I have began taking down the chimineys. One is very old and has come down pretty easy, no cement in the mortar. It was packed full of soot and crud that was at least 2ft deep inside. It collected water like a sponge and transfered it to the inside walls. The 2nd is much newer with cement in the mortar, much harder to get down. I think the big jack hammer from above is the way to finish it off. Here are a couple of pics of the easy, old chiminey. When I start over it will be just a shell. My friends think I'm crazy!
Shamus you are so correct! Very good catch. I am having a timing problem. They put a temp beam in and it is blocking where I need to put the spanner beam. I now need to work around with screw jacks and push up the main beam and set the shorter beam that you pointed out. Work, work, work.... Thanks for following along, Dorf Dude....
I started cleaning the spanner beam. Not sure if that's the right name for it. I first hit it with a twisted wire brush. This is where a grinder with variable speed really shines. I have it set on slowest speed. This allows the bristles to really dig in. I'm taking off over an inch in some places of soft eaten wood. It sure is messy. I didn't wear a dust mask. It was dirty from tearing the house apart. I will clean it tonight and use it from here on out. I then went over it with 36 grit sand paper with a little faster speed. The pics don't show this. That's where I have stopped today. Here are a couple pics, Dorf Dude...
I've followed your thread from the beginning and have enjoyed every post you've made. I don't remember reading much about the DD himself. I was just wondering if you'd mind giving us loyal readers some inside info on how you came to be restoring a home in Germany.
Your English/grammar indicates you’re an American and I have assumed you were just working in Europe. I now am beginning to think I'm wrong about that.
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
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. :laughing:
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! :laughing:
(I cheated and skipped to look at pictures-----I normally don't do this, but I couldn't help it! :whistling2
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.
Shu,...you forgot to tell him about your ongoing Mustang restoration also...I mean...inquring minds wanna know, eh? Jeez, still 'chasing' the finster guys..should make it into a 'board game'..called 'where's my materials????' We have a 'ton' more of that white stuff in your yard, and temps of minus 20 C. Wish it would go away now! Cheers
Syd
Nobody can accuse you of being a timid builder, that's for sure! I haven't read the entire thread, but a fair bit of it. Looks to me like you have done a whale of a job so far! Very well done! I have only just joined this site, so this is all new to me. I hope you succeed 100%, so far so good.
No progress the last few days. I got the flu. I've been couch bound. They did deliver the rest of my windows on Thursday. As always I will post pics as things go forward. Dorf Dude...
The flu turned into a type of Mono sort of crud. My throat is in bad shape. Antibiotics for the next week. There won't be any updates for awhile. This sucks :furious::furious: Happy Holidays! Dorf Dude...
Well, Shu, after all the work you have done, a few days off for a good rest will do you good. Our snow has now grown to 35" total!
A very merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you.
My best to you and wish you a good recovery. - Do not push it too soon or too much when you get back. - Maybe you can go and look and think what you want to do before you jump in "full boat". You might find it is a good chance to make some adjustments while you go when you are not pushing as much.
What year Mustang? - Don't say 1965-66 because my wife will leave me for you - she traded her '65 or '66 red convertible for an Opel (Cadet?) in 1969 of all things.
I will take it easy jumping back in. It won't be until Jan until I can get the heat going. Things shut down around here until after the New Year. As for the Mustang it is a 64 1/2 Coupe, 289, 4 speed. Long way from being finished but a long way into the project. Too far into it $$ to sell or quit. It's been on the back burner for the last couple years. I got it out of the divorce though :thumbsup:. Dorf Dude..
I've been down on the couch for the last 2 weeks. Happy Holidays! :furious: I got to watch a DIY program called "Le Salvager" The guys name is Rico Daniels. He does some great work with old stuff. I have had a little email contact with him. I want him to check out the progress but he only has dial up modem. He is in a very rural area in France. We will see how this pans out. He rebuilds with recycled materials. I am now at the rebuild stage, weird timing ehe? Check him out if you have the time. I want to get my windows in ASAP!! It is amazing when you can't move but you have the will to. Good health can not be bought. I think things will begin again in about a week. From the Dorf Dude.... Happy New Year.
I sure hope the weather is cooperating better than here! Only 3 days until POLAR BEAR swim, in this weather! Get better hu, and have a better New Year.
Syd
Hay Shu head up my friend if it was easy any one could do it 'Nil ilegitamum carborundum'.Syd do you think you could get me one of those bears, the kids would love one in the back yard to play with.I used to have a job in a fair wrestling them but I got sacked I was only supposed to ruff them up a bit but I was breaking their backs.:laughing:May I wish all on the site a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. billy:thumbsup:
Billy D, Had a "talk" with a couple of them about an hour ago, and passed your photo around to them in the back yard, ...and they are on their way!!!! Something about "unbearable" comments, and something about putting some dishsoap in your "mixture", to make you more 'creamy" to eat! They like to hang out in Pubs and drink Guiness, and wear dark glasses and do the "bear Dance", so to be forewarned is to be forearmed, eh? Cheers.
Syd:yes::wink::whistling2:
Scoggy:
Polar bear swim? What part of the world are you in? We have loads of the swims out here.
If Scoggy would put his location in you would see the he lives in Ladysmith BC. That is right where you are. Maybe you 2 can hook up at the swim! Dorf Dude
After 2 weeks I made it to the house. I had stopped heating with propane as soon as I got sick. The insides of all the windows are covered in ice. I took a few pic's for those of you needing a fix! They are of the beam I'm working on, new windows with rolling shutters installed, big wood pile and roof tiles waiting to go up and a shot of the back of the house. Happy New Year! Dorf Dude...
Hi Shu:
I guess you have found out by now that heating with propane produces lots of moisture! I realize that it is universally used to heat buildings under construction, but sometimes all that extra moisture can be positively damaging. As soon as you get your wood stove up and running you will be a happy camper. The dry heat does wonders for the building. And once you get the mass heated up, i.e. all that masonry, the temperature swings will go way down.
Thanks for the tip about Ladysmith....you might not believe it, but we can actually see Ladysmith from here across the water! Only 11 miles by water, and about 7 in a straight line.
And one more Happy New Year for the road!
I wish I was felling better. I just can't shake this cr@p. I ache all over and my throat still is a mess. No appetite and I'm sleeping alot. It is just going to take time, the house can wait. The weather is really cold at the moment and I will not fire up the propane anymore. Too much moisture. Well, I will post when I get back at it. Might be a couple more weeks. Dorf Dude...
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