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Gulf Island Building.

1M views 8K replies 149 participants last post by  Katie Cabana 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi all:
Since the summer of 1997, I have been building a cabin and house on our 1/2 acre lot here. Before I dive into that part, I am going to show a few photos to set the stage a bit. We are remote here. No services of any kind, except that which we provide for ourselves. So don't expect to see any paved roads with big trucks delivering any materials.
We live at the head of a small bay, which is both a blessing and a curse.
When the tide goes out, we have to clamber over hundreds of yards of rocks to get to our boat. When it is in, I can float logs right up to my little railway to move them onto the log deck. Well, not any more, but more about that later.
This is the bay in front of us.
 

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#2,440 ·
Good to see you're finally getting a break from all that oppressive heat.

Just finished cutting some of the marble - back in a minute or three with the first pic.
 
#2,441 ·
One of the back corners of the surround has about a 30º angle. The only way I could cut that was with the bridge saw. So it has come in useful for something other than cutting that art glass the missus has.
 

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#2,442 ·
When it comes to marble, with all its' natural fissures, I'm always leery of having to cut a corner out like this. You need the angle grinder with diamond blade to do it. But since it is done freehend - at least the finishing part - I'm always nervous.

No trouble this time.
 

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#2,444 ·
None of the marble by the surround is set yet, just set in place with wedges to make sure everything fits right. I'll be doing that as soon as I'm done posting here.
 

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#2,445 ·
Came back upstairs a few minutes ago to find the missus staring intently into the ensuite...and she said to me "You know what?" That usually means something is wrong.

No, why don't you tell me..."I really like the way that dark tile ties everything together". Phew, thank goodness for that! I was afraid for a minute that she wanted the whole mess ripped out or something.

I stood on a short ladder just outside the door and took this. You can see the three windows which look into the bay.

There are strips of wood below the bottom row of tiles on those short walls, and they are spacers to allow either tile/backerboard, or wood to be used to cover those areas. HRH hasn't yet made up her mind.

I like the tile idea. Easier to keep clean and will undoubtedly last longer.
 

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#2,446 ·
That is some really pretty marble, I would have been nervous also. Could you use some clear epoxy to glue that corner back on, it is way too beautiful not to fix. You do beautiful work buddy, there is no doubting that at all. Your home is a master piece and the location is totally breathtaking.
 
#2,447 ·
Thanks Jim...

As it happens, that piece is going to fall under the lip of the tub. If the break shows - which I don't think it will - it could certainly be fixed with epoxy.
 
#2,448 ·
First row of marble on the wall is now set. I made sure I had plenty of the white thinset mixed and ended up using the balance to set the first handful of floor tiles.
 

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#2,449 ·
Wow, just call me thick, I just now am seeing what you are doing. That isn't a small space at all, that is your tub area. Buddy, that is fantastic, I know ya'll are really going to enjoy that a lot.

Man this getting old stuff really reeks. :)
 
#2,450 ·
It's the shape of the room that kind of messes everything up. I think it will be OK once it is done, but until then...

We cannot take the tub out of the room now to work on the whole floor at once. We could before the door jamb was in place, but now it won't quite fit.

I guess it's a good thing it was inside the room before I hung the door!

Our friends just left after a great dinner and evening of conversation. I'm too pooped to do anything more tonight, so tomorrow I hope to get the marble all finished up and possibly one half of the floor. Once that has set up I can shift the tub over and do the other half.
 
#2,452 · (Edited)
It is good you got to rest a little with your dinner guest, it is always great to have good friends over for a visit.

When it comes time to install your tub maybe you can invite some good strong friends for dinner and maybe they could give you a hand. I know that is troublesome moving the tub like that.

Keith, it is down to 53F this morning but by Tuesday it will be back into the 90s again. Usually around the 15th or so of September it will get pretty chilly and most times rain around here then get hot again but it looks like it will be cool early this year. This year has broken the record for hot weather here in Tennessee, the hottest year on record.

I have heard of Saline Valley but don't know much about it. If you say it was pretty there it must have been exceptionally pretty, I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to see all the places you have been in your life time.
 
#2,454 ·
Gentlemen, once again thank you for your comments.

I'm going to try to show you what the ensuite is really like, as it just isn't possible to get a pic of the whole thing at one time.

Here is a cardboard drawing of the floor plan. Not the best, but I think you can get the drift of it.
 

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#2,459 ·
I see why you couldn't get the picture you wanted after seeing your floor plan. I do like your layout and I couldn't have been more wrong about a small space.

Buddy, that is a loooot of machining but just think, every time you cut a board that is one less you will ever have to cut again. I can't wait to see the pictures of it.
 
#2,456 ·
Hmmm...sorry about the junk on the roof there, those steps are what I use to gain access to clean out the chimney.

This pic shows that the roof is just a simple triangle with the tip cut off.
 

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#2,457 ·
I wasn't able to find the wood for the top of the walls in the ensuite when I was in town t'other day. But when we were having brekky this morning, I was looking over at the house and spotted some bundles of siding inside the nook over there.

It hit me that perhaps I could machine enough of this stuff down to make what we need, rather than spending two weeks trying to get it in town. I mentioned it to the missus...and right away she is all over the idea like a wet blanket.

This means that there will be a short delay in the proceedings while I set about machining 1/4 mile of wood.

Once through the tablesaw to cut it to width...3 passes through the planer to remove the taper...and twice more through the saw with a dado blade.

Total distance 1 1/2 miles.:eek:

This might take awhile. But when it's done she gets to paint it!:yes:
 
#2,462 ·
OK, now there is 700 lineal feet of cedar made up for the ensuite. That's just over half.

I don't think I'll be rushing to do any more tomorrow. :no:

The rest of the tiling and grouting needs to get done first. :yes:
 
#2,464 ·
Yes, that's right, about 1,300-1,350 lineal feet.

It will be the same color as the ceiling...which I believe is called popcorn white. Who dreams up these names, anyway?
 
#2,465 ·
Aaaaaah, I can just smell the saw dust and feel it in my eyes. I never could plane much without a little dust getting in my eyes.

I know what you mean about the color names. Back when I had my manufacturing company we did a lot of hospital work which most of the case work was covered with HPL (formica), some of the names were just unreal like mauve, what ******* in his right mind would know what that is.:laughing:

By the way, I need to clear up the difference between "*******" and "good ole boys". A ******* is just a happy go lucky guy who will try just about anything and is a hard working fellow (most times) who loves the outdoors. (red neck from the sun on his neck)

A good ole boy is usually a shyster who is crooked as a snake and all stick together, sorta like the rural sheriff (and all his buddies) who tries to take every penny he can or lock up folks passing through.
 
#2,467 ·
Wife number 2 has nearly finished the undercoat on the first batch of boards. We have them close to the wood stove so the paint is drying fast. She says the topcoat will be on later this afternoon! Good show! :thumbsup:

Awhile back, we were waiting for the three barrels out the back to fill up. The rain quit and they never quite made it. We have been having a good dumping overnight and this morning, something desperately needed.
 

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#2,468 ·
Some of the flowers have perked up quite a bit since yesterday with all this water.
 

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#2,469 ·
After some very careful measuring, a portion of the front of the surround has received a few marble tiles. It can set overnight - don't wish to upset the apple cart as it were - and tomorrow I can see about finishing the marble.

The night shift this evening will be engaged in making some cedar trim to go immediately above the top tiles and the wall/ceiling join.
 

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#2,471 ·
Keith, I have never seen marble with veins that pretty before, you find the most interesting things. Your sweety has some really beautiful flowers, she knows what she is doing for sure. You both have fantastic taste.

Buddy, it is safe to come through Chattanooga now, our sheriff got locked up and that is the truth. :yes:

I noticed you said wood stove, is it that cool there now?
 
#2,472 ·
That has to be one of the funniest things I've ever heard...must have been a real good ole boy sheriff.

Well, we needed the wood stove on today because we are painting - plus I'm tiling. It has been raining all day and last night as well, which keeps the temperature down. The current temp outside is 13ºC, but the realfeel is only 10ºC. It will get colder as the night progresses.

The fire has gone out now, but it's still 22ºC inside, nice and warm. This house holds the heat well.

I picked up that marble years ago, so I doubt I could find any more the same. For some reason, I thought I had 50 square feet. But it turns out that each box only has 5 tiles, so only 25 square feet. This means I will have to make sure nothing breaks or I'm in trouble.

It will be a zero waste job. I have been lucky so far.:)
 
#2,473 ·
:laughing: yep the sheriff was one of the good ole boys but he is in the pokie now.

I never could figure out the C vs F degrees thing. How much would 10c and 13c convert to? When do the trees start to change color up your way? When they do would you take some pictures of them? If the trees are pretty here in the mountains I will take a few for you. I am a little ashamed to post pictures after seeing your great photography though.
 
#2,476 ·
So the "Good Ole Boy" sheriff got his comeuppance...glad to hear that!:thumbsup:

Now listen up Ole Jim, if you don't post some pics of the trees, we're all going to disown you. :whistling2::no::laughing:
 
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#2,474 ·
0 C = 32 F (freezing)
each degree Celcius is about 1.8 degrees F

10 C = 50 F
13 C = 55 F
20 C = 68 F

Trees are stating to change already, but I am a few hundred miles east of Cocobolo in the mountains.
 
#2,475 · (Edited)
Thanks JL, I appreciate that. I could never get use to using that system as old as I am.

The reason I asked about the trees changing is I love to learn how different things are in other areas of the world. I am just a curious person, I guess, but I love to learn. Ya'lls part of the world is something we here in the US don't hear much about at least down south. Sorry to go on rambling here. Thank you again for helping me out.

By the way, I like your signature.
 
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