- Thread starter
- #81
Aye Captain…
How about I holler’ for the next gathering…
When you get here, pay no mind to “Charlie”, he’s a wee bit mischievous but he means well….Oh, you gotta bring your own horn too..
The Meade Hall
- Thread starter Chungas Revenge
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Aye Captain…
How about I holler’ for the next gathering…
When you get here, pay no mind to “Charlie”, he’s a wee bit mischievous but he means well….Oh, you gotta bring your own horn too..
- Thread starter
- #82
Many thanx sir…You know, when you’re back east, it’s a destination. Keys go on the hook once you are on the hill. So, BPT enjoy yourself…Don’t tarry too long, the old man of the manner isn’t getting any younger…
- Thread starter
- #83
I’m bringing most of these posts from memory and that’s not always as accurate as I recall..
CB’s family issue went beyond the mundane. Not my place to put it out here. Regardless, left to my own devices, I was free to bang about the place. Holding true to my spit in the dirt sketch, I was unfettered by any semblance of adult supervision so I set myself to work.
1st order of business…The proposed bathroom.. 8x8’. Should be big enough for the essentials. It’s roughed in. Still deciding on how to approach the meeting of old vice new.
CB’s family issue went beyond the mundane. Not my place to put it out here. Regardless, left to my own devices, I was free to bang about the place. Holding true to my spit in the dirt sketch, I was unfettered by any semblance of adult supervision so I set myself to work.
1st order of business…The proposed bathroom.. 8x8’. Should be big enough for the essentials. It’s roughed in. Still deciding on how to approach the meeting of old vice new.
Nice to be multifaceted. I sense I am metric and monolithic most of the time. Holla if thats of value. A road trip with @RevISK sounds exciting. I am sure when we both start running our mouths on the way up to you we will get there in a year or two. What’s going down in 12 months?
- Thread starter
- #85
The Hearth. - Henry van Dyke
“When the logs are burning free,
Then the fire is full of glee”.
There’s nothing quite like a fireplace. Open hearth, wood burning stove, free standing etc. At this point I’m still “up in the air” regarding which direction to go with the fireplace. Small steps for now. Adding the 48x48” hearth/pad.
Still flexible..Leaning toward LNG for ease of function. Wood burner in the main room. Auxiliary 30K BTU wall mount in the main room also.
Putting down the pad as a marker…it’s a place to start making changes.
“When the logs are burning free,
Then the fire is full of glee”.
There’s nothing quite like a fireplace. Open hearth, wood burning stove, free standing etc. At this point I’m still “up in the air” regarding which direction to go with the fireplace. Small steps for now. Adding the 48x48” hearth/pad.
Still flexible..Leaning toward LNG for ease of function. Wood burner in the main room. Auxiliary 30K BTU wall mount in the main room also.
Putting down the pad as a marker…it’s a place to start making changes.
- Thread starter
- #86
March 25. Still unsupervised.
Jumped the gun on the last post. I wanted to add a free floating mantel. Just seemed like an opportune time to do a proof of concept. Thinking free standing stove below the mantel.
Pics don’t give a good “how to” on the concept. Rustic +. I can still turn back and go another direction at this point.
Yellow pine/oak trim w/a dark cedar stain. I have a plan to match the stain in the grand hallway
that will connect old and new.
Jumped the gun on the last post. I wanted to add a free floating mantel. Just seemed like an opportune time to do a proof of concept. Thinking free standing stove below the mantel.
Pics don’t give a good “how to” on the concept. Rustic +. I can still turn back and go another direction at this point.
Yellow pine/oak trim w/a dark cedar stain. I have a plan to match the stain in the grand hallway
that will connect old and new.
- Thread starter
- #87
Make a big entrance.
Late March 2025.
Had to fly solo most of March. Unchecked imagination bolstered by an abundance of naïveté could be problematic..
I’d given considerable thought to the height of the ceiling. The main cabin used the scissor truss to gain height. I wanted some space above me, not necessarily a cathedral look. The main room almost feels cavernous. Not in a bad way, it just feels “big”. I wanted to tone that down a wee bit. We kicked the collar ties up a couple of feet on the rafters, so I’ll have a little over 10’ to the flat portion of the ceiling. A small space lives bigger if you can put some height on it.
2 ceiling profiles.
The grand hallway
ceiling will be just over 8’. Entering the addition there’s a 7” (after flooring) step down into the new addition. Adding the new to the old became problematic due to the different height of the window and door headers. I’ll show the solution a little later on. The 8’ hallway pulls your eye into the space the opens up as you enter the 16x16’ main room. Grand Hall rafters going up.
Pics: Ceiling profiles and Hall entrance
Late March 2025.
Had to fly solo most of March. Unchecked imagination bolstered by an abundance of naïveté could be problematic..
I’d given considerable thought to the height of the ceiling. The main cabin used the scissor truss to gain height. I wanted some space above me, not necessarily a cathedral look. The main room almost feels cavernous. Not in a bad way, it just feels “big”. I wanted to tone that down a wee bit. We kicked the collar ties up a couple of feet on the rafters, so I’ll have a little over 10’ to the flat portion of the ceiling. A small space lives bigger if you can put some height on it.
2 ceiling profiles.
The grand hallway
ceiling will be just over 8’. Entering the addition there’s a 7” (after flooring) step down into the new addition. Adding the new to the old became problematic due to the different height of the window and door headers. I’ll show the solution a little later on. The 8’ hallway pulls your eye into the space the opens up as you enter the 16x16’ main room. Grand Hall rafters going up. Pics: Ceiling profiles and Hall entrance
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- Thread starter
- #88
Making space…
I’m jumping a little out of sequence IOT stay on track with the theme. Late May 2025.
The entrance needed to go big early. The plan was to cut out just above the window header IOT create a new header(s) for the opening. Using two 2x8’s to essentially build a header on each side of the opening. Predrilled pilot holes and used timber screws to catch the framing and secure the two halves. It’s a gable end so there’s plenty of space across the top plate for weight distribution. It’s structurally functional and gives me something to build off of. Thinking a faux timber-ish kinda thing.
Theres an unobstructed view from the old to the new.
The opening
Tacking in the header
Mocking up the step
I’m jumping a little out of sequence IOT stay on track with the theme. Late May 2025.
The entrance needed to go big early. The plan was to cut out just above the window header IOT create a new header(s) for the opening. Using two 2x8’s to essentially build a header on each side of the opening. Predrilled pilot holes and used timber screws to catch the framing and secure the two halves. It’s a gable end so there’s plenty of space across the top plate for weight distribution. It’s structurally functional and gives me something to build off of. Thinking a faux timber-ish kinda thing.
Theres an unobstructed view from the old to the new.
The opening
Tacking in the header
Mocking up the step
- Thread starter
- #89
CB returns.
Hitting the Way Back Machine to April 2025.
The weather was holding steady for April so we decided the next logical step would be to add the metal roof. What I don’t have is the blow by blow in pictures.
Pickup at the shop was easy. Everything was wrapped and bundled sporting a big card that read “For old guy”. In and out in 10 minutes time.
On site, we laid out our metal and marked and predrilled all of the holes for the roofing screws. Next, set up the scaffolding and started. I think all told it took about 4 days with one rain delay for good measure. Again, two old codgers crawling around on a metal roof. What could go wrong. The sheeting went on fairly easy. I was the ground monkey.
Tying in the flashing, the ridge cap and end pieces took time. We only buggered up one end piece. Phone call to the shop and a new piece was waiting on us the next AM.
Post script note. Before we finished the metal, we reset, resealed and stained the cedar siding on the gable end. “Solar Seal” is the go to product. It’s stainable and paintable making it superior to traditional silicon sealants IMHO. I used Sherwin Williams Oil Base stain on the siding. You can still purchase oil based stain in Babylon.
Hitting the Way Back Machine to April 2025.
The weather was holding steady for April so we decided the next logical step would be to add the metal roof. What I don’t have is the blow by blow in pictures.
Pickup at the shop was easy. Everything was wrapped and bundled sporting a big card that read “For old guy”. In and out in 10 minutes time.
On site, we laid out our metal and marked and predrilled all of the holes for the roofing screws. Next, set up the scaffolding and started. I think all told it took about 4 days with one rain delay for good measure. Again, two old codgers crawling around on a metal roof. What could go wrong. The sheeting went on fairly easy. I was the ground monkey.
Tying in the flashing, the ridge cap and end pieces took time. We only buggered up one end piece. Phone call to the shop and a new piece was waiting on us the next AM.
Post script note. Before we finished the metal, we reset, resealed and stained the cedar siding on the gable end. “Solar Seal” is the go to product. It’s stainable and paintable making it superior to traditional silicon sealants IMHO. I used Sherwin Williams Oil Base stain on the siding. You can still purchase oil based stain in Babylon.
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- Thread starter
- #90
More of the roofing.
Without a good roof you don’t have a home, a room or a Mede Hall. This really felt good knowing I wasn’t relying on just the underlayment to protect all the work we’d put into this project to date.
Without a good roof you don’t have a home, a room or a Mede Hall. This really felt good knowing I wasn’t relying on just the underlayment to protect all the work we’d put into this project to date.
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- Thread starter
- #91
CB moves on to greener ($$$) pastures.
CB is retired and has a very nice wood shop operating out of what once was his garage. Helping me over the hump was a huge favor to me. IMO getting it under a roof was the critical phase of the entire project. I could run rampant inside, protected under those gleaming sheets of green metal.
Money talks, especially when it’s cash. CB, being in high demand, had a stack of cash gigs lined up for most of the summer. Considering the near slave wage I was paying him, I’m surprised we’d made it this far..
Enter “Other Construction Buddy” (OCB). OCB is one of my oldest friends. We go all the way back to kindergarten. Tales of our escapades are legendary in our Neighborhood. Stories like “It’s only shore line ice, how cold cold could the water be”, “Suicide hill” and “Jackey’s Playboy” are just a few of the moments etched into our collective history.
Again, while I was off gallivanting and learning absolutely nothing about the trades, OCB followed in his father’s footsteps and built himself a comfortable construction business. I think it was one afternoon while lamenting my misfortune in loosing CB, OCB offered to come out of retirement and lend a hand if 1. I wasn’t in any great hurry. 2. His work day followed the rules of the Geezer Guild. Work days were not any longer than four hours. 3. I would pay his hired help 1 hour travel time.
No haggling on my part. That would put six hands on deck. We shook hands and sealed the deal.
OCB project short list: Soffits, facia, siding, outside trim. Some staining required.
CB built the bird boxes/OCB added soffits.
CB is retired and has a very nice wood shop operating out of what once was his garage. Helping me over the hump was a huge favor to me. IMO getting it under a roof was the critical phase of the entire project. I could run rampant inside, protected under those gleaming sheets of green metal.
Money talks, especially when it’s cash. CB, being in high demand, had a stack of cash gigs lined up for most of the summer. Considering the near slave wage I was paying him, I’m surprised we’d made it this far..
Enter “Other Construction Buddy” (OCB). OCB is one of my oldest friends. We go all the way back to kindergarten. Tales of our escapades are legendary in our Neighborhood. Stories like “It’s only shore line ice, how cold cold could the water be”, “Suicide hill” and “Jackey’s Playboy” are just a few of the moments etched into our collective history.
Again, while I was off gallivanting and learning absolutely nothing about the trades, OCB followed in his father’s footsteps and built himself a comfortable construction business. I think it was one afternoon while lamenting my misfortune in loosing CB, OCB offered to come out of retirement and lend a hand if 1. I wasn’t in any great hurry. 2. His work day followed the rules of the Geezer Guild. Work days were not any longer than four hours. 3. I would pay his hired help 1 hour travel time.
No haggling on my part. That would put six hands on deck. We shook hands and sealed the deal.
OCB project short list: Soffits, facia, siding, outside trim. Some staining required.
CB built the bird boxes/OCB added soffits.
- Thread starter
- #92
Six hands making hay.
While OCB and New Helper Buddy (NHB) were busy with the soffit, I got busy on the siding. One call to the lumber yard and I was out the door the next morning trailered up and heading east.
Staining ops. 1st coat of oil base going on. Used the picnic tables as a staging/staining base.
This would prove to be my last official act of summer.
While OCB and New Helper Buddy (NHB) were busy with the soffit, I got busy on the siding. One call to the lumber yard and I was out the door the next morning trailered up and heading east.
Staining ops. 1st coat of oil base going on. Used the picnic tables as a staging/staining base.
This would prove to be my last official act of summer.
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- Thread starter
- #93
The Haus Frau and Dictator for life can be a very persuasive woman..
I liken the Mid Ohio Valley in the summer time as Hells own sauna. Bumping into the mid 90*s with humidity better suited to a tropical rain forest, the valley can keep you hugging the AC vents at home. Years ago we beat the heat boating on the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers. My last few years in my lead up to retirement I’d lived and worked in Preston Co WV. I really enjoyed the mountains. Cool clean air, mild summers and enough snowfall to keep most flat-landers snowbirding in warmer climes.
When it came time to sell the house, and take up full time residence in Lower Babylon, I resigned myself to the fact I’d probably never be back.
“Though the winds of change may blow around you, but that will always be so”. Well, the winds of change were indeed blowing.
Ms Revenge: “Let’s go to the mountains for a month”.
Me: “Now pumpkin, you know this is the summer of Chunga. I’ve got me two sets of hands out there banging away on the Meade Hall. I couldn’t think to leave right now. I got big plans Pumkin. It’s going to be grand I tell ya. I bet you a roller dog and a slushy that “Country Living” is going to want to do a full on photo spread. Probably invite me to give a talk to their staff designers. I’ll be on Rogan before you know it. I betcha I’m going to start a trend amongst the Wall Street types, pretty soon houses all over Martha’s Vineyard will start building Meade Halls. I know King Harald of Norway is going to send me a new “Horn” and ask for my autograph”.
Adamant non-bending resolve me: “Pummy, this is going to be my moment, my crowning glory, my life’s achievement….My Magnum Opus”.
Ms Revenge: “If we go to the mountains, I’ll pay to put a porch on the Meade Hall”.
Me: “I’ll start packing now”.
OCB and NHB adding siding and cedar trim.
I liken the Mid Ohio Valley in the summer time as Hells own sauna. Bumping into the mid 90*s with humidity better suited to a tropical rain forest, the valley can keep you hugging the AC vents at home. Years ago we beat the heat boating on the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers. My last few years in my lead up to retirement I’d lived and worked in Preston Co WV. I really enjoyed the mountains. Cool clean air, mild summers and enough snowfall to keep most flat-landers snowbirding in warmer climes.
When it came time to sell the house, and take up full time residence in Lower Babylon, I resigned myself to the fact I’d probably never be back.
“Though the winds of change may blow around you, but that will always be so”. Well, the winds of change were indeed blowing.
Ms Revenge: “Let’s go to the mountains for a month”.
Me: “Now pumpkin, you know this is the summer of Chunga. I’ve got me two sets of hands out there banging away on the Meade Hall. I couldn’t think to leave right now. I got big plans Pumkin. It’s going to be grand I tell ya. I bet you a roller dog and a slushy that “Country Living” is going to want to do a full on photo spread. Probably invite me to give a talk to their staff designers. I’ll be on Rogan before you know it. I betcha I’m going to start a trend amongst the Wall Street types, pretty soon houses all over Martha’s Vineyard will start building Meade Halls. I know King Harald of Norway is going to send me a new “Horn” and ask for my autograph”.
Adamant non-bending resolve me: “Pummy, this is going to be my moment, my crowning glory, my life’s achievement….My Magnum Opus”.
Ms Revenge: “If we go to the mountains, I’ll pay to put a porch on the Meade Hall”.
Me: “I’ll start packing now”.
OCB and NHB adding siding and cedar trim.
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RevISK
SILVER Star
Wilco on all counts.
I've might have mentioned this somewhere b4, the Indians called the Ohio River Valley, The valley of the running nose.
- Thread starter
- #96
You did..And I get it, on all fronts.
- Thread starter
- #97
I went to the mountains somewhat reluctantly. Then as summer progressed, a little less reluctant. The heat in the valley turned from hot to sweltering. As the cool mountain mornings and pastoral days on the lake slipped farther into summer, I was reminded of a verse from a Buffet song.
“Warm summer breezes and french wines and cheeses put his ambitions at bay
Summers and winters scattered like splinters and four or five years slipped away”.
BBQ’s and Pinot can put your mind at ease. Living the summer in a 744sqf cabin certainly turns your perspective over on its ear. The original promise of a month away kept creeping further along the calendar. June slipped casually by and flirted openly with July. After the holiday, I assessed the mood. No reason to go back, why not stay another two weeks. OCB had the ball as the Meade Hall meandered steadily along at an old man’s pace.
“Warm summer breezes and french wines and cheeses put his ambitions at bay
Summers and winters scattered like splinters and four or five years slipped away”.
BBQ’s and Pinot can put your mind at ease. Living the summer in a 744sqf cabin certainly turns your perspective over on its ear. The original promise of a month away kept creeping further along the calendar. June slipped casually by and flirted openly with July. After the holiday, I assessed the mood. No reason to go back, why not stay another two weeks. OCB had the ball as the Meade Hall meandered steadily along at an old man’s pace.
- Thread starter
- #98
Warm summer breezes.
No hurry insinuated, no hurry implied. The 4th came and went. Slipping lazily into July.
No hurry insinuated, no hurry implied. The 4th came and went. Slipping lazily into July.
- Thread starter
- #99
“A place ain’t no kinda’ place less it’s gotta porch for sitten”. Ancient Appalachian home builder’s proverb.
With the Carte Blanche authority to go forth and build a porch, I met with OCB one morning in July to talk about the possibilities of adding a porch to my ever expanding design. I needed shelter from a western rain and enough square footage to house a proper gathering of kin, clan and friends. After scratching around in the dirt for a bit, we determined a sufficient area that met the minimum occupancy requirements. I made a call to the lumber yard and agreed that work would commence the next day.
The curb appeal alone was worth Ms Revenges promise. Laying out the frame.
With the Carte Blanche authority to go forth and build a porch, I met with OCB one morning in July to talk about the possibilities of adding a porch to my ever expanding design. I needed shelter from a western rain and enough square footage to house a proper gathering of kin, clan and friends. After scratching around in the dirt for a bit, we determined a sufficient area that met the minimum occupancy requirements. I made a call to the lumber yard and agreed that work would commence the next day.
The curb appeal alone was worth Ms Revenges promise. Laying out the frame.
- Thread starter
- #100
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form
"Come in," she said, "I'll give ya shelter from the storm"
That’s what we needed, “shelter from the storm”. There’s nothing like the sound of a summer storm beating a tattoo on a tin roof. The north porch was going to be that shelter.
"Come in," she said, "I'll give ya shelter from the storm"
That’s what we needed, “shelter from the storm”. There’s nothing like the sound of a summer storm beating a tattoo on a tin roof. The north porch was going to be that shelter.
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