All the seasons in a couple of days.

The last couple of days have covered pretty much all the seasons.  We had a cool cloudy day, a warm spring rainy day, today was snowing when I was up there with the septic guy (only accumulated on the grass thankfully), and tomorrow will be 80. 

It was still snowing when I got up there after work, so I decided to complete the homework.  The loop with the shut off valves for the shower are done. 


The 3" waste line is measured and prepped for cutting.  This is the last bit that gets it outside of the underbelly. 


I tried to do the washing machine box, but the instructions say to use a crescent wrench to take the valve completely apart, but one doesn't fit.  I will have to get the actual wrench, which is up in the shed. 

Not very productive weekend

Since a couple of people have been curious, this is what I was doing at the concert, making sketchy platforms and running a projector on it.  It was a choir concert that one of my coworkers was singing in, and it was a combined one in conjunction with a couple of local school choirs. 


It was surprisingly well attended, the place was almost packed.  The far benches were reserved for the choirs.


On Saturday, I went up to look at a grill.  It was in worse shape than the one I just tossed across my back yard.  After some motivating, I went up and did get a couple of little things done, most notably I got the insulation moved over a bay, so the complicated corner is done, and this bay is open so that I can put the plumbing in it.  I left shortly afterwards since I was in a t-shirt and shorts, and was rather itchy, the california corners are really difficult to get right.


Today was a rather miserable cold day.  I went up to try and grab some carpet, but the dude left it outside in the rain, which I didn't really want to deal with. Instead, I decided to do some pipe insulation.  I haven't finished the homework yet, so I didn't have the rest of the plumbing to install, and it was a miserable day anyways.  I got one manifold done.


The spray paint didn't work.  It was coming off and there is powder everywhere.


A couple of other things of note, apparently my bug light was too heavy, it ripped the board out of the stump I had screwed it into.


I will need to get the mowers up and running soon.  Everything is turning green.


The other septic guy is coming up tomorrow morning, so hopefully some good news will come of that.

Quick work

I went out during lunch and got the last few pieces I need (again).  I didn't do much after work, just polished up a little of the insulation.  I got the small pieces fitted for over the windows.  Those are all up now.



I tried to remove the one installed in the wrong bay.  My staple remover won't do it.


I calculated the number of batts I have left, and I will need to pick up another pack, so I cleaned up the little pieces.  I will also be able to clean up some that are pieced together like the one on the left..


With the rain that came in today, the snow is 100% gone.


I will finish up my homework tonight or tomorrow.  I am working the projector at a concert Friday (dry run is tomorrow), so probably won't get anything done until the weekend. 

Finally got something completed.

I didn't make it to Home Depot last night, since I didn't finish the blog post until it was too late.  I stopped this morning, and it was a long trip, they moved a bunch of stuff around since last fall.  One thing I am glad I checked before going to Home Depot was the PVC cement.  I noticed it didn't make any sound when I moved the can.  It was solid. 


I remembered the grinder to cut off the doohickey on the frame.  Unfortunately, it was a colossal failure.  Those specks aren't metal shavings, they are holes melted in the underbelly from the sparks.  Really annoying, but the underbelly wasn't watertight anyways. If I get ambitious I might take some patch and put it over this area, but it is lower on the priority list.


Another view that might be easier to see.


I ended up using the reciprocating saw, but it is off now.


I finally completed the underbelly.  The jack was in the truck, but apparently the handle for it isn't, so I had to improvise.


The patch is on though.  I retaped the edges and a couple of the seams too.


It is now opaque on the inside.


I have plenty left over too just in case anyone needs some.  I have most of a roll of tape, and better than half the large pad.  It is self-adhering, but the paper doesn't peel off worth a damn.


The other big thing is that the drain lines are one step closer to completion.  The next segment of the 3" line is installed.  The only segment remaining for the rough in is to take it outside the underbelly.


And you may have seen on the previous picture that the kitchen stack is now installed.


One thing that was simply poor planning is that the source lines are hidden behind the drain line.  At this point though, I have no intention of fixing it. 


I also got a couple of odds and ends completed.  I got the bug zapper out. 


I also got the nail plate installed for the wire.


I brought home some homework, making the upright pieces for the shower shut off valves.  Unfortunately, it looks like I am out of elbows (I swear I counted them and had enough...) so another trip to Home Depot will likely come tomorrow during lunch. 


I also brought home the laundry box, but I think I am going to swap it out for one with the hammer arrestors built in.  I was originally planning to play the hammer arrestors by ear, see where they are needed once the system is live, but I am confident that the washing machine will require them, so I might as well do it now and get it over with. 


I did look at the exterior boxes they had at Home Depot, and they are all exterior mounted, meaning the only hole in the siding is one for the wire.  I thought about getting those done today, but decided to wait for the next patch of dry weather since the clouds were rolling in this afternoon and I need the silicone to cure. 

This marks the end of the two days off, I am headed back to work tomorrow.  I did at least get an item crossed off the todo list though.

1. Fix ruts in driveway.
2. Put lights on the plow.
3. Get the oil changed in the tractor.
4. Get the tire chains installed and a weight installed on the back.
5. Get the plastic installed
6. Get the truck oil undercoated.
7. Fix leaky underbelly.
8. Get skirting installed.
9. Find a way to run power that won't be damaged by snow/plow/snowblower.
10. Find a way to prevent the snow pushing on the shed.
11. Finish clearing off the slab.
12. Run the rough plumbing. (includes gas line for stove)
1. Venting and Drainage
2. Water supply
3. Gas lines
13. Install wall insulation.
14. *Install flooring.  *12
1. Install foam board 
2. Install blanket.
3. Install floor insulation.
4. install plywood.
15. Install light fixtures.
16. Install ceiling and attic insulation. *19
17. *Install paneling  *13, 14
18. *Install interior wall *14
19. *Complete electrical and plumbing.  *17, 18
20. *Install final flooring (carpet/linoleum).  *18, 19
21. Install interior fixtures.  When I get here, I will likely create a new list for the interior work.

Progress made, but annoyingly little completed.

Yesterday was a laid back easy day.  It was nice out, and I went to a Craigslist posting trying to get a free snowblower and lawn mower, but they were both gone before I got there.  It was a nice drive though.  I went up in the afternoon, and it was up in the 60s, and I enjoyed the nice day, even opened up all the windows.


I cleaned up the floor and installed the last two batts that were lying there.  Only one pack of insulation remains.




I can't install it though until I finish a few things that were missed when doing the electrical rough-in.  I did the run for the speakers, though my staples were apparently in the car, so I couldn't complete it. 




I started to work on the plumbing and realized that I made a mistake.  I told Matt all the plumbing in the walls was there, but I realized as I was installing the PEX for the shower, that the shower plumbing wasn't in the walls yet.  Doh!  The shower head is going right about where the rip in the insulation is.  I have a staple puller, but it was at home, so I kinda gave up for the day. 


At least the Harbor Freight freebie works better than most normally do.


I have the stubs for the shower sticking up.  I need to pick up more fittings, so I haven't finished it yet.


Today was more of the same.  I started off cleaning out my car, since the prior day I kept looking for things that were in it.  This all came out of the trunk.  I stored everything that I cleared off after the disaster in there.


Annoyingly enough, the staples and stuff I was looking for were not in there.  So I had to make a trip home in the middle of the day.  I still got the speaker wires stapled though.


I did come across a conspicuously unopened roll of wire though, which was for the generator.  That is run too now, it is the really fat orange wire.


It really doesn't like to uncoil.


I also put in the hole for the underneath outlets.  The NP is a reminder to put a nail plate in. 


I couldn't finish the wiring since I had to look up how to do the run for the exterior stuff.  I then decided to work on the plumbing since it was plenty warm enough to do some PVC work.  The first piece ran into a problem.  I need to remove that support, and of course the grinder was in the truck. 


I then instead started to repair the underbelly.  I got the part that tore off taped back up and stapled very heavily. I couldn't finish it because the floor jack is in the truck.


It looks much better on the inside.


The hole still needs fixing, I didn't get that done today.  I have the large repair roll.


A couple of other odds and ends got done, I got the real bungee cords installed on the carport. 


I also felt a couple of bugs coming out of hiding so I put out the last of the remaining dunks. 


I have a large shopping list for Home Depot to hopefully finish some of these things, which I will do tonight.  I have tomorrow off as well, so I really hope to get some of these things wrapped up.  With the repair of the underbelly started, yet another thing is in progress.  I had a problem last year with driving tasks to completion, it looks like that hasn't changed. 

1. Fix ruts in driveway.
2. Put lights on the plow.
3. Get the oil changed in the tractor.
4. Get the tire chains installed and a weight installed on the back.
5. Get the plastic installed
6. Get the truck oil undercoated.
7. Fix leaky underbelly.
8. Get skirting installed.
9. Find a way to run power that won't be damaged by snow/plow/snowblower.
10. Find a way to prevent the snow pushing on the shed.
11. Finish clearing off the slab.
12. Run the rough plumbing. (includes gas line for stove)
1. Venting and Drainage
2. Water supply
3. Gas lines
13. Install insulation.
1. Install wall insulation
14. *Install flooring.  *12
1. Install foam board 
2. Install blanket.
3. Install floor insulation.
4. install plywood.
15. Install light fixtures.
16. Install ceiling and attic insulation. *19
17. *Install paneling  *13, 14
18. *Install interior wall *14
19. *Complete electrical and plumbing.  *17, 18
20. *Install final flooring (carpet/linoleum).  *18, 19
21. Install interior fixtures.  When I get here, I will likely create a new list for the interior work.

Thanks Matt, very productive.

First to start off with yesterday's update.  I actually got out of work on time and got some stuff prepped.  For starters, I got my table set up.  It is a little wobbly, but should be good until I can build a nice picnic table and chairs for the slab. 


I wanted to set up the carport, and apparently I left the ignition on in the tractor.  Oops.  I put the charger on it. 


I also got the truck cleaned out.


And filled back up.


Most of the snow is gone at this point.  This is all that is left.


Matt was here today, and we got a lot done.  Thanks for the help.  It was a bit chilly this morning, so I cranked up a little space heater.  I was surprised but the little 1500W heater heated the whole place, even without the insulation installed.  It also softened the PEX which was nice.


The insulation is mostly done at this point.  Matt was rather busy.  The harder ones are the only ones left. 






This round of insulation was a lot more poofy than the first bag I got.  It sticks out a bit more, and didn't really need to be fluffed at all.


I spent a good chunk of the morning working on plumbing.  The PEX is now mostly complete.  Some of the mains aren't done, but all the individual runs are in place.  I will probably finish them in totality including the hanging and pipe insulation tomorrow. 

The hot water manifold I did in a weird way, so I decided to undo it and do it the normal way.  Taking the PEX off  is a real pain. 


The laundry setup is just awaiting the wall mounted unit.


I finished up the cold lines too


The other main thing we did was set up the car port.  It is much much easier with two people.  The first step was to put the grill where it belongs.


It didn't go together all that well, it didn't take sitting outside all winter very well, and was more rickety than I remembered.  So we anchored three of the four corners to the slab.


The other back I double anchored; one to the slab and one using the anchors, which will hopefully be enough to keep it from moving. 


It lives...  kinda


It is a disaster though.  There is mud and leaves and crap everywhere.  On both sides of the canopy.


Apparently the mice decided that they wanted to taste it too.  I will have to go up with a roll of duck tape and patch it.


I also apparently forgot the bungee cords, so it is tied with nylon cord instead.  It should be stronger this way, so I am not too worried.


I also moved my patio furniture under it. 


Technically the insulation and the plumbing aren't 100% complete, but both are very close.  I expect that I will be able to finish them hopefully tomorrow.  It will also be warm enough to do the PVC work if I have free time, though I don't expect to get to that until Monday.

1. Fix ruts in driveway.
2. Put lights on the plow.
3. Get the oil changed in the tractor.
4. Get the tire chains installed and a weight installed on the back.
5. Get the plastic installed
6. Get the truck oil undercoated.
7. Fix leaky underbelly.
8. Get skirting installed.
9. Find a way to run power that won't be damaged by snow/plow/snowblower.
10. Find a way to prevent the snow pushing on the shed.
11. Finish clearing off the slab.
12. Run the rough plumbing. (includes gas line for stove)
1. Venting and Drainage
2. Water supply
3. Gas lines
13. Install insulation.
1. Install wall insulation
14. *Install flooring.  *12
1. Install foam board 
2. Install blanket.
3. Install floor insulation.
4. install plywood.
15. Install light fixtures.
16. Install ceiling and attic insulation. *19
17. *Install paneling  *13, 14
18. *Install interior wall *14
19. *Complete electrical and plumbing.  *17, 18
20. *Install final flooring (carpet/linoleum).  *18, 19
21. Install interior fixtures.  When I get here, I will likely create a new list for the interior work.