My Big Fat Renovation

[67ChevyRedneck]

The right side was a different beast. It was made up of 3 slightly twisted boards that were not the same width from end to end (one was 11.5 inches wide on one side, 11.25 on the other). I knew I was going to have to "fix" this eventually. The inside of this one will need a bit of work, but the left side was the worst.

I know it looks super bad in the pic below, but it was really only about 1/4" out, and the worst of it was the top inch or so.

[67ChevyRedneck]

And where I ended the weekend. My two week break is coming up, Friday is my last day or work.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Who wants to take bets I won't get done what I want to?

We're going to have some seriously warm weather, like 65* Christmas Eve and Day.

My plan is to hit all of the trusses with my pressure washer, finish exterior sheeting, build the eaves, and straighten/block the upper portion of the trusses.

I also ordered 95% of EVERYTHING for the outside. The rest of the sheeting, all roofing materials, all siding (including corners, j-channel, etc) and even all of the shutters. $6,200. I need to update my spreadsheet and see how far in the hole I've gotten. I think I'm up to 40K now (with everything ordered).

That still leaves labor for roof, electric, doors, insulation, sheetrock, and finishes.

Maybe I should have just done a metal building

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Who wants to take bets I won't get done what I want to?

We're going to have some seriously warm weather, like 65* Christmas Eve and Day.

My plan is to hit all of the trusses with my pressure washer, finish exterior sheeting, build the eaves, and straighten/block the upper portion of the trusses.

I also ordered 95% of EVERYTHING for the outside. The rest of the sheeting, all roofing materials, all siding (including corners, j-channel, etc) and even all of the shutters. $6,200. I need to update my spreadsheet and see how far in the hole I've gotten. I think I'm up to 40K now (with everything ordered).

That still leaves labor for roof, electric, doors, insulation, sheetrock, and finishes.

Maybe I should have just done a metal building

Great job and the building looks really good. That’s a ton of work but it will be nice when you’re done.

[mongocanfly]

You'll get there...lowes and HD arnt really the go-to places for lumber...at least not around here..
We have several older lumber yards in our area that have quality lumber...cost a little more but it's worth it in the long run.....the only thing about their lumber that gripes me is I have trouble finding enough crooked boards to use for bracing....

[67ChevyRedneck]

Thanks Scott. My wife told me this weekend she sometimes gets tired just watching me work

I'm not a huge fan either, and I know it's more $, but the closest "real" lumber yard is 25-30+ minutes away and my trailer is more of a 2-3 miles away, hopefully no one follows behind me, kind of trailer (It's only 8' long, rated for 1000 lbs, I drop the gate and use straps to hold the gate up to haul longer stuff, looks super sketchy but works).

Lowes/Home Depot (across street from each other) are only 2.7 miles from my house with a nice back road to them.

I also know stud lumber does not like to be outside in the weather not firmly attached to something, and with the speed I moved on this, it was better to pick up 30-40 boards each weekend, get the straightest ones, use them, then repeat next week. 8' 2x4's hold their shape pretty well as long as they're covered for a few weeks... 12' long 2x6's DO NOT. They have a shelf life outside even covered up well, the humidity here can get to anything

[richard2717]

What kind of shelf life does the OSB board have out in the weather before it gets questionable? Do i remember it having like a wax type coating on it to help with that?

[67ChevyRedneck]

It does. I put the coating side out. You're supposed to put the coating side down when on a roof because you can slip off.

I read online you should be good for a few months. I was going to put my wrap up, but without the roof, both sides can still get wet and it dries so much faster without the wrap on. We're going to have some super nice weather the first week I'm off (like low to mid 60s!!!) so I'm going to get my ass up and get out there and hit it hard each day.

In terms of sitting outside covered up, most of my sheeting was under a tarp in an elevated stack on flat concrete and the only piece that warped was the top one. Single pieces and small stacks seem to warp from humidity and moisture, but the weight of a thick stack seems to combat that.

I check it every once in a while with my 8' straight edge and look it over. So far, no warping, I nailed everything down tight. If something warps, I'll replace it.

Only a few more days until I can hit it hard.

[67ChevyRedneck]

That was a long 12 days off! Being back at work sucks. I think I've slept with my eyes open a few times

I didn't get as much work time as I wanted. We had 4 days of solid rain (the first sunday/monday all day rain combined for 2.5"!) I tried to be a good neighbor and took most of Christmas Eve and all of Christmas Day off.

The first thing I tackled was finishing the rear door. Of course it needed just as much work as the front doors.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Of course, my $6,200 order came on the day where it down poured the entire day. Zero of it covered. The siding, shutters, and shingles were all fine, but I told them to leave the plywood on the truck. I called and got a $1,600 refund. Unreal. They must have known I was not happy, I got zero push back on the refund.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Made sure to spend time with the wife, making cookies was fun (I ended up eating most of them...)

[67ChevyRedneck]

I cut down the leland closest to the garage, it was just missing too many branches on the garage side (It had a HUGE established tree next to it as it was growing).

I found a new favorite tool, great for working by yourself.

...and I cut my hand open building a Lego Mustang. I thought I lost a piece down in the chair, so I put my hand in there and must have caught it on a staple or nail. I wouldn't close so the wife (veterinarian) stitched me back up. I was her first human stitch.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I got both gable ends straightened back up.

[67ChevyRedneck]

It was also in the 60's and high 50's most of the time, so I took the time to pressure wash the ENTIRE building. Trusses, ceiling, and walls below...

I was afraid of future mold growth.

The back wall was the worst, it was almost black. It cleaned up pretty good (not in pics, still dirty - you can see clean/dirty contrast in pics 2 & 3 compared to back wall).

[67ChevyRedneck]

I also started tying the trusses together and getting them back straight for sheathing.

[67ChevyRedneck]

We had 4 dry days in a row, everything looked good and dry, and I don't want to pressure wash it again, so it FINALLY got a temporary roof.

[mongocanfly]

Wow...sounds like you had a full 12 days off...love the human vet stitching.....reminds me of a buddy of mine was working g cows with the vet...got his hand between a cow horn and corral panel...they gave him about 10 stitches sitting on the tailgate...he about passed out when they jokingly pulled out one of those huge cow needles and said he needed a shot...
Hopefully you can get a real roof on it soon...

[67ChevyRedneck]

The needle she used did look pretty large, but it did look like a fish hook, and it ripped my skin open the first time. She was shocked I didn't want/need any pain stuff. I don't have a lot of (pain) feeling in my palms, they're pretty tough. I have a TON of feeling in my fingers though. If it had been a finger I probably would have cried

I also smashed my thumb on the same hand with a 2x6. That hurts.

I don't know. Trying to be realistic... end of March? The good thing with that is I can build my bank account back up, I've already paid for all the materials I need for now. I'd love to call and get electric done, but if the roof rips off during a bad storm I don't need that risk.

[flashed]

Jesse , Im glad you got it covered up if you are in store for all the Rain we are getting in North Ga , man its coming down .

[mongocanfly]

Yeah we've already gone past 5in of rain here and it's still coming down...

[67ChevyRedneck]

It help up fine! Wohoo (weather channel has us down for another 1/2" today).

The only leak is where I put a few slits in the old tarp on the left side to drain a huge amount of water out of it when it covered the trusses. I tried to tape it, but it was too dirty/damp when I put it up.

John, Sat/Sun are supposed to be nice, but next week is looking wet again. Look at those temps though! That little bit of drought we had during the summer/early fall has been wiped out. According to weather underground my area received 7.1" of rain in December.

[67ChevyRedneck]

It finally looks like I actually made progress! Rained all day Thursday and Friday. So it was a wet sloppy mess Saturday and windy! Sunday was beautiful and 55. I wanted to get the wrap on the top half so bad, but I had to stop early to make sure the tarps were on really good, as we have a week of rain coming up (to cover next two weekends )

It was really windy saturday so I started cutting in my overhang supports. I tied them back to the 2nd truss, so they're about 5 -1/4 feet long. Then on Sunday I was able to start putting the sheeting on the back.

I was really proud of my octagon window cut!

Top vent is in.

The great thing about this is that I can stop worrying about the back getting wet over and over. The back only gets a couple hours of morning sun then is in shade all day, which is why the very back was so nasty when I pressure washed it.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Couple shots of the inside. It was surprisingly warm in there with the wall up and the tarp on.

Looks like I might have the next couple of weekends off, it's a lot of work getting the tarps on and off for just a few hours here an there, I need at least a full day of dry to be worth messing with it.

On of my neighbors was walking by last night as I was closing everything off for the week. He asked if there were ever a tornado if he could come stay in my garage, he said it looked better built than his house

[nlped]

Man, can I relate to a long row to hoe when it comes to building a home shop. Took me 3 years to get mine even usable and it’s still a work in progress. But it’s got hvac, so it’s awesome.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I have a hard time finishing projects. I'll get them 80% and functional and find something else to piddle with. I can't do that with this. If I move a car in before it's done, it's over, it will never get "fully finished." I've promised myself no working on projects before it's done. I'll probably bring the Firebird in once the roof is done to get her out of the weather, and we get hail in the spring sometimes, so all my stuff might end up in there a few times before it's done, but nothing is coming apart.

The roof is the key. Working on it is weather and sunlight dependent, it's huge, and I can't install electric before it's done. Once the roof is on I can line up electric, then get the ceiling where the doors go insulated and sheetrocked, then the doors can be installed (by others, so we're only talking a few days total). With electric and doors I can start working nights after work on the insulation and interior finishes.

It would be awesome to be done by July 4th. That's about when it started last year.

Love your Falcon!