My father has fallen and can't get up

3Ts · Nov 20, 2022

I used to live in an area that required inspections during building. The stories I heard about the inspectors from various builders was difficult to believe, I thought the builders were complaining about having to do things right. - Then I got a building permit to build a barn. Signed off with all the approvals. Built it exactly as shown in the drawings. The inspector didn't like it done that way and would not approve the construction even though his boss approved the plans. What the !@#$%^&*()_ I made some changes that the inspector wanted and called for another inspection. He still didn't like it, but he also realized that he'd have to come back out and didn't want to drive out to the far end of the county, so he approved it - finally.

Note: There are situations where an inspector can be very helpful in dealing with a builder as well.

Gator6x4 · Nov 20, 2022

Please continue taking pictures, not for posting but you personally lots of pictures as your work continues. Be photo happy on trusses, wall studs and electrical. Include a ruler showing spacing distances for wall studs, trusses, etc. Don’t forget plenty of photos were you join the existing structure, corners etc.

If the sheik does hit the Pam it will be easier to show a photo and say this is how it is rather than having to try and verbalize everything.

jmc · Nov 20, 2022

Whenever I've "limped" around the house after an accident or surgery, what I longed for most was an OVERHEAD handhold in critical areas- maybe hanging from the ceiling, an arm's length above the edge of my bed or over the toilet. Those handicapped, wall mounted bars in the bathroom are better than nothing but something over your center of gravity seems more useful. To their credit, hospital beds mounted with traction frames often have a triangular grab bar, chain-suspended from the overhead frame. Since you're doing this from scratch, maybe you could rig something simple from the ceiling.

two_bit_score · Nov 20, 2022

Get well soon wishes to your Dad! I'm enjoying your pictures!

big bubba · Nov 21, 2022

fatjay: an honorable project, well thought out, that is a tribute to your compassion and selfless service to family. hats off to entire family
i'm getting up there in yrs myself prob close to your father. my own daughter would never consider a sacrifice as you have done to an aging parent. good to see your generosity in action. speedy recovery to your father & best on the project.

tradosaurus · Nov 21, 2022

I'm 57 and already thinking about an ADA shower when I get older. I also don't have a 2 story house which will make life easier.
Good job on the bathroom build.
Hiring a contractor for that would probably cost $20K or more.

fatjay · Nov 21, 2022

Got the walls up. The roof is going to be a challenge with the pitch and not colliding with the bathroom windows on the 2nd floor. Gonna rip off the existing roof and plywood to the back bit and ease the pitch, except over the shower and toilet. I think i'm going to do a shed roof over it instead of an a-frame. Just the back portion will have the existing pitch, wiich will have a ceiling height of 6'6" where the rest of the ceiling will be 7'8". I'll ease to a 2:12 pitch for the bulk of it and 1:12 for the shower. It's complicated to say type it out.

3Ts · Nov 22, 2022

It's looking good! And yes that roof intersection with the windows is going to be interesting.

I'll ease to a 2:12 pitch for the bulk of it and 1:12 for the shower.

I don't know if you plan to use shingles, but the ones I have on my house say no less than a 3:12 pitch (I'm using 2.5:12 pitch myself) A metal roof can handle a 1:12 pitch easily.

fatjay · Nov 22, 2022

3Ts said:
It's looking good! And yes that roof intersection with the windows is going to be interesting.

I don't know if you plan to use shingles, but the ones I have on my house say no less than a 3:12 pitch (I'm using 2.5:12 pitch myself) A metal roof can handle a 1:12 pitch easily.

Yes, 3:12 is for standard shingles, metal is 1:12, but apparently there's new "shingles" that are 1:12 that my buddy was telling me about. Also there's a construction grade roofing that can handle low pitches. Whatever it needs, it'll get.

My idea was the bulk of the roof will be a 2:12 if i go to the top of that wall from 3/4 the way up the roof to the top of the wall I have now. I have a support wall separating the shower and toilet that I can sit trusses on as well as the outside wall and the header wall from the existing outside wall. So the ceiling over the shower/toilet will be different, and lower. But the rest will be full height.