German House Rebuild

downrightart · 05-29-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shumakerscott

Ok Shamus. I come from Pomeroy / Moses Lake Washington. I joined the Army in 1987 arrived in Vilseck Germany 1988. Married a local girl in 1990, got out of the Army in 91. I got completely broadsided in 2006 that she wanted a divorce. I moved to an apartment and after a year I was fed up paying rent. I have to stay here because of my boys. I found a house and went forward for a month with the bank, making plans ect... Then one Friday evening the people selling the house called and said they changed their minds, won't sell the house. Needless to say I was devestated. I got up the next morning and got on the net looking for local houses for sale. In 2 minutes I found the Dorf Dude place that I'm working on now. 830 sq meter of ground, 8826 sq ft. I hope to be in in the summer of 2009. It won't be finished but at least livable. That is the Readers Digest condensed version of the DD

And this is from page 11 in case there is anyone like me that is just now tuning into this channel.

Well SHU, I am once again totally amazed at another home, this time a demolition (a war zone) into a living and hopefully inhabitant! But, since I'm only on page 11, I'm beginning to wonder!

(I cheated and skipped to look at pictures-----I normally don't do this, but I couldn't help it!

)

But, I'm reading because I like to get the details. VERY impressive sir! Wow. Stubborn and determined, aren't ya? Hehehe.........I hear that about the sign of Taurus. Heh.

shumakerscott · 05-29-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downrightart

And this is from page 11 in case there is anyone like me that is just now tuning into this channel.

Well SHU, I am once again totally amazed at another home, this time a demolition (a war zone) into a living and hopefully inhabitant! But, since I'm only on page 11, I'm beginning to wonder!

(I cheated and skipped to look at pictures-----I normally don't do this, but I couldn't help it!

)

But, I'm reading because I like to get the details. VERY impressive sir! Wow. Stubborn and determined, aren't ya? Hehehe.........I hear that about the sign of Taurus. Heh.

You are just getting started on this. I wanted to be in last year but that didn't happen. I think I can safely say that I will be in this year. The outside of the house took way longer than I expected last summer. That threw my schedule off and then winter set in and wouldn't go away. Now I'm back at it with a vengence. Thanks for following and like cocobolo, I'm not a "Sir" I work for a living! I'm too young for that

. dorf dude...

shumakerscott · 05-30-2010, 12:49 AM

Each beam is different. They have their own personality. You get to know it when you clean them by hand. Actually with a grinder and sand paper. The worms attaked some more than others and only in some areas. Parts with a high pitch content were left alone. The results can not be caught on camera. The colors are fantastic. dorf dude...

cocobolo · 05-30-2010, 09:48 PM

I was just taking a good long look at those beams. And while you may not like all that cleaning, the results you're getting are outstanding.

As soon as you sealed them, the colour of the wood just popped right out. They are probably good for a few hundred more years now!

What a difference when some of the finishing gets done! I'm finding the same thing. Even a small amount of tiling makes a difference.

shumakerscott · 05-31-2010, 02:42 PM

I spent almost 7 hours today sealing the main beams. They have 2 coats and might need a 3rd, wait and see. I have no pics today because the beams were wet and the gel is cloudy until dry. I'm a little further than before. That's my answer when people ask how far are you? What a vague question. I give my vague answer. I hope for more pics later this week. dorf dude...

ajtool · 06-01-2010, 01:28 AM

Dang... I just sat here, dog tired and read this whole thread. What a fantastic read and one helluva project! Looking real good

Lali · 06-01-2010, 06:11 AM

Holee guacamole! You've come a long way. Thanx for the gorgeous pics of your fairytale village (and all the rest of your progress). Looks like your hands could use some Glysomed (awesome stuff)! Had a gargantuous guffaw when you mentioned 'BFS'.

Good one!
It's been a while since I perused this forum; computer has been discomboobilated & have been gardening like a mad hatter, building a miniature tropical paradise in sunny Alberta, when it's not snowing (as it did this past weekend!) or below zero!

Cocbolo asked way back where I was, so there you have it. Forgive me for taking eons to reply. Have yet to check out his thread, but you two are indeed great inspirations to us all. Keep up the incredible work! And a belated

dude!

shumakerscott · 06-01-2010, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the compliments

. Today Campbell brought a rotary laser from his work. It's older but self levels and still works well. In the day this thing was really expensive. I have it for the rest of the week. We set the ends to height or at least the best we could with old eaten up beams. The "We" is Steve and Campbell. Got to give credit! Thanks. In my pics I'm trying to show the colors of the beams. The flash really kills the effect. Who would have thought that rusty nails can actually leave something good behind. I like it. My center support beam is next. I must take the dive out of the beams once I secure them on their ends with BF Lag bolts. Then I will take any high spots out with a power planer. The center beam will get raised and I will remove excess wood from the bottoms of the beams until everything is just right. Lots of work but I don't want shims, it must be one smooth transition. My last pic is trying to show the "Organic" nature of these beams. Pictures don't really work. Enjoy the pics and now I must level things, very tedious, Oh yah, the red tailed bird is back with another nest on top my main beam. It's coming in my open window

I will let have it's baby's but then I will put screens on. This has been 2 years now. dorf dude...

shumakerscott · 06-01-2010, 04:26 PM

With Germany bailing out Greece and the economy in the dumps I got a letter last week from the city that they want to redo the sidewalks. It will only cost me about $2000 to have a fancy new side walk instead of an asphalt one

???. They also want to raise the sales tax from 19% to 22% and the retirement age up to 70 just to cover the costs. This is absolutly insane!

. They are calling a local meeting next week to discuss this. Nobody that I know wants a new fancy side walk. The power company is going to dig it up in the future to put in under ground service anyway. How retarded is this?? My rant is over. They will probably do it anyway. dorf dude...

cocobolo · 06-01-2010, 04:51 PM

Hi Shu:

We know all about the camera flash throwing the colours way off. The closer you are - the worse the effect.

Can you turn your flash off and let it take a natural light shot?

Are your cross beams sagging a fair bit? If so you might try something like this.

It looks like you have the main beam there sitting on a couple of screw jacks. If you raise the ends of the beam - I would do one end at a time to see what works best - by using a hydraulic jack until you actually start to lift an end of any of the cross beams (or are they already fastened in place?) Then you would be able to calculate quite accurately just how much to take off the bottom of any beam which is interfering.

I know you don't want to take anything off the main beam, as that would take out some of it's support strength. I think I would at least plane a flat spot in the main beam under each of the cross beams, being sure to take out as little as possible.

I might also place a piece of 1/4" steel plate under each of the cross beam locations. This has the effect of eliminating any possible softer spot in either the cross or main beams and spreads the load essentially perfectly where contact is made. You wouldn't see the steel plates once everything was in place.

And as for the sidewalk...sheeesh! Must be another "make work" program for the natives...

frenchelectrican · 06-01-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shumakerscott

With Germany bailing out Greece and the economy in the dumps I got a letter last week from the city that they want to redo the sidewalks. It will only cost me about $2000 to have a fancy new side walk instead of an asphalt one

???. They also want to raise the sales tax from 19% to 22% and the retirement age up to 70 just to cover the costs. This is absolutly insane!

. They are calling a local meeting next week to discuss this. Nobody that I know wants a new fancy side walk. The power company is going to dig it up in the future to put in under ground service anyway. How retarded is this?? My rant is over. They will probably do it anyway. dorf dude...

as far for the news I am not suprised what we go thru in France it already nutty now.

but raise the tax to 22% now that is nuts.

Merci,Marc

gma2rjc · 06-01-2010, 11:40 PM

Quote:

but raise the tax to 22% now that is nuts.

19% is nuts!! I thought my eyes were going to pop out when I read that

.

(not literally, lol).

The beams are looking great Dorf Dude!

Barb

Martin Roy · 06-02-2010, 07:00 AM

Waiting for rest of the pictures , so curious in looking this amazing picture story

shumakerscott · 06-02-2010, 03:55 PM

Today I picked up the ceiling boards from the saw mill. My trailer was way overweight. I could only go 40mph. The boards are still green. I will need to screw them down good. I anchored the main beams down to their footings. I drilled a pilot with a long bit, counter sunk for the lag bolt and then let the air impact take care of the rest. You didn't think I would hand ratchet them in did you

. Even with the pilot the impact was brought to it's knees. After the ends were secured then I pushed up in the center with screw jacks to take out the sag. Next is mating up the center support beam with the mains. Thats tomorrow. Stay tuned, dorf due...

cocobolo · 06-02-2010, 04:15 PM

I see what you're up to now with the jacks...good idea.

Have you considered the idea of also adding a bolt through each of the cross beams into the main beam?

When you go to screw down the ceiling boards ( I know you are impatient to get this done...) if you just put a single screw in each board where it crosses a beam - then let it dry somewhat, and then add the rest of the screws later, the wood should split far less.

What would be even better would be to lay the ceiling boards in place with no screws for awhile (maybe one at each end just to keep them in place). The longer the time the better. Then any splitting would be kept to an absolute minimum.

What kind of wood are your ceiling boards cut from?