How to Move Up in the World
- Thread starter RobS
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RobS
Super Member
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RobS
Super Member
And here is the real reason for the lift... and the story to go along.
When we started building the house my mom wanted to get us a housewarming gift. She was thinking something major, not just a doormat. We didn't feel right about an appliance or something like that, we preferred something with some lasting sentiment. We finally settled on a finial for our turret roof and she agreed. Like me, she has some interest in architecture so this would be the perfect gift.
I did some checking and found Denninger in Middletown NY. Al and Beth Denninger were some of the best small business people I have ever worked with but apologized from the beginning for the order lead time... 1 year! It turns out though, he can make a couple of a similar design together and he was scheduled to make one similar to ours sooner than that. Ordered last summer and late this winter a rather tall, but not at all heavy box arrives via UPS.
Now how to get the thing up there? I did some checking and also decided to wait for my mom to visit. It all came together last night. I got the lift, she showed up while I was putting up the brackets and we had about an hour of daylight.
So up I went! This time it's at least 40 feet up and almost 20 feet out. Wind is picking up and boy does that basket sway! I'm generally OK with heights but I think every muscle in my body was tensed for this little excercise. Fortunately, the finial itself only weighs about 10 pounds. Some silicone sealant, eight copper nails, two very sweaty palms and it's up. The crowd below applauds and I begin the descent back to terra firma. Not a bad feeling to be on the ground after that.
Then it's glasses raised as we toast the "crowning" of our new house /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
When we started building the house my mom wanted to get us a housewarming gift. She was thinking something major, not just a doormat. We didn't feel right about an appliance or something like that, we preferred something with some lasting sentiment. We finally settled on a finial for our turret roof and she agreed. Like me, she has some interest in architecture so this would be the perfect gift.
I did some checking and found Denninger in Middletown NY. Al and Beth Denninger were some of the best small business people I have ever worked with but apologized from the beginning for the order lead time... 1 year! It turns out though, he can make a couple of a similar design together and he was scheduled to make one similar to ours sooner than that. Ordered last summer and late this winter a rather tall, but not at all heavy box arrives via UPS.
Now how to get the thing up there? I did some checking and also decided to wait for my mom to visit. It all came together last night. I got the lift, she showed up while I was putting up the brackets and we had about an hour of daylight.
So up I went! This time it's at least 40 feet up and almost 20 feet out. Wind is picking up and boy does that basket sway! I'm generally OK with heights but I think every muscle in my body was tensed for this little excercise. Fortunately, the finial itself only weighs about 10 pounds. Some silicone sealant, eight copper nails, two very sweaty palms and it's up. The crowd below applauds and I begin the descent back to terra firma. Not a bad feeling to be on the ground after that.
Then it's glasses raised as we toast the "crowning" of our new house /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
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snowman
Gold Member
Nice job.
Looks like a bolt of lighting is about ready to head down your way from the color of those clouds!
Looks like a bolt of lighting is about ready to head down your way from the color of those clouds!
Boone
Gold Member
A very nice gift.
markie61
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Reminds me of when the Adbominable Snow Monster puts the star on top of the Christmas tree in "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer..."
I have "thing" about heights and get tense when I am high up. The next day, I am usually sore from tense muscles....
BTW, that is a beautiful "crown jewel" in your masterpiece. Very nice...
Mark
I have "thing" about heights and get tense when I am high up. The next day, I am usually sore from tense muscles....
BTW, that is a beautiful "crown jewel" in your masterpiece. Very nice...
Mark
jinman
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Very nice job, Rob. Your house has really turned out nice. I'm also curious about how far the lift had to be transported to get to your house and what the rental/delivery charges were? I was going to rent one to use in applying stain to my cedar siding up three stories, but the combination of rental and delivery made me settle for a 30' extension ladder. Next time, I may put up scaffolding. In your case, I don't think there would have been any other way to get that finial installed. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
MossRoad
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Oh man, dude! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I hate heights!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif And you're leaning out there in a basket on a stick! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif eeeeeee /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
But it looks very nice, Rob. A great touch. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
But it looks very nice, Rob. A great touch. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
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RobS
Super Member
Thanks for all the compliments guys! Jim, this particular lift is a tow-behind which was a real attraction to me. No delivery needed and I picked it up at Lowes about five miles away! They have a NationsRent franchise at this Lowes.
We also coordinated the lift with our builder who had her siding guy there Saturday morning to replace a piece of trim that had blown off. You can see it on the rake of the top peak in some of the pictures. Here is a shot of Russ the sider going up. Unfortunately, this lift fell about 8 feet short for him so they will have to rent something bigger which means delivery by truck. The original siders used a large self propelled lift /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
We also coordinated the lift with our builder who had her siding guy there Saturday morning to replace a piece of trim that had blown off. You can see it on the rake of the top peak in some of the pictures. Here is a shot of Russ the sider going up. Unfortunately, this lift fell about 8 feet short for him so they will have to rent something bigger which means delivery by truck. The original siders used a large self propelled lift /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
