OT - What are you doing right now?

shtgunal3

@lousubcap thank you sir. I’m not sure why I’ve waited so long. I’ve had this wood for roughly 10 ten years. I saved it from some industrial carts that we were scrapping at work. Finally decided to do something with it. 

shtgunal3

@WeberWho it looks like our stain choices are very similar in color. I originally wanted more of a reddish tint but was well pleased with this once tried on a sample piece. Good luck with your project. Looking good so far. I plan to apply at least 3 coats on the table with a light sanding between each.

WeberWho

shtgunal3 said:

@WeberWho it looks like our stain choices are very similar in color. I originally wanted more of a reddish tint but was well pleased with this once tried on a sample piece. Good luck with your project. Looking good so far. I plan to apply at least 3 coats on the table with a light sanding between each.

I've had the table sitting over at my parents the past few years as I spent a fair amount of time restoring it the first time around but we ran into trouble when spraying it. We ended up with microscopic bubbling in the stain. It's some weird wood. I'm not sure what it is. We sent some pictures to my brother-in-law who's a woodshop teacher and cabinet maker and he wasn't able to identify the wood from any pictures we sent. Whatever wood it is it didn't work the best with spraying. So I was stuck sanding it back down again but this time I hand wiped the stain. No issues with the four leaves so far but I still have the main table tops to do tomorrow. 

I completely lucked out with the stain. Since the table was up at my parents place my Dad had some custom tinted stains sitting out as he was working on window casements. I grabbed a few cans of the custom tinted stain and did some test spots on the back of the leaves to see if I was close to the color of the kitchen table base that I needed to come close to matching. I had a dead ringer with the second can I grabbed. I don't think I could have come any closer to a match. Pure luck. 

I'm not looking for perfection as much as I was the first go around but just need a functioning kitchen table at this point. Hand wiping and 3-4 coats of poly with some sanding in between will be called good enough for this project. 

Ozzie_Isaac

SamIAm2 said:

Update for @GrateEggspectations:

Back on my "Paying a lot of money for a project that you can't tell we did after completion - how I do it" per @kl8ton.

Visit from the plumber this morning. I have new openings in drywall,  #1: 

  
This is the bedroom on the other side of the bathroom sink drain. Going to really enjoy putting back the drywall - NOT. It is textured and then painted drywall.



Did not have any of this tile so removing drywall made sense and an easier fix FOR THE PLUMBER. 

View from the closet of the drain connection:



Drywall opening #2 is in SWMBO's makeup area. Removing the sink from this area so the drain and water lines are sealed. Was interesting watching the plumber solder the hot and cold lines in that cramped space.  



This is the other area the plumber worked on today.



The shower pan with two inches of water held back by a very expensive plug. Inspection by city is supposed to happen tomorrow morning for both the piping and the shower pan. Once those are passed, the tile guys can come in and redo the bench seat and tile the shower and the other areas that are currently dusty concrete. 

@Ozzie_Isaac  There were some large checks written today for the concrete guys and the plumber but I'm pretty sure by the time you get done with your outdoor kitchen you will have spent a lot more than I have.

That is a significant amount of internal utility work going on.  I am amazed at what can be done with existing layouts.  I suspect you will be relieved once it is all done.

Blending textured drywall, I have found, can be easier than smooth walls, depending on the texture method.  Skip trowel is the easiest for me.  A wet sponge and a careful eye really helps the blending.

On the cost front, I could have bought my first house and a 2022 Corvette to go in the garage.  Cost seemed high until I saw the amount of work.  A crew of 4 masons have been working since end of December, 6 days a week.  That is not counting the plumbers, electricians, tile guys, shotcrete team, metal workers, and dirt work crew.  I also think the designer did not measure correctly.  We have had to order extra everything, blocks, cement, pavers, coping, tiles, etc.

I don't think I will do a project like this again.  It has taken a significant amount of my time and focus.  I have 3D modeled almost everything, even drew up an entire set of plans for the BBQ.  Pool, patio, stairs, lights, etc have all been laid out by me.  We have had 2 separate designers involved, but I found it difficult to articulate my vision to them and you can tell they are used to small flat rectangular yards with modern style pools (plus another 4 we interviewed and had bid the job). The hardest part has been making it real.  The pool designer mis-measured the elevation drop by over 24"!!  Luckily we had the room to push the pool back to account for the extra steps required and maintain the patio size. Realized the issue with elevation day before they dug the pool.  The wife was very unhappy.  She hates stairs. 

 It seems every part has required some change/compromise.  Another example is the bar top.  I designed for a 44" bar top, but instead of laying the electrical outlets horizontal, they did them vertical which added a few extra inches.  By the time I caught it, they had laid the block and poured the bar top.  I now have a 47" bar top, that due to patio slope is 49" at the far end.  Luckily my family are all tall, but my short friends will need step stools.

Thankfully I am working from home so I can usually check on certain items and talk to the subs.  I cannot imagine doing this and only being able to check in the evening and only talk to GC.

Plus my BiL is a contractor so I send him pics and ask questions, and a good friend is a very skilled plumber/tiler/framer so I pick his brain on things.

Overall, it is very stressful.  For the money I expect a certain level of perfection, and if I were not watching and measuring constantly, I do not think I would have been happy with the end product. The company is very nonchalant about things. They come highly recommended, and are not the low cost supplier. Their subs are very responsive and work well with me, but I don't think I should have to be involved with non-aesthetic things. Still not convinced I will be 100% satisfied, but I am ready for it to be done.

Here is a picture from this weekend:

Ozzie_Isaac

Oh, and I have decided @lousubcap is the absolute nicest, most supportive, and positive person I have ever encountered online.

GrateEggspectations

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Oh, and I have decided @lousubcap is the absolute nicest, most supportive, and positive person I have ever encountered online.

This is one of those times the agree button is so sorely missed. 

ColbyLang

Hunting down Frozen LTL carriers. Just had 2 drop confirmed loads due to Covid outbreaks at cold storage facilities. This sucks

Ozzie_Isaac

ColbyLang said:

Hunting down Frozen LTL carriers. Just had 2 drop confirmed loads due to Covid outbreaks at cold storage facilities. This sucks

Oh man.  Trucking.is hard all around. I imagine refrigerated and frozen goods are even harder.to move.  Good luck.

ColbyLang

Transportation is a constant nightmare. The added cost to the end user is borderline absurd. And every company just about knows what the others are charging. There’s about a $150 discrepancy in any quote you get. 

kl8ton

@SamIAm2





Thanks for the update! 

That tool is not that expensive.  I had to buy a size for my plumber that he didn't have.  Here's the 2" Jet Swet.  I can't remember what size I had to purchase but it was$70.

fishlessman

replaced a water heater back 4 months ago, looks like it was practice to change one out at the camp. 6 years on this one and the threaded inlet pipe rotted thru the pipe threads. guessing the pipe doesnt have a standard wall thickness for threads, cheap crap.  going to be fun, this ones buried in a hole in the closet behind the tub

Ozzie_Isaac

fishlessman said:

replaced a water heater back 4 months ago, looks like it was practice to change one out at the camp. 6 years on this one and the threaded inlet pipe rotted thru the pipe threads. guessing the pipe doesnt have a standard wall thickness for threads, cheap crap.  going to be fun, this ones buried in a hole in the closet behind the tub

Buy a camp they say.  It will be fun the say.  It will be relaxing and way to get away from life for a while they say.

fishlessman

Ozzie_Isaac said:

fishlessman said:

replaced a water heater back 4 months ago, looks like it was practice to change one out at the camp. 6 years on this one and the threaded inlet pipe rotted thru the pipe threads. guessing the pipe doesnt have a standard wall thickness for threads, cheap crap.  going to be fun, this ones buried in a hole in the closet behind the tub

Buy a camp they say.  It will be fun the say.  It will be relaxing and way to get away from life for a while they say.

atleast it happened in the winter when its too friggin cold lately to do much else. the one at home went in the spring, i got around to having hot water in the fall. if the boat were in the water i wouldnt even think of replacing it til december when i break ice and take the boat out. what you say seems about right from watching the neighbors from my gin drinking chair. watched one rake about 3 acres of the woods, still dont know what that was about

SamIAm2

@kl8ton - My plumber said the tool was expensive and when considering a one time purchase you are correct. I look at the number of tools my plumber needed in order to do all the things required to get his part of this project to completion and it is staggering. Having to replace a tool that could take months to acquire could have a knock on effect to his business.  

@Ozzie_Isaac - Thanks for you for the thoughtful comments. Keeping focus on all the small details of a project over such a long period is challenging. Your commitment to your project is admirable.

I will follow your drywall suggestions. There are two areas where I can practice and where "good enough" will be acceptable since, in the case of the bedroom wall, there will be a bed in front of the patch for the foreseeable future. The other area will be the closet and again it will be mostly covered by a large cabinet and counter top. I am hoping that when it comes time to take care of the large wall in SWMBO's makeup area my skills will be up to the task.

It will be a much larger job since the plumber will be replacing shower valves and repiping for two new shower heads from the drywall side.  One for a handheld and the other for the rain head over the replaced bench seat. Yes, as I get closer to the finish mission creep is occurring. Thankfully that "upgrade" can wait for another 10 to 14 days. 

Stay strong and hyper focused as you get closer to completion. I look forward to seeing the progress on your outdoor kitchen/pool project; thanks for sharing.

kl8ton

@SamIAm2

🍻  here's to a flawless inspection! 

Ozzie_Isaac

SamIAm2 said:

I will follow your drywall suggestions. There are two areas where I can practice and where "good enough" will be acceptable since, in the case of the bedroom wall, there will be a bed in front of the patch for the foreseeable future. The other area will be the closet and again it will be mostly covered by a large cabinet and counter top. I am hoping that when it comes time to take care of the large wall in SWMBO's makeup area my skills will be up to the task.

One other tip, make sure you primer the dry wall patch and blend the primer out well past the patch. For my personal work I use two coats of primer.  Then paint to match.  Usually two, if not three coats to match.  Drywall mud soaks up paint like mad.

Edit: @fishlessman 's recommendation below is a great idea.  If you can live with access panels, I would do those instead.  Especially in closet spaces.

fishlessman

SamIAm2 said:

@kl8ton - My plumber said the tool was expensive and when considering a one time purchase you are correct. I look at the number of tools my plumber needed in order to do all the things required to get his part of this project to completion and it is staggering. Having to replace a tool that could take months to acquire could have a knock on effect to his business.  

@Ozzie_Isaac - Thanks for you for the thoughtful comments. Keeping focus on all the small details of a project over such a long period is challenging. Your commitment to your project is admirable.

I will follow your drywall suggestions. There are two areas where I can practice and where "good enough" will be acceptable since, in the case of the bedroom wall, there will be a bed in front of the patch for the foreseeable future. The other area will be the closet and again it will be mostly covered by a large cabinet and counter top. I am hoping that when it comes time to take care of the large wall in SWMBO's makeup area my skills will be up to the task.

It will be a much larger job since the plumber will be replacing shower valves and repiping for two new shower heads from the drywall side.  One for a handheld and the other for the rain head over the replaced bench seat. Yes, as I get closer to the finish mission creep is occurring. Thankfully that "upgrade" can wait for another 10 to 14 days. 

Stay strong and hyper focused as you get closer to completion. I look forward to seeing the progress on your outdoor kitchen/pool project; thanks for sharing.

sometimes its good to just put an access panel in places like closets, especially if the shower plumbing is in an area that the panel is appropriate.

SamIAm2

@fishlessman - More mission creep, but thanks for this. Easier to build two boxes of the appropriate size for any future work on the drywall side. I can always find photographs in frames to cover up the access points. 

SamIAm2

kl8ton said:

@SamIAm2

🍻  here's to a flawless inspection! 

Rough Plumbing and Shower Leak test PASSED! Looking at the paperwork that started this whole project I see the outside cast iron sewer line was replaced in August of 2018. Long time to finally see this getting closer to completion, real soon now.

Ozzie_Isaac

SamIAm2 said:

kl8ton said:

@SamIAm2

🍻  here's to a flawless inspection! 

Rough Plumbing and Shower Leak test PASSED! Looking at the paperwork that started this whole project I see the outside cast iron sewer line was replaced in August of 2018. Long time to finally see this getting closer to completion, real soon now.

Congrats on the pass.  Another step closer!  We don't have any plumbing inspections outside of the pool items prior to shotcrete.  So I pressure tested the supply line and all BBQ island items before they all got concreted in.  GC told me they never pressure test that because it is on the pool auto-fill line and that takes special fittings they don't have.  I went through the packaging and instructions, turns out the auto-fill system included all the necessary fittings. Added in a ball valve between hose bib and water line and a pressure gauge on the BBQ outlet so I could isolate after pressurizing everything. Held pressure for 24hrs.  We are at on a well, and pressure usually runs around 40psi.  Lower than your municipal water system.

I also sent the GC the instructions for pressure testing their auto-fill line.  Not sure he appreciated that.

FarmingPhD

Just dropped a pint, they are about as relentless as the extended warranty folks when you 8 weeks are up. 

TEXASBGE2018

Had never seen these before today. If you like chips with a little zing, these are awesome 

kl8ton

Ozzie_Isaac said:

SamIAm2 said:

kl8ton said:

@SamIAm2

🍻  here's to a flawless inspection! 

Rough Plumbing and Shower Leak test PASSED! Looking at the paperwork that started this whole project I see the outside cast iron sewer line was replaced in August of 2018. Long time to finally see this getting closer to completion, real soon now.

Congrats on the pass.  Another step closer!  We don't have any plumbing inspections outside of the pool items prior to shotcrete.  So I pressure tested the supply line and all BBQ island items before they all got concreted in.  GC told me they never pressure test that because it is on the pool auto-fill line and that takes special fittings they don't have.  I went through the packaging and instructions, turns out the auto-fill system included all the necessary fittings. Added in a ball valve between hose bib and water line and a pressure gauge on the BBQ outlet so I could isolate after pressurizing everything. Held pressure for 24hrs.  We are at on a well, and pressure usually runs around 40psi.  Lower than your municipal water system.

I also sent the GC the instructions for pressure testing their auto-fill line.  Not sure he appreciated that.

How deep is your well?  Just curious. Most wells around us (MI) are 40-120 feet.  I just ran into someone around the corner that is at 280. Is it similar around you? 

Ozzie_Isaac

kl8ton said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

SamIAm2 said:

kl8ton said:

@SamIAm2

🍻  here's to a flawless inspection! 

Rough Plumbing and Shower Leak test PASSED! Looking at the paperwork that started this whole project I see the outside cast iron sewer line was replaced in August of 2018. Long time to finally see this getting closer to completion, real soon now.

Congrats on the pass.  Another step closer!  We don't have any plumbing inspections outside of the pool items prior to shotcrete.  So I pressure tested the supply line and all BBQ island items before they all got concreted in.  GC told me they never pressure test that because it is on the pool auto-fill line and that takes special fittings they don't have.  I went through the packaging and instructions, turns out the auto-fill system included all the necessary fittings. Added in a ball valve between hose bib and water line and a pressure gauge on the BBQ outlet so I could isolate after pressurizing everything. Held pressure for 24hrs.  We are at on a well, and pressure usually runs around 40psi.  Lower than your municipal water system.

I also sent the GC the instructions for pressure testing their auto-fill line.  Not sure he appreciated that.

How deep is your well?  Just curious. Most wells around us (MI) are 40-120 feet.  I just ran into someone around the corner that is at 280. Is it similar around you? 

My well is 590 feet.  Living in the AZ desert has many benefits, water is not one of them.

FarmingPhD

Homemade cinnamon rolls this morning with the fork.

Battleborn

Celebrating a win last night with a little smoked butt cook to put mostly in the freezer. 

SamIAm2

It's happening now:


Durock being added to shower, then mud, concrete block, and brick being used to build the new bench seat. Two guys from the tile place are here. No tile work scheduled yet. 

I spent time this morning getting ready for the drywall work.



That shows how much room I have to pull the loose drywall together. Egging neighbor came down to help; held the board while I screwed in the drywall from the bedroom on the other side.



That part of the job is now done. Get to play with drywall mud and texture this week. 



That grey grout line on the wall shows where SWMBO's cabinet will go back in place once the tile work is done. So no matter how badly my patching repair turns out, not much of it will be seen.

Oh and @fishlessman -  you can see an access panel I added under the wire shelf where the new water line (PEX) was added. It replaced the line for an electric on demand water heater when it was removed after it leaked, twice. I do plan to add two access panels on the backside of the shower when that work happens. Thanks for the nudge.

SamIAm2

Durock added to the shower:




Below is the threshold ready for mud and probably a travertine marble piece.





This will be filled in by the tile guys. It should be dry by the time they work their way from the bench seat to the shower entrance. They will also mud the seams of the pieces of Durock added to the bottom of the of the shower.

How the bench seat was put together. First course of concrete block mudded to the pan.



Bricks are used as filler for the block holes.



Second course of block:



Mud is added to fill in around the brick for every course. Didn't get a photo of the top layer. He used brick as the last course and verified that small square tile will fit between existing tile and the dried mud top of the covered brick layer.



Slope added to the top of the last course.



Ready for tile work. Not sure when this will happen. 

SamIAm2

@Ozzie_Isaac - I only hire the mason for a couple of hours. 

lousubcap

@SamIAm2 - Thanks for the detailed posts/pics.  Talents here are impressive.  I am confident I couldn't even conceptualize such a project much less execute.