New garage time!

fatjay · Jul 29, 2020

Floor finished, painted, and studs cut to length for 2nd floor. I'm 68 short, so we'll call tomorrow. Painted/sealed the top and was a bit short on a 5gal pail, so I'll go pick up some extra tomorrow.

I don't think I've ever painted in worse conditions. It was brutally hot. And it took 5 hours. Drywall is cake, pourous and imperfect surfaces like plywood sucks.

Court today via zoom, lawyer says it couldn't have gone better, they'll let me know a decision in 1-5 days. He says best case, i'll get everything I want. Worse case, I'll get half.

dragoneggs · Jul 29, 2020

fatjay said:
I just turned 37 and am in the best shape i've ever been in. Muscles all working, joints all working, and as long as i day a few 15min breaks during the day i can keep plowing on. I'm hoping to enjoy this garage for a long time.

Savor these days... once you start breaking down, it don't come back.

MossRoad · Jul 29, 2020

dragoneggs said:
Savor these days... once you start breaking down, it don't come back.

Oh, it comes back.... but it predicts the weather 12-24 hours in advance.

fatjay · Jul 29, 2020

dragoneggs said:
Savor these days... once you start breaking down, it don't come back.

I'm utilizing those days to the best of my ability. I'm putting in 8hr of labor during the day, then 8hr of my day job at night. 10am-6pm, 6pm-2am.

This whole covid thing has been a blessing to me, it locked me down and my friend lost 2 jobs that were scheduled before me, so he was available immediately. I'm going to keep him on as long as I can afford or until jobs start popping up again.

Kyle_in_Tex · Jul 29, 2020

dragoneggs said:
Savor these days... once you start breaking down, it don't come back.

I just hit 60, and I find myself needing many breaks, especially in the heat.

I'm enjoying watching the progress FJ. Don't get heat exhaustion. If you stop sweating, or get dizzy, or a headache, COOL OFF!!

dragoneggs · Jul 29, 2020

Hitting 60 in October and starting to feel it. I am yielding to younger guys now and not liking it. At least my brain is still smarter and wiser than the next generation. I got that to hang on to.... for now.

fatjay · Jul 29, 2020

Friend is 62 now, and it's alarming the stamina he has. Heat doesn't bother him, up and down the scaffolding all day, putting in 3 screws to my 2, lifting 3 studs to my 2. I'm in shape, and if you'd seen the two of us next to each other, you'd never guess it. He doesn't outpace me in strength, but rather endurance. Heat doesn't bother him, he shows up with 4 bottles of water and a nutrigrain or 2 slices of tomato on bread(no mayo) and an orange, works hard labor from 10-6 almost non-stop. Sure I could do it for a day or two, but he just keeps doing it again and again.

dragoneggs · Jul 30, 2020

fatjay said:
Friend is 62 now, and it's alarming the stamina he has. Heat doesn't bother him, up and down the scaffolding all day, putting in 3 screws to my 2, lifting 3 studs to my 2. I'm in shape, and if you'd seen the two of us next to each other, you'd never guess it. He doesn't outpace me in strength, but rather endurance. Heat doesn't bother him, he shows up with 4 bottles of water and a nutrigrain or 2 slices of tomato on bread(no mayo) and an orange, works hard labor from 10-6 almost non-stop. Sure I could do it for a day or two, but he just keeps doing it again and again.

Hey... way to twist the knife. I had to reread your post. First read, the way the sentence wrapped on my browser, "he shows up with 4 bottles of water and a nutrigrain or 2 slices of endurance". Where do I get that? :laughing:

fatjay · Jul 30, 2020

dragoneggs said:
Hey... way to twist the knife. I had to reread your post. First read, the way the sentence wrapped on my browser, "he shows up with 4 bottles of water and a nutrigrain or 2 slices of endurance". Where do I get that? :laughing:

I'd like a slice or two of endurance as well.

sodamo · Jul 30, 2020

Me too. At 73, I find myself short on endurance way too often.
We built our house 14 years ago. I hired labor. My workers put in 8 hours, 2 15 min breaks, lunch and of course my day started before and ended after theirs. My challenge to them, just keep up with me, and I would not expect them to do anything I couldn’t do.

At one point had 9 hollow columns of 16 in block, 8 and 9 ft tall that needed to be filled with grout. Me and 3 helpers, a 35 yo, his 18 yo son and another 18 yo. I would mix the grout in my 3 1/2 cuft mixer. Dump into wheel barrow and then bucket by bucket carried up the ladder and dumped into the column. Of course all mixing was hand loading. Each task had a bit of a breather built in. Pretty soon I hit a pace that kept the boys humping, meaning I had the next almost load ready by the time they were. But I do admit, it was kicking my butt and I’m sure I looked it. So as 18 yo #2 was waiting to fill the wheel barrow he volunteered that he could handle the mixer job. I did admire his willingness to take on a more complex task and his concern for my well being. I chuckled and thanked him, then I asked if he did my job who would do his? His expression showed he hadn’t thought that far. So I hesitated, then offered that I guess that would be me. So we had a bit of discussion as to how the process worked, how mixing the grout set the pace and did he really expect that if he could mix faster that I could wheelbarrow faster? Then I laughed. Told him, as the Boss I got to pick the easier job. Forget how many loads but it took us more than a day. Was very glad to get that task completed. I sure couldn’t do it today.

NHBX · Jul 30, 2020

fatjay said:
I'd like a slice or two of endurance as well.

First let me say your garage is coming along awesome, I am a bit jealous.

At 68 I still try to do as many projects by myself as I can. Although they are now much smaller in scope than your garage. I also have a great neighbor who is always willing to help and I return the favor whenever possible.

Having good people to work with is always a plus and can be a great learning experience.

Enjoy the process and I am sure you will enjoy your new garage when done.

Luther

MossRoad · Jul 30, 2020

I'll be 60 in 6 months. Knock on wood, I'm still doing OK, and so's my wife. Kinda surprised, actually. My dad was the same way into his 70's. So was his dad. Wife and I were filling blocks with concrete last night. 60# buckets. We did a dozen bags in about an hour. Then ate ice cream. Slept pretty good!

Keep the garage pics coming. It's very interesting, and edumacational, too.

m7040 · Jul 30, 2020

At 78 I am not slowing down yet. Not able to go to the gym these days but doing curls with 30 lbs weights , push ups, walk 3 miles a day to stay in shape. Love your garage build and the sustained effort you are putting into it. Look forward to seeing the finished building

ovrszd · Jul 30, 2020

I would suggest your friend works smarter. Never wastes a move. Thoroughly plans ahead with his mind half a dozen tasks ahead of his hands. That minimizes wasted energy. Has a complete understanding of his personal endurance and matches his mental pace to it. That's a talent that comes with age of a man who has worked with his hands all his life. Take time to watch him. Closely. Learn from his techniques. Then when you are his age you might be Blessed with his talent. Because what he is showing you is talent. Not endurance.

dodge man · Jul 30, 2020

The inside of my shop is OSB, try painting that. I just wanted it white for better lighting but it really soaks up the paint.

dragoneggs · Jul 30, 2020

ovrszd said:
I would suggest your friend works smarter. Never wastes a move. Thoroughly plans ahead with his mind half a dozen tasks ahead of his hands. That minimizes wasted energy. Has a complete understanding of his personal endurance and matches his mental pace to it. That's a talent that comes with age of a man who has worked with his hands all his life. Take time to watch him. Closely. Learn from his techniques. Then when you are his age you might be Blessed with his talent. Because what he is showing you is talent. Not endurance.

Likely very true in this case! Efficiency promotes endurance.

goeduck · Jul 31, 2020

The garage looks GREAT, but for some reason I cannot wrap my head around 3 stories with 2 on top of the 1st floor foot print.

As to sslowing down, I have not one bit. I do know I cannot lift what I use during to be able to , however.

fatjay · Jul 31, 2020

24' wide footer, 12" block, 8" walls, 2 floors above the first should easily be supported by that. Standing in the middle, even jumping, no more than 1/8" deflection. We've had a long of weight up there. Hundreds of pounds of lumber. Never felt anything less than solid.

Got most of the 2nd floor up. These walls seem so short and light. It's shocking.

dragoneggs · Jul 31, 2020

goeduck said:
The garage looks GREAT, but for some reason I cannot wrap my head around 3 stories with 2 on top of the 1st floor foot print.

As to sslowing down, I have not one bit. I do know I cannot lift what I use during to be able to , however.

I'm with you here. Two absolutely.... three, got me a little wobbly. Just gut feeling and not a code thing. More of an aesthetic vision maybe vs. structural sturdiness. Carry on!