Al B's House rework

[AlanB]

Gem, I will go look, we need to treat the yard for Ticks anyway.

So today is the DW's birthday so it was a quiet day.

Did get the rest of the carport down and moved to the property.

Sat at HD and stared at thier PEX stuff for a while only to realize finally that they had a mishmash going. I was assuming that they were using Zurn stuff as that was the crimping tool they had, but then realized the bags were saying quest,,,,,, Of course I then asked a HD expert and it gave new meaning to the term hog staring at a wristwatch.............. and they did not have any manifolds or tubing,,,,

I think I am just going to go Cu. Probably still have a day or two to think about it, but Cu is looking better and more common all the time.

So here are the pics of the stuff we moved yesterday, the empty hole where my Carport was this morning, and the carport laying nicely on the trailer.

Ran Bob the Bobcat for a while loading the dump trailer for tomorrow.... Man, I backed off with my bucket overhead, and pivot turned,,,, Ever see those dancing Bobcat movies,,, that was me, just not quite so in control.... I did not feel the back plate hit the ground, but think I was pretty close.

Really second guessing myself on this backhoe deal, but plunging forward tomorrow. Will look it over again to insure I have not missed something TOO obvious, of course I will notice it immediately after delivery.

Looked at a NH LX565 today thinking of getting our own Harley rake. Just not sure we have enough demand to warrant it. Will probably just rent that one a couple of times. Probably rent a tracked machine as well.

Looked again today at putting a mulcher in too clear my property and there is just too much garbage, especially scrap steel out there to make that a practical alternative. There is pipe, wire, corrugated steel and expanded metal randomly all over the place. I think it would be scary to put a mulching head on the ground there.

So the DW has sheetrocked over where she wanted me to put the electric outlet in the bathroom. Sometimes, it drives me nuts. There are 8 million things to do, and she will cover over what she wanted me to do and make it 3 times harder for me. What did you say Dave, just keep and moving forward.

So, has anyone seen a U-bend made into copper or just do it with soft tubing?

 

[AlanB]

No house today. Hanna had to make some money, and I went and bought a backhoe.

Lined up to move my storage box off the Rental property tomorrow. Hopefully the rains will hold off just a little while longer.

 

[gemini5362]

The heck with the storage box we want details and pics of the backhoe

 

[AlanB]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/construction-equipment/95660-jcb-vs-case-backhoe.html

Towards the end.

 

[AlanB]

So this afternoon, I ran out of excuses about buying backhoes and had to actually do some work. So Bob the Bobcat and I set about getting my storage building into place to be picked up by the wrecker. One farm jack, One Bob, 4 pcs of 4" pvc, A rake and a piece of chain, and we can move mountains,,,, Well old truck bodies at least. Action shots are kind of hard when working by yourself. Mark made it out to help me as I was pushing the last push with Bob and putting the box in place on the roadway.

There were two wreckers across the street, neither of which wanted to move my storage box, so I called and scheduled the pickup with the guy I normally use, we will move it to the property tomorrow evening.

We are almost cleared of the property. I took a 4000lb pile of rock we had there out to the property this evening, so I could stare at my new HOE :>>

Man is it big when driving it in the areas I am used to the little 33 horse NH on.

My shifter is worn and loose and takes some playing to find gears with, may have to work on that.

So here are the picks of the day, and Hanna's business is kicking in now, had to bring the tamper to a job site, had to dump the debris from today out of the dump trailer etc. Life is about to get busy... I guess that is what keeps the bills paid.

I think I hurt my daughters feelings tonight She says I should not have bought the backhoe, that I should save the money for her college... heheheheheh.... MEAN DADDY sometimes.

So here are todays picks.

Building, moving building, Building moved, Me and my HOE..........

 

[gemini5362]

Tell your daughter that she needs to study hard and make good grades so that she can get scholarships to pay for college. Then daddy can get a new backhoe

 

[AlanB]

So todays job was to get the truck body to the property. It was a success. No muss, no fuss, and turns out Robert has a set of backhoe forks he ended up with and will sell them for $300. May be worth going and looking at

Think I found Bob the Bobcat a new home today, guy said he would be by at 1600 tomorrow and pick him up. That would be nice. Just have too see though, I do not have the cash in hand yet, and one thing this latest spate of dealings has shown me, is the deal is not done till it is done.

Talked to the former owner of my hoe today. Real nice conversation. Will cover more in the hoe discussion.

So, Picking up, moving, dropping off, unlevel but in the right place, and what 65 yards of mulch looks like in the new place.

It is starting to come together. Few remaining odds and ends to clean up at the property and we will be out of there. That is a $200 timeline I need to meet.

 

[AlanB]

So the guy did not show on Bob, so we still have him, couple more calls, but no cash yet so we will see.

Took today off from work, and feel like I just flailed at it without getting a lot done.

Hanna got another 4 tons of crusher run in and neatened up the gravel I did with the hoe behind the garage, for the first time in I am sure a very long time, I pulled a truck up to the garage door of this house.

We are trying to get the bathroom done, and everything seems to drag a bit, but we just have to keep plugging away. Got the body of the fan in the ceiling, have to run the duct and the wires still.

Went to war with the mud daubers, nothing like working in an attic with mud daubers flying around. Think I half poisoned myself with the wasp killer. Bought extra cans and went on the attack on the ones on the eaves. See pic if it comes out.

Got the new quad receptacle in the bathroom (only had to move it once ) with GFCI and it's very own dedicated breaker.

Got the shop GFCI quad box in and powered up, dedicated breaker.

Picked up a used Delta tablesaw, $125, not the one I wanted but should do the jobs I need to do.

Picked up some windows to do the basement windows with, considerably cheaper then the window world option.

Hanna got the tile in around the toilet. Hopefully tommorrow I can work on getting the toilet installed and done. Take that back, maybe Sunday, hopefully she can get it grouted in tomorrow, and I can wrap up the electric on the bath, and start on the plumbing tomorrow.

Just seems like we are not making any progress, I seem to spend a tremendous amount of time running in circles looking for something or another that I know is there, I just cannot find it. Working hard on my organisation, but it is a mess at the moment.

On too todays picks.

 

[AlanB]

Spent yesterday just doing lots of details and prep work. It all has to be done, and it all just takes more time then I account for. I keep wanting to complain to my contractor that things are going too slow, then I realize that the bathroom mirror is on the floor of a bedroom and I would have to get on my knees to complain to the man responsible, and I am just too tired

Allergy season has kicked in full blown and is getting the best of me right now. That sure slows things down another notch.

Hanna used the epoxy grout on this bathroom again, should have heard the sting of funny German words that my MIL would never say coming out of the bath while she was doing it :< it is so dry and hard to work with. Somehow I think other rooms that get tiled will have the conventional grout installed.

Think I sold Bob the Bobcat yesterday. Man gave me $100 deposit and I don't believe he has a clue what he is doing. He got on with the engine not running and started jerking levers and actuating controls.... Why do people feel the need to move something that they have no idea what it does or what it controls? When I get that cash, I think I will go get the forks for the hoe.

So yesterday

Put in Wash machine GFCI and outlet, closed up Circuit box.
Put new Cap in AC unit, it is rapidly becoming the season.
Pulled antennae mounts off the soffits
Mounted new stainless chimney cap
Went to war with the mud daubers, they are winning.
Finished wiring bathroom fan, finished installing new bathroom light over toilet, removed old bath light for painting
tried to duct my fan, but my idea did not work, have to go buy more parts
Made up stubs for bathroom vanity, installed one, need water off to do the other.
Made up stub for toilet, ready to install when I cut water again
Installed new frost proof sillcock in back, new hole that tips the right way, ran some of the plumbing, waiting to cut water for the last piece
pulled AC ducts off back bedroom so I have access to main water connection, need to do front sillcock, trying to get everything so that when I cut the water, I can hook in quickly
Dug out some small saplings with the hoe so my drive is wider now and we are not scratching the trucks.
Hanna poly'd the vanity, and grouted the wall tile around the toilet.
Picked up my floor paint for the basement, and primer and paint for the ceilings and the bath, Spent an hour looking for the "sprinkles" that go on the paint.

My BIL was thinking about coming over and helping, he is a journeyman stone mason in Germany, now that is who I want to help me do that area around my garage, (pictures to come) but he has to go back to work tomorrow. but maybe it is for him.

So, in store for today, a bit more plumbing, hopefully get the toilet stubbed in and ready to mount or mounted.
level my storage box to get some more stuff under cover.
Keep cleaning and organizing.
Maybe drive the hoe a bit more today to relax
Look at mounting my wash machine box, and figure out the drain pipe.

TOOLAHOLIC, did you say within 5' I need a vent on that line? Dang, any ideas? Will post a picture, I think I can go back and tie to my shower vent.

Need to run some borrowed tools back to thier respective houses today maybe, little down time, and still something that needs to be done.

Time to get going I guess, it does not get done while I sit and type.

 

[toolaholic]

ALAN , there's a little bit to this. I gather code enforcement is more lax there ,than most places. Some inspectors will let you install a scooter vent. This is a spring loaded vent. No running a vent up through the roof. Best thing You can do is go on Terry loves plumbing forum with that pix. You'll get lots of help and diagrams. Wish You were closer I'd plumb it free good luck

 

[AlanB]

Thanks Tool, Will do.

Boy, today was just a miserable day, everything I touched turned to crap. Everything broke, would not fit, would not hold, whatever, it just sucked.

Finally just quit about 3, it got so bad I was afraid to touch anything else.

Big problem of the day is I realized I cut the hole around the toilet drain too big. The closet ring just hangs on the outside edge. Absolutely not good. And no "easy" fix. I know why I did it, bell mouth cast iron pipe, clearance to get the ply in over it etc. but I sure did cause myself a HUGE problem. I figure just like lowering the pipe, the answer will come up immediately after I do something I cannot reverse.

Well, total bummer of a day for me, but in the end, nobody got hurt, everyone in the immediate family is alive and healthy, I can make the note on everything I owe, and I do have some fun toys to play with.

Maybe tomorrow will be better, or maybe I will just go back to work. It is not getting done though if I don't get out there and get on it.

Let me go look at Tery loves plumbing and see what is there about scooter vents.

 

[toolaholic]

Al on the closet flange ,here's one option if you have acess underneath.

cut about a 1 foot square of plywood ,cut out a circle a little oversize of the outside dia. of the outside flange hub. This is the coupling on the bottom of the flange.now cutit in 1/2. Make sure if fits well. add const. adhesive and screw it up to the sub floor. the larger the patch the stronger. May not be the best solution,but it's a start. I think You two are burned out from too much work. You need a date! Take Mom outa town for a couple of days. Good luck Tool

 

[AlanB]

Yep, I am bummed, but it is days like today that make it all good.

I had called my bud Doug last night, kind of crying in my beer about how I did the floor (and I looked again at the bell I had to get around) so I know why I did it, but anyhoooo. So Doug listened and we talked for a while, and Tool we basically discussed pretty much exactly what you said.

So, 6:30 this morning, I am just going to regular work, I had the V day scheduled, but heck, the way the day before had went, I just needed to leave the house a bit. Doug calls on the Cell, HEY, you going to work on your house or to work, you want to work on your house, I will take the day off and come help............................. We can whoop some of these problems back together. I am a bit about what great freinds I have, and how lucky we are to have them. Figure if the man is willing to take a day off to come help me, I best be there

So, away we go, get there about 730 and get started, seat belt on the hoe while waiting, then tour around and prioritize, and talk about the problems that are bothering me and things I just cannot seem to make work. Look intently at the toilet flange problem, look at some drainage issues, look at some concrete block stuff, Basement windows, bathroom fan vent, sheetrock etc and we get started....

Toilet flange and basement windows were the two we picked to tackle, and he also took care of getting the vent through the eave that had kicked my butt yesterday. We fixed the toilet flange pretty much as Tool described. Lots of construction adhesive, lots of screws, tight accurate hole, it is real solid, all tied together and screwed into place. It came out well.

We also installed the 4 basement windows. Went with a standard 2 X 3 single hung double glass Pella window for $72 each from lowes, and made the frames to fit. I can finish cutting in the paint and sealing etc. now.

My paint guy ran down the color flakes for my basement floor, so we should get those soon, and get that done.

Talked to my tree guy Joey, and he apologized for running behind (kind of makes me feel bad when a guy apologizes to you for taking to long to do free work ) and he said he would be over this evening and he was. Man, that man is a master of the tree's, it was incredible to watch what he was able to do. I think some of the safety guys on here would have died watching, heck, I was a little nervous about some, but somehow he would hinge and cut and swing, and cut through at the exact moment to drop all the stuff in a big pile, right in the same place. I just don't know exactly how to describe this, but all the stuff fell within a 10' or so circle, and the tree traveled probably 25' horizantally. It was just too cool, not to mention that I was real relieved not to have that tree hanging over my house.

So on to the pics of the day. Cause the TBN crew loves Pics

2039, the hole that about did me in.
2058, the hole that we are done messing with
The rest are my new basement windows.

Next post for the tree stuff.

 

[AlanB]

Buddy Joey making it happen....

I would be so scared up there, you would think Hydraulic fluid was leaking down that boom

Luckily on the next tree we did not get any pictures, I was busy driving the 8 foot high mobile step ladder with remote control,,,, The safety police may not like me

 

[AlanB]

MINGO

These are the pictures for you

You need to come fix this

These are the blocks down by my garage entrance that all the water has ate away over time..... Now this will be an interesting project unto itself. Now if I can just get my dad to bring me up a new rolloff door that I need.

I think I will do them all one at a time, 3 seperate pours, I do not think they poured the blocks so I will go up about 4, and start pouring in from there, do about a 3' by 3' pad about 3' deep underneath each one.

Block and support the garage door while I do one at a time.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[toolaholic]

Great bath floor repair,look's solid. WE do it all including retaining walls and drainage. In the Bay area we always have Geo. techs.aboard. Great teachers!
Gutter leaders [down spouts need to be tite lined to past lower found.. Over the years that water washed the fines from under the lower footings. I'll bet an apple pie the rear of the house has settled. Allways does with any kind of slope and mis directed water. code on hills here, makes us discharge tite line 12feet below the lowest found with a defuser. You could skip pour new footings.

see ye Tool

 

[AlanB]

It suprises me that it has not settled much, but it is certainly right around the corner.

The drainage on this house is non-existent, what they could do wrong, they did, to include some hilarious things (well, maybe not so hilarious) Like pumping the condensate out of the basement, then draining it back into the basement.................... Go figure.

I assume skip pour is making new foundations say a meter or two, then jumping or skipping a meter or two and doing it again and then filling in the blanks slowly? That is what we did on one BIL's house in Germany. Long and complicated rules, but nothing like working in a celler, under a basement, under a three story house, built I think in the 1600's and removing the sandstone and pouring in new footers.

Basicly, that is what I plan to do, and then tie it all together with Rebar at the end pours.

I need to do the gutters and fascia, well, I need to do the gutters, and I want the fascia right before hanging new gutters on them.

I am contemplating putting in a sump, with pump, right at the back corner of that garage, then directing my drains etc into that, then pumping it to the other side of the roll of the hill. At least I am now well aquainted with a guy with a backhoe

I will say, that I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad of the network of freinds that I have to help bail my sorry butt out when I get down.

Oh, and I sold Bob yesterday, cash money, no muss no fuss. They had NO idea, what they were doing, I loaded it on thier trailer for them and I do not want to see the carnage when they take it off.

 

[gemini5362]

hmm I dont know what skip pour is What little bit I do know about concrete is something called slip pour. You start pouring and keep jacking up the form while you pour until you get it the height you want it. Is skip pour like that ?

 

[toolaholic]

Al, something for Yoy to look at found. wise find there web site

A B chance Co. helical anchors I had them installed on my found.

You, and any one else, that cares, is going to see something really neat for found. fix !

 

[AlanB]

Will go look Tool.

Yesterday was a quiet day, Needed a break. Serviced up one of the mowers for Hanna cause grass season is almost upon us, and with rain today, the calls will be coming in Got to pay for that backhoe somehow

Had a soldier over to the house that I met when he was welder shopping and we talked welding for a couple hours. That was cool.

Go tonight to pick up the forks for the Backhoe, hope it works without a lot of Mods, but they are cheap enough that they are worth it either way.

Dig back into the house Thursday night I guess.