My Industrial Cabin Build

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I have a hard time wrapping my head around it taking 6 months to pour concrete.

I hope things go smoother from here on. I would go buy a crap load of the metal ties and put them on your wooden framing in the evenings since you have so much wind load. Especially to hold the ceiling joists to the walls. More than just toe nailing it. But I'm not a carpenter so I tend to overdo stuff like this.

 

[EddieWalker]

... I'm trying to get my head back in the game...

If it's any help, we all go through this on big projects. The secret is staying focused, and keeping your sense of humor. I have clients start to stress out half way through a project and become frustrated of minor things, or freeze up and can't make a decision. Mostly it's from arguing with each other and then feeling rushed or pressured by me to keep things happening when they can't deal anymore. If you and your wife are working together, still on the same page, and enjoying life, then delays and setbacks are just part of the process of achieving your goal. If not, take a break, do what you both love to do to have fun, and come back to it refreshed and energized. Usually it just takes a really nice weekend of not doing anything related to the project to get happy with the project again. Sometimes I've had clients take a week off and go to the beach, or visit family.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

I have a hard time wrapping my head around it taking 6 months to pour concrete.

I hope things go smoother from here on. I would go buy a crap load of the metal ties and put them on your wooden framing in the evenings since you have so much wind load. Especially to hold the ceiling joists to the walls. More than just toe nailing it. But I'm not a carpenter so I tend to overdo stuff like this.

To be fair, I went back and figured it out and it is just shy of 5 months. But still a royal PITA. I will be talking to my son in law next week when he comes back from the beach to line up his assistance. He frames houses, so his help will be invaluable

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Man, you are going to have a sweet place. Thats going to be a great veiw of a beautiful mountain. Very nice build and location

I'm very fortunate. The tree line that sits between me and the mountain is on my property. On the other side of the property line is forest, then some cow fields. That means I have a lot more control of my view. It makes me understand the stress my closest neighbors had when I started clearing land next to them (they built right on the line). And it is one of the reasons that I have spent a lot of money on seed to get some ground cover going near them. I did give them a great view of the mountains, and left a shelter cut on the 5 acres next to them that I cut. forest regeneration is in full force and the mountain laurel is in full bloom .

Congratulations on getting this done. Now things will really take off before the next big slow down. Framing is the most exciting time of a build.

Framing is one of the things that I feel the most stress about. But like everything else, once it gets going, it will work out.

Wife and I are still on the same page, and she is starting to feel the house. In the beginning, she couldn't really see much of the farm the way I did, she just followed along on faith. She didn't like the pond. Now she loves it. We have blue heron and geese and ducks that visit on a regular basis. And the orchard is starting to look like more than a boy scout project and she looses herself in there working with the trees.

I'm about to head over to my Architect's vineyard. They have live music tonight. I am going to drink some wine and pick his brain on a few things.

 

[jfh28]

there's lots of peaks and valleys during construction......framing exterior fit out siding roofing are all exciting because you can see the progress as the house takes shape......what it will look like and the room layout changes from 2d on paper to real life as you can walk thru once the framing is done.......warning the rooms will look much larger then they are as you will be looking thru the framing.......then plumbing elec and hvac take forever and never look like anything is happening plus you'll write lots of checks which makes the feeling worse......drywall will look like an enormous amount of progress is made as the rooms all take their final shape......and you will also see their true size and probably be disappointed in some rooms.......spackle trim and painting are another phase where it doesn't look like much is being accomplished and things will really drag on you here.......but then you get to the finishes......cabinets plumbing fixtures and electric fixtures plus door hardware puts you in the home stretch and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.....here you will either be very excited or so sick of the whole thing you can't wait for it to be done.....lol......everyone goes thru it.....take breaks when you need to.....getting subs to show up when they say they will is the most frustrating part as they will set everyone else back.......you have to remember that for them you are a one off and they will service their regular customers first so your job will get put aside on their schedule.......until they need money to pay bills and make payroll....then they will miraculously show up with their hand out at the end of the day.....haha.......it's the nature of the business......keep a smile on your face and firm but pleasant tone in your voice and dealings......it'll make things more enjoyable for you.......take lots of pics so you can go back over the years and appreciate the huge accomplishment you did........Jack

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Maybe it is better for people that are very stressed and/or ****, that they should buy something already built that they like.

 

[s219]

I think it's totally normal to have some fatigue in the middle of a long project (whether building a house or writing a PHD dissertation) and as long as you can recognize that and take a break, it can be a good thing. Take some time off, let the pressure subside, relax, and put some time into casual/enjoyable thinking about the project instead of plans/deadlines/work. You will get refreshed and will probably think about better ways to do things or work around some roadblocks.

The real danger to me is getting to the fatigue stage and not recognizing it. If you keep pushing on, things can go downhill fast. Instead of progress you'll waste efforts or go backwards. And then it really starts to suck.

I really think a key part of good personal project management is knowing when to take a break and knowing when to get back at it. This could be something you manage on a daily basis or as part of a longer project. Sometimes backing off for a bit is the best way to make forward progress.

Now one thing I really hate is finishing up a project and realizing all the ways I could have done it better or done it easier, or could have skipped unnecessary steps. Not much I can do about that, although next time around it will help, if there ever is a next time. But it has taught me not to rush through things the first time. Adapting as I go, and having freedom to make course corrections, makes for a better end result.

 

[GLyford]

For me, framing goes fast and is fun, and is the step that defines the spaces. It's all the fussing with trim, siding, drywall and finishes that seems to take me forever. ..

 

[cat fever]

WoodChuckDad,

Have not seen a post for some time, wondering how things are coming along?

 

[EddieWalker]

WoodChuckDad,

Have not seen a post for some time, wondering how things are coming along?

Me too. Hope you've been too busy to post pictures, but have tons to share with us sometime soon!!!!