFQ55_Jpe-jbxyBZzug9aJn2KvZTkRDsPcKz2i1T8Uuvoqqv27wDOg9UIlO-ENQ10tAC8W7RsgObCo39yB63nqJXjZeLPvwxJbUH-jrD6wO8rulZjOdiGcnM/s1600/Andy+on+scaffold+installing+sheathing%252C+brownboard+on+N+elevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29_bJcunnJKoe9boGzYA6ZCqFIEmsTN-O_IwHb9Bw2yj6DKCdEt9NP0lOpI34p1ABXrGVbLgB4Lnv6dVyTHxEQVPQSNu8aPMXjaJQm50e6_jW6Rx-xN4vDrt1vAb6wv57LOToQ1Lf-7fK/s1600/N+elevation+showing+partial+housewrap.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29_bJcunnJKoe9boGzYA6ZCqFIEmsTN-O_IwHb9Bw2yj6DKCdEt9NP0lOpI34p1ABXrGVbLgB4Lnv6dVyTHxEQVPQSNu8aPMXjaJQm50e6_jW6Rx-xN4vDrt1vAb6wv57LOToQ1Lf-7fK/s400/N+elevation+showing+partial+housewrap.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the brownboard was on, to seal against air infiltration and provide a secondary moisture barrier, we stapled up housewrap.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tnL7aJOTIhezpnJFPm6gulx8HE79oj4zRGiSjuhJdL45X9LvyhlnGaGvZYZe_bsIXrKIVAhLMjJzbtq_KH9uwEyuNXPuFmuRnN1Sg-G7BFgHbfZsUtbP3_QWY0V8aGseYyl2gOYeog57/s1600/Bruce+looking+at+E+elevation+housewrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tnL7aJOTIhezpnJFPm6gulx8HE79oj4zRGiSjuhJdL45X9LvyhlnGaGvZYZe_bsIXrKIVAhLMjJzbtq_KH9uwEyuNXPuFmuRnN1Sg-G7BFgHbfZsUtbP3_QWY0V8aGseYyl2gOYeog57/s400/Bruce+looking+at+E+elevation+housewrap.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm standing in the sideyard. The rear door to the apartment is the opening in the lower right corner of the picture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5fdXWU8HZEWSbBreDalVhKXefx9Tz8ERxuSsVFYNIOEKm91PbQRF6RxYHarpQKDSF4NzRKYrsdK1UNhRCDBFeTRrBTBxeIgmAPSUOWYS80OkvYvQHQEbWZtqxnY1K62tFpF_y2JSkhS1/s1600/Bruce+posing+with+housewrap+javelin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5fdXWU8HZEWSbBreDalVhKXefx9Tz8ERxuSsVFYNIOEKm91PbQRF6RxYHarpQKDSF4NzRKYrsdK1UNhRCDBFeTRrBTBxeIgmAPSUOWYS80OkvYvQHQEbWZtqxnY1K62tFpF_y2JSkhS1/s400/Bruce+posing+with+housewrap+javelin.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Striking a pose: A spear throwing construction worker? Behind me the plumber was connecting the new 1.25" water line to the city supply.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvWPFrGyyGZovVeCnbbzMuyFkvrnKTB1RR_ZogKiYmsla8LdCW2a6kFHJ-SknEGfew6T9XQgDcLIhB7vknmLUVtVtfStE5q2VxEWuo7H-iayFTS50pSnuO7q9wCV40OHtaiuxsm8lqPcZ/s1600/S+elevation%252C+putting+on+housewrap.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvWPFrGyyGZovVeCnbbzMuyFkvrnKTB1RR_ZogKiYmsla8LdCW2a6kFHJ-SknEGfew6T9XQgDcLIhB7vknmLUVtVtfStE5q2VxEWuo7H-iayFTS50pSnuO7q9wCV40OHtaiuxsm8lqPcZ/s400/S+elevation%252C+putting+on+housewrap.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3GArFfm8b9kRuJX2ZNWzPhiEDGmmmlQu7sK8XuhrcNESBDBjsceWG35ObLVUom8YKmUcD0pRrAqwg0dmooj_jJZGRTVrLa5yq8tyqkt0K4ajzV9Y6soYXNnrY-rrMqeYwv_tcnlaVLH8/s1600/S+elevation+showing+partial+housewrap.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3GArFfm8b9kRuJX2ZNWzPhiEDGmmmlQu7sK8XuhrcNESBDBjsceWG35ObLVUom8YKmUcD0pRrAqwg0dmooj_jJZGRTVrLa5yq8tyqkt0K4ajzV9Y6soYXNnrY-rrMqeYwv_tcnlaVLH8/s400/S+elevation+showing+partial+housewrap.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the housewrap was up, I was installing the windows. The two pieces of plywood on the 2nd floor are covering the opening for the front door.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEP0FZ9QxVmQqnrimPdgL-tf0RMEfjuSjCLTT2h54NFpwW9rmsx3bFrNQlQtJvxPSdX1dwvXTjCxIOGv0lZjEMl_yLI0ekbDoQZWYVPfYIS5K6eKxF2_BJ3kfwPR-RBJlVvxchXzW8RMt/s1600/E+elevation+with+housewrap+installed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEP0FZ9QxVmQqnrimPdgL-tf0RMEfjuSjCLTT2h54NFpwW9rmsx3bFrNQlQtJvxPSdX1dwvXTjCxIOGv0lZjEMl_yLI0ekbDoQZWYVPfYIS5K6eKxF2_BJ3kfwPR-RBJlVvxchXzW8RMt/s400/E+elevation+with+housewrap+installed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5itbhfJSyk1VcEvKITwuDew3R9WyP7B0-huS5EbIIkwwdja7rtAPPpRCN3zEd6P50v7DwL_KDNn_MrzDN_7SZg6WkoMBmWRnpW1bOia4p8hYojTaajcFLvdszYRDZFRl9TbB32x0wu5zo/s1600/Exterior+view+looking+NW%252C+housewrap+and+shingles+installed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5itbhfJSyk1VcEvKITwuDew3R9WyP7B0-huS5EbIIkwwdja7rtAPPpRCN3zEd6P50v7DwL_KDNn_MrzDN_7SZg6WkoMBmWRnpW1bOia4p8hYojTaajcFLvdszYRDZFRl9TbB32x0wu5zo/s400/Exterior+view+looking+NW%252C+housewrap+and+shingles+installed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTUrp-6cP97BkhKcZYu7em6A2DaH-nt5vzbcc1rT7-vjke_ziZAYXFcRWSxiQX_KxinabIXlvzW5KzTiHGc-psSPCZG99PKIgbJ1mPv0b_XmWhA3qGJGSZh-04KVKwZVwZ78LTts-tFYH/s1600/Exterior+view+looking+NW%252C+with+housewrap+and+windows+installed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTUrp-6cP97BkhKcZYu7em6A2DaH-nt5vzbcc1rT7-vjke_ziZAYXFcRWSxiQX_KxinabIXlvzW5KzTiHGc-psSPCZG99PKIgbJ1mPv0b_XmWhA3qGJGSZh-04KVKwZVwZ78LTts-tFYH/s400/Exterior+view+looking+NW%252C+with+housewrap+and+windows+installed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buttoned up, almost ready for winter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-42386735201327685362012-01-23T09:15:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.823-06:007: Building Stairs and Interior WallsOnce I was able to close the building's envelope, our three subcontractors, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, could do the bulk of their work. They were three tradesmen I had met while working on various building sites and they were willing do their work on "the side", for reduced rates.<br />
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After the interior walls went up the plumber could run the drain, water, and gas lines and the electrician could put in the electric service drop as well as the main electrical panels in the apartment and owners unit. From those panels I ran emt conduit to all the recessed lights and outlets. I think there were around 40 lights plus who knows how many outlets.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.) </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPOOWMBRjldV-AHgZ0zIJDV9OPDloZf19WIcaw5tsXuGNFiXLzdhkz-v4hw_j0ATaoi-FVavpYe0boR6femiZZkjAOiLrOAa33NYNIs-phe763q8ye1CqTHIfaRuWSFUBTKpjzCCu9Ecv/s1600/Bruce+climbing+ladder+next+to+stair+stringers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPOOWMBRjldV-AHgZ0zIJDV9OPDloZf19WIcaw5tsXuGNFiXLzdhkz-v4hw_j0ATaoi-FVavpYe0boR6femiZZkjAOiLrOAa33NYNIs-phe763q8ye1CqTHIfaRuWSFUBTKpjzCCu9Ecv/s400/Bruce+climbing+ladder+next+to+stair+stringers.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I built a solid set of stair stringers from the 2nd to 3rd floor. It was nice to finally get rid of that temporary ladder.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnk8kO2angHOPUjCp-1tgQvzG-S3S63DYGkz9DRCNRhfgsdOJ6WHqlItWtB4tVh0h3T3eGUlXs88bXkp8Euh0daTTk72PyUPHdrlnYoWtkOOaTnyWsw0ygwp6clau6ZNckDZnHHGQD4AH/s1600/Virginia+insulating+2nd+floor+walls.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnk8kO2angHOPUjCp-1tgQvzG-S3S63DYGkz9DRCNRhfgsdOJ6WHqlItWtB4tVh0h3T3eGUlXs88bXkp8Euh0daTTk72PyUPHdrlnYoWtkOOaTnyWsw0ygwp6clau6ZNckDZnHHGQD4AH/s640/Virginia+insulating+2nd+floor+walls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia is cutting insulation, while in the foreground are all our tools chained to a Knack lockbox. </td></tr>
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Until we got the building sealed up, we couldn't leave anything on the site overnight for fear of it being stolen, and had to haul everything back to our apartment at the end of the day. We only got broken into once; they tried to get into the Knack box, but could only pry up one corner of the lid. Not enough to get at the tools.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuKpK46U0A75F8RJ0eHXkwuDeRHXtGLPAvYJilnXBuw4JGZRAZlWKnzOJFFG6Lp2V5221WeTIkpsdzgZTsYXzhDrQ57hfllck285Lyy4ZMdnL7hhyphenhyphenFAL08joHPjS4mj01iC0MM6v5HgVV/s1600/New+furnace+installed+on+2nd+floor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuKpK46U0A75F8RJ0eHXkwuDeRHXtGLPAvYJilnXBuw4JGZRAZlWKnzOJFFG6Lp2V5221WeTIkpsdzgZTsYXzhDrQ57hfllck285Lyy4ZMdnL7hhyphenhyphenFAL08joHPjS4mj01iC0MM6v5HgVV/s400/New+furnace+installed+on+2nd+floor.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The HVAC guy put a gas furnace in the basement unit and one on the main floor. He ran the main plenums and installed the chimney. I ran the branch lines.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w1OpkqfTeUC4VCoKbPF3IqA1uS215RKcLAbu5lABicDc4r-bisVeZyuD5eDtK5-BSDWPjOP2gmI1ep2Vo0Pdtm5ueHOKGdVY_pGHhsu2nsBEwLmVfMtrvWR_TwmRpbZm592rKm6eU5pP/s1600/3rd+floor+partitions+with+rough+in+plumbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w1OpkqfTeUC4VCoKbPF3IqA1uS215RKcLAbu5lABicDc4r-bisVeZyuD5eDtK5-BSDWPjOP2gmI1ep2Vo0Pdtm5ueHOKGdVY_pGHhsu2nsBEwLmVfMtrvWR_TwmRpbZm592rKm6eU5pP/s400/3rd+floor+partitions+with+rough+in+plumbing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are the 3rd floor plumbing walls that have the drain pipe already run.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPOOWMBRjldV-AHgZ0zIJDV9OPDloZf19WIcaw5tsXuGNFiXLzdhkz-v4hw_j0ATaoi-FVavpYe0boR6femiZZkjAOiLrOAa33NYNIs-phe763q8ye1CqTHIfaRuWSFUBTKpjzCCu9Ecv/s1600/Bruce+climbing+ladder+next+to+stair+stringers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLg5WQ88rHbQGvvyQLB8A9hyac117R-snIE7g12ohOwiW6Dy52xXe4yYkkrvW5S0fZIHaPalxv9kdmEHgArQgPrmj8XymnCEmc8g7o9WrWuP3etctCoVnoJFKohMk3zasZyH0gZvnaMaM/s1600/Framing%252C+2nd+floor+and+stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLg5WQ88rHbQGvvyQLB8A9hyac117R-snIE7g12ohOwiW6Dy52xXe4yYkkrvW5S0fZIHaPalxv9kdmEHgArQgPrmj8XymnCEmc8g7o9WrWuP3etctCoVnoJFKohMk3zasZyH0gZvnaMaM/s400/Framing%252C+2nd+floor+and+stairs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left side of the picture, you can see the stairs are clad with plywood. Eventually I would make some nice treads and risers in my makeshift garage shop. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m9z3w-w8D-My0sfpx0_UyccEO9tuHqyESV73t3Ftqd-7Aq2St2TC0oGJJDFOcDuGmszPJbd9lAE5drhX6rF7HYKZoYvP1lVWIBiR5grurzr78JXxW-WMz39Pk1rEpnvi9mgAW39voKzX/s1600/Guest+bath+tub+rough-in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m9z3w-w8D-My0sfpx0_UyccEO9tuHqyESV73t3Ftqd-7Aq2St2TC0oGJJDFOcDuGmszPJbd9lAE5drhX6rF7HYKZoYvP1lVWIBiR5grurzr78JXxW-WMz39Pk1rEpnvi9mgAW39voKzX/s400/Guest+bath+tub+rough-in.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After I framed the necessary walls, the plumber installed this tub in the guest bathroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-13786721105960024692012-01-22T15:15:00.012-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.823-06:008: InsulationPretty straightforward. Every single cavity on an exterior wall or ceiling got stuffed with as much fiberglass insulation as possible.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.) </div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJzo1tX2zzAiJHRsvvkdZ_OHpPQs5TYKAH5xc6Zul0jzhShKPxTnnNQj5Kh7PobzeRN6YpG_hu0_RWScy5FKUsXiSZCC7suttZJ1-o_XhWqy-NLysLETixFudQZ8w__GlNPmYe9ckL7EH/s1600/Virginia+cutting+insulation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJzo1tX2zzAiJHRsvvkdZ_OHpPQs5TYKAH5xc6Zul0jzhShKPxTnnNQj5Kh7PobzeRN6YpG_hu0_RWScy5FKUsXiSZCC7suttZJ1-o_XhWqy-NLysLETixFudQZ8w__GlNPmYe9ckL7EH/s400/Virginia+cutting+insulation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia at work.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXu51ol4nDhpe-970LBk2FLxaVkSLIZ_UE1t6l0lfIssdKkH_mbMgLYg3N2UklBhH9NUA6DHFk5mB53H4XAOiA5gZLmnie_cEe4ZpjghK281OINY4iOg8CrNP6tFEY1fZu_6pIUEnboP0R/s1600/Virginia+installing+insulation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXu51ol4nDhpe-970LBk2FLxaVkSLIZ_UE1t6l0lfIssdKkH_mbMgLYg3N2UklBhH9NUA6DHFk5mB53H4XAOiA5gZLmnie_cEe4ZpjghK281OINY4iOg8CrNP6tFEY1fZu_6pIUEnboP0R/s400/Virginia+installing+insulation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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One option I considered was spray-in insulation. There was some fairly expensive equipment that I would have had to buy, but that wasn't the main reason I decided against it. The slow, incremental process that I was using to build the house didn't lend itself to putting up all the insulation at once. I found myself wanting to insulate a section then having to do something else, only to return later to the insulation. Maybe more importantly, by this point in the project Virginia was feeling left behind. I was the one with the everything in my head and she needed something meaningful to do. All I could suggest to her was to put in insulation. Add in our increasing debt load and the stress was piling up.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIazNSfWpaCzoE8sEicLAHqLWPgR9UHJkYZitWQvziRfz1QAPKNee1Gt-ExSqnMFy1nivDbf9zpVXEHa-GMlCYznobik4NMEXZOa8uSZvCmAIYA1qR9VAp1rf7Ean_zwaUjIowsOjR8pFE/s1600/Bruce+and+Virginia+in+front+of+mock+fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ucbz5RGDxgUYR3No8k3_EHAMpBa6sb48Sib32DZecL52wc9mvdPjVxBTGT5iRKkJJuWcZ6HlNU3FE9rzeIHZ001bhdA3SYwrFLpWRqV1UAAZ0Rya2XVodcx8rd3-yODBUrYrlSrKQYpg/s1600/Skylight+well+over+stairs+ready+for+drywall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ucbz5RGDxgUYR3No8k3_EHAMpBa6sb48Sib32DZecL52wc9mvdPjVxBTGT5iRKkJJuWcZ6HlNU3FE9rzeIHZ001bhdA3SYwrFLpWRqV1UAAZ0Rya2XVodcx8rd3-yODBUrYrlSrKQYpg/s400/Skylight+well+over+stairs+ready+for+drywall.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We put R59 in the ceiling; here in one of the skylight shafts above the staircase. R19 to R26 went in the walls.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJzo1tX2zzAiJHRsvvkdZ_OHpPQs5TYKAH5xc6Zul0jzhShKPxTnnNQj5Kh7PobzeRN6YpG_hu0_RWScy5FKUsXiSZCC7suttZJ1-o_XhWqy-NLysLETixFudQZ8w__GlNPmYe9ckL7EH/s1600/Virginia+cutting+insulation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIazNSfWpaCzoE8sEicLAHqLWPgR9UHJkYZitWQvziRfz1QAPKNee1Gt-ExSqnMFy1nivDbf9zpVXEHa-GMlCYznobik4NMEXZOa8uSZvCmAIYA1qR9VAp1rf7Ean_zwaUjIowsOjR8pFE/s1600/Bruce+and+Virginia+in+front+of+mock+fireplace.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIazNSfWpaCzoE8sEicLAHqLWPgR9UHJkYZitWQvziRfz1QAPKNee1Gt-ExSqnMFy1nivDbf9zpVXEHa-GMlCYznobik4NMEXZOa8uSZvCmAIYA1qR9VAp1rf7Ean_zwaUjIowsOjR8pFE/s400/Bruce+and+Virginia+in+front+of+mock+fireplace.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia drew the image of a roaring fire to hang in front of our future fireplace. It made for a nice 1990 Christmas card.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXu51ol4nDhpe-970LBk2FLxaVkSLIZ_UE1t6l0lfIssdKkH_mbMgLYg3N2UklBhH9NUA6DHFk5mB53H4XAOiA5gZLmnie_cEe4ZpjghK281OINY4iOg8CrNP6tFEY1fZu_6pIUEnboP0R/s1600/Virginia+installing+insulation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-50671646119054055462012-01-21T09:15:00.028-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.823-06:009: Building the Barrel Vault CeilingAs part of the "fix up an old house then sell it to a rich person" strategy we started out with I thought that some flash would help with the sales job. It wasn't all about the money--I wanted to show off a little too.<br />
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With that in mind I decided to build a barrel vault ceiling in the north bedroom. I had seen one constructed while working on a high end house and so had an idea of what to do.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.)</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWvqqZfdNMBPSAjBA19pSmRaCASo9akoVoxnmS02bPVGiVOxfIDK5fdrW-loK07UW93JaxX7nni68jz850LZktHLYJhKjF1gPkYjvYUDMlfjbDTCOO4mbR03Q6Yx0-1ay_2489Pjm62YS/s1600/Roof+framing+for+barrel+vault+diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWvqqZfdNMBPSAjBA19pSmRaCASo9akoVoxnmS02bPVGiVOxfIDK5fdrW-loK07UW93JaxX7nni68jz850LZktHLYJhKjF1gPkYjvYUDMlfjbDTCOO4mbR03Q6Yx0-1ay_2489Pjm62YS/s400/Roof+framing+for+barrel+vault+diagram.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In an ordinary building, the ceiling joists would connect the opposing walls at the height of the two soffits.</td></tr>
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To be able to vault a ceiling, it's necessary to remove the ceiling joists. Those joists keep the outward thrust of the load imposed on the exterior walls by the rafters from blowing out the wall framing, so you need to replace the ceiling joists with either a load bearing ridge beam or some kind of trussed rafter. I chose option number two.<br />
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I built modified scissor trusses, as shown in the diagram above. Beneath the new roof structure I stood up the ribs of the vault. These I made by first laminating 3 sheets of 1/2" plywood together to create 1" thick by 12 ft long by 4 foot high blanks . Knowing that a barrel vault is half of an ellipse, I drew it on to each of the 7 rib blanks with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipse#Pins-and-string_method" target="_blank">2 nails, a long piece of string, and a pencil</a>, then cut the shapes out. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpFLGyrR843FBd9tfXhFkPXz6a0LUr9bGDZxc3KNO1ivurJizNtzqwdvjig_uDK8FLVtSNPeAtM8tQ3uAC33LEYFtWiiDP9vP36NTM1OBcP0DJhsooRuODGs8vzsGhMqFaQPKCAa0zJHm/s1600/Barrel+vault+ceiling+framing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpFLGyrR843FBd9tfXhFkPXz6a0LUr9bGDZxc3KNO1ivurJizNtzqwdvjig_uDK8FLVtSNPeAtM8tQ3uAC33LEYFtWiiDP9vP36NTM1OBcP0DJhsooRuODGs8vzsGhMqFaQPKCAa0zJHm/s400/Barrel+vault+ceiling+framing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The temporary scaffold is partially blocking the view of the curved, elliptical ribs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP15YqhsfooUBSxsncvD2Ws4OWaGV5caCjwAqZRSczzADzr3oyb2XcZAbSV_KZWKmD_Q5OKCwhMJg4Y0pOeUUz16gPwBgByiZapqcVVztzmjoMYcEHcHioMzkhI9efxQraFzPRMkQvxJnZ/s1600/Andy+hanging+drywall+on+barrel+vault.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP15YqhsfooUBSxsncvD2Ws4OWaGV5caCjwAqZRSczzADzr3oyb2XcZAbSV_KZWKmD_Q5OKCwhMJg4Y0pOeUUz16gPwBgByiZapqcVVztzmjoMYcEHcHioMzkhI9efxQraFzPRMkQvxJnZ/s400/Andy+hanging+drywall+on+barrel+vault.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After removing the scaffold, insulation followed by a plastic vapor barrier went up. Then a series of 1x2 straps were screwed across the plywood ribs. Here my friend Andy is putting up the first of two layers of 1/4" drywall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYn_1MtdZLUvpK7LDqzPe_SmqUZ36pp515Brk5mVZRGv4OlozwBDv-RdIjMgcrIfmzd9d9JWvBv34tJO7lsgNZHRI_pc9fd3buAj2HMX5ZWCSf7x4NFhnsQptcF6Qe2Sh8JOwjUNRtFVD/s1600/Andy+and+helper+install+drywall+on+barrel+vault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYn_1MtdZLUvpK7LDqzPe_SmqUZ36pp515Brk5mVZRGv4OlozwBDv-RdIjMgcrIfmzd9d9JWvBv34tJO7lsgNZHRI_pc9fd3buAj2HMX5ZWCSf7x4NFhnsQptcF6Qe2Sh8JOwjUNRtFVD/s400/Andy+and+helper+install+drywall+on+barrel+vault.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before hanging, wetting the 1/4" drywall and leaning it against the wall gets it started bending. Once on the ceiling it takes a little finesse to get it to slide into place.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoc9XcpVgJ3h-VHM2wohukHA4IohyphenhyphenU4Hcihyf-jV6FxhVfLC4JK-lCGuyzBKmC6Y8CG0b7fhc6MbyZrc7qVNg4reiberY7oVgMm7DNTQLPTxjEnMDOYHZu1tF8Wr9VPQh7-cirhLz_ZBV/s1600/Andy+hanging+drywall+on+barrel+vault-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoc9XcpVgJ3h-VHM2wohukHA4IohyphenhyphenU4Hcihyf-jV6FxhVfLC4JK-lCGuyzBKmC6Y8CG0b7fhc6MbyZrc7qVNg4reiberY7oVgMm7DNTQLPTxjEnMDOYHZu1tF8Wr9VPQh7-cirhLz_ZBV/s400/Andy+hanging+drywall+on+barrel+vault-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP15YqhsfooUBSxsncvD2Ws4OWaGV5caCjwAqZRSczzADzr3oyb2XcZAbSV_KZWKmD_Q5OKCwhMJg4Y0pOeUUz16gPwBgByiZapqcVVztzmjoMYcEHcHioMzkhI9efxQraFzPRMkQvxJnZ/s1600/Andy+hanging+drywall+on+barrel+vault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7yFpLo5TsjosipTwV7ElTywpZ1Bjq0NSL2s-6ptbRup2ixT6SwP15Y7DG7RMSFRzZGzg7QdOYa0e0wz4HlXib0v1cxRsgIhsiiSelfuZ9LUNmpq4lgZ64YhXW20ouOn7BDmY2ODmk2vF/s1600/Insulating+barrel+vault+ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7yFpLo5TsjosipTwV7ElTywpZ1Bjq0NSL2s-6ptbRup2ixT6SwP15Y7DG7RMSFRzZGzg7QdOYa0e0wz4HlXib0v1cxRsgIhsiiSelfuZ9LUNmpq4lgZ64YhXW20ouOn7BDmY2ODmk2vF/s400/Insulating+barrel+vault+ceiling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It turned out beautifully.Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-30220545518906796772012-01-20T15:15:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.824-06:0010: Hanging and Taping DrywallThings started to really take form once the drywall went up. Surfaces and volumes don't always seem real until they're closed in.<br />
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Each floor took roughly 100 sheets of drywall. I hung them and Andy helped with the ceilings as well as doing the majority of the taping.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.)</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFk_LcxerKhHT0nnH1trCN_39tEKmbcfRRFDnX9OPLF1cbbQsoYLUG5TKVXcr3xKsribOO-Mmt869ayflLfL-lUXBoY9-3MunRT0EJPpGremb2FCRC9teKcdGRIflKw6rFXwNbrHdmc8Mv/s1600/Bruce+looking+down+from+stairs+into+kitchen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFk_LcxerKhHT0nnH1trCN_39tEKmbcfRRFDnX9OPLF1cbbQsoYLUG5TKVXcr3xKsribOO-Mmt869ayflLfL-lUXBoY9-3MunRT0EJPpGremb2FCRC9teKcdGRIflKw6rFXwNbrHdmc8Mv/s400/Bruce+looking+down+from+stairs+into+kitchen.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm peeking out from the staircase.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NAxHIvecuXzGgMsyBReMvjUQvl5BKKMlEKh395lo-L2dUAc7UeB1d2qNaU2atLatEt2YreeCrknpfnPxvO1-V6Exa4SAHF1isTE1Eq6csgT26nfFHIgKL6hKvKcxDQnqdeVKYT7Comr4/s1600/Kitchen+drywall+taped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NAxHIvecuXzGgMsyBReMvjUQvl5BKKMlEKh395lo-L2dUAc7UeB1d2qNaU2atLatEt2YreeCrknpfnPxvO1-V6Exa4SAHF1isTE1Eq6csgT26nfFHIgKL6hKvKcxDQnqdeVKYT7Comr4/s400/Kitchen+drywall+taped.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out the 2nd floor back door are those open stairs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlR4b75BEkLAwyX-4Z0SWVOQvOV1VcPWuDLy6Q8XjKes1a2Air5Q87s2L1Iu_kN_C92XSJ00NXdo5VCn6jRntN4bR6EcF-yQftvETMdxiI4ozdnyEJuedF98tCVMGLXrmNcbv_UmgFr8P/s1600/Bruce+in+drywalled+front+room%252C+2nd+floor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlR4b75BEkLAwyX-4Z0SWVOQvOV1VcPWuDLy6Q8XjKes1a2Air5Q87s2L1Iu_kN_C92XSJ00NXdo5VCn6jRntN4bR6EcF-yQftvETMdxiI4ozdnyEJuedF98tCVMGLXrmNcbv_UmgFr8P/s400/Bruce+in+drywalled+front+room%252C+2nd+floor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main room on the 2nd floor, looking south.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZLJ4dqmtRp-llO9jovReJOHquGGnHVWCFk54VW65zCvEcUy4VC8-1oCz9L6tAETiUBQwq766tnFO3189xTixuLHd3AKT_60mWqW4uUEkm8HyvOFpO3QxYEkA2ZpGH306cyB3giaxVIdg/s1600/Bruce+standing+next+to+curved+interior+wall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZLJ4dqmtRp-llO9jovReJOHquGGnHVWCFk54VW65zCvEcUy4VC8-1oCz9L6tAETiUBQwq766tnFO3189xTixuLHd3AKT_60mWqW4uUEkm8HyvOFpO3QxYEkA2ZpGH306cyB3giaxVIdg/s400/Bruce+standing+next+to+curved+interior+wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main room, looking north. Behind me is the kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IVtA5Gd_EaAUuNxuTSJ6YHxTmguU2YzqrRx5DTEkROpo9mh9i2vJUPz_SfSc8EygUHphOsHq8zTvuS2z2Nr38EW7n-qJ99OqWNcOKQapt9PzDm9OICjIMnxpB2lpMuqFsXebKpzVQirE/s1600/Front+room%252C+ready+for+paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IVtA5Gd_EaAUuNxuTSJ6YHxTmguU2YzqrRx5DTEkROpo9mh9i2vJUPz_SfSc8EygUHphOsHq8zTvuS2z2Nr38EW7n-qJ99OqWNcOKQapt9PzDm9OICjIMnxpB2lpMuqFsXebKpzVQirE/s400/Front+room%252C+ready+for+paint.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had a thing for curved walls. The back wall in this photo had a gentle curve. It also stopped short of the ceiling, allowing a strip of lights to hide up there. The opening in that wall went back to the kitchen. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjEYZ9GoWrmEZYFUlOTV12MZrwlIP089PzvN85d9jHyqKjTmQv2Qxs3YvZ8WQD3GYe6p-PFUwimBUL_QjTMw9dJpVmIfJ2Od4mB0m16FOz029UXe8SlVgNLzw40UwP_dSyaVHhDyxjATI/s1600/Bruce+standing+on+interior+stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjEYZ9GoWrmEZYFUlOTV12MZrwlIP089PzvN85d9jHyqKjTmQv2Qxs3YvZ8WQD3GYe6p-PFUwimBUL_QjTMw9dJpVmIfJ2Od4mB0m16FOz029UXe8SlVgNLzw40UwP_dSyaVHhDyxjATI/s400/Bruce+standing+on+interior+stairs.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YfWRn8HvZ3T12_PM2bKMKECfIgOn54_4uPGfwEzFwMeLtpp3Z27eHBYKcSIVH3hbXp-nG-M3vaDhEdW_Iqy0pd0BO-v0YJfFzFLaFQXAHGum4Wo9cRViJYbUFE04uEv6Zaxx5p43zYZH/s1600/Drywall+on+kitchen+island+soffit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YfWRn8HvZ3T12_PM2bKMKECfIgOn54_4uPGfwEzFwMeLtpp3Z27eHBYKcSIVH3hbXp-nG-M3vaDhEdW_Iqy0pd0BO-v0YJfFzFLaFQXAHGum4Wo9cRViJYbUFE04uEv6Zaxx5p43zYZH/s400/Drywall+on+kitchen+island+soffit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the soffit that went above a similarly shaped island in the kitchen. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkSpiuNOqi3InrB998Uk1GGlzPvWY0GDi1M_bFtR5QLbGXDcsayvQOUZItkirWNhG5WKumlDqcmRd3W9VMAPqzskClFvqPqZ29t7jzuao64IsTdhCCrk6NvLLVoDCQfMpmxhukS9M8OwG/s1600/South+BR+drywall+taped+and+sanded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkSpiuNOqi3InrB998Uk1GGlzPvWY0GDi1M_bFtR5QLbGXDcsayvQOUZItkirWNhG5WKumlDqcmRd3W9VMAPqzskClFvqPqZ29t7jzuao64IsTdhCCrk6NvLLVoDCQfMpmxhukS9M8OwG/s400/South+BR+drywall+taped+and+sanded.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The upstairs south bedroom has a cathedral ceiling.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2sgYVteGW52miAo7qEvusUBNhvkznRSQdCLboT2aMtqusc4kAV2K6zffYrIMTRm7Cio1jSvWcu4Vk0zzhDG0al6XiZpLZ-1MC6Nax9Q2DQ6ttMTeRRalAf_DQFBU3-UXaMfHfB50Jnz7/s1600/Drywall+in+stairwell+chase.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2sgYVteGW52miAo7qEvusUBNhvkznRSQdCLboT2aMtqusc4kAV2K6zffYrIMTRm7Cio1jSvWcu4Vk0zzhDG0al6XiZpLZ-1MC6Nax9Q2DQ6ttMTeRRalAf_DQFBU3-UXaMfHfB50Jnz7/s400/Drywall+in+stairwell+chase.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairwell.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYGO6xgfHhLylh8mMW7NQQlHYQ5ym1vbn89N77-BoTuw4R4Gp5cnDXdjeg8ThtPhaSL4kKjxGIXjoXfW2xnAKQNkOigLVCUgw22o_FTKAbdj_EFX9mYmwEYob1OhfnlckMG9rfihdVLrx/s1600/Stair+chase+drywalled+and+primed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYGO6xgfHhLylh8mMW7NQQlHYQ5ym1vbn89N77-BoTuw4R4Gp5cnDXdjeg8ThtPhaSL4kKjxGIXjoXfW2xnAKQNkOigLVCUgw22o_FTKAbdj_EFX9mYmwEYob1OhfnlckMG9rfihdVLrx/s400/Stair+chase+drywalled+and+primed.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stairwell starting to take shape.</td></tr>
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I remember being grateful that the drywall delivery truck had a boom lift. He could hoist everything to an open window and we just had to pull it in.Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-48679756169853532342012-01-19T09:15:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.824-06:0011: Kitchen, Bath, and FlooringAll along, the main goal was to get the house "finished" enough so that an appraiser would approve a loan. With that loan we could pay off the money we had borrowed from my parents and grandparents. <br />
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By the spring of 1991, one year into this project, we were still living in an apartment not too far away and struggling with money. I was doing small contracting jobs to bring in a little cash, but still spent forty hours or so every week working on our building with the goal of getting it functional, allowing us to move out of the apartment. That was about to happen. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">:::: </div><br />
Once most of the drywall was taped, sanded and primed the dirtiest part of the work was over and we could move in. This was in May, 1991, fourteen months after we had bought the place. There were still plywood floors; I came to think of it as an extended camping trip. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.) </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyOBk5ZxBzYeJt_MJqbvDfBt3S-8PlwlgZDIHod4j1-cP5ZjdOb2eQnVysajwB3T-XPWaywr38dYiAuhnT2ZdBQKsBR2KrM5JZzdS-OSvwOQaUaeultzqEaCU1uURwlZAKNx0D4qlVgjX/s1600/Bruce+lovin%2527+the+new+fridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyOBk5ZxBzYeJt_MJqbvDfBt3S-8PlwlgZDIHod4j1-cP5ZjdOb2eQnVysajwB3T-XPWaywr38dYiAuhnT2ZdBQKsBR2KrM5JZzdS-OSvwOQaUaeultzqEaCU1uURwlZAKNx0D4qlVgjX/s400/Bruce+lovin%2527+the+new+fridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the first new things we bought was a refrigerator. I was excited.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYRHA1g9sF5HXdKqgq2jb0NJuMRu_ND_YZgKTEePoSLVGcWW_nkFkttLSTM4b_sKGM1aarvDNnwOnKGxWUHxt52_8106zMdKt0oJ-xvqM2fCxPe5XMQPw6dLEtoXVTgzYYW9a_OJvUcYz/s1600/Unloading+used+range+in+alley.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYRHA1g9sF5HXdKqgq2jb0NJuMRu_ND_YZgKTEePoSLVGcWW_nkFkttLSTM4b_sKGM1aarvDNnwOnKGxWUHxt52_8106zMdKt0oJ-xvqM2fCxPe5XMQPw6dLEtoXVTgzYYW9a_OJvUcYz/s400/Unloading+used+range+in+alley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We bought a used gas stove/range and hauled it up those shaky back stairs.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBl262zhQv4yXFXD2JQSr-ND6CCtCQsph8qw_dljmkkbX7cD0sogwpyl-PyiKdsiybTYCa8V8MVaR1KnK9fwK_AZta3QLrm0krj0MpFmh4JSebM5oQI9sq2I1U5weuSmY-f8TnqsE9MVXl/s1600/Temporary+kitchen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBl262zhQv4yXFXD2JQSr-ND6CCtCQsph8qw_dljmkkbX7cD0sogwpyl-PyiKdsiybTYCa8V8MVaR1KnK9fwK_AZta3QLrm0krj0MpFmh4JSebM5oQI9sq2I1U5weuSmY-f8TnqsE9MVXl/s400/Temporary+kitchen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That range found a temporary home in the laundry closet, which had a gas valve. Until I could build the kitchen cabinets there was no place to put the gas cooktop we wanted. We would eventually put the range down in the rental unit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lNegizJA-x0t72iSfPmsp1gsn4X6K0Ci1yR65djmEpKlbWbD4gBIemIPeP77b_oGb8nFoUvX4m7kfkTzwK-XMVGZOiIcbq18NdRtiRbUrVN_4c6FHgwQdGjx0NuqJBUUREZ8J626XxVH/s1600/Temporary+kitchen+showing+sink+and+fridge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lNegizJA-x0t72iSfPmsp1gsn4X6K0Ci1yR65djmEpKlbWbD4gBIemIPeP77b_oGb8nFoUvX4m7kfkTzwK-XMVGZOiIcbq18NdRtiRbUrVN_4c6FHgwQdGjx0NuqJBUUREZ8J626XxVH/s400/Temporary+kitchen+showing+sink+and+fridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For our temporary kitchen counters, I put pieces of plywood up against the wall, covered them with polyurethane, and hooked up a sink.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZm5xSgU_5llyMX-BmyeTskLkBm8NwB9mTmtOjVNkGd0HjLtI-nS-QzCcxV1s7hlK8OCt7jxL5cAG4hmu0cY8ZCxzT5OOfCUHfskpy23ANZGghzVg6v19FkGUAxbnVnnwOYch4D3FqHTOS/s1600/Bruce+installing+oak+flooring%252C+Luis+watching.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZm5xSgU_5llyMX-BmyeTskLkBm8NwB9mTmtOjVNkGd0HjLtI-nS-QzCcxV1s7hlK8OCt7jxL5cAG4hmu0cY8ZCxzT5OOfCUHfskpy23ANZGghzVg6v19FkGUAxbnVnnwOYch4D3FqHTOS/s400/Bruce+installing+oak+flooring%252C+Luis+watching.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the summer progressed, I began installing the oak flooring. About 1500 square feet. I'm being watched by my friend Luis. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U3Mt-CwUdlsUww8oNgP18LaCxGqTEK3Z01eWLN3OAt4KQJKGOtQFIq4JbmV_MkY_ylT6-GJYPyUCEfS7EEK5GUjdpyfHwtPS_B6Hc4Q1ckfHykSNcDvIeAO-rqw3i1pyh41ZrVXfbJX0/s1600/Main+room+looking+at+curved+wall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U3Mt-CwUdlsUww8oNgP18LaCxGqTEK3Z01eWLN3OAt4KQJKGOtQFIq4JbmV_MkY_ylT6-GJYPyUCEfS7EEK5GUjdpyfHwtPS_B6Hc4Q1ckfHykSNcDvIeAO-rqw3i1pyh41ZrVXfbJX0/s400/Main+room+looking+at+curved+wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After I got the flooring installed, though not yet sanded and finished, we moved into the front room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYDWxCR32ZoSzz2R3qSRcCz0ZiNC87uxXz_t9_RGB_ADsV-nY63WHIEh3d2Sm-XdM2vlQ7AWXYZyH22amy97po4xpX0v9GUsmkhEAlnXtSCAyT8dypcKHwsKpnzfJUCMZRlefnUoqaCau/s1600/Main+room+looking+south.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYDWxCR32ZoSzz2R3qSRcCz0ZiNC87uxXz_t9_RGB_ADsV-nY63WHIEh3d2Sm-XdM2vlQ7AWXYZyH22amy97po4xpX0v9GUsmkhEAlnXtSCAyT8dypcKHwsKpnzfJUCMZRlefnUoqaCau/s400/Main+room+looking+south.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south in the front room. The dark square opening on the left wall holds our fireplace. Eventually I'd build a mantel. Eventually.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBl262zhQv4yXFXD2JQSr-ND6CCtCQsph8qw_dljmkkbX7cD0sogwpyl-PyiKdsiybTYCa8V8MVaR1KnK9fwK_AZta3QLrm0krj0MpFmh4JSebM5oQI9sq2I1U5weuSmY-f8TnqsE9MVXl/s1600/Temporary+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-StRQ5JFY8vePCdp9IsqEZ5a9WYQSdk8jDLYd7Yp5TWSyH9-13dyOtjB3KoEYuhEez_gnli-v7-U4RhNsLfdodBXJh8GYXyFEvTunDHdA2foDJCzkWk7TGjqpbQYtM6RsUG9oe3-xjMD/s1600/Kitchen+cabinets+installed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-StRQ5JFY8vePCdp9IsqEZ5a9WYQSdk8jDLYd7Yp5TWSyH9-13dyOtjB3KoEYuhEez_gnli-v7-U4RhNsLfdodBXJh8GYXyFEvTunDHdA2foDJCzkWk7TGjqpbQYtM6RsUG9oe3-xjMD/s400/Kitchen+cabinets+installed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the kitchen cabinets, still missing their countertops, that I made. This photo is a little out of sequence. We would use the temporary kitchen with plywood countertops for about two years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-3541443645645200502012-01-18T15:15:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.824-06:0012: SidingDuring the summer and fall of 1991 my friend Andy was a huge help. Not only that, but he agreed to work for a reduce rate: I think I was only paying him $12/hr. The going rate was $20+.<br />
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Since he was comfortable working up on the plank, and I was useless up there, I cut pieces of siding to length while he installed them.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.)</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82Ue0Gf3-7w3XAA8VXpGbVSNPep-u3FwUIjEKmNh-JWMrqE6EEqKQKsLxNua5NRZcCN8ErtgoQUJVXrybd2HJb1fUDU5ipt5cMDOFwKsI2lza7KcnpbjoLZvlp7lTPu6pnM1OTW5RLTOz/s1600/Andy+and+Bruce+installing+siding+on+E+elevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82Ue0Gf3-7w3XAA8VXpGbVSNPep-u3FwUIjEKmNh-JWMrqE6EEqKQKsLxNua5NRZcCN8ErtgoQUJVXrybd2HJb1fUDU5ipt5cMDOFwKsI2lza7KcnpbjoLZvlp7lTPu6pnM1OTW5RLTOz/s400/Andy+and+Bruce+installing+siding+on+E+elevation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHfmPXomuPKNUf6PdeIFAWbQ_4bH3hqHShJTEzkq89jTzCDZsQw1OAC2OdTITYKaAt-xHsEQjFZWVslbHOW6O6kSSS27vqDwc6exzLVUhGaKDeesggI7-I6Nw2RZk7d5z3rQd87opu5ES/s1600/Bruce+and+Andy+installing+siding+on+E+elevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHfmPXomuPKNUf6PdeIFAWbQ_4bH3hqHShJTEzkq89jTzCDZsQw1OAC2OdTITYKaAt-xHsEQjFZWVslbHOW6O6kSSS27vqDwc6exzLVUhGaKDeesggI7-I6Nw2RZk7d5z3rQd87opu5ES/s400/Bruce+and+Andy+installing+siding+on+E+elevation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3gfkiJgGHYbcsax5Cd8xm0K5nKTZXC7z8fFEFG_dP602EgZnaayL-howY8xkZCSIPnT9ARs9EhhpALScp2rVNxGGHRW64hXplxG3hjglZeqYuvUChnmbt7o8hjRUS8ebLDvyEZHW2R82/s1600/Bruce+installing+siding+on+E+elevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3gfkiJgGHYbcsax5Cd8xm0K5nKTZXC7z8fFEFG_dP602EgZnaayL-howY8xkZCSIPnT9ARs9EhhpALScp2rVNxGGHRW64hXplxG3hjglZeqYuvUChnmbt7o8hjRUS8ebLDvyEZHW2R82/s400/Bruce+installing+siding+on+E+elevation.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6-hAZikMbRlJ-3STxoUKvpM7xQTm8maEnpwp7wMM-X9r4bY9uCkpDKy6cYz5FOB8Bn-_gvnfR2YO2HeL-qUF2N_i48rOpiQIqZYQ6h07m03hi1RL2N6ubOIySjUaHyxyGydMUA45QmfY/s1600/N+elevation%252C+partially+sided.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6-hAZikMbRlJ-3STxoUKvpM7xQTm8maEnpwp7wMM-X9r4bY9uCkpDKy6cYz5FOB8Bn-_gvnfR2YO2HeL-qUF2N_i48rOpiQIqZYQ6h07m03hi1RL2N6ubOIySjUaHyxyGydMUA45QmfY/s400/N+elevation%252C+partially+sided.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the alley.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k2qDiCZ_1GNAXsjRqT09JFukf4njTGio_Dx1CL9kc6i4eZdofxGr0j4wbhkk1P4zL7gSXA7Y7DNkQJUNci0F3k65pns-rrU6IHJI9a4c7XHEDOnpS7wcJw1a0OGl_9TX4GJtie2sWbSq/s1600/Andy+installing+siding+on+S+elevation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k2qDiCZ_1GNAXsjRqT09JFukf4njTGio_Dx1CL9kc6i4eZdofxGr0j4wbhkk1P4zL7gSXA7Y7DNkQJUNci0F3k65pns-rrU6IHJI9a4c7XHEDOnpS7wcJw1a0OGl_9TX4GJtie2sWbSq/s400/Andy+installing+siding+on+S+elevation.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We added sections of chimney and wrapped it in a chase as we went up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5TCr7TzI6d8QouvlzU4n7rO3S9yk0dqWTTFC7_kTjJd3liFYlIEfR87p7IR5HgVjoR8PJRrRCq58ppsaULeJrVvnSW_-cuSCSgakZsMy3dQyXfRyZkk-f3Q-fDgKs0eUQPzOt4yUAX2A/s1600/Siding+finished%252C+S+elevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5TCr7TzI6d8QouvlzU4n7rO3S9yk0dqWTTFC7_kTjJd3liFYlIEfR87p7IR5HgVjoR8PJRrRCq58ppsaULeJrVvnSW_-cuSCSgakZsMy3dQyXfRyZkk-f3Q-fDgKs0eUQPzOt4yUAX2A/s400/Siding+finished%252C+S+elevation.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front of the house. I made some really nice stairs out of redwood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC8NrKtruylHtic_3DjQqGjRMvmgWGDz4Db3AWeAsnp6dmr7fbRxEtq6Q72SvQAfiM12Tn_8bP8IA3lKG2Y9ySUSEZwPHBknmAlaFTsEFp_8S6-sg8pXm8oxmAK3cjCMrgowbVVFvkVgO/s1600/Siding+finished%252C+looking+back+NW+at+bldg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC8NrKtruylHtic_3DjQqGjRMvmgWGDz4Db3AWeAsnp6dmr7fbRxEtq6Q72SvQAfiM12Tn_8bP8IA3lKG2Y9ySUSEZwPHBknmAlaFTsEFp_8S6-sg8pXm8oxmAK3cjCMrgowbVVFvkVgO/s400/Siding+finished%252C+looking+back+NW+at+bldg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from across the street.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-45963951912256476242012-01-17T11:00:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.824-06:0013: And then what happened?There aren't any pictures of the next phase because this stopped being an "adventure" and became a struggle to stay afloat. Foremost in our minds: We had borrowed a large amount of money from my relatives and weren't sure how we were going to pay it back. The only way out that I saw was to put my head down and go. That meant more hours working on the house, less time doing things that other “normal” couples did. In turn we were becoming less of a couple.<br />
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The last pictures I have from this time period are from the fall of 1991 and showed the siding going up. Here's what happened after the camera stopped:<br />
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I hung and put casing on all the interior doors. Put in the bathroom floor tile. Sanded and finished the oak floors...<br />
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With an hourly helper, I poured the 1000 sq. ft. concrete slab in the basement apartment. Then, in the apartment, repeated almost all the same steps I had done on the top two floors.<br />
<ul><li>Built partition walls</li>
<li> Ran plumbing, electrical, and heating ducts</li>
<li> Insulated</li>
<li> Hung, taped, sanded, and painted drywall</li>
<li> Built and installed kitchen and bath cabinets</li>
<li> Hung doors, installed baseboard and door casing</li>
<li> Put tile on floor</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.)</div><br />
I have a handful of images of the apartment, all taken in the past few years.<br />
<table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0g7yK6TLTj7w2IU8XqcsR0glGVwVkzdg15PkTIJfFDs?feat=embedwebsite" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRIF-RwSqiXrJb42xNg604K76meQuDWa_QPwEhZN5Cn03YIe76W_nBvsDxC7YuSHeIwsiXwb34wa_FmxWf9aQf29hDyr4vI-pYmk4305M_miAK_cMyoTCk-HrjbBARK4RhS9EFNov9eiQ/s400/Kitchen%252520window%252520looks%252520out%252520on%252520patio%252520and%252520yard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apartment kitchen. Notice the concrete countertops, they turned out ok for a first effort.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OnwblMnryk3MAna9g8BVdUglGVwVkzdg15PkTIJfFDs?feat=embedwebsite" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQbE_qdo5lZwfJzBMIMz9xQF8LIxYFYkpFieEz49JySh9go9K_5amPZoaFT7Gt18VeoEFJd83nwdtKJzsdsxjZcI63FqK_qEOp3KWmtrIUW6BxczzMe7xNOjke-trOnc2HK7XUUOxJU43/s400/Bathroom.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apartment bathroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4_xm5FaSi5yW65hcPtd1G0glGVwVkzdg15PkTIJfFDs?feat=embedwebsite" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtw9itYV1ME_FlBZGKxF5k1VcW_FeqbOI2tmOC69K0xn225hKr2xb98OWxlrWuRwMqdoAzE4lKYztRorrsDkhMscTrmrjEFT4BUZ5YDnu0Rhrr8C-vHbiWhb0FzY9VJpB9Xgoj_Bs9qV43/s400/Front%252520room%252520seen%252520from%252520dining%252520area.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apartment living room</td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/s1FnuSmsTxFxT4Rpl2r2AkglGVwVkzdg15PkTIJfFDs?feat=embedwebsite" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgat_YjRrCD0fNP12gK-X1_m7lU_mKum7R1I7hMps8q22CW6pC0Qwd3ogyJL37pm_ZY03PkxCsDmQTuSCgyh-Adfodrd8c5BdomzMGneaLlnHIVx7kYjFNwby0OqbdFlueOhQzEteveoc3B/s400/View%252520from%252520front%252520room%252520back%252520to%252520dining%25253Akitchen%252520area.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apartment dining/kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
During the spring and summer of 1992, my friend Andy and I built a three car garage behind the house. This time I didn't excavate for the foundation <a href="http://onemanshands.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-steps-demolition-and-excavation.html" target="_blank">by hand</a>, but hired someone with a small backhoe. Andy and his helper laid the block. We then put up the roof joists, followed by plywood decking and rubber torch down roofing. Then we poured a concrete slab inside the garage.<br />
<br />
I began using the finished garage as my workshop, building the kitchen and bathroom cabinets for both units out there. I milled all the baseboard and stair treads as well. After the garage was built I was able to build a deck between the house and the garage. Time to tear out those flimsy back stairs.<br />
<br />
By September of 1992, the apartment was rented. We finally had some income coming in. When I recently looked at our joint tax return for 1992 to confirm the date we rented out the apartment, I found a telling number: Our gross income for that year was $11,000.<br />
<br />
It had been obvious for some time that my career as a carpenter/contractor wasn't taking off. I could never find enough time to go look for more work, or even who to approach for work. I found the whole thing incredibly stressful.<br />
<br />
<br />
To sum up: By October of 1992 I had worked, uncompensated, for roughly 5000 hours on the property. Virginia had worked about 1000 (?) hours. We had borrowed, from my family, more money than the house was “worth”, and our marriage was crumbling under the strain.<br />
<br />
I needed a change, and when the husband of one of Virginia's friends offered me a job I took it.Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-6934567235012391332012-01-16T10:43:00.008-06:002014-02-27T00:30:48.653-06:0014: ChangesI was ready for a change. I got one.<br />
<br />
I was offered an entry level job as a clerk to a "local", or independent, floor trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. It was a world I knew very little about and much different from everything else I done previously. I remember the first time I walked on the floor feeling overwhelmed and wondering how anyone could find order, much less make money, in all the chaos.<br />
<br />
<br />
The man I worked for, Dean N., was an accomplished pit trader who was hard on his clerks--later I learned that most lasted less than a month--but who had also put, or financially backed, several of his previous clerks into trading pits. The main requirements were height, so the clerk could see Dean over the mass of bodies in the pit, and an ability to add and subtract numbers quickly. I met both, and so went to work for Dean in November, 1992.<br />
<br />
After learning the basic hand signals and how to make sense of what at first glance seemed like arbitrary screaming and yelling, I went about becoming a good clerk. From there I began to watch Dean and other traders with the idea of doing it for myself. The problem was in getting backed. It took about $75,000, preferably $100,000, in cash just to trade at the lowest level. I, as we've already gone over, was broke. In 1995 one of Dean's friends noticed that I was a good candidate to become a local floor trader and offered to back me. This in itself was an accomplishment; of the roughly 40 clerks that started out at the same time I did, eight of us made it into the pits. And as far as I could tell, only two of us ever made any money while pit trading.<br />
<br />
It was a standard deal: I would start out trading in a pit, LIBOR, that had low volume and volatility. If I could handle that I could move up to the big leagues, the Eurodollar Pit, where I had been a clerk.<br />
<br />
If I made any money it would be split as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>First year: 50% to me, 50% to backer</li>
<li>Second year: 60% to me, 40% to backer</li>
<li>Third year: 70% to me, 30% to backer</li>
</ul>
If I had a large loss, the backer was on the hook for the entire amount, but would clawback what he could from me. In all likelihood I wouldn't be able to cover my portion of the loss and so would be out of the trading business. <br />
<br />
My goal for those three years was to make, and save, enough money to break free from the backer and go out on my own. In 1999 I did just that.<br />
<br />
As an aside, while my backer could have been worse, he did end up taking advantage of my ignorance of tax law as it pertains to futures traders. Above and beyond what he was entitled to per our agreement, he pocketed an estimated $80,000 that was due to me. Spend some time googling "Section 1256 Income" if you want more info.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
::::</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Things were looking up. However, Virginia and I, despite a great deal of effort, were unable to make our marriage work. In 1996 the divorce was final. It took me a long time to be at peace with what happened.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
::::</div>
<br />
I was trading to make money, and I did. Over time I became a good trader. Some days I made a lot, some days I lost--a new kind of stress. On the whole, I made enough to pay off the debts incurred while building the house and to <a href="http://www.postranchinn.com/" target="_blank">otherwise</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ElBulli" target="_blank">enjoy</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turks_and_caicos" target="_blank">myself</a>. I never fit in with the other traders; actually couldn't stand most of them. Also, I knew my style of trading was ending, and having no desire to learn to trade online, made a point of saving as much money as possible. By 2005 it was time to go.<br />
<br />
I caught the tail end of an era in the futures industry. Open outcry, as it's know, was fading out, to be replaced by electronic trading. While I was at the Merc a documentary film maker <a href="http://www.pbs.org/itvs/openoutcry/" target="_blank">made a movie</a> about the transition. I made a brief appearance in the middle of the film, though it doesn't have a trailer online. I'll lend you my copy if you want to watch it.<br />
<br />
In 2009, another movie was made about the change from pit to electronic trading. It's little melodramatic--and like most of the publicity concerning trading makes it seem like a trillion dollar industry revolves around nothing more than the outsized exploits of a handful of characters--but it covers the same ground. More to the point there's a youtube trailer.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_UXomMnQKT4" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
As was said in the clip, "It's a very dirty business". <br />
<br />
I'm grateful for the economic lifeline and experience provided by the pits. However, that world is not for me. I don't want to live my life as a predator for fear of being prey. It's a dead end.<br />
<br />
The most important thing I took away from my time there might be this: While I need money to survive, I'm no longer driven to get my hands on it. If anything I've taken the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110814192141/http://www.feralscholar.org/blog/index.php/2009/06/24/the-cornucopian-episteme-money/" target="_blank">opposite approach</a>.Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-57603832515078479432012-01-15T11:00:00.001-06:002012-01-29T18:08:14.846-06:0015: Cor-Ten HouseBy 2005 my life was much different than it was in 1990. I had the desire, and maybe more importantly the means, to change the house again. <br />
<br />
This time, I said to myself, it's going to be different. And it was.<br />
<br />
To refresh your memory: <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6cr39Qks44utnRlZGXEkq55L4HCX7NJMLLvdVAf5YamaOmO4q19Vsx9MdB_4sq3-LCk9wF-s9OcVwYTwRporJWfwB01zirS8SJZDdJNb_qdBBVrysmbRiER01c_fo4FJ-606PlkuJ7qa/s1600/Exterior+Looking+NW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6cr39Qks44utnRlZGXEkq55L4HCX7NJMLLvdVAf5YamaOmO4q19Vsx9MdB_4sq3-LCk9wF-s9OcVwYTwRporJWfwB01zirS8SJZDdJNb_qdBBVrysmbRiER01c_fo4FJ-606PlkuJ7qa/s400/Exterior+Looking+NW.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken in 1990.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb1BS8xQOhgTcTMgt39_ytKsmmgH8NwGHQY3VBgaRREE6l-50IySH_vTOe9H7AyNAn6qM2vcoxgnpdqGwXluQbHM8vyNaOIXIWUIRSFSxp2WmIz69sCz2ewiBTuSTNZuTZuGBWrO0GFkU/s1600/Siding+finished%252C+looking+back+NW+at+bldg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb1BS8xQOhgTcTMgt39_ytKsmmgH8NwGHQY3VBgaRREE6l-50IySH_vTOe9H7AyNAn6qM2vcoxgnpdqGwXluQbHM8vyNaOIXIWUIRSFSxp2WmIz69sCz2ewiBTuSTNZuTZuGBWrO0GFkU/s400/Siding+finished%252C+looking+back+NW+at+bldg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken in 1992. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">(Click on any image for a larger view.) </div><br />
A trip I took to Big Sur, CA made a big impression on me. I wanted to live in a house that had some of the qualities of the <a href="http://www.postranchinn.com/" target="_blank">buildings I had seen</a>. Not being able to relocate to California, I did what I could to make California come to me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
For a moment I'll let the pictures pictures speak for themselves.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_luD5mYxA1W2oNqiNQrNviDPX3rhtjdsXBImtouCaNMWMKXaiOVyvQdzz9c2k-9AEJECWAsm2yLQwVZo1i0G8XmmogXorvKE2n-9vTY3cuvDDMmLbJUKdMCBQe5ua3VSZfxbcG7eG6X_W/s1600/Looking+NW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_luD5mYxA1W2oNqiNQrNviDPX3rhtjdsXBImtouCaNMWMKXaiOVyvQdzz9c2k-9AEJECWAsm2yLQwVZo1i0G8XmmogXorvKE2n-9vTY3cuvDDMmLbJUKdMCBQe5ua3VSZfxbcG7eG6X_W/s400/Looking+NW.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 2005, after two years of construction. ©Kujawa Architecture</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4POvI5zKwE6yWgYbns__PzfKDgeE2-XCzGH9cvcaJ5FWYjMR2V2hZSxcKeDe3rQChkiVSDHGyFurRS8BnjFJjQOuNGFN2C7oanDEK-UfdUpYWvBu_zKRiAgUhC68GJdqKkRbhrC8kFL0s/s1600/CazProject004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4POvI5zKwE6yWgYbns__PzfKDgeE2-XCzGH9cvcaJ5FWYjMR2V2hZSxcKeDe3rQChkiVSDHGyFurRS8BnjFJjQOuNGFN2C7oanDEK-UfdUpYWvBu_zKRiAgUhC68GJdqKkRbhrC8kFL0s/s400/CazProject004.jpg" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©Kujawa Architecture</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvKMS7O1gfh5r1FfBW37FksRfAvtGWjlOrEBNb_TBs3YqJEMXtbCvtD5nOU4VUy0GhPz5rXfEFpV-rFFAVhHfiawBuXbERHqrckwbpW2c5PHOXBQxNwuDDZeAASaNcer4fwu1BoX69xW8/s1600/CazProject002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvKMS7O1gfh5r1FfBW37FksRfAvtGWjlOrEBNb_TBs3YqJEMXtbCvtD5nOU4VUy0GhPz5rXfEFpV-rFFAVhHfiawBuXbERHqrckwbpW2c5PHOXBQxNwuDDZeAASaNcer4fwu1BoX69xW8/s400/CazProject002.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Kujawa Architecture</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPMUFGxuFNMvtGQc340VxBwX34BbkWNmZvjuNebF5kWo3cA6f0smWGM1R_S2lLCbzC3NelSFGj-sFGNzKbb4bJONH3h2JaNnGRqLwiV5beNg1Z6ezTrpBRMqyTDV6CBXSPiAw4gCjadgR/s1600/Fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPMUFGxuFNMvtGQc340VxBwX34BbkWNmZvjuNebF5kWo3cA6f0smWGM1R_S2lLCbzC3NelSFGj-sFGNzKbb4bJONH3h2JaNnGRqLwiV5beNg1Z6ezTrpBRMqyTDV6CBXSPiAw4gCjadgR/s400/Fireplace.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fireplace. © Kujawa Architecture</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dI8NlNg5-J3phQ7Vu0yJzRHCFWzSNNpXOajjtcBCGE91fjIHAIh77yRjrtAKFJQjBwtmxti4YVdZ8yZ2iFh6zdb9OykdhRf3RbgR6KKkyygFD40aSDrIfDyZchkNIVUq6Dsb012-1FKm/s1600/Railing+Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dI8NlNg5-J3phQ7Vu0yJzRHCFWzSNNpXOajjtcBCGE91fjIHAIh77yRjrtAKFJQjBwtmxti4YVdZ8yZ2iFh6zdb9OykdhRf3RbgR6KKkyygFD40aSDrIfDyZchkNIVUq6Dsb012-1FKm/s400/Railing+Detail.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stair railing. © Kujawa Architecture</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUm19CcyJ9fG_eLHdAT9-czurw591QwlUSRy7KT4Z-VfqJP4udZEuma8G4-xAfvMt_90vNqCXeOiK1BV8qNbLwJlBvISOa5VQAxTDNesjkG93W-IbDJ_rWMDbZ8INZPboIkMRiUyWI8OT/s1600/Corten-site-plan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUm19CcyJ9fG_eLHdAT9-czurw591QwlUSRy7KT4Z-VfqJP4udZEuma8G4-xAfvMt_90vNqCXeOiK1BV8qNbLwJlBvISOa5VQAxTDNesjkG93W-IbDJ_rWMDbZ8INZPboIkMRiUyWI8OT/s400/Corten-site-plan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plot plans, 2nd floor, before and after. © Kujawa Architecture</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I tried to take a hands off approach, doing very little of the construction work this time around. Looking back, I wish I'd taken on more of the work myself.<br />
<br />
Here's how the architect, Caz Kujawa, described the project:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><div id="yui_3_4_0_3_1326932334521_1412">"The house, as I found it, looked like a typical wood-frame Chicago row house. It had been completely rebuilt, literally, by the owner, who had spent several years constructing the house with his own hands. What he had originally purchased was the burnt-out shell of an early balloon frame house that he added to and built into a two-flat, including a three bedroom owner unit and a two bedroom garden apartment. What was unique was the lot. It was shallow but extra wide, providing an unusually large side yard for a city property.<br />
<br />
When we first met, Bruce, the owner, explained how changes in the neighborhood had transformed his vision for the house. Fifteen years ago, security had been his primary concern, and the house reflected that. His purpose in hiring an architect was to create a space he enjoyed living in, rather than retreating into as a haven from the outside. Not that refuge was a quality to eliminate, rather, his desire was to create a welcoming refuge that more accurately reflected his lifestyle.<br />
<br />
The budget, though ample in some areas of the country, represented a real challenge for building in Chicago. Regardless, the constraints posed by cost considerations actually had a valuable impact on the outcome. It required us to set priorities and eliminate all that was non-essential.<br />
<br />
Our first decision was to limit the "gut" rehab to the main living floor. We began reconfiguring the plan by moving the powder room and laundry closet to the West wall and effectively creating a service core. Bruce, an avid cook, wanted a kitchen that was open to the living/dining area, as well as commanding a view of the yard and the entry. By relocating the service uses, we effectively created one volume that houses the kitchen, living and dining areas, with the kitchen anchoring the North, while the relocated fireplace, clad in weathered steel, is a focal point to the South.<br />
<br />
We chose to relocate the entry as well, bringing it from the South end of the house, to the middle East wall. This enabled us to gain interior space that had previously been used by the entry stair, and also to minimize area required for circulation. Additionally, this allowed for the creation of an entry transition that engages the yard, which was previously accessible only from the South and North ends. The entry door opens onto a cedar deck, which doubles as the roof of the patio that we built for the garden apartment.<br />
<br />
In the transformation of the interior, the stairwell was a primary focus. We eliminated the stepping sidewall and replaced it with an aluminum guardrail. This had the effect of visually widening the space and creating the feeling that the volume is larger that it really is. Because the stairway was about a foot shallower than the service core, we created a frosted glass panel separating the two walls. The glass opens to the powder room and provides a visual cue of its occupancy as well as bringing in borrowed light. Finally we chose a natural cleft grey slate for the flooring. It was laid in a running bond and is heated by radiant tubing in the floor.<br />
<br />
The windows are all Douglas-fir and in varied configurations, constructed so that each individual window is specific to its orientation. To the north, a picture window and back door open to the deck spanning the house and garage. To the East, a horizontal strip window splits the kitchen counter and the cabinets above, providing a view of the yard. This wall has an additional strip window located high to the South, providing a view of the sky and bringing light deep into the space. In designing, our first impulse was to really open the East wall to the yard, but due to the difficulty of shading that orientation and the additional heating load required in the winter, we realized that less glazing, thoughtfully located, would provide the necessary views, day-lighting and shelter we sought. To the South, directly above the hearth, is a picture window, providing a welcome relief to the wall plane and additionally creating a visual separation between the hearth, the fireplace, the South wall, and the East wall—which all come together at this location. Finally, the floor-to-ceiling openings at the North, where the kitchen door is located, and the South, where the window separates the fireplace/hearth and the built-in cabinets, become devices on the exterior for separating materials. These two floor-to-ceiling glass elements are like book-ends for the cedar cladding. The remainder of the structure is clad entirely in corrugated corten steel. We replaced the windows and exterior doors elsewhere without altering the openings and eliminated one window on the top floor to balance the South elevation. The windows on the top floor were then trimmed out with cedar planter boxes that provide some shading, while also creating an illusion of depth that makes the openings appear larger than they actually are. A new Galvalume standing seam roof was installed, and the skylights above the stairwell were replaced and are now remote controlled, creating an excellent device for stack ventilation which has been extremely effective in the warmer months."</div></blockquote>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-74711153864847610662012-01-14T09:00:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:41:04.825-06:0016: Rooftop GardenOn the roof of my 800 sq. ft. garage I grow flowers and vegetables in homemade <a href="http://www.earthbox.com/" target="_blank">earthboxes</a>.<br />
<br />
In 2007, along with my good friends and neighbors, Heidi and Art, we started a blog, <a href="http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Green Roof Growers</a>, to document our rooftop growing projects and show landless city residents how they can do the same.<br />
<br />
In 2008 a local journalist did a piece on me. I've since lost the long hair and about 20 pounds, but still feel the same way about our rooftop gardens. I'm in the second half of the video starting at the 8:00 minute mark.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/1228062?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="450"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/1228062">Sky Full of Bacon 01: How Local Can You Go?</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user384019">Michael Gebert</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
Here's how he introduced the video:<br />
<blockquote><span style="color: black;">Local is a hot word in food these days. In <b>How Local Can You Go?</b> I visit two people who are taking different approaches to trying to bring local food into the mainstream in Chicago. Cassie Green runs a market in West Town called (what else?) Green Grocer, which features a lot of the producers who sell at Green City and other farmer’s markets. One of the knocks on local and organic food is that it’s the kind of thing only yuppies with extra money to spend can worry about, but the market that sustains something like local growing and eating usually starts with a cute little shop in a trendy neighborhood, and Cassie’s enthusiasm for the wonderful-looking food she sells is infectious.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Meanwhile, Bruce F. is a Wicker Park resident who read about Earthboxes in the <i>Reader</i>, and subsequently built about 30 DIY ones out of Rubbermaid tubs on his garage, as well as a Flickr page that tell you all about how and why you should do it too. He’s a thoughtful guy who really brings a lot of perspective to the broader issues surrounding the act of growing your own food in the city, in a way that kind of reminds you of John Cusack’s character in <i>Say Anything.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">The total podcast runs 19:39, though I’m pretty sure it doesn’t feel like it. As the season progresses I’ll check back with both Cassie and Bruce to see what else is growing, and include the updates in future podcasts.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Green Grocer<br />
1420 W. Grand (just west of Ogden), Chicago<br />
312.624.9508</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Links for further exploration:<br />
<a href="http://www.greengrocerchicago.com/">Green Grocer Chicago</a><br />
Bruce’s <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7458996@N06/sets/72157603652656573/">Flickr page,</a> and his <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/10/151359/130/899/493357">Daily Kos diary</a><br />
<a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/archive/earthboxes/">Reader article on Earthboxes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=19391">LTHForum thread</a> on Earthboxes (with posts by both Bruce and myself)<br />
Links to blogs and articles shown in the montage of locavore press toward the beginning:<br />
<a href="http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/">Eat Local Challenge</a><br />
<a href="http://www.vitalinformation.blogspot.com/">Vital Information</a> (essential Chicago locavore blog)<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/dining/25loca.html">NY Times</a><br />
<a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/how-to-eat-like-a-locavore">Food & Wine</a></span></blockquote>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-83940800276090082012012-01-13T09:00:00.003-06:002014-02-26T10:35:26.622-06:0017: Chicken CoopIn the spring of 2011 I built a chicken coop under my back deck, between the house and the shop.<br />
<br />
Basically a little house.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvG3wl_TtQG_8ALUs9L1YMk7oO4NnTGnMW2BOg9fYviWAYbrEXRq4zkkJeXOZxp16Gy8EFPtCYGzlmOfVs5HEDkICG7y_qvCyCwf6Mmm_XDTij0zBZ8P0Z5l8c3OtGq-9_5D4RfDeWhGX/s1600/DSCN5116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvG3wl_TtQG_8ALUs9L1YMk7oO4NnTGnMW2BOg9fYviWAYbrEXRq4zkkJeXOZxp16Gy8EFPtCYGzlmOfVs5HEDkICG7y_qvCyCwf6Mmm_XDTij0zBZ8P0Z5l8c3OtGq-9_5D4RfDeWhGX/s400/DSCN5116.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foundation and floor framing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DPOsmLmPtNjrn94dNfN6qyO_fmyx3J3nAgyXwqG3TYDP-WgwujnSXqHNPMzzeJw8K57xD7sF4opDUqI6MhsJ4hgOff4iOy79jBhRjsZYzKXT5WUTA3G0QwF1GbQeqlN___pQbDvWd_ro/s1600/DSCN5204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DPOsmLmPtNjrn94dNfN6qyO_fmyx3J3nAgyXwqG3TYDP-WgwujnSXqHNPMzzeJw8K57xD7sF4opDUqI6MhsJ4hgOff4iOy79jBhRjsZYzKXT5WUTA3G0QwF1GbQeqlN___pQbDvWd_ro/s400/DSCN5204.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art and I stood up the walls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyPCZa1Utr39ktJ6ebMw09GmbzxLSOmY3YYQYnn-7242Fz3CARHjAjkg-Z2TCx7l7H2Sl6oMZx-jtTU_S2RAaGgx5n5iMPJZzoD-hSH38e29JPePwpogiR0Ra1pskISpMjtdcu0sZQa4i/s1600/DSCN5288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyPCZa1Utr39ktJ6ebMw09GmbzxLSOmY3YYQYnn-7242Fz3CARHjAjkg-Z2TCx7l7H2Sl6oMZx-jtTU_S2RAaGgx5n5iMPJZzoD-hSH38e29JPePwpogiR0Ra1pskISpMjtdcu0sZQa4i/s400/DSCN5288.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A roof, insulation, and housewrap were next. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4wvCgMUW62ligzIUcNPY65TdF_I-jKLQvqfSstnDgzAQT0OCWOJpkd4XFUBfc2-MJaREgI_KtWJGlXPMYhfnZyed9r1WjXmAR5HkAhLV3o0L9Ljl2Q9QHDxQBi7x3Pjaos9wzTRik2c1/s1600/DSCN5331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4wvCgMUW62ligzIUcNPY65TdF_I-jKLQvqfSstnDgzAQT0OCWOJpkd4XFUBfc2-MJaREgI_KtWJGlXPMYhfnZyed9r1WjXmAR5HkAhLV3o0L9Ljl2Q9QHDxQBi7x3Pjaos9wzTRik2c1/s400/DSCN5331.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made all the window and door frames from scrap.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHkfvD5QdfPKvVLOk0mTfKOZWsuyi6Zc2-qU0o52m7RM_6X_8KYBkLDT1G4XJUBxIbrLCUluzHJ6UL8XDwT7aaAiLYWY7e870nWbZuUOEgx4d_VStSchQsFRuRXa8_0MxqY7or4GVTPpc/s1600/DSCN5409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHkfvD5QdfPKvVLOk0mTfKOZWsuyi6Zc2-qU0o52m7RM_6X_8KYBkLDT1G4XJUBxIbrLCUluzHJ6UL8XDwT7aaAiLYWY7e870nWbZuUOEgx4d_VStSchQsFRuRXa8_0MxqY7or4GVTPpc/s400/DSCN5409.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With horizontal skip sheathing and the window and door frames installed, next was the cedar shingle siding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHaaLG8DE4rCEV5I3G-QzxG6KhRkeflLgQanfyALDyeGj_8O7SvB89-_zRmuGauAeeM5Kvlzo1bXjdgRDpOCZXsaI6uGRbwZMkHSH0poP5lRS_tfp-rPbS0tRxoLIh73VlTqq81Dgm010/s1600/DSCN5884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHaaLG8DE4rCEV5I3G-QzxG6KhRkeflLgQanfyALDyeGj_8O7SvB89-_zRmuGauAeeM5Kvlzo1bXjdgRDpOCZXsaI6uGRbwZMkHSH0poP5lRS_tfp-rPbS0tRxoLIh73VlTqq81Dgm010/s400/DSCN5884.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made the window sash and door panels from reclaimed douglas fir 2x12 joists.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSPH2m3zEQkhIpCb176CZJAh15N_IxAdPslSWLqqZw5qxQr9fYmye6c_7THQwrzXyYdqv5rEcOwcwPUyvGcpr1TF8cKADlpPggjRFDIo6PoXXfpzi5KAKLgo8mKxMdwYbQ13ISvJZ8Qvf/s1600/DSCN5887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSPH2m3zEQkhIpCb176CZJAh15N_IxAdPslSWLqqZw5qxQr9fYmye6c_7THQwrzXyYdqv5rEcOwcwPUyvGcpr1TF8cKADlpPggjRFDIo6PoXXfpzi5KAKLgo8mKxMdwYbQ13ISvJZ8Qvf/s400/DSCN5887.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Followed by closing in the run with hardware cloth to keep out raccoons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_-94nXJtaHTKTDbhhXDfrsOaJk0vjClIH7SvcRK2oGqNwdWmz5zR1bgKC60Wegna1YYxFzJRWQvSFu2dvYRPMhyphenhyphen0cW6m5nCyASsMo1IWI1Qdbmkfi56cjjqa4uKI055WqIiwQehyphenhyphen6aW5/s1600/DSCN0032.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_-94nXJtaHTKTDbhhXDfrsOaJk0vjClIH7SvcRK2oGqNwdWmz5zR1bgKC60Wegna1YYxFzJRWQvSFu2dvYRPMhyphenhyphen0cW6m5nCyASsMo1IWI1Qdbmkfi56cjjqa4uKI055WqIiwQehyphenhyphen6aW5/s320/DSCN0032.jpeg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have eight rhode island reds. Nice layers, but a little noisy.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
We put a series of posts about building the coop on the Green Roof Growers blog:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2011/03/beginning-chicken-coop.html" target="_blank">Beginning the Chicken Coop</a><br />
<a href="http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2011/03/chicken-coop-walls-going-up.html" target="_blank">Chicken Coop Walls Going Up</a><br />
<a href="http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2011/04/more-chicken-coop-anatomy.html" target="_blank">More Chicken Coop Anatomy</a><br />
<a href="http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2011/04/pictures-chicken-coop-and-community.html" target="_blank">Pictures: Chicken Coop and Community Garden</a><br />
<a href="http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2011/04/chicken-coop-update.html" target="_blank">Chicken Coop Update</a><br />
<a href="http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2011/05/more-progress-on-chicken-coop.html" target="_blank">More Progress on the Chicken Coop</a><br />
<a href="http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2011/05/8-humans-celebrate-8-chickens-home.html" target="_blank">8 Humans Celebrate 8 Chickens Home</a>Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579140186210259475.post-43198522384169530162012-01-12T09:00:00.008-06:002015-12-31T15:52:24.155-06:0018: Metal ShopIn 1992 I built the garage. At 800 square feet it was always more space than I needed and so it became storage of one kind or another over the years. About four years ago my machinist/artist friend Blake needed a place to house the equipment from his recently dismantled machine shop and I agreed to rent him one of the three garage bays.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
(Click on any image for a larger view.) </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qzg7AHRvT90ut-uvuPyP5XahD9-0qJqoR8WQNEo13tNVCvK9nn2PyxscBwfRd_tXW0RAzwzcyRzP0CX_UX32RRrJb5Emq5HmoItQt3P4RWxvhR8OP6FYOpcpZlOIR_FV6aoUYUIiGSLB/s1600/DSCN1499.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qzg7AHRvT90ut-uvuPyP5XahD9-0qJqoR8WQNEo13tNVCvK9nn2PyxscBwfRd_tXW0RAzwzcyRzP0CX_UX32RRrJb5Emq5HmoItQt3P4RWxvhR8OP6FYOpcpZlOIR_FV6aoUYUIiGSLB/s400/DSCN1499.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blake next to one of his sculptures in Greektown.</td></tr>
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<br />
I've been curious about those industrial machines ever since they appeared. In 2010 I asked Blake if he wanted to work with me to reconstitute his shop in my garage. He agreed, having projects of his own that had been put on hold while his tools were in storage. My interest was in learning how to work with metal, something that's fascinated and/or intimidated me for a long while.<br />
<br />
So I started another construction project.<br />
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We didn't want the space feel like a garage, so that meant a little extra work. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wjUOAlEgKWDC4hOCkTM57_UFlK6WZnMlH4KZpk8TOmYvq_nfuKPTL6Zp562qCi30cgdNWu8tCZWPjGtJJN_SmvhHyUKXwn6sB3NmPkQcBSurLHUG2zJhELWBL0iB9emfEF2rhDCy2JMH/s1600/DSC08835.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wjUOAlEgKWDC4hOCkTM57_UFlK6WZnMlH4KZpk8TOmYvq_nfuKPTL6Zp562qCi30cgdNWu8tCZWPjGtJJN_SmvhHyUKXwn6sB3NmPkQcBSurLHUG2zJhELWBL0iB9emfEF2rhDCy2JMH/s400/DSC08835.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had previously installed a series of temporary posts and beams under the joists to handle the added loads imposed by the <a href="http://onemanshands.blogspot.com/2012/01/16-rooftop-garden.html" target="_blank">rooftop garden</a>. The first step was to put in a permanent steel beam in their place.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rCZ0O7b7xFcHyg_DqlenJAhHySMgT2N4j3UqgplvRof7I7wmjVlzCr11bUy9nd2EbahwllQBlU4CPTlWb_FI-wAz8wo8YL9bYBE2gK7TFEgAwKj2_bNaL93d251l6KkatI_4rs3Nv6cL/s1600/DSC08850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rCZ0O7b7xFcHyg_DqlenJAhHySMgT2N4j3UqgplvRof7I7wmjVlzCr11bUy9nd2EbahwllQBlU4CPTlWb_FI-wAz8wo8YL9bYBE2gK7TFEgAwKj2_bNaL93d251l6KkatI_4rs3Nv6cL/s400/DSC08850.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were two pieces of I-beam, the longest, at 19ft, weighed 350 pounds.</td></tr>
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With only two of us working, finding a way to safely raise the beams to the ceiling was a little bit of a challenge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH33tSmFRYlKImh3o3tYlRUQ2w4dF_EqNwKJrYA0Yf4CMRm07MX4xCOGvxJHcv4ZDoYtSiC1aIRbju0SaRR48zmI-VhYJetsfPiw22-sXhCJobS3NTWJKauHTB6WsOgGfGbVTG1MFFmfM1/s1600/DSC08937-6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH33tSmFRYlKImh3o3tYlRUQ2w4dF_EqNwKJrYA0Yf4CMRm07MX4xCOGvxJHcv4ZDoYtSiC1aIRbju0SaRR48zmI-VhYJetsfPiw22-sXhCJobS3NTWJKauHTB6WsOgGfGbVTG1MFFmfM1/s400/DSC08937-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I built temporary walls to support a welded cross piece that we clipped come along winches into. I did this on each end of the beam. Blake and I are getting ready to hoist the beam up to the ceiling.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR10XJvnAkWsdXHltySOs1v-saF4TsOpHvOUB1XQRdEZ3Z0_b3jgeTjm-lQ_3-dMpAw2H3CIjSbmn8OIMyvOAHPa_f4lJxhU4lDm3kmyITFnbhLshxsTNCnysD34p_9xbi7KZCOVLzRWIE/s1600/DSC08945-6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR10XJvnAkWsdXHltySOs1v-saF4TsOpHvOUB1XQRdEZ3Z0_b3jgeTjm-lQ_3-dMpAw2H3CIjSbmn8OIMyvOAHPa_f4lJxhU4lDm3kmyITFnbhLshxsTNCnysD34p_9xbi7KZCOVLzRWIE/s400/DSC08945-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We set it on braces about five feet off the ground before attaching the come along winches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb4N7JmT1VCgQBDAcqfKPQs2rYLgSG2QzyFqmg6n8iURQxbjM5N85m-TeIbGWXuRFgf9yQP5QelfNVKDEP3SaESsgQvUhAlEKBDuOwjCnxnT2nEccX4sKJmiSjAGMltT70otMLYwD-eTa/s1600/DSC08956-6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb4N7JmT1VCgQBDAcqfKPQs2rYLgSG2QzyFqmg6n8iURQxbjM5N85m-TeIbGWXuRFgf9yQP5QelfNVKDEP3SaESsgQvUhAlEKBDuOwjCnxnT2nEccX4sKJmiSjAGMltT70otMLYwD-eTa/s400/DSC08956-6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beam is almost there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HLoTJ7sX7PT1oapfXu4z2QBy_PlD4iL8OIgTWmpokYNhmTU2SF_Nt4tG2HZZdTrk74yTVynIA8XFs0EX1CGpwobwnXlsDkKnDqEFhUX0McAl2CN3_6Y94QlPLF0SKI1wdnlxHyMs9Dcc/s1600/DSC08966-6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HLoTJ7sX7PT1oapfXu4z2QBy_PlD4iL8OIgTWmpokYNhmTU2SF_Nt4tG2HZZdTrk74yTVynIA8XFs0EX1CGpwobwnXlsDkKnDqEFhUX0McAl2CN3_6Y94QlPLF0SKI1wdnlxHyMs9Dcc/s400/DSC08966-6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beam set in pocket cut in concrete block wall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSScQpzdwwZKUSr7mwL37K0gKNTXb_Nssfr1CmoZuSzIXJKFdXdAUP45Qyr_yP3xnCqVhxQxeAqBiC10jlJSp6oGFCy-rLdO1mQLdEg11L52E7oGJoXRtF_GGW6qAOI_87UPiJj0HLtKt/s1600/DSC09275.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSScQpzdwwZKUSr7mwL37K0gKNTXb_Nssfr1CmoZuSzIXJKFdXdAUP45Qyr_yP3xnCqVhxQxeAqBiC10jlJSp6oGFCy-rLdO1mQLdEg11L52E7oGJoXRtF_GGW6qAOI_87UPiJj0HLtKt/s400/DSC09275.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I installed furring strips, insulation, and drywall over the concrete block and on the ceiling.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5nzGyECKx7k5uhQP-FpdgEvcpr-9k1RhV7RI3fIblb4RKnlTy1FPoVaJv9CbfUIP6Xp8PSFld8MjWdSAalWgpZ_DpEHlesxLhyphenhyphen43Htw3Wy2P6_QQmSXpgvVA7Pu6UyiOfSkJiidEAVTn/s1600/DSC09304.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5nzGyECKx7k5uhQP-FpdgEvcpr-9k1RhV7RI3fIblb4RKnlTy1FPoVaJv9CbfUIP6Xp8PSFld8MjWdSAalWgpZ_DpEHlesxLhyphenhyphen43Htw3Wy2P6_QQmSXpgvVA7Pu6UyiOfSkJiidEAVTn/s400/DSC09304.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In progress...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6N9qAuXvyvnehxvQpkh_KAKEB7th6jTbRlwOwgLU8fcbot16DeNYBqK4i13KW4zZsIuTNRcDxOOYiPOtu4sruYDipGspObvSOB_M2nbrlSpPMy_EK5_uMijqb0S-MA1n6WJRjv8HKsUb/s1600/DSCN1462.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6N9qAuXvyvnehxvQpkh_KAKEB7th6jTbRlwOwgLU8fcbot16DeNYBqK4i13KW4zZsIuTNRcDxOOYiPOtu4sruYDipGspObvSOB_M2nbrlSpPMy_EK5_uMijqb0S-MA1n6WJRjv8HKsUb/s400/DSCN1462.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We put in Blake's old Intrepid wood burning stove to heat the shop.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7-YamTAesAvpDMCQVSBMg0g03FeyEvdmsQgQoRCkqLmbv6ayCLs2Wn0JRBxXi_q7T9P-TsDtltZFyB-jqCR1UIw2s98fepzwg2C5DaDhXZLJ2w6GBptDeBbchqakKNqvSbD8s6Jr5REg/s1600/DSC09136.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7-YamTAesAvpDMCQVSBMg0g03FeyEvdmsQgQoRCkqLmbv6ayCLs2Wn0JRBxXi_q7T9P-TsDtltZFyB-jqCR1UIw2s98fepzwg2C5DaDhXZLJ2w6GBptDeBbchqakKNqvSbD8s6Jr5REg/s400/DSC09136.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every fireplace needs a chimney.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIyVoGKRm9eIfhoO6fWyBepcQeWK6iNoyzpRgSlwfr8cmfv5hVNTPuvLlZOtjteRNzL-dCx6qdn24tPMQzB67z2iziPkGhHQw799uuzZpUznQcUjfCH-NKonMmNoy1loCxALRj-MnjVAk/s1600/DSC09128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIyVoGKRm9eIfhoO6fWyBepcQeWK6iNoyzpRgSlwfr8cmfv5hVNTPuvLlZOtjteRNzL-dCx6qdn24tPMQzB67z2iziPkGhHQw799uuzZpUznQcUjfCH-NKonMmNoy1loCxALRj-MnjVAk/s400/DSC09128.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In order to power all the machines I ran 3/0 wire in an 1-1/4" emt conduit from the house out to a new 100 amp sub-panel in the shop. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7-YamTAesAvpDMCQVSBMg0g03FeyEvdmsQgQoRCkqLmbv6ayCLs2Wn0JRBxXi_q7T9P-TsDtltZFyB-jqCR1UIw2s98fepzwg2C5DaDhXZLJ2w6GBptDeBbchqakKNqvSbD8s6Jr5REg/s1600/DSC09136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhzFriLdSSgn1QNts_F7u0lIfPRSlj5_Z1_apYJwWZU9xxNnTpinArX58bxq88jRL0IqxQ6LiV6N2SU9Cnokss2MDzQ7PAk0tM3u2SAuN_5SjdudPgC1XO8OJ9IeRuSRbZ9Dpoo1Hdv04/s1600/DSC09278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhzFriLdSSgn1QNts_F7u0lIfPRSlj5_Z1_apYJwWZU9xxNnTpinArX58bxq88jRL0IqxQ6LiV6N2SU9Cnokss2MDzQ7PAk0tM3u2SAuN_5SjdudPgC1XO8OJ9IeRuSRbZ9Dpoo1Hdv04/s400/DSC09278.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blake has an old motorcycle as well as plenty of old flat metal stock. Using an electric winch that hangs from the new I-beam, we can drag the heavy sheets of metal anywhere in the shop.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzGJknrNVN7XLgSVTj4md_d4vXek8DUVnSvLpiZJmhKCzgAiQbnk2YoDUYnp050hD_MKEHDJKHn-GyeZTEgb4LXFrMMJ0bingaL112UXdJEXzHruLEoxO7TbYQCFpPtkXkC3CQTNv6G2A/s1600/DSCN0044.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzGJknrNVN7XLgSVTj4md_d4vXek8DUVnSvLpiZJmhKCzgAiQbnk2YoDUYnp050hD_MKEHDJKHn-GyeZTEgb4LXFrMMJ0bingaL112UXdJEXzHruLEoxO7TbYQCFpPtkXkC3CQTNv6G2A/s400/DSCN0044.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was nice to get the mill in place.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueQuONzEjdqj6IceG1zhaO3iq53koOAp4hMmj9D9RULmfUBh-mnLJhGkP2s52CoS1qEprxCNGDOsR5jYTz8_47YPljPGsDbYF79XdqRiMVMy-kDsCt8wJfesvtWbuhAQ0VQcsKpK574IZ/s1600/DSCN0049.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueQuONzEjdqj6IceG1zhaO3iq53koOAp4hMmj9D9RULmfUBh-mnLJhGkP2s52CoS1qEprxCNGDOsR5jYTz8_47YPljPGsDbYF79XdqRiMVMy-kDsCt8wJfesvtWbuhAQ0VQcsKpK574IZ/s400/DSCN0049.jpeg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lathe collets make for a nice picture.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmW5qm-RySIraO6XpWzgWBq2L3Hq5APpwhtPYe5x548loxsdFLG9t6iFZTAYwg9M_1TP_pSXSFuhajthIqEQeFed7Jxwp_7M3Ey3gzgJe-No6iAu-QiFPtye59RqMlzPR25n7R13HZPSD/s1600/DSCN1457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmW5qm-RySIraO6XpWzgWBq2L3Hq5APpwhtPYe5x548loxsdFLG9t6iFZTAYwg9M_1TP_pSXSFuhajthIqEQeFed7Jxwp_7M3Ey3gzgJe-No6iAu-QiFPtye59RqMlzPR25n7R13HZPSD/s400/DSCN1457.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We suspended a metal storage rack, holding up to 7000 lbs of tube, bars, rods, and other shapes, above the welding table.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uwvgDWdoELMIxIJBVCNmGiykygoi3JfhcgiwUlE5-hPvTzCTdzNjifj5pgDZoBl37LqPbdh8mmm5xam6so2AQyNgTi-byo5qL8D7eYeFq93mOd3TovodvGrfXk3cx15n_f-foDtHWFM0/s1600/DSCN1463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DcATxvzG24LXiuQXr6fhJ7M0Ls1QanZFmzC6xZbXgYZzSWyfzHYshGk-iJ9nZ3asCgyKF0G8VFpXyrxq4f_TKndeM1kyeLDGbXvCq9ho43cH-3bAwiuCpMICuW37XmEprFQCk5kgKWv2/s1600/DSCN1464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DcATxvzG24LXiuQXr6fhJ7M0Ls1QanZFmzC6xZbXgYZzSWyfzHYshGk-iJ9nZ3asCgyKF0G8VFpXyrxq4f_TKndeM1kyeLDGbXvCq9ho43cH-3bAwiuCpMICuW37XmEprFQCk5kgKWv2/s400/DSCN1464.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I put in a sub-panel to distribute power to the large amperage outlets used by the welders and plasma cutter.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02Mk3V5SWXRYiHXPaUsCwJsBNNqHraBQifKAki3T4uutpTqny-S3whN4y7ABgwxMs4MlMPMSmXcKdL7RArSwGoauTOgdZJpEVfvlQaQjKr870j_iGF4ZEnI9Pfq89jIpjYgMJRRW-Fgt9/s1600/DSCN1459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02Mk3V5SWXRYiHXPaUsCwJsBNNqHraBQifKAki3T4uutpTqny-S3whN4y7ABgwxMs4MlMPMSmXcKdL7RArSwGoauTOgdZJpEVfvlQaQjKr870j_iGF4ZEnI9Pfq89jIpjYgMJRRW-Fgt9/s400/DSCN1459.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hardinge HLV-H is one of two lathes. One of these days I'll strip it and give it a new coat of paint.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7CihEni5YTK98AQPHiRb2kGQfdUw7Rv3j6w0CVphPatw6him3_mRR700Xalo2Nkj2IHS9U5YoY8QEsJGbKc9zTZ0RqJVJPAZEObJEg2oLoOMs4IxvZ5OMuTWb8H2PDi0vSJ886omiW4m/s1600/DSCN1460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7CihEni5YTK98AQPHiRb2kGQfdUw7Rv3j6w0CVphPatw6him3_mRR700Xalo2Nkj2IHS9U5YoY8QEsJGbKc9zTZ0RqJVJPAZEObJEg2oLoOMs4IxvZ5OMuTWb8H2PDi0vSJ886omiW4m/s400/DSCN1460.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCFkZ4GKCt6EBiHDl2iKjZOIMwipR_eovsWy1ZzCMuh3_qCEp9xyYAy1EGvOCf-W6vZD-USgy_VpmQzR3uXd0FVM9LVMn9SF6l0DAB2HyyaHlGFbZ6aXvA-inBxMLGXgLc_xDSWk7ykdE/s1600/DSCN1466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCFkZ4GKCt6EBiHDl2iKjZOIMwipR_eovsWy1ZzCMuh3_qCEp9xyYAy1EGvOCf-W6vZD-USgy_VpmQzR3uXd0FVM9LVMn9SF6l0DAB2HyyaHlGFbZ6aXvA-inBxMLGXgLc_xDSWk7ykdE/s400/DSCN1466.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ran compressed air lines to all the machines. Here I'm pointing to the series of air drying filters that are in the line leading to the plasma cutter. </td></tr>
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For an example of the kind of work we did in the shop, check out <a href="http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2014/06/hoops-for-hops.html" target="_blank">this post</a> on the tunnel trellis we made for a nearby community garden.Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com0