Xyster101

Breaking Bad currently, that's it. No other TV Although cheesy by today's shows, Past Favorites: http://www.craveonline.com/images/stories/2011/2012/September/TV/Lists/Revolution%20Presents/MacGyver.jpg http://www.ohgizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/knight_rider.jpg http://jeffkatz.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a721c2d7970b0163049871f7970d-800wi

Hamster? Small, easy to clean, just get a quiet type of running wheel.

Did das borgen tell you to post that?

Totally amazing!!! You need to watch at least the first 2 minutes. More article here: http://www.sciencefriday.com/video/08/05/2011/where-s-the-octopus.html

I bought an electric Blade 400 and Hurricane was the best around Columbus. They are very knowledgeable and take the time to help get what you need. I also went to Hobby Town USA, but the people there did not seem to know a lot about helicopters and their selection was small. I also went to Hobby Land, but they did mostly trains. Have you flown before? If not start with a fixed pitch copter. The blades are one angle and the height is controlled by the speed of the motor. A collective pitch, like the blade 400, the angle of the blades can change independent of the motor speed. A fixed pitch you can hit things or crash into grass, and usually it will still fly. If you hit anything with a collective pitch, you have broken parts and at least an hour or more of tuning it back up (adjusting pitch, levers, etc).

I have been really busy here. I started work (teaching) at an inner city school, and the kids are rough. I will get the hang of it eventually, but it is like pushing a rope. Put 2" foam down for under the slab because radiant heating is going in. The roof is put up, the soffets and facia still need to go up. I need to order siding next, doing board and baton. Got the area all back filled and seeded for grass. Still a long way to go. Hoping to pour the slab Columbus day weekend. I also need to dig the trench for the utilities. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/2013-09-07145937_zps8e404dbe.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/2013-09-07145956_zps372e4879.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/2013-09-07150041-Copy_zps54e33ed6.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/2013-09-07150142-Copy_zpsfb8f4d88.jpg

That is slick. Nice work on the final product.

So my father in-law informed me that the past 2 weeks he had logged 137 hours, with last Saturday off only. So we have put in 275 hours in 2 weeks together! Today the brother in-law was helping along with my wife. Wife was shooting nails, carrying 2x8x16 rafters and working like a champ! http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-30171251-Copy_zps0055c5c7.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-30171348-Copy_zps0d2311a0.jpg Finished up tonight around 8 pm. That attic area is where the storage will be for the mower, ATV, and other items. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-30194419-Copy_zps39ceafe2.jpg

Worked hard today. It was 85 and super sunny. Sweating like fat man chasing a donut down a hill. Moved a lot of weight. Some we could use the tractor for, most was by hand. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-28160622_zpsa4eade2c.jpg Not a fan of heights and walking around on those joists 11' up. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/decking_zps79ca459a.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-28160610_zps76a4b6a9.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-28190646_zps3de9a7f5.jpg Above: Area where the ramp will go off the back to give access to the second story storage. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-28190629_zps79e145d7.jpg Finishing up for the day: http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-28190456_zps3746ba87.jpg

It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum. . . and I'm all out of gum. Today's theme. Started with this and ended with that. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-26191934_zpsfd78d809.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-27191101_zps9e546359.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-27191131_zpsc505056d.jpg Shot from the driveway: http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-27191238_zpsad77fbd1.jpg

I could have made the ceiling higher without much additional cost. I did not want to because: I wanted to keep the height of the structure under 20'. The additional space would cost more to heat, ~15% or so. I don't for see putting a lift in Plus block cost more and is harder to install then 2x6. So if I did it, I would have framed it higher.

I love the idea, but there is very little light back there as the garage sits. Poured concrete into the wall this morning. A pump truck was $650 with a 4 hour min. Build a wall around a metal hopper and lifted it with the tractor. Worked out great and took about 1:15 to pour 4 yards. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-26093104_zps7d5779f8.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-26093122_zps35bf61bf.jpg

Things seem a bit slower in terms of new stuff done. Waterproofed the block with waterproof plaster, then tar, then dimple board. Also finished up the block. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-24120212_zpsd8c03f2e.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-24181455_zpsa8b44ff9.jpg

I will be pouring a 4" concrete floor with a floor drain in the first 2 bays. We will pour the floor once the roof is up. This is especially important in the summer on hot days to keep the sun off it. If concrete dries too fast it cracks. Since this project is in the shade and fall is approaching, we could pour it now, but we will do it at the end.

I am figuring around $30k for everything. So Far I am around $15,000: Gravel: 40 tons - $830 Concrete: 16yds - $1300 Concrete Wall Fill 4yds -$450 Block & Mortar - $1500 84 Lumber Wood - $10,000 Garage Door - $1,900 Pay for Father in-law - $1,000 week (free weekends/overtime) Got the 12" blocks done today! Also have waterproof plaster on the outside now. My dad came to help and was running the mixer. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-23110001_zps7425b571.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-23154927_zps6a66df09.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/20130823_180211_zpsd1315152.jpg

We lay a layer of mortar on the top of the wall. Then butter of the left side of the block in that picture. The next block goes against that one. So only one side get buttered, in the end they all have butter between them. Here I am getting ready to lift it up, you can see the mortar on the end, which will end up to my left side: http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-22133207_zpsd902ee3e.jpg

Laying 60lb blocks like a boss! Totally sucks, my father in-law is doing most of the laying. Also tore out a huge stump, this was just half of it. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/20130822_133214_zps30c0e193.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-22183301_zps473d3d43.jpg

I got the block delivered! 600-12" blocks that weigh 60lbs, sucks! Father in-law and I have laid 210 so far. Hope for another 200 tomorrow. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-20152215_zpsd8e27f33.jpg

Houses in general cost about 20% more then Delaware. Taxes are similar. I sold a 1980, 2,300sq/ft house on 1.5 acres in Delaware for $325k. I bought a 1973, 2,100 sq/ft house here, not as nice, but on 6 acres for $355. The property tax rate is the same. Sales tax is 8% and there is a 5 cent deposit on soda, beer, and water bottles! Totally blows.

I would love to see a urinal! Post some pics

Hustled today and got the concrete poured. I got lucky with some decent drivers so it was a quick pour in 2 trucks. It is cheap here at $82 a yard and I got 16 yards! http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-19163224_zps4b1ca1bc.jpg

I only have 3 cars (soon 4 I hope) and this will give me 6 bays, so plenty of room. I also have a large area next to it I could put a nice lean to off one side for a boat in the future. Plus the attic is an additional 1125 sq/ft of storage space, so this building is going to be 2,250 sq/ft, which is more then my house! I will be doing water in the electric trench, I know it will only be 24" down (needs to be 4' here) but I am running PEX inside of 4" pipe, so if it breaks, easy to replace.

Rough crowd on the size! Yes the ceiling height is 9'6", I don't want to go higher. In the last year I have bought 2 new cars, lost my job, sold my house, moved across 3 states, bought a house, got a new job (not started yet) and am building a garage. I don't have funds for anything bigger. The peak is already at 20', which is about 10' taller then my house. I was going to do 26' wide, but the joist and rafter cost went up a few thousand bucks. I would have to get 16" tall engineered joists over the 14" currently planned and I would have to do 2x10 rafters 12" on center, over 2x8. This thing is already going to cost over $40k as it sits with a huge discount on labor (father in-law). A big thing: I am going to be able to drive my 61" mower and ATV into the attic area for storage The door is 18' wide and 8' tall, can't go taller without raising the roof, which I don't want to do. Footers are done and ready for inspection tomorrow. By the way, how big is your garage? I also have a 2 car attached to the house. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-18181852_zps16bf148e.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-18184346_zps8840e019.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-08-18184204_zpsfcf3fbcc.jpg

Background: Worked as a Industrial Tech teacher in Marysville. Lost my job this past year. Moved just outside Albany NY (closer to family, mountains, lakes, rivers, outdoor activities). Bought house on 6 acres with only 2 car garage. Building a 4 car detached. Here is the house, a ranch style. My property is on a hill, at the bottom of a mountain. So this is the rear, which actually faces the street. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/McCarthyLn/DSC_1426_zps90b94789.jpg Here is the proposed structure to be built to the left of the house and behind it. I had to have about 10 pine trees taken down, only $800. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/2013-07-30101738_zps926ee108.jpg Then since the project is going to cost more then $10,000 I had to have the plans stamped by an architect. So I drew them up in Sketch up and had them stamped. This will be built on a slope that goes up about 6', so I am making a 10" block foundation to hold the dirt up. A pole barn would have been easier, but a lot more dirt moving since they go on a flat area. http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/wall_zps61826d95.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/isostick_zps3797fa54.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/north1_zpse52b1d2a.jpg http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq342/xyster101/Garage/iso1_zpsee888ed2.jpg Holy crap I have learned a ton so far. I am working with my father in-law, but he is 3 hours away. So he will be doing most of the work, but lots of phone time planning these drawings out.

Ahh yes, the general public. Skip to 3:00 for the better part. I thought the cop was very patient with her.