Rancho-de-Quigly, my never ending project...

[Quigly]

Thanks for the suggestions. I made an effort to remove the white paint on the rocks prior to re-structuing the home, but didn't completely succeed. I started with a barrowed sand blaster and small compressor. It became very apparent that the compressor wasn't heavy duty enough, so I rented a larger one. That didn't really work well either... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif , but got some of it off.

Next I went the paint remover route (Jasco) at some $20-$30 a gallon. Four applications got me to the point I am today. I think that old paint is full of lead!!! That old toxic stuff lasts forever.

I will take your suggestion and try a power washer next. Maybe combine the power washer with another gallon of paint remover. Now that the half-logs are up and stained I'll have to do a lot of prep and cover work once I attack the rocks for a third time.

What keeps me trying to get that paint off instead of re-painting it another color is how nice it looks when it is wet. That classic lower rock and log top-half wall look is what I'm going for. Looking back it would have been easier to tear down and build new, but the permitting process and huge increase is property taxes steered me away from that (currently under California Proposition 13 rates, very low!).

Well, the sun is out and the stock market is flat, so it's time to get to work. So many chores and so little time...

 

[Quigly]

Computers are a wonderfull thing. A friend and I went in half on a Punch Super Home Suite software package. I planned out PHASE I with it. Of course I couldn't get it to mimic log siding, large timber posts & beams or the planned patio roof, but it has worked out well as a creative aid. The attached picture has the future carport and circular drive.

PHASE I:
resturcture walls to 2"x6" and insulate
1/2" sheer wall chip-board
new double pane windows
half-log siding
carport and patio cover addtion

 

[Quigly]

Phase II will make the place a home that I can really enjoy. A large 20'x30' Great-Room and 1/2 bath will be added to the right side relocating the front door at a 45 degree angle. Although I couldn't figure out how to make the software produce a high vaulted ceiling with full glass wall (like so many log homes you see in magazines), that is the planned look for the center section Great-Room. Next to that will be a two car garage with a large master bedroom behind, walk-in closet and full master bath with corner tub-jaccuzi and separate shower. The log home will end up in a horse shoe or "C" shaped ranch house with a center patio off the Great-Room in back.

Dreaming is fun, doing is work! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue"> I will take your suggestion and try a power washer next. </font>

Check out the rental stores for a large, powerful pressure washer with a wet sand blasting attachment. The attachment goes on the end of the wand and provides a pickup hose to draw in dry sand and mix it with the high pressure water. It does make a mess; the first time I used mine, I ended up looking like a sandman. But, the combination works better and faster than sand blasting alone, produces a larger "pattern" for quicker removal, and the wet sand is less likely to give you a case of silicosis. I kept my sand in a galvanized garbage can to keep it dry. The pressure washer has to be big enough to work effectively; mine is 4 gals.min at 4000 psi. In our area, the specialty store that sells and services pressure washers also rents them; if you have such a store, they'll know exactly what you need.

 

[Slamfire]

I was thinking of the resturant/bar in the mouth of Sand Canyon, right at the freeway off ramp. Had a bunch of western movie memorabilia. I keep wanting to say Sand Castle, but that doesn't sound right. The place over in Saugus you are thinking of was Tips, where the 4 CHP guys got ambushed. The neighborhood sure was the edge of the wild west in the early 70s. A fellow from Chicago came up to Power Plant 2 during the hunt for the bad guys, all shot up and needing to speak to the cops. He'd been camped out back of Castaic, and the bad guy who fled the scene told him to get out of his camper or he'd burn him out. The guy from Chicago, picked up his .38 and shot it empty on the way out of the camper, hit the killer twice. But that didn't keep him from taking the camper after pistol whipping the camper. Great fun! I saw a Buck today, while shopping for a replacement bush hog. I guess its about half the size of my D-1800 and now I see why you've got all the front end weights, lol.