Just about there.....Will we see a "Gold Nail" ceremony..??

Gary S Wrote:As for carrying four 12 foot sheets like the kid, not me! It'll be one 8 foot sheet at a time. Although I had previously decided to sub out the sheetrock, I am now thinking to do it myself. We'll see.

Im a little late in replying here to this, but Gary you may want to re-consider whether you really want to do it your self or sub-out the sheetrock work. Hanging the ceiling is NO easy task, and it really is TOUGH work. Ive helped do it before, and man was it a work-out LOL. Hanging the sheets on the walls vertically (cant speak for horizontally but I cant image it is that much different) is a piece of cake (well when you dont screw up in the cutting department!) but those ceilings are hard work. If you and your buddies dont feel 100% up for the work on the ceilings, i would hire a professional crew to come in and hang them for you. That way you still save some money doing the walls yourself.... Just a suggestion though

BTW, the rapid progress you guys have made on this structure is amazing! Its all coming together so nice, im jealous!

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Ever heard that expression, "I'm in the Dog House"? That sure is a fine looking "dog house" you've built yourself there Gary.

...so when are ya moving in?

tetters Wrote:Ever heard that expression, "I'm in the Dog House"? That sure is a fine looking "dog house" you've built yourself there Gary.

...so when are ya moving in?

LMAO

Steamtrains Wrote:Just about there.....Will we see a "Gold Nail" ceremony..??

Gus, you know how these things go... it may actually never be "completely finished"!

Brownsville... you ever get up to Houston?

Josh, believe me, I know what you are talking about. The smart thing to do would be to sub it out. I don't know if I could get a contractor to just do the ceiling though. It is a pretty small job already. Or if they did do just the ceiling, they would probably charge an arm and a leg.

I saw a "sheetrock lift" on the net. It was like a jack on wheels with a frame where you would lay a sheet on it, then it would lift it up to the ceiling. If I can rent one of those, it would be a snap. Or I can build a levertype lift system with some 2x4s. Vicki and I did a small ceiling about 20 years ago.... first house we owned, we did a complete kitchen remodel. Ripped everything out to the studs and started over.

I know I can hang the sheetrock, but what really has me worried is finishing it!

Edit: correct typo

Tetters, that's good. But I don't get in the doghouse too often with my wife. We're both pretty easy going.

I saw an episode of a program on one of the diy networks about a couple who remodeled part of their house. They bought one of those drywall lifts used and when the job was done they sold it for what they paid for it! If you can find one for the right price, it might be cheaper to buy it, use it, and sell it afterwards.

Good idea, Russ. I'll be looking for one of those lifts.

On another note, my friend who had his water pipes freeze and break is redoing his entire plumbing system for the most part. Today, he told me he was renting a trenching machine to do the underground, which is only about 70 feet. I made a deal with him, I am going to pay half the cost and use the trencher to do my 100 feet for the electrical conduit.

Progress has been slow since I am only working an hour or two after I get home from the regular job, but I did pretty good so far this week.

DocWayne, the roof vent fan photo as i promised:

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Josh, looks like we are doing the sheetrock after all. I bought 18 sheets today, need a total of 70-something. I'll buy a little at a time just to spread out the work of hauling it to the building. Man, the yard is just almost dry enough to drive on. but darn if it isn't supposed to rain for the next 2 days.

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Here is one of the windows from the inside. Little bitty thing, hardly worth the trouble. DocWayne, you are right that the building didn't need windows, but i just couldn't bring myself to have zero.... something psychological, some inner need for sunshine, something.

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Today I finished the 2x4 backer for the brick trim, then I started closing in the eaves with hardi-board. That hardi-board is as heavy as it is expensive. And honestly, a person is probably better off buying regular boards and then replacing it every ten years or whatever if it rots. For example, the 1x6 hardiplank I used for the fascia was 16 dollars for a twelve foot board! A regular 1x6 isn't near that expensive!

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I'm surprised that you didn't use vinyl or aluminum, Gary. It's very easy to work with for soffit, and, of course, the vented type would eliminate the need for separate vents. Probably a lot cheaper than that Hardi-Board, too, and certainly a lot lighter. The facia, however, would likely require a brake, although you should be able to rent one.

It also occurred to me that I hope you've remembered to plan for an access hatch for your attic, not only to install the insulation, but in case that fan ever needs servicing. Since you'll be running power up there for the fan, it might be worthwhile to install a receptacle and perhaps a switched light up there, too, while you're at it.

Wayne

I agree on the light in the attic...it sure is no fun roaming around up there hauling a lighted extension cord....
Did you ever think of putting a small john in there...It aint gonna be any fun running back & forth to the house when the need arises, or you need some water to clean up the mess you made while scenicking....
How do those 2x4's work in relation to the brick facing..?

P.D. I hardly ever get up Houston way. But if I do, I'll be sure to let you know....

Hmmmm.... never ever even thought of using aluminum or vinyl in the soffits. I had planned on using Hardiboard since the inception. Guess I am used to just getting what they sell at the HD, and what I've done before or seen done. The aluminum and vinyl would have been much lighter! Doh!

They do make a Hardiplank soffit with the vent holes already in it, and that is what we bought for the lower soffits where the ventilation is needed. I've got seven pieces, 12 foot long, at a whopping $22 each! The soffits on the rakes under the gables are blocked from the attic by the verge/barge rafters (can't remember what is what) so no need for ventilation in the ones already installed as in the photos.

I am planning on an access hatch into the attic, right underneath the fan location, but just a little away from the center of the room so as not to interfere with the layout lighting. I'll box it in with 2x6s and then put some trim around it and cut a square piece of masonite to fit the hole.

Ditto on your suggestions of a receptacle and light in the attic. Even though the attic is only 4.5 feet tall at the peak, never know when a person will need to get up there. As an electrician, I pretty much go overkill on the electrical.... for example, our house has seperately switched receptacles every 25 feet under the eaves and about 20 inches above the ground in the brick for Christmas lights. The switch is by the front door, so it's easy to turn the lights on and off.

And.... I am seriously considering doing the electrical in thinwall conduit.... just for the fun of it!

Steamtrains Wrote:Did you ever think of putting a small john in there...It aint gonna be any fun running back & forth to the house when the need arises, or you need some water to clean up the mess you made while scenicking....

I briefly considered a toilet, but the location of our existing bathrooms and septic system would have required an inordinate amount of pipe and ditching, plus I wasn't sure if we could get enough slope to make it drain. Plus, I would have definitely had to hire a plumber which would add considerably to the expense.

Steamtrains Wrote:How do those 2x4's work in relation to the brick facing..?

The outside edge of the 2x4s are directly above the outer edge of the brick ledge (used a plumb bob at each corner to get it right). There will be a 1x4 hardiplank trim board with the 4" side vertical attached to the outer edge of the 2x4 backer. Hope that makes sense. Another way to put it is that the brick will come up directly under the 2x4s. The trim will attach to the 2x4s and hang down over the face of the brick.

Now, the weird thing is, the bricklayers prefer that the trim be put on before the brickwork is done. They will use a soldier course at the top, they just stick the brick up behind the trim board. I guess having the trim there already helps them keep everything straight.

Steamtrains Wrote:P.D. I hardly ever get up Houston way. But if I do, I'll be sure to let you know....

Won't have the layout operational anytime soon, but once I do, would love to have you run some trains with me.

Gus, one other thing, I am considering running a water line along with the electrical line to the building, and putting a hose bib on the outside. That way, I have water close at hand.

The electricity is coming from the wellhouse. When we built that, we installed some spare conduits from the electrical panel to the outside in front and back. Now, I can't remember, but I think I did the same with the water lines. if not, there is a hose bib on the back of the wellhouse which I can extend out and go into the ground into the ditch.