Movin' on Up!

Flatspot · Apr 22, 2022

I use rubber mats on the garage floor, but additional heavier ones under the bikes. This is because wheeling bikes around on the mats starts them to buckle up. I use the alloy plate to stop the centrestand sinking through the rubber

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

Update on the list of tasks I've done personally on this build-

Install & connect 125 Amp main building electrical panel from meter pole
Install and connect 125A sub-panel for lighting and light 110V equipment
Wire in 3 indoor & 3 outdoor high-bay LED light fixtures & 4 weatherproof duplex power outlets (2 inside, and 2 for door motors)
Install 4 rain barrels & connect to downspouts with square to round flex pipe adaptors
Plant (3) 4x4 steel columns in concrete to support new shed roof
Install 2 hangar door operator motors and cable slack retractors to leave breezeway clear when doors are closed

Photos are not up-to-date, but I have reviewed the budget and I believe I have enough in the kitty to built out the interior living spaces. I haven't counted every last board, screw, and doorknob, but it should be do-able if I do it all myself. I am getting a bit tired of all work and no play...

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

mean gene said:
Are you planning on coating concrete floor?

Yes, epoxy gray in the hangar & shop (maybe checkerboard in the shop), and laminate in the living spaces.

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

I'm going to do a slow back-fill of the photos since the last ones on 4/5...

4/7
Inside of the finished wall. Sure wished they'd started / finished the door winch motor mounts so I could get busy and mount them, wire them in, etc...

(one week lag due to high winds - you can't handle those long sheet petal panels without risking buckling them)

4/15
The guys were finally able to get back over and do some more sheeting. They finished all the corners and sheeted the hangar bay face (not the doors yet)

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

I dug the holes for the three legs of the shed roof. Took twice as long to position the tractor 3 times, than it did to dig the three holes!

Last window finally installed (on the left)

Hangar bay wall finished, that means the walls are now 100% complete. Still too windy to put up roof sheets...

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/17
Saturday, the wind was favorable and the guys got after it, putting up the roof.

Insulating (the enclosed section of the building) as they go, moving pretty quickly.

We came up short 3 sheets to finish the main roof, that's how many were damaged in the fire. (the firemen started using them to snuff the flames, since they had inadequate equipment till the second crew arrived). I'll pick them up Monday with the gutter corner boxes and one or two final bits to be DONE!

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/17

Nice view out the front door!

They got the roof vents installed, but didn't cut out the insulation patches and drop down the operator chains (yet). I didn't get a photo of the dirtwork, I was doing scatter-shot projects with the dozer, knocking a path clear along the north property line, further profiling steppes, and continuing with the pond...

4/18
The guys got busy on the overhang soffit and trim this morning

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/13 back to sitework
Tuesday was tree & rock removal day. That's one nasty mesquite, BIG thorns...

These rocks are near the hangar and on part of the best useable runway area, so they had to go

Some rocks were rather large

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/13

The bulldozer arrived! Caterpillar D-5. Yet another "first" for me (compactor, trencher and auger on this job) No instructions whatsoever "what could go wrong?"

Removed the very thorny mesquite that was very much in the way in between the container and the big trailer. Staked out where the container needs to go, and where the shed roof columns will go...

Too tight to get in there and pull it over 5'. I wasn't about to move the camper and the big trailer, and all that stuff...

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

Plan B was to see if I could maneuver using track steering to pull it sideways - YEP!

Awfully pricey new chain, I didn't have anything near strong enough. Chain is rated for 6600 lbs, lock shackle is rated for 7500. Tare weight of container just happens to be 7500 lbs...

W-A-Y too easy.

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/13
Flipped around to the front end and estimated the angle I'd need to pull at (for 20'), in order to leave the rear corner that I just moved, as close as possible to the same alignment spot. Nailed it. (well, within 2" of perfect alignment, which is close enough)

First pass with the root plow to break up the steppes. I did three passes each, on 2 of the steppes in the prime airfield zone.

Before lunch, I decided to make my property line passable at the bottom end where there is a double creek crossing (both dry, presently). Took all of ten minutes! The dozer is super nice.

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

The two steppes after blading down the tops into the uphill side swales. They'll need a bit more work (and grass will need to grow back) to totally disappear.

Couldn't help myself, I started in on the pond.

South property line now passable by truck. It's too bumpy, I'll need to do a couple of passes with the tractor and box blade.

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

This is the revised layout since reality struck after figuring out the steppes and the final exact location of the building on the most level patch we could find to minimize slab thickness on the low end. I still need to get a good aerial (drone) photo to get it all nailed down. Some parts will be fully improved, other parts will take advantage of the large naturally smooth areas. It's quite a bit simpler than my original idea...

4/13
Pond is shallow still, but it will actually fill up if it rains; so I need to keep hustling and get it done! It would be a nightmare in the mud.

At present it's about 150' long and 30' wide. My goal is about 200' x 60'. This photo gives you a better idea of the relative distance from the building...

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/15
Too hard to tell what's going on from these photos (much larger & deeper), I'd love to get some drone pix...

I've pushed it out to the 200-foot area, still working on one end to get 50' width. I'm guessing one more 6-hour day will have it approximate, then another day to get the depth and connect the creek

4/18
Got all of the steppes knocked down for the most part, and all the bushes removed and piled.

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/18
Started clearing out the picnic area down by the (dry) creekbed

Got rid of all the mesquite trees. Good riddance! Man, those thorns are BAD.

Still a long way to go, and most of it will be without the bulldozer. Tomorrow is the last day on the rental.

Filled in a big swale...

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/18
North property line is now fairly passable top to bottom. Needs a couple of passes with the box blade on the tractor, as do all of the steppes, and the work by the creek & pond.

4/20
Last day with the dozer, I dozed the 4th runway, now I have all 8 major compass points covered. Still need to smooth them all out with the box blade which will take twice as long! (I worked a total of 5 days on the dozer)

The area is looking nice, we just need some RAIN!!!

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

Reverting to 4/18 for the steel erection progress-

The welder got busy on the door operator motor mounts

FINALLY I can install the door operator motors! I bought some color coded 4-conductor cable to extend the controllers over to the sidewall by the door inside. Pretty decent day today. The guys found 2 more roof sheets under a stack of cut pieces, so I ordered one more so they can finish.

4/20
This is the first door operator motor installed, I got them both done. This was operating on an extension cord to test it, I then chopped the controller wires and extended them into the building. Next, I'll run a 10/2 w/ ground from the indoor panel to (2) weatherproof boxes, one next to each motor (one box mounted in the center won't work, the power cords are too short). Very productive day today, all with a sore back...

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/22
This contrivance was copied from my friend Jeff who figured out that the doors, when at rest, leave the cables angled across the breezeway. This weighted retractor is very simple and effective. Both doors done and tested - 100% successful.

The erector won't be back 'till Monday, and has allowed me the use of his Skytrack and scissor lift. I'm starting in on the shed roof.

My assistant, Alex (age 11), steadying the downhill end on one of four 8" receivers that will take the roof purlins.

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/22
We got 3 of the 4 receivers TEMPORARILY bolted in place to the clips on the building. I'll come in behind and weld them up, after we set the three pipe columns and secure the downhill ends all level and parallel. Yes, I scratched the blue trim; I have touch-up paint. the (2) receivers on the ends will be open to each other, the two in the center will be open to the two on the ends. The purlins will sit inside the receivers on both ends.

It's a BIG hassle to set up the generator, rig up the pigtail, haul out the welder and set it up, then weld them up. This is a quick means of getting the pieces in place as a starting point, till everything is properly aligned.

4/24
Used the Skyrack to get the (10) purlins up on top of the container, then I temporarily installed the first one (with screws) to stop the receivers from laying twisted by their own weight.

Much better to see them parallel and upright rather than twisted. I need to get with it and "plant" the columns in concrete.

grandpaul · Apr 30, 2022

4/24
I can finally get an idea of how big the shed roof space will be; of course those purlins are only half the space. The last one closest to where I'm standing hasn't gone up yet. It's going to be "ample"

Up on the scissor lift, hanging and wiring up the high-bay LED light fixtures. These things put out the equivalent of 1,000 watt incandescent, but use only 88 watts (.8 amps @ 120V)

Let there be LIGHT! That's a milestone right there 4/24 lights on just over 2 months after closing on the purchase of the property!

Nice sunset after a hard day's work...