Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Almost ready to move back in
Just a bit more work left to seal up the last of the outer edge expansion joints and install the window trim, and I'll be ready to move back in to the garage. Knee wall paint is done, and black border/trim installed:
Monday, January 23, 2012
Epoxy is Done!
Done. 'Nuff said.
There's actually a bit more texture than I expected... but then again I did add about 2x the flake from their "standard" kit. Also went a little wild with the anti-slip texture in a couple spots, but hey, at least I won't be falling! All in all, very pleased with the way it came out.
Now on to finish the painting of the lower stem walls, and get trim painted and installed so I can start moving back in to this place!
There's actually a bit more texture than I expected... but then again I did add about 2x the flake from their "standard" kit. Also went a little wild with the anti-slip texture in a couple spots, but hey, at least I won't be falling! All in all, very pleased with the way it came out.
Now on to finish the painting of the lower stem walls, and get trim painted and installed so I can start moving back in to this place!
DOH!
With Malia's help, we get everything together to start the Epoxy work on Sunday the 15th. Plan is in place, we know what we're going to each be doing (this stuff is very time sensitive, so careful planning and strategy is a must). Open the second bucket of Epoxy to batch mix with the first....
Uh, yeah, it's not supposed to be chunky. After all that prep work, I'm certainly not going to rush putting that on the floor. Bummed out, but a quick Monday call to the manufacturer has new product on it's way.
Uh, yeah, it's not supposed to be chunky. After all that prep work, I'm certainly not going to rush putting that on the floor. Bummed out, but a quick Monday call to the manufacturer has new product on it's way.
The Concrete Prep Saga
I did finally decide to finish the floor in Epoxy. Trip to Charlotte to pick up a couple Epoxy kits (only stocked at a few Lowes stores in the state, and a good excuse to go to IKEA too), and the prep work begins. I diamond ground the outer edges of the slab and a few other spots where the finishers didn't do so well. 
Then used "the wire brush of death" - aka a wire wheel on an angle grinder - to create a controlled recess in the black expansion board that formed the edge of the slab up to the stem walls. The intent here was to create a recess that I can later fill with a waterproof joint sealer, as I learned pretty quick that this crack basically just sucks in whatever liquid makes it to the edge of the slab.
Then the fun begins. I've noticed over the past year that in the right rain conditions, I can get water backing up under the garage doors - worse on the right side. A quick check with the level indicates that there's a low spot right where the garage doors come down. I decide I'd REALLY like to have a recess at the front of the slab, so any water that does come down the doors literally CANNOT get into the garage. How hard can removing a 1/4" x 9" x 18' of concrete be.
3 days of work later, and after destroying 1x 7" Diamond blade, 3x 4.5" diamond blades, 2x Masonry Grinding wheels, 1x Angle Grinder, 2 dusk masks, 2 pairs of safety goggles, 2 pairs of gloves, and the better part of 2x 4" diamond cup wheels, a channel was born:
During this process, I also pressure washed the slab, then cleaned it, acid etched and pressure washed it again. Then I decided it wasn't good enough yet, acid etched and pressure washed it yet again to get a surface I was comfortable with epoxying over. Then started filling all the spider cracks. Lots of them. Also filled in the relief joints, and after drying time, ground everything down one last time. Though a day later than hoped (now Jan 15th), all the cleanup is done, and ready for epoxy!
Then used "the wire brush of death" - aka a wire wheel on an angle grinder - to create a controlled recess in the black expansion board that formed the edge of the slab up to the stem walls. The intent here was to create a recess that I can later fill with a waterproof joint sealer, as I learned pretty quick that this crack basically just sucks in whatever liquid makes it to the edge of the slab.Then the fun begins. I've noticed over the past year that in the right rain conditions, I can get water backing up under the garage doors - worse on the right side. A quick check with the level indicates that there's a low spot right where the garage doors come down. I decide I'd REALLY like to have a recess at the front of the slab, so any water that does come down the doors literally CANNOT get into the garage. How hard can removing a 1/4" x 9" x 18' of concrete be.
3 days of work later, and after destroying 1x 7" Diamond blade, 3x 4.5" diamond blades, 2x Masonry Grinding wheels, 1x Angle Grinder, 2 dusk masks, 2 pairs of safety goggles, 2 pairs of gloves, and the better part of 2x 4" diamond cup wheels, a channel was born:
During this process, I also pressure washed the slab, then cleaned it, acid etched and pressure washed it again. Then I decided it wasn't good enough yet, acid etched and pressure washed it yet again to get a surface I was comfortable with epoxying over. Then started filling all the spider cracks. Lots of them. Also filled in the relief joints, and after drying time, ground everything down one last time. Though a day later than hoped (now Jan 15th), all the cleanup is done, and ready for epoxy!
Closing Out December 2011
With the Sheetrock up, and with the help of my father-in-law and wife, I spent most of my xmas break cleaning up the garage, painting, etc. By the 28th, the Walls were painted a light grey.
With some extra special help, the red stripe started on the 29th....
... and 3 coats later, was basically done. Oh, and frog tape really IS that good!
Also started the block wall painting/waterproofing
Ended the year with a coat of paint/waterproofer around the stem walls, and even got the garage door openers installed. Slower progress than hoped, but stayed busy so can't really complain. Ok, Malia might have preferred didn't stay up until 2-4AM at least a couple nights during this vacation, but sleep is overrated, right?
With some extra special help, the red stripe started on the 29th....
... and 3 coats later, was basically done. Oh, and frog tape really IS that good!Also started the block wall painting/waterproofing
Ended the year with a coat of paint/waterproofer around the stem walls, and even got the garage door openers installed. Slower progress than hoped, but stayed busy so can't really complain. Ok, Malia might have preferred didn't stay up until 2-4AM at least a couple nights during this vacation, but sleep is overrated, right?
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
They can do in an hour what I could do in day
They started, slowly, a bit before 9 AM this morning. By 7:30PM, basically all the drywall was hung, both downstairs and up. Also managed to start a first, and in some places a second coat of mud on 75% of the garage area...
Still a lot of cleanup to do, and a few odds and ends here and there, but still an amazing amount of work done in a day, especially given 2 guys hung ~6000 lbs of "lightweight" drywall, and 2 other guys worked just a half day taping.
Still a lot of cleanup to do, and a few odds and ends here and there, but still an amazing amount of work done in a day, especially given 2 guys hung ~6000 lbs of "lightweight" drywall, and 2 other guys worked just a half day taping.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Quick Progress When You
Hire it out!
Insulation started today, and finished! Decided to go "all the way" and just get the thing spray foamed. My wallet is lighter, but the Insulation contractor suggested I'd be able to heat the place with a candle now. Though I suspect that may be a touch optimistic, at least I won't be worrying about keeping the heat/AC on and will be more apt to use the space (which was the whole point).
Now to find some sheetrock guys....
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)