Dad's 2014 projects update

My dad's 2014 project review.  I enjoyed, and since most who read this are family/close friends, thought I'd post.

L’Oceane had some interesting projects this year . . .

Wanted to expand the garage with a “toolroom”  for the lathe, tools,etc., that just don't fit in the garage . .  so a 12’ extension was needed

The ceiling would be the deck for the new apartment above the garage. We got some quotes for building the apartment but they came in  crazy high, one element was dismantling and removing the roof and of course replacing when finished. . .  So, I  found some old steel beams at the scrap yard and made a plan…..

 

The chains crossing the end of the building held the roof in place when it was off the supports during jacking. Every night we made sure it was supported on the block wall built during the day.

We actually screwed up (above right ) as there were blocks to right side height along the end that bent the end slightly after we dropped the left side for the evening. Once the roof was lifted 3 feet, we cast a center beam to split the loading for the floor, making a wooden floor practical, VS cast cement. Saved a ton of steel , concrete and effort. We lifted the roof in 3 stages, building up the walls as we went. 

We poured a roof beam around the top of the building once up to height.. plastered, painted, windows, dividers, bathroom, drywalling, electrics, landscaping, paving (in stone of course) Pergola, (for the Passion fruit vines to cover) etc and . . .

 Inside is a tight design, as there is only 440 sq ft. . .  but there is a dynamite view!

We 

There is a big hole in front for planting papayas and bananas and hopefully the passion fruit vines over the parking area will provide some raw material for breakfast and drinks . . .  Once the houses in town are caught up and rented out fully, we will return to finishing  with hopefully early April completion

The second project was an outside washroom in stone.  
Now I keep seeing stone buildings in my travels so wanted to get a handle on what’s involved in building one . . .  maybe a castle in my future ?  An interesting experience, as it takes a lot of stone to build, ( you throw out over ½ in trim ), weighs out very heavy , and takes a long time to complete. . . .

You don’t want to be a truck owned by a stone nut. . . . ah the smell of  burning clutch while lead footing it down the road dragging stones to the property ! 

God bless Crowbars and roillers . . .

Alex made just a little dust and wore out another hatchet. The stone shapes with wood axes with minimal wear.

We wrestled the lower stones in place but quickly got stumped lifting the higher stones so  memories of talking to the Russels of Quarry bay,Outback,  had me making a “Jinpole”. Scrounged a winch and pirated one off my boat trailer and a couple trips to the scrap yard and we’re a’liftin !

Had an interesting event.I  had a 500 lb lintel stone shaped and in place , went to lift off for mortar, and it broke. . .  found a root had grown through the stone weakening it. . .  so a trip to Cove construction where I had seen some big stones and some jacking , barring and swearing and we had a 1 ton rock on my poor truck. . This rock was from the sea shore and so much harder than standard limestone.

The “root” above . . . . . . .

2000lbs trimmed down to about 800lbs

 then goes on a 400 lb trolley . . .

 The real test of the Jinpole was lifting the new lintel stone in place.

With the stonework done, did a broken granite floor (free scraps) and dividing wall for the shower with lizard towel holder, a couple of lizards.

 There we go!  The ten ton (no idea), multi month outhouse (tess's inserted comments).  Dad, you're crazy.

Still very much a work in progress, fleshed out but lots of opportunities for improvements which I hope to get to when the off property projects are finished. ( Cycling Coral Carvers )

A trip to a grounded abandoned freighter  supplied us with some 2 ½ “ blanks for the door, the mounting of which will be a new year project along with the solar water heater.

The new year brings a load of challenges, we have a solar system to construct, room below it , finish up the wall electrics, cameras, yard lighting  and there is the Grotto. . . what to do?

The nursery has been stunning this last year with hopes for the future. I thought we had a pretty good stock built up of Hibiscus, bougainvillea, etc., then Tess arrived on one of her gardening sprees. . .  so back to generating more plants.

ave cut aThe fruit trees are starting to bear  and there is some serious promise of future harvests. Already growing more lemons than needed, garden is finally kicking in with Petchay,  and hopefully, shortly, papayas again.

Mangoes

Ma

2015 holds lots of promise along with the rest. Wishing you all the best in 2015