Al B's House rework

[AlanB]

Well working on the house some more.

Got most the cabinets in, have to go back and exchange the sink base for a bigger one.

Started working on digging out for the concrete drive behind my basement door.

Dean and a freind are painting a space mural on his wall today.

Found a guy to put in a used Garage door for $100, then $30 to change out the wood, I supply the wood, he supplies the good condition door. I can't beat that with a stick. I am paying him a premium to come out tomorrow and knock it out while I am there. I want to get it done.

Supposed to have a load of 2/3 rock delivered and a load of crusher run delivered today, so I can get my concrete bed prepped this weekend.

Picked up a 25 gallon spot sprayer, and some brush killer to spray the overgrowth this weekend. Kept thinking bout goats, then thought about keeping up with animals, and the sprayer and chemicals seemed cheap.

It is coming along. Hopefully I can get myself moved in this week.

The DW went and picked new stove frig and dishwasher...... $3000 Money must not be that tight

Got the toothbar on Lil last night, it really helped with the digging of the clay I think. Taking that clay and filling in the parking area to make it a bit more level.

Homeing in on the end of this thread. Which will be a great relief to me

 

[AlanB]

So today's projects,

Base cabinets, Floor air ducts under cabinets, ducts out of sink base, hang another wall cabinet, scratch head a lot and try and figure out what cabinets we should have done.

Dean had one of his freinds agree to paint a mural on his wall.... So Andrea and Dean have repainted one of his wall's RED (what is it with this house and RED walls ) Oh, yeah, this would be AFTER and on top of the freshly refinished hardwood floors

Oh well, there could be worse things out there.

7 is Drea
8 is Dean
9 is the Kitchen cabinets.

I do not understand why my "high dollar" camera stuggles so much with the red walls.

 

[AlanB]

So yesterday's entertainment came with the gravel truck driver.....

Hanna could not stay there and wait on him, so the instructions were "drop on the wooden X in the driveway, kind of near the loading dock............

Well, the loading dock is uhhhhh,,,, UNDER where you see the big pile of gravel...

Why was it again I like to do stuff myself???

 

[AlanB]

So, working on concrete out the back door.

New (used good condition) garage door installed this morning and all the wood framing stuff changed for $130 including door. Can't beat that with a stick in my book. Wife want's french doors later.

After much uhhhhh discussion,, yeah, that kind of discussion that goes, well TELL ME HOW THE H#%$%@#$%$ YOU WANT IT AND I WILL DO IT THAT WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I came to a good feeling on what the concrete drive should look like and I even think the DW can deal with the end results. It was another of those deals that every time I moved something, it potentially effected something else.

12 is Big Daddy Had to feed him, but got my money's worth today, thank goodness for Buffets

Finally settled on my pad being 6" gravel, and 6" 4000 psi concrete. Rebar on edge's Mesh in middle. 1/8" fall.

About 36 X 15.

 

[AlanB]

In keeping with the TRACTOR part of the post...

My dump trailer that nicely hauled the form boards from Lowes.

My PHD stand, after I put my PHD on it figured sure enough the garage door guys would show up as soon as I tried to do something else.

 

[hilld]

I do not understand why my "high dollar" camera stuggles so much with the red walls.

What is your camera white balance set to. If you are indoors and have tungsten (regular light bulbs), you should set your WB to that setting, the same goes for flourescent lighting, set accordingly, then try again.

Derek

 

[AlanB]

I tried a couple different settings, I wonder if part of the problem is that those area's have both flourescent and Tungsten bulbs in them?

My "expensive camera" is a bit of tounge in cheek. I went into circuit city and said "give me the cheapest digital camera you have.

The guy said, well if you are serious, we have a Polaroid izone 300 for $30...... So that is what I have been using. (but it does have a little icon for flourescent / tungsten / outside) and the instruction sheet is one page, which is about all I can handle

Will try all the settings next time I am there (about 4) and see what the results are.

 

[AlanB]

I think I am changing my mind on my drive. I am still uncertain about a couple of things, and realized that by the time I buy the rebar, the 4000 psi concrete, and pour 6" thick, I will be up at the cost of paver's.

So, I am back to thinking of laying pavers for the drive. The sub base is the same, and I think the cost will be about the same.

Pavers will have the cracks in between and will not be as smooth a surface to work on, but if and when I have problems I can rectify them.

The concrete would be a better smoother surface, but if I have problems with the drainage etc. (which I am very concerned about if we have a wet year) I am just stuck.

I can do the pavers at my leisure, and add on as I feel like it.

The concrete really requires a commitment of doing it "then" and requires additional help at a specified point in time.

And if it does become a patio as the wife would like, the pavers are much more attractive.

 

[hankus]

With regards to your izone 300 digital camera, if you read the reviews at cnet.com, it sounds like your camera performs no differently than the majority of people who bothered to write reviews on that particular camera. Taking pictures outside in natural light seems to be okay, but if taken inside using the flash or in poor light...expect problems.

 

[AlanB]

I think I got what I payed for on the camera. And for what I want to do (for the most part) it will be fine.

Made the decision to go with Pavers.

Red River Concrete Products - Concrete Pavers - CobbleStone

Going with these in the Red River blend. The factory is about 2 miles from the house, and they are nice folks to work with.

We have been laying base the last couple days, and compacting in very light lifts. We are now pretty close. Probably 8 more man hours of base prep and we can start laying stone. We are almost at the gravel sand layer.

Bought a new tablesaw last night. My Delta I bought used that was heavier then a table top, but lighter then a contractor saw packed it in. The replacement motor was $235.

I was able to buy the HF 10" contractor saw with a pretty darn nice fence, cast wings etc for $315 with sales, and 15% coupon.

I think I am going to have the house that China built when I am through.

Scares me, but I will tell you, the American stuff if it is out there, is hiding real well.

I bought the American made cabinets..... Wish I had bought the Chinese stuff

Anyway, I think Hanna plans on moving in this weekend, so that will be a milestone.

So the Housewarming whatever party has the official date set by the DW as 2 Sep. We will start about 11am and can go all night (I will be asleep ) as that is Labor Day weekend.

Should have some tractoring, welding, shooting and good eating going on, and would like to invite everyone out to share in the fun.