Al B's House rework

[AlanB]

So todays project for me was moving a load of material from the mowing property out to the new property. I have to be off by April 1st.

So my buddy Jim came over to lend a hand, and the kids pitched in a bit. Got one good load out, couple more to go. Also have to move my storage container and the carport I just had built before they pulled the rug out from under me....

And here are some more pictures of the well.

And unloading at the chicken coop.

Hanna worked on putting hardy board on the wall to tile up today. That is not going so well. She also picked up a vanity cabinet, but it has the drawers all on one side, not sure how she plans to make that work, and I am not sure she realized it till I pointed out that she would have to find a sink that was not centered in the countertop.... I do not think this will be so easy, maybe I am wrong.

My dozer guy did some more work, kind of half a$% and loaded his stuff and left. Not sure where that leaves me, I bet with some big piles to deal with.

1982 is the epoxy coating on the floor,,,, Forgot to tell her to pick up some shark grip (sand) to add in, Think it will be slick if it get's wet Just maybe eh?

So here are todays pictures.

 

[AlanB]

No house work for me today, Hanna worked on finding a sink for the vanity, and getting the wall board and tiling in the bathroom straight.

Mulch delivery guy came out, and our drive is too soft and fresh for them to get the semi's in too the back. Can dump up front if we want them too.

May go with another company and get short loads (45 yards) for a bit till we get the drive worked in better....

Backhoe shopping tonight for me.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1093325#post1093325

Such hard work, but it is about to come to an end.

 

[gemini5362]

More Pictures
Thats me in 1881, I said nobody would believe I did anything because I was not in any pictures, and we all know the women do all the work

Nice job of tileing

 

[gemini5362]

Alan you have been doing so much work that I am getting tired just from reading about it. The driveway looks good. Since I am going to be doing some work on my driveway this summer I might want to ask you for advice about that. I agree with eddie about the pump walls and actually have some more advice for you. That is a jet pump I beleive that jet pumps were designed so that sailors would have something to use their vocabulary on. My advice would be to get rid of that thing. tear down that ugly wall and put a short piece of 24 inch pvc pipe in the ground around it. You can mount the pressure switch in the Pvc pipe and then just use a manhole cover to cover it. You can either just run the pipe to the house or if you want it for extra water put a freeze proof hydrant in right at the pump. If you do decide to go with the submersible pump buy some 1/2 black flexible pvc pipe ( I dont know what it is called) run your cable to the pump itself inside that pipe and then get a band clamp and clamp the pipe to the pump. This will stop a lot of your problem with having the wires break when the pump twists as it kicks on.

If the epoxy floor is too slick then just buy more paint add the sand to it and repaint it. It will cost some money but that will give you a good second coat and should last longer.


I can sympathize on the shower. I bought a shower and tied it into my truck. I was on the entrance ramp to the interstate when it came off. Luckily for me it only cracked in a couple of places and I fixed those with a repair kit. You can see where I repaired it if you look really close but you have to look close and it has been in place now for 6 years so I dont even notice it.


Those cabinets look pretty good from the picture I saw of them

 

[AlanB]

Question of the day,
I am about to have to do my plumbing. Pretty much everything is goofy. It is primarily 1/2" copper right now, and a couple of small seeps leaks in existing piping.

I have started to go back with copper (have some of the supplies sitting at the house) But have not commited yet, I keep thinking of while doing all this stuff, just go with pex, probably Zurn Pex which both HD and Lowes have.

I have to run too the bathroom, the kitchen, and both outside faucets. They used no valves on the existing plumbing so I cut and capped to keep working.

So, 1/2" copper or set up and run PEX 1/2" with a manifold and dedicated runs?

I think cost will be about the same, I have never done it, but I have to believe that the pex system will be substantially easier and quicker.

 

[EddieWalker]

If you already have copper and know how to work it, I'd stay with it throughout the house. Mixing materials usually leads to a headache down the road. Copper is a proven material that is very high quality. The only downfall to copper is sweating the joints together so they don't leak. I work on homes with leaks from a hole so small that it just drips about once a week, but over 20 or 30 years, it will rot out a wall. Take your time, prep the copper and it will be as good, or better then any other method.

After looking at the well picture, I'd definiatley get rid of that wall and fill in the hole. Pull the pump, cap the well and cover it in grass. If you ever need it, you know where it is, but odds are that it's not something you really need right now and why live with such an eye sore? You have way too many other projects going on to deal with trying to make that mess into something that is only less of a mess then it already is. Just think how much nicer your yard will look without it there!!!!

You sure are doing a great job and moving right along. You two should be very proud of yourselves!!!!

Eddie

 

[AlanB]

I am definetely familiar with the copper, and cuss every time I burn myself or have a drop of solder hit me....

I would not mix and match, if I go with the PEX, I will just pull back to the incoming pipe, put in one of those manifolds, and start running new PEX all the way.

Oh, and Gemini, not sure if I said thanks or not, or if you caught it, but I did go with Window World and they are doing all the house windows. I am going to do the basement ones as I can buy them for $75 and install for another $25 or so in materials. I also plan on taking two of them back out when the addition goes on (if we go that way) But 12 X $3XX equaled right at 4K. Ouch! But when I go through and look at the individual prices, I honestly think it is about what it would cost me in materials, not to mention time. We have some BIG front windows, and some fair sized bedroom windows.

It just came down to I think my plate is too full, and we want the windows done, and there seems to be a narrower margin there then say hiring out the plumbing or electrical work.

 

[gemini5362]

Alan I noticed that you went with window world and you did not need to thank me. As big a plate as you have going on right now anything that you can get installed that the labor does not factor in that much of an increase over the material is going to be good for you. The other thing that you have going with them is the warranty. I dont know what the warranty on ones you buy at HD or Lowes is but by having Window World install them you dont have to worry about windows again in your life time as long as they stay in buisness. That is one less worry down the road and worth something when you are factoring costs.

 

[mudcat]

Pex all the way. Forget about copper. You will be finished in half of the time.

 

[AlanB]

Well, I sat today and looked intently at the PEX (Zurn brand) at Lowes, which I believe is the same that Home Depot carries.

I was all set to go that way, but someone along the way had said that 1/2" Pex is much smaller then 1/2" copper, I already have problems with not enough pressure / flow where I am at the end of the city water supply. So did you know that a 3/4" Zurn Pex fitting will slide into a 1/2" copper pipe?

Couple that with I would have to buy 2 manifiolds at $68 each, then the caps for those manifolds are cheap for the 1/2" and then $10 each for the 1" ones.

Think I will bench make some repair peices and just get in and get it done in copper. Will regret it about mid way through when it is not going my way And I have a burn or two on my fingers, but in the end, I think I will be ahead.

So tomorrow's project is too work on clearing off some of the Landscaping property, and get it moved to the John Haley property, and work some plumbing / bathroom issues, maybe see if I can get the toilet up and running.

Also will try and put a little work time in fixing the attic stairs (going to have to start working up there some and getting some wiring details finished off, the get the vent fan installed in the attic for the bathroom and get the vent pipipe run out. I think I will drop it down and vent it under the eave, I like that better then punching a hole in my roof. The less I can disturb those 16 year old shingles, the better off I will be.

I will also try and spread some moth balls around my shed too see if they can not act as snake repellent, and will also pick up some wasp spray to attack the mud daubers a bit with. Need to lay some down the chimney and get the chimney cap on.

Might also schedule to get the chimney sweep out to inspect and evaluate what I have for a chimney and offer advice on maintenance and repair.

Need to weld the tounge up on the welder trailer.

Somehow, I think I will find enough to keep me busy.

Need to pick up the windows for the basement while Lowes has a contractor sale going on too, makes them cheaper then HD. $8 a window, X 4 windows is not much, but I will take all I can

I went with the 4wd 555C against some sound advice from folks I respect. Willing to put the sweat equity back in it if needed to have the 4wd for the wetness of our property. Might be making a huge mistake, but it will not be the first, nor the last.