The Meade Hall

[WarDamnEagle]

I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were buying and didn't fall prey to vendor's mislabeling. Personally I would never use engineered flooring in The Mead Hall. I just don't think that material is in keeping with the spirit of the place, as I understand it through your posts. I have always wanted a hickory floor. Hickory has a character that oak can never replicate, it's less prone to warpage, and it's hard as bejeezus. Quick search and here's a source for $0.99/ft2. No idea of details, just a quick search and paste to show the possibility.

Sawmill Hickory Natural 3/4 x 4-3/4" Solid Hardwood Flooring | WeShipFloors

Sawmill Hickory Natural solid hardwood flooring combines strong hickory planks, natural color variation, and wire-brushed texture for long-lasting performance.

weshipfloors.com

Edit: Maybe a better example: FWIW, "cabin grade" is generally the cheapest grade.

Unfinished Solid Hickory Hardwood Flooring at Cheap Prices by Hurst Hardwoods

When you're looking for bargain prices on premium Unfinished Solid Hickory hardwood flooring, Hurst Hardwoods is the best one-stop online shop.

www.hursthardwoods.com

 

[Chungas Revenge]

@WarDamnEagle

X2 on the hickory flooring. I used it in a house I had in the mountains. Wore out a saw blade putting it down. Wears like iron. Top tier on the Janka scale.

Kicking the can..

 

[Skreddy]

Late to the party with my unsolicited opinions…. I like a narrower plank floor. Also pleases my eye to see a darker floor with lighter cabinets or lighter floor with darker cabinets.
We are doing narrow plank hickory for our floors and cabinets are darker “walnut” (just stained dark and actually birch and oak because I’m cheap and buy project cars instead of nicer cabinets…).

But the real reason for the intrusion; showed some of these pics of your property and cabin iterations to my wife and she agrees it’s time to start looking for some mountain land.

Keep up the good work!

 

[Chungas Revenge]

@Skreddy - No intrusion. Congrats on finding your piece/peace on a mountain TBD. Ping me when you start your thread.

Changes are afoot on the hill. Can’t spill the beans just yet. Gotta build up a little anticipation 1st..

Anyway, I do my Course of Analysis planning/war gaming with different scenarios and possibilities. In my little infantry head I haven’t found any wrong answers, only different. Time-$$$-effort all factor in before I can get to where I’m going.

OCB is busy with a couple unforeseen life changing projects so I’m soloing these past couple of weeks. I’m a little farther along on the time line and hope to be on the hill this coming Tuesday.

Ms Revenge is heading south Monday afternoon so I’m free to “fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way”. IE flooring is going down. Pics and dispatches to follow.

I’ll update a little later today or in the AM.


Coat of urethane down on the trim/basebard/windows. Brings out the natural color in the cedar (gold/orange/brown) Looks a little blotchy as it was drying.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Eastern wall in primer.

The nature of the wood texture on the sheeting and cedar battens makes it a challenge to paint. Good quality primer and a rough nap roller helped. Cut everything in with a 1 -1 1/2” brush. Had to shoot for a semi warm day and used the stove to keep the temp up. Slow going dodging the temp fluctuations.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Cutting in color. Benjamin Moore “Spanish Brown”. Has an ever so slight red tone when the sun comes in through the window and pulls the warmer brown out of the pine. Again, dodging warm/cold weather patterns. I didn’t want to paint when the mercury was dipping below 32*F at night. Probably a week between primer and the 1st application of Spanish Brown. Waited another few days to put down a 99% solution. Small touch up ops are on “the list”.

Next move, the west wall.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

In the spring, when the neighbors show up for lunch, it’s time to start working.


To everything a season. It’s warming up considerably in the Land of Nod. So much so that I spent a little time on the range yesterday. Swung like a rusty gate but I’ll take it...

Ran into CB (construction buddy) at the range. After thirty seconds or so of tense negotiations, he “volunteered” to lend a hand Tuesday with the flooring. My knees and lower back said a silent prayer of thanks for the second set of hands.

Hoping my semi adult supervision (CB) will keep me in a tight operational window. Allowing two days of effort on the flooring. Then, I want to shift gears while (if) the weather cooperates. There is solid work ahead with the yearly clean up. Both inside and outside of the hall will benefit from the effort. I may even break the Geezer Guild rules and spend some extra time/effort getting things in order. I have three weeks or so of uninterrupted time on my hands. Should be a good start on the season.


Neihbor’s mooching a free meal.
Roughing in the west wall.
1st coat.

2nd coat going on Sun/Mon followed by a little sanding and touch up work. Calling this a 95% solution.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

It seemed like I went back and forth for the biggest part JAN and into FEB trying to nail down the best flooring option. By mid FEB it was nip and tuck between hardwood or natural slate. Hardwood just has a warmer feel and seems more in tune with the eclectic daydream I’ve rattling around in my head. May still use the slate in the Loo.

Allowed just over ten days of acclimatization so the wood and the room could get to know each other. Went with a 3 1/4”width. That seemed, at least IMHO, to be the best option visually for the space. Not too wide, not too thin.

In the end, MAJ Campbell had a great deal of influence in the final selection...


MAJ Campbell
Stacked and ready

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Geezers on Parade. Well, maybe Geezers on a leisurely stroll? A meander? A brisk mosey?

Late start this AM and a flurry of afternoon “Honey Do’s” cut into my hammer time. We’re old and slow. Took over a hour to set the first two courses. Used a 15lb roofing felt as a underlayment. The floor has 2” rigid insulation between the joists. Using the felt as a vapor barrier regardless. Drilled and hand nailed the first two courses using a 2” stainless ring-shank nail. I like the ring-shank nail over a six penny nail for bite. Once they’re in, they’ll break off out of spite before pulling out.

Picked up speed once we deployed the air nailer. Well, that’s a pretty bold piece of hyperbole coming from the old guy swinging the hammer.

Used the “staple” as opposed to the more traditional flat nail. Was a little tricky to get the pressure on the pancake compressor just right. Pretty sure my first attempt shot a staple through the oak flooring, subfloor and a 10” joist before coming to rest in a foot or so of top soil. Had to dial it wayyyyyy back to get a good even penetration.

Probably won’t get back on the hill until Friday. Booked up with life WED/THU. Still projecting another day and a half to finish up.

After much deliberation, wailing and gnashing of teeth, I chose a “Frisco Butterscotch” oak flooring. It has the prerequisite gold/orange/brown hue included free of charge and it’s MAJ Campbell approved. Granted, “Frisco Butterscotch” sounds like something you’d find lurking in the dark pages of the urban dictionary and I said as much to the young associate who placed my order. He tugged once or twice on his horseshoe size nose ring before giving me that land of the lost blank stare. Apparently my humor is unappreciated by the philistines here in Lower Babylon. Meh .

 

[WarDamnEagle]

So is this full 3/4" flooring? If so, why aren't you using a floor nailer? You know, there's no greater workout for old, tired arms and shoulders than slinging a rubber mallet to drive a cut nail into flooring.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

You know, there's no greater workout for old, tired arms and shoulders than slinging a rubber mallet to drive a cut nail into flooring.

Sage….

I had hoped to simply give installation pointers from the fold up chair. Fate conspired against me.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Pilgrims progress.


Definite chill in the air this AM when CB wheeled into the driveway at 0930. Made sure the spare 25lb cylinder of propane was ready for duty. It won’t be missed by the gas grill till April..

With a day off yesterday, my well seasoned attitude was sufficiently resuscitated for a full on assault with the pneumatic nailer. In fact, I was looking forward to it.

The law is the law.

I brought CB up to speed on the recently codified, statutes and regulation's governing the members of the Geezer Guild.

1. No member, in the performance of their duties, shall ever be considered in a hurry.
2. Non paying jobs require frequent breaks.
3. Paying jobs require frequent breaks.
4. The job is complete when the job is complete.
5. What isn’t finished today will be there tomorrow (or the next).
6. First one to audibly groan out-loud pays the “beverage tax”.

With the Guild Hall rules in effect we set to task. We produced a little over fours hours of effort, interspersed with frequent periods of inactivity, the telling of tall tales and the outright fabrications of the truth. Ended the day about 3/4ths of the way towards mission complete.

We could have possibly ran another box or two of “Frisco” but, I ran out of ammunition for the nailer.
It’s fortuitous, I need to make a big chain store run tomorrow anyway.

Post script.

Not a bad days effort. Decision time on the bathroom flooring. My first inclination is to just go ahead and run the wood flooring. I’ve some other ideas bouncing around the periphery: Slate/river rock/other.

I’ll let that notion percolate for a day or so. Back on the hill maybe Sunday but NLT Monday.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

14 hours later.

Full disclosure this is over four days. I don’t make the Geezer Guild rules, I just live by them . Took CB and I just over 14 hours, nap time included, to button up the floor. For the most part, that’s the last big muscle movement for the main space.
Going to go with a 1/2” red oak unstained molding. Instead, I’m using a satin urethane to bring out some color and grain in the oak.

The wall was out 3/16” on a 24’ run. I’m calling that success for one (old) carpenter and his knuckle dragging assistant. Overall very pleased with the results.

Now I’m staring down the bathroom. Command decision today to continue with the “Frisco” flooring for continuity. May be a custom vanity compliments of CB. It’s good to have friends with skills..

Soooooo, this winter, someone let me spend too much time sitting by the fire surfing the interwebs. Gonna blame Ms Revenge for the lack of adult supervision. Hand me an IPad with a single malt and the good idea fairy wrecks havoc on the well laid plans of mice and men.

The Kings Chamber is born. It’s good to be King..

 

[RevISK]

love me a wood floor. We have white oak throughout the house from the early 50's.
Strong work sir.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

love me a wood floor. We have white oak throughout the house from the early 50's.
Strong work sir.

Danke’ - Ditto^^^

Something extremely “warm and welcoming” about a wood floor.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

I was busy taking a victory lap yesterday when I mentioned the flooring was the “last big muscle movement”.
Well, that didn’t age well. Actually, the fireplace is the last big effort in the main room. Going to chalk that up my euphoric statement to youthful exuberance and wishful thinking.

This week is decision time for the facade.

A. River rock. Large, similar to the Lil’ cabin.
B. River rock. Small, flat 3/4” - 1” or so. I’ll post up a pic later today.
C. Natural slate.
D. Combo from above.

The only screening criteria I have is, I want the gas stove to fit flush on the wall…

We’re “snowed-off” the hill today. You never know what March or her bipolar sister November will bring. The mountains in upper Nod will probably see additional snow into April. But here in lowlands of Babylon, this should be the last gasp of old man winter.

I think I’ll take this opportunity to run over to the stone yard and the big ticket store(s) today for inspiration.

Edited for better pic.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Spent some time nosing around the stone yard yesterday. Just kicking the can down the alley. Poked around the cultured/man made stone showroom and liberated a ProVia catalog. Spent some time walking around their yard too. One or two ideas broke loose and floated to the surface. Overall a good fact finding mission.

Going to head out to the big ticket store today for oak trim and spend some time in the “tile section”. May even have a look at their “dry stack” offerings.

Looks like it’s going to be Friday AM before we put boots on the ground again. I may go out today and exchange generators. My Little Red Craftsman needs some scheduled maintenance.

And more importantly, it’s getting close to “yard sale season”. I’ve run out of places to hide my priceless artifacts and gypsy treasures. It’s time to move them to an undisclosed secure location away from the greedy eyes of the early season relic hunters..

Lastly, it’s fun with taxidermy time. Here in the Land of Nod, taxidermy placement is an artistic expression and you get your man card yanked if you don’t do it right. I have this idea for the mantle area that’s been rattling around in my head since we finished the north wall.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Lastly, it’s fun with taxidermy time. Here in the Land of Nod, taxidermy placement is an artistic expression and you get your man card yanked if you don’t do it right. I have this idea for the mantle area that’s been rattling around in my head since we finished the north wall.

Understood.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

@rkymtnflyfisher

“Taxidermy, like sex, is a very personal subject; the manner in which we impose it on others should be discreet.”


Taxidermy, snow shoes, a couple tattooed Lady’s”…Meade Hall necessity’s.

I phone a friend.

Me: Hey buddy, I’m in a bind. I need ya man. I’ve got these Euro mounts next to my tattooed lady’s and I think my spacing is off.

Hunting Buddy: Sounds serious. Going in your bedroom?

Horrified Me: No sir, not this time. Ms Revenge outlawed boudoir displays of fur, fish and game after the “Porcupine Incident”. This is for the Meade Hall. I’m drawing a blank I tell ya. Is your Mrs home? She’s got an eye. Her Whistle Pig display is legendary. Now that’s no disrespect to you, your old hound dog “Buck” is first class work.

Hunting Buddy: Mmmm Hmm, I see your dilemma. Spacing an 8pt on a naked lady is graduate level stuff. You have pics?

Me: Yep, take a look, I think the Euro’s are hanging to low. Throwing the whole thing off.

Hunting Buddy: Absolutely! Way too low. Hey pumpkin, can you come take a look at Chunga’s Euro mounts and tabooed lady’s.

Mrs Hunting Buddy stifling a giggle: You having a hard time getting your heads up? Hmmmmm, You hang those Euros all by yourself (laughter)? Were you drinking (knee slapping guffaw)? Center them (Drops Microphone).

Indignant me: What? Me? No, now come on it’s barely past noon!!! Ok maybe one, but it helps with my geospatial telemetry comprehension.

Ms Hunting Buddy: Well you need a new prescription cause those mounts need centered. Your naked lady’s with the sticks are dominating the whole thing.

Me: No-Sir-eee Bob!!! Can’t have naked lady’s with sticks being all domineering. I learned my lesson after that “Porcupine Incident”. Thanks Ms Hunting Buddy, I owe you one.

1. First attempt.
2. Ms Hunting Buddy to the rescue.


Post script:

I get back to Lower Babylon from out on the hill and there’s a text message on my phone. It’s from Ms Hunting Buddy.

Ms Hunting Buddy: You need to drop those snow shoes about 3-4 inches. They’re too dress right dress with your tattooed lady’s and your shoulder mount. Pretty sure you know what 3-4 inches looks like (giggle).

Me sitting in the drive way: DOH!!!

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Archeology for beginners.


Spent time crawling around under the house yesterday liberating some of my hidden treasures. There lurking behind boxes marked “Christmas lights”, I found them. Sixteen perfectly preserved Meade Hall essentials.

It was if someone had put them there on purpose..