Most of the projects out here are pretty interesting and there’s a lot to be learned by studying them. Like the small (8X8) deck project that wound up this week with the completion of the railings. As wife (and OSHA site inspector) Elaine puts it “Adds to the house and it doesn’t look so much like a double-wide trailer, anymore.” Indeed, it doesn’t.
The two yellow arrows are worth discussing for a sec.
The top one points to an “outback home” problem that’s pretty common with screen porches. The wild animals all want in, especially if we eat on the porch and there’s the smell of food. Or if it’s raining, Or cold. They all want in.
The solution to this (around the doors and where cats can “take a flyer” and land (claws out, of course) on the screen) has been 24 by 36 inch plastic panels which you can buy (five of ’em) for about $4o bucks on Amazon. (like these). Best worked in warm weather, these are not “plexiglass” exactly – not sure about the chemistry – feels more toward PVC (like the stuff used as tabletop clear protector sheets) but it works OK.
That top arrow is where I have some inside (on the house side of the screen) blocking to cut (paint, install) so there’s something to screw the panels into. I run truss head 1/2 or 5/8ths stainless here to eliminate the weather issues.
The second arrow (was it reader Mike who pointed it out?) is the “open beams” which I happen to like. He said it would look better if enclosed (and the wood’s on hand to do that) but I have found that (for whatever reason) the mud daubers/wasps tend to build fewer nests in areas where there is a single joint line. Like they love to have calm air and up in corners. Being open keeps them down, but this is a matter of taste. Although if you have strong thoughts on the curb appeal impacts, drop me a line.
Speaking of curb appeal, there’s another point to think about (Elaine mentioned it). “This makse the house look…oh…more prosperous… I hope that doesn’t encourage the criminal element…” Yeah, I’ve thought about that, as well. But I do like the “look” of a squared away railing. The criminal element can take it’s chances with video surveillance and a “feared for my life” defense – though there’s (ahem) likely to be only one story available to be told at that point…
A couple of readers were wondering where I got the idea for this (nice a ) railing. Credit to DIY Ron’s YouTube video: https://youtu.be/w62A0bW2ZoY. In addition to the Vevor 3/4 OD black aluminum pre-cut balusters, which we picked up 101 of for $110, we also borrowed Ron’s hardware suggestions for the 2 by 4 end plates…
Which makes installing the rails a piece of cake. Plus, I spied Ron’s use of plastic post caps which seemed like another great idea worth borrowing:
One Problem Remains
That’s the width of the stairs. I went ahead and did the project anyway, but the width of the stairs (and placement of the stringers) was limited due to the Telco demark box. That will have to be moved and I have that on my list of innumerable small nits that will trigger other things.
For now, feral Siamese (cross) Sam the Cat thought it was fine…when I caught him trying to jimmy the pickup open to go joyriding…
My next project (after the waterworks) will be a new deck (and matching railing system) out here off the 180-Room.
Doesn’t look like it in the picture, but the deck has a good 6-feet in front of the door into the 3-seasons room. I will pop that out at least to 8 (and maybe 12) so that the gutter drain doesn’t (visually) “pop” so much when the bright sun’s out.
Hydroponics Table
Another small projec to come off the list this week was to get the hydroponics table for the studio put together. As you may remember, we made a decision a while back to use the “music room” (which is heated space) to grow things in the winter, and especially for the first several weeks of even winter crops like cabbage, kale, and whatnot.
There – right on cue – was a 48 by 20 inch table that looked pretty good for $127. Assembly on the back of the pickup truck was a no-brainer…
Hats off to Larbanke for building the table I would build if I had a massive manufacturing country behind me. Everything was precision cut and the holes all matched up perfectly. And check this out – even has measuring marks on the working side!
The other thing nice about the table (because I have a couple of “rubberwood” table tops: Most of them are so thick that you can’t put something like a gooseneck lamp clamp on them – without jacking around with the clamps. This one is a bit over an inch, but not one of those 1.5 inch thick tops more suited to heavy (I mean beat on it all day) woodworking benches.
The Waterworks Project
Drinking water hose came in for reloading and Elaine’s working on clearing out the brush as we speak. But it’s time we load up the 275 gallon IBC tote with drinking water.
We we lived on the sailboat, water planning was “just something you did.” Boat carried about 200 gallons which ought to have gotten us to Hawaii, anyway. You figure on minimal rations, a gallon and a half of water per day ought to do (if you don’t mind some, oh…eau d partner maybe. East Texas summertime rations run closer to 5-gallons per person, per day so you could budget a shower every other day.
Three seasons, though, 2-gallons per person per day (not countingthe odd shower) is a prepping / survival number. So 300 gallons (the 275 holds more than 275 by a good bit) is 150-days for one or 75-days for two:
That’s not counting, of course, the assorted 55-gallon blue poly water barrels either, I think there’s four or five of them.
This part of east Texas was rolling in the water earlier this year. But we have not even scored a “lick and a promise” in the past two months. The last “useful” rai here was on August 23rd and as of Friday, the next rain wasn’t coming until maybe the 29th. Which means more yardwork and deck-building weather next week, too.
The Waterworks Project will have it’s own write-up when I get it done. But, essentially, I should be able to get the whole thing – including 900 gallons of water, breakers and wiring, pump, and planning, done for under $300 bucks.
The system I have in mind should be able to keep the whole house going (with people, running water, flush toilets, for maybe two or three weeks (full use) and up to as much (for the two of us) in the minimal water mode of more than six months.
A lot of people have pretty good food stores – some have generators. But back up pressure water? Now we’re talking luxury, my friend.
Off to hit and get again, but feel free to send in Ure comments and ideas…
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