Key posts: FINISHED IN 2020! Sharward's Partial Garage Conversion

Substantial posts by sharward, who started the thread, and by the forum’s most active contributors. 739 of 1542 posts are listed.

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• sharward, 3 January 2005Renamed from "BACK IN ACTION IN 2018! Sharward's Partial Garage Conversion" on 2 July 2020... Renamed from "Rehearsal Studio Plan - Partial Garage Conversion -…
• knightfly, 7 January 2005Been trying to catch up on my own life for a few days, and have about 18 posts to answer so I'll have to keep this first one kinda short; First, forget STC - for what…
• sharward, 7 January 2005Thanks, knightfly, for the great feedback. :) The more I learn, the more I discover there is to know! :shock: I will research the attic construction over the next few…
• sharward, 10 January 2005I popped my head into the attic today. :roll: The existing garage ceiling consists of fire rated gypsum attached to metal furring channels - unknown what gauge (and I'm…
• sharward, 10 January 2005OK, I just finished reading all 21 pages :shock: in Aaron's Floating Floor thread. WOW -- more than a year in the making! I especially studied Aaron's photos of his…
• sharward, 12 January 2005Reading, reading, learning, rereading... I think I know what you (Steve) are going to say. In reviewing the Complete Section - (Temporary "FAQ") , you wrote: So, I'm…
• sharward, 20 January 2005At last, some illustrations I'd like to share for your feedback... garage.jpg flooranatomy.jpg ceilinganatomy.jpg
• sharward, 20 January 2005Continued... wallanatomy-sw-s.jpg wallanatomy-nw-n.jpg wallanatomy-e.jpg
• sharward, 21 January 2005In addition to feedback on the above illustrations, I'd like to ask about firestopping -- specifically, where the air gap between wall leaves meets the air gap between…
• knightfly, 21 January 2005Man, first of all I have to say that your drawings are far and above the best drawn, best researched I've seen in the time I've been modding this forum(other than…
• sharward, 26 January 2005So, the floor recommendation is 3 1/2" of concrete. As I mentioned, I'm a little turned off of that idea (but I remain committed to doing it, if that's what it takes).…
• knightfly, 29 January 2005ON fire stopping - your local building codes department is your best and easiest source on this. It doesn't matter what the IBC or any other document says, if your local…
• sharward, 2 February 2005OK, here goes -- three revised illustrations for your review. I've changed some things, beefed up some things, and (hopefully) refined some things. Although not…
• knightfly, 8 February 2005Top pic - no changes I can see; for in-wall insulation, the fluffy stuff works about as well as the more expensive kind - if this is used, stay with UN-faced and fill to…
• sharward, 9 February 2005So much to cover, so y'all forgive me for getting a little "quote happy" here. ;-) I don't know yet. I'll find out when I tear off the existing gypsum off that wall…
• sharward, 10 February 2005I've checked the Architectural Noise Separation on the Kinetics Web site , but I don't see the product that you described. While I understand the overall concept, I'm…
• sharward, 11 February 2005Aw, shucks! ;) Thanks for the kind words. :) Actually, I believe it's OK in California to use PT lumber indoors. If not then we're in deep sh%* because my house is full…
• sharward, 11 February 2005I was able to see my neighbor's wood shop today and talk with him about what he encountered. The north wall he built is just a few inches farther north than mine will…

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• z60611, 11 February 2005sharward: The reason I was asking about the vapor barrior is that it appeared to me as if you had two parallel vapor barriors separated by about 8". 'K' in your drawing…
• sharward, 12 February 2005Hi Z, Great stuff -- thanks so much for the input. I'm nodding my head on the outside, yet inside I'm still a little unclear. Yes, there are two vapor barriers involved.…
• knightfly, 13 February 2005On the vapor crap, this will be as much a function of your location, weather, and heat/cool tendencies in the space as anything - in any case, having more than one vapor…
• sharward, 13 February 2005I dig it! 8) That seems like it would work very nicely! I just hope it's "kosher" for inspector's sake. :?: I got to thinking about the "circulation fans" thing... I'm…
• knightfly, 14 February 2005if I am pushing air through this area to ventillate it, wouldn't that reduce the effectiveness of the rather thick insulation throughout the area in terms of fireblock…
• sharward, 23 February 2005Well, I've been busy refining my illustrations over the last several days. Here they are. Sorry they're so dang tall, but at least they're not wide and causing you to…
• knightfly, 25 February 2005Looking really good Kieth; only one change I'd make so far, that's to move part "F" back so it overlaps the top plates by 2 to 2-1/4", this will still leave enough…
• sharward, 25 February 2005Actually, my spec is 1 1/2" from outer edge -- meaning, away from the inside of the room. That means it will be flush against the rim joist of the ceiling joists along…
• sharward, 2 March 2005I'm very pleased to report that I purchased an "overrun" of 1/2" thick 60 durometer EPDM today from a company called BRP -- a 2' x 3' sheet that will allow me to cut out…
• knightfly, 2 March 2005Gotcha... :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: OK, all seriousness aside; First…
• sharward, 3 March 2005OK. Well, I'm planning on going with 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" pucks, so that would be 5.25 square inches. Based on that swag, that's around 50-210 pounds. Doubling that is…
• sharward, 4 March 2005Steve, you've mentioned in several places on the forum that we should not use fire-rated gypsum if we can avoid it, since fire rated gypsum has less mass. However, I'm…
• sharward, 7 March 2005Well, after several weeks of research, I'm finally ready to unveil my cost and weight estimate spreadsheet. I'm very interested in feedback on this, especially from…
• knightfly, 10 March 2005Kieth, just a quick try before I crash; Does this mean I should keep looking, and specifically look for a brand of gypsum wall board that comes in 5/8" and is NOT fire…
• sharward, 12 March 2005OK, thanks for clarifying "fire rated" vs. "fire code." I think I got it. Now, to rephrase my question with hopefully the correct terminology... :?: It appears to me…
• knightfly, 12 March 2005Your walls, as designed, are so far beyond "fire rated" it's funny. Just build 'em and fuhgeddaboutit... :=)) Seriously, no prob - and, fire CODE is a TYPE of wallboard…
• sharward, 12 March 2005Cool. I understand. Thanks for clarifying. For the record, I was most concerned about buying the wrong stuff, as I'm really not worried about 3 layers of rock not…
• sharward, 17 March 2005SIGH. :? Last night I spent some time on my municipality's Web site, where they must have done quite a revamp since the last time I was in their building department…

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• sharward, 22 March 2005OK, I'm done (I think, I hope) with the :shock: :shock: :shock: electrical plans . :shock: :shock: :shock: I welcome your feedback, everyone (especially you, Steve, of…
• sharward, 22 March 2005Well, the machine shop now has my EPDM, plus a stick of PT 2x4 and some Liquid Nails so that they can make a little "leg" just like I'll be using. They quoted me a "not…
• sharward, 31 March 2005I got my EPDM puck compression test results today from S and S Machine in Roseville , and I'm very pleased! Total cost: $180 (3 hours of labor @ $60/hour). I have taken…
• sharward, 31 March 2005Thanks for the encouragement, Dan! I know people are following this thread, as evidenced by the 3,000+ views it's had since its inception. 8) I've been in touch with two…
• sharward, 1 April 2005I now humbly present my plans for EPDM placement! I chose the placements based on the spreadsheet I compiled estimating the weight of all the construction materials, and…
• knightfly, 2 April 2005Why not change the surface area of your pucks downward by 1/3, so you CAN put them on 16" centers? Your frame will be stronger if those pucks support the main joists AT…
• sharward, 2 April 2005I suppose I could do that... I was just sticking with a consistent puck size, primarily because that's the size I tested. Should I chisel point the bottom of my PT…
• sharward, 7 April 2005I popped into my city's Permit Center today to get some advice prior to making my "official" visit (hopefully next week) to hopefully secure a permit. I learned that I'm…
• sharward, 7 April 2005I talked with one of my mini-split bidders, and here's the recommendation: Rough-in the lines for the mini-split system. Run a two 8" R8 ducts into the room, one for…
• sharward, 7 April 2005Well, I figured that with a full band in the room with amplifiers cranked up, not to mention my being a wimp in terms of overheating easily, I really fell in love with…
• sharward, 7 April 2005OMG, how did you know that's what they've been saying lately?! :evil: In truth, they've been zipped up in gig bags for about a year now while we (a) prepped our old…
• sharward, 8 April 2005I did not ask specifically whether other types of insulation besides rockwool (a.k.a. "the pink fluffy stuff") would suffice. That raises a good point about complying…
• sharward, 8 April 2005I almost forgot: my building department won't accept a 1/2 schedule screw pattern on the first two layers of drywall, which is discussed at length in this post (and…
• sharward, 9 April 2005Thanks very much for the tip, Dan. :) Here's a blurb on low voltage lighting: Most use the MR16 type of 12 volt halogen bulb. The line voltage (110 volts) of electricity…

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• sharward, 10 April 2005Based on research I have done over the last 3 days, my floorplan has to change dramatically due to California Building Code requirements for landings at doorways with…
• sharward, 11 April 2005Dan, you rock. 8) Thanks for the idea and for sketching it up for me. Actually, my original "before I found this resource" drawings called for a similar plan in terms of…
• knightfly, 11 April 2005How 'bout just clipping the corner, like this? You'll never notice the floor space loss, the traffic flow around that corner will seem easier, you keep your air lock,…
• sharward, 11 April 2005Clipping the corner does resolve the 10x20 encroachment issue. However, it doesn't make up for the square footage lost to the landing. No. Technically, the garage must…
• sharward, 21 April 2005I redid my plans to account for the landing and reconfigured all the framing specs. I thought long and hard about wood-vs.-steel framing, and chose wood (again) just…
• knightfly, 21 April 2005Keith, I know you're feeling down, completely understandable; not sure what I can do right now, so I'll just throw out some thoughts; First, did you ask your BRA why…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 21 April 2005Keith, Sorry to hear about this roadblock ... one idea (based on zero experience but hey it's free), talk to local contractors/architects. maybe they will have ideas on…
• knightfly, 22 April 2005http://kineticsnoise.com/arch/tests/pdf/A15-b.pdf See table 2, 80 hZ - this is wood floated on RIMs/KIPs - http://kineticsnoise.com/arch/tests/pdf/A13-b.pdf See table 6…
• sharward, 22 April 2005Thanks for the ideas and encouragement, everyone. Much to digest here, and fortunately I have a weekend free to do just that. Laptop battery dying; have to abanon the…
• sharward, 23 April 2005What a relief -- I know what direction to go in and I'm going in it. Ahhhh, to be unstuck (again). 8) We're at 7 pages on this thing and over 4,000 page views -- seeing…
• cadesignr, 23 April 20058) :lol: I'm a veteran of the Skips Music Weekend Warrior WARS!! :P We won. I took no captives. Pure EXTREME PREJUDICE!! Hahahaha! Have fun Kieth! BTW, say Hi to Skip. I…
• sharward, 24 April 2005Will do! All true. Not only do I have the advantage of having a new (5 year old) home, the builder is big (Beazer Homes) and still doing big business in the area. I also…
• knightfly, 24 April 2005The Kinetics rep for Calif. is in SF; company name is Tempco, and the man to talk to is Dan Hornak - [removed] Main office contact is Jason Earlich - [removed],…
• rod gervais, 24 April 2005Shar, Looking this over I have the following comments, The direction you're heading is a pretty good choice, The 6" slab is (IMHO) better not because of the additional…
• sharward, 24 April 2005Here's a close-up of the area we're talking about... <img src="http://home.surewest.net/sharward/studio/straightwide-cropped-small.jpg"> ( ENLARGE THIS PHOTO) Thanks for…

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• sharward, 25 April 2005Unconfirmed but believed to be reliable: My existing garage concrete floor is 6" thick (and possibly up to 8" thick around the edges), and it is reinforced with rebar.…
• knightfly, 25 April 2005Yup - scenario #1 - you park a car that weighs 4000 lbs in that space; each tire has an approximate contact surface with the concrete of 6x8 inches, or 48 sq in. - each…
• sharward, 26 April 2005I'm just trying to establish a "Plan B" if case it is decided that concrete is impossible. The walls and ceiling are about 4 tons, and according to your calcs, a 6"…
• sharward, 26 April 2005All great observations and questions, Mike. I'm interested in the answers too. However, understand what STC actually means . It's an interesting number, but must not be…
• sharward, 27 April 2005I spoke with a neighbor two doors down (the retired gentleman with the wood shop in his garage) about his concrete floor. His floor was defective and a portion of it had…
• sharward, 29 April 2005I agree -- in fact, this is an area where our Northern California Gang of Studio Construction Wannabes might be beneficial -- perhaps we could co-op some of our…
• sharward, 29 April 2005Thanks, Fitz... I owe all this latest grief to you for sharing your "cracked slab" experience... ;-) ...but I'll owe you big-time gratitude when I'm done with my room…
• sharward, 29 April 2005Good grief, Mike -- who's teaching you Internetese, anyway? LOL = Laughing Out Loud :lol: Not at over a ton at $1 per pound it ain't! :? Geez, Rick -- First you freak me…
• sharward, 30 April 2005Please don't shoot me for asking this. :roll: After weeks of challenges that all relate to having a floating floor in my design, I'd like to reevaluate this requirement.…
• knightfly, 30 April 2005You wouldn't be "caving" on the "permits for everything" stance, would you? :wink: First, let me say that I've only a GENERAL idea of what each decision you mention will…
• cadesignr, 30 April 2005Hello Keith, well, I thought about it and this is what I would do, cause I could do it myself, and do a little at a time. This drawing is NOT exactly right, but it will…

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• sharward, 1 May 2005Ha! Good one, Steve. :) No, I'm not "caving" (no pun intended) on that. I really don't have a choice in the matter. Yeah, that's pretty much what I expected. :? Yeah,…
• cadesignr, 1 May 2005Hell yes :lol: Well, its all I could think of. At times like this, I just say to my self...what are the options...possible failure or absolute success. Keith, I know…
• sharward, 2 May 2005This is really helpful info. So, it appears that floating wood vs. floating concrete using the Kinetics system costs about 10db (and I'm not taking that lightly -- I…
• knightfly, 2 May 2005Stop screwing around, go buy a 5/8" long shank masonry bit, put it in your drill, and drill a freakin' hole through your slab almost anywhere; then take a piece of coat…
• sharward, 2 May 2005I'm not giving up on anything yet, folks. I'm just trying to fully understand the ramifications of all my options. There are pros and cons to each of them -- in some…
• sharward, 2 May 2005Woo-hoo! 8) Over 5000 views now! Even more than The Almighty "Reference Area" Thread ! I know, I know -- this one has many views because of the number of pages -- but…
• rod gervais, 3 May 2005Awww.......... ya had ta go and do it........... It's even more important now that you contact a local structural engineer. Heavy clay can cause some real…
• sharward, 3 May 2005Thanks for the advice, Rod. Yes, I agree, it's time to get a local engineering pro involved. I appreciate the insight. It's not too far fetched either -- a few miles…
• sharward, 3 May 2005Imagine the weight of the studio that must have caused this... ;-) External image, not preserved — original: http://www.edge.ou.edu/hydrogeology/chapter9_wpsinkhole.jpg…
• knightfly, 4 May 2005"Are you changing the rules on us in mid-play??" - Sorry, accidentally took one of wife's estrogen pills instead of Ibuprofen... :? All seriousness aside, you know what…
• sharward, 5 May 2005Does this tell you what you'd like to know? Like I said -- the coastal areas are much worse, and all the maps prove it. Notice how Sacramento County (right bottom…
• knightfly, 10 May 2005If you were to use 3 layers of 3/4 OSB or MDF over joists floated on the concrete (still need to kill a BRA or two??) then going from 6" air space (insulation fill) up…
• sharward, 11 May 2005This is really encouraging. I know that OSB and MDF are heavy buggers, but I'll have to do some calcs to determine overall weight. Hopefully this will lighten my load…
• cadesignr, 12 May 2005Hey Keith, Considering what you are building, I wonder WHERE were the BRA's when the developer built those homes? :roll: If I know Sacramento, its WHO you know when it…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 13 May 2005hey fitz, that is an extremely scary story ... i'm sorry you had to move to oregon. it's stories like that that make me not want to deal with permits (sorry keith!…
• sharward, 13 May 2005No apology necessary, Dan. This is good stuff and I appreciate the parallel contributions! We should get together and geektalk over Applebees sizzling skillets or…
• sharward, 14 May 2005I've been carefully studying the City of Los Angeles research report and especially its attachments . (Thanks again, Dan!) I've also been trying to reconcile them with…

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• sharward, 15 May 2005Thanks for jumping in, Marc! Worthless? Hardly. Even if it were a bad idea, it would give others an opportunity to learn. I had been considering cutting the floor -- and…
• cadesignr, 20 May 2005Hello Kieth and Dan. Gents, I've been following this subject(about a mile back :lol: ) and it brings up many questions. But personally, I've only got a few right now.…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 20 May 2005ah, my fellow Fitz! good question, and one i need to find out more about. i don't know how low a bass amp or a drumkit will go to be honest. one of the many holes in my…
• sharward, 20 May 2005Of course, context is important -- my goal is keeping my neighbors and wife happy. I don't intend to do any recording in the space. Also figure that heavy drums will be…
• cadesignr, 22 May 2005I hope asking questions isn't considered bad form here Keith. :) And I wasn't infering ANYTHING, other than what I asked. I too would like the answer to this seeminglu…
• cadesignr, 22 May 2005Thanks for the info Sword. As a matter of fact, I had 2 witnesses on all occasions. We were all amazed. The first time it happened was at night, and it or they actually…
• sharward, 22 May 2005And now, back to our regularly scheduled "to float or not to float" crap. ;-) Last weekend I submitted a request on ServiceMagic . I got one match: Works General…
• sharward, 5 June 2005I must apologize for the rollercoaster ride people must be going on within this thread. I mean, my plans have changed so much since the beginning, so it is undoubtedly…
• sharward, 7 June 2005In addition to the above comments... Steve, this is from the Mason Industries' FSN Floating Floor Concrete Slab Test Data" thread : Recall that behind the room is my…
• knightfly, 7 June 2005Not necessary; just pointing out that the speed of sound in cured concrete is about 11 times that of air; you want a simple test, have your wife go to different areas of…
• sharward, 7 June 2005Thanks Steve -- great idea. I'll do that. I'm hoping someone can help me with TL calcs for the following wall constructions: Scenario #1A: - Stucco - 5/8" Gypsum…
• sharward, 8 June 2005Ah, yes, the "equal loudness scale" thing. :? I pointed this out back in April in this post , but nobody commented on it. Sure changes one's perspective, huh? I found…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 9 June 2005keith, that is a cool calculator. someday i will figure out how to use it. i just found out something cool though. although, i'm exposing myself to ridicule here, i'm…
• knightfly, 10 June 2005http://www.madshrimps.be/gotofaqlink.php?linkid=2307 http://www.mcs.csuhayward.edu/~tebo/Cla ... ption.html http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/institu ... l54_01.asp…
• sharward, 12 June 2005:roll: OK. Here we go again. :roll: Here's the latest installment of my plan: [url=http://home.surewest.net/sharward/studio/foundationwithcaptions.jpg] External image,…

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• sharward, 12 June 2005I've always joked that my wife and I are planning to live in this house forever, and that after we die, we'll cut holes in our slab and have us buried under the house!…
• sharward, 13 June 2005:cool: Fabulous! :cool: I was mentally prepared for a much higher figure, so this is excellent news. :cool: I don't think I'd want to do the demolition on my own…
• sharward, 17 June 2005Well, I'm glued to Dan's "an isolated slab island instead of floating?" thread on studiotips.com , and what I first interpreted as encouraging news, I now find myself…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 17 June 2005So Keith what are you thinkin now? Is your main concern that floating may be difficult to get past the inspectors without an expensive engineering plan? And you liked…
• sharward, 17 June 2005Yeah, you pretty much mirrored my thinking on all my points there. I've sometimes envisioned a "hole in the ground" with a floated pad that meets the rest of the slab…
• sharward, 17 June 2005I know you're just kinddin' around, fitZ, but I'll answer anyway, just in case everyone's forgotten. None of my neighbors have ever complained about my drums. But that…
• sharward, 19 June 2005Dan came over yesterday to see my space and talk with me about my needs. His conclusion: External image, not preserved — original:…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 19 June 2005hey, man ... sorry if i bummed you out saying you need to go "the full woodlock." :lol: it's just that, when Rod says a lesser solution is fine for 90% of people, I just…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 20 June 2005i should clarify. you float to avoid flanking. nobody is worried about disturbing the earthworms or morlocks or whatever is in the ground. so, whatever floor solution…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 20 June 2005FitZ yeah, i knew that would sound suspicious and nonsensical to people. but, i guess that's why it is worth writing a book about ... if i could explain it here, there…
• cadesignr, 20 June 2005Hello Dan. Hey, I hope you don't think I am being negative with my comments. Without haveing something completely positive to add, comic relief is my only avenue to…
• sharward, 20 June 2005Great stuff, Dan. Yes, I shall not make any final decisions until you can make more sense of that. ;) I think I may have heard of that one (or one similar) -- how they…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 21 June 2005yes you basically have the idea, except the basis for the descision is not described as emotional , but as unconscious sometimes we intuitively understand things before…

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• cadesignr, 29 June 2005Did you say....FULL WOODLOCK?? LIke in 5 layer outer shell, and 7 layer inner shell with a full dig out the floor and pour a new slab with and a FLOATING CONCRETE SLAB…
• sharward, 29 June 2005Thanks guys. I guess I was lookin' for a "Naw, you're nuts -- you don't need to go through all that" type of response... Or at least allowing for the opportunity for…
• cadesignr, 29 June 2005Hey Kieth, sorry if my response was less than encourageing. My reply was NOT ment in that way. Your "bump" prompted me to inject an attemp at humor. Since so much has…
• sharward, 29 June 2005Hey Fitz -- first of all, my "thanks guys" was not sarcasm -- I always appreciate the input, including (and sometimes especially) the humorous stuff. :) "Perspective."…
• sharward, 30 June 2005Great question, and one that I haven't had time or context to post the answer to yet. I was going to get the floor situation squared away before detailing that for…
• sharward, 30 June 2005You must have mistaken the buzzing sound for hornets, Ballgame -- that's my brain frying! :twisted: Actually, according to my abacus, it's probably more like 35 tons!…
• rod gervais, 30 June 2005Shar, That looked weird to me - so I went to look into it - According to the Western Lumber Product Use Manual- which is published by the Western Woods Product…
• sharward, 30 June 2005:shock: Wow! :shock: You're right! There it is, at the top of page 6! (Right?) Nope... It let me right in. (I just acted natural and didn't make eye contact with the…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 30 June 2005Another day, another life saved by Rod :D Dammit, i was just at home depot getting prices. And i checked the tag, and it only said Doug Fir. Now i know what stamp to…
• rod gervais, 30 June 2005I was aware of that - the 2x ? is the size of the member in the rough (Nominal Size) - after dressing it's generally 1.5 x ?.5 (rule of thumb - have seen as low as ?.25…
• sharward, 30 June 2005Nearly a year ago (July 2004), before we even moved into this house, I exchanged e-mail with Keith Yates , a world renowned home theater designer who just happens to…

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• sharward, 30 June 2005Heh - tell me about it! The quote I received some time ago for 5/8" gypsum panels was precisely $8 for 4x8, $10 for 4x10, and $12 for 4x12! That amounts to exactly 25¢…
• sharward, 24 July 2005Here's a quite little update on my acoustic engineer's progress. I don't have anything tangible just yet, but I did hear from Brian this week. He had some questions…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 24 July 2005keith, i dunno about that car, man ... i can't see putting more than 5, 6 sheets of 5/8 drywall on that roof ... :D :D :D by the way, i realize you're in probably good…
• sharward, 24 July 2005Ha! Consider that this was the car I just sold yesterday -- pretty versitile, don't you think? :mrgreen: There were six bags of concrete (2 in front, two in back, two in…

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• sharward, 6 August 2005I spoke with Brian at the acoustic engineering firm today. We sort of recapped our meeting from a few weeks ago of the basic room-within-a-room plan with no floating…
• sharward, 6 August 2005Please clarify... HAMMER TIME "A": External image, not preserved — original:…
• sharward, 7 August 2005What? Nobody said... 1. Obtain Hammer Time "A." 2. Strike Hammer Time "A" with Hammer Time "B." 3. Repeat step 2. ;) But I digress... I have an important announcement to…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 7 August 2005good job "breaking ground" on your project!!!! :) i mean, er, NOT. research, yeah ... THAT'S it ... congrats on having a flat interior!! you have saved yourself a pile…
• sharward, 7 August 2005Don't be sorry -- I get your drift. In fact, I had already thought of this. One way would be to use two sets of cleats -- say, 2½" x 1" for the first layer, and then 1½…
• sharward, 8 August 2005I'm pretty excited about a discovery I made recently -- the Soleus MAC-10K 10,000 BTU Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner with Dehumidifier and Heater -- an inexpensive…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 8 August 2005ok kettle here's your comment :) (inside joke) one option might be to go UP with the hoses. you could also mount the unit up high on the wall, so it's out of the way.…
• sharward, 8 August 2005Man, great minds think alike. I did consider mounting high and going up, and I still might. However, I would then probably have to go through the roof, and that could…
• sharward, 8 August 2005Yup. Exactly. [url=http://home.surewest.net/sharward/studio/fiber.jpg] Recovered from web.archive.org — originally hosted at…
• sharward, 8 August 2005All input welcome, Florian -- yours especially. :) Yup, saw it. Thanks. Thanks for that. I had seen that before but it was good seeing it again now that I'm in "HVAC…

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• sharward, 11 August 2005Thanks for the info on "semi-permeable dampproof membranes," Florian. I'll definitely give that a closer look. Right now I'm in major HVAC mode! 8) I changed the layout…
• sharward, 11 August 2005OK. I'll source some big PVC and see what my options are. Yeah, I know. :( This is per the owner's manual : NOTE: In order to increase the efficiency, the exhaust ducts…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 12 August 2005each 90 degree turn is like adding several feet to the length of the run. for example the folks at http://www.fantech.net/ (where i'll probably be buying my vent fan)…
• sharward, 12 August 2005I just spoke with a kind and helpful customer service representative at Soleus International, Inc. We talked about my situation (she even looked at the last couple of…
• sharward, 13 August 2005Man, it would be so great if I could find one of those portable units that allows for longer duct lengths... Ta-da!!! I just found the industrial-strength MovinCool…
• sharward, 14 August 2005Gravity sucks. Just when you're flyin' high and soarin' like a bird, enter Gravity to kill the buzz. :cry: All along I've been assuming, incorrectly, that the dual hoses…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 14 August 2005Hi Keith, I'll try to get some stuff up soon, I'm busy at work crunching away for the next few days (working sunday again :cry: ) on the CFM, make sure you start with a…
• sharward, 15 August 2005Thanks for the advice, Dan. I'll be sure not to get too excited when I see CFM ratings without doing the math. I'm looking forward to learning more about this from you.…
• sharward, 16 August 2005I popped into my friendly neighborhood permit center today for a bit of information. (And, yes, today they were actually very friendly!) :arrow: CBC does in fact allow…
• sharward, 17 August 2005Thanks again, Florian! Great stuff! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: And now, my cunning ventilation plan -- a.k.a., how I intend not to suffocate to…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 17 August 2005Keith, Probably after reading all those links Florian provided, you know more about this than I do. But I'm quite surprised to see such long duct lengths in your plan.…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 17 August 2005i had a chance to sketch out the idea we talked about on the phone. this is sort of what i had initially planned to do. now i'm going with just fresh air (no ac). so if…
• knightfly, 18 August 2005I agree with pretty much all Dan said; especially about having same mass in ducts/silencers that you have in your respective wall leaves, for at least 15 feet or so; I…

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• sharward, 19 August 2005Wow! Thanks so much to Florian for his comments (and relevant contributions to other threads over the last couple of days!), to Dan for the awesome insights and…
• sharward, 19 August 2005Cool! 8) You're somewhat of a rockstar around here, Paul! 8) Assuming that's missing the word "have" (as in, "You don't have silencers any bigger. . ."). How powerful…
• sharward, 21 August 2005Behold -- Yet Another Plan for the ventilation... Fresh air duct moved into attic (decided I could do the run straighter this way and I wouldn't have to mess with fire…
• DreaminDrumBeats, 22 August 2005Let me quess. The cats inbetween the studs are required by code? Is either wall ( W/ Doors) Load bearing? if they are Kieth you need to add a header above both doors.…
• sharward, 22 August 2005I'm not sure if code requires them or not. I'm putting them in to make the walls more rigid so that they're less likely to "tweak" when putting them up before I get the…
• sharward, 22 August 2005Yes, but less "ornate." A sconce is just a type of wall fixture. In case you're wondering why I ned 20 amps for them, I really don't -- 15 would have been fine. However,…
• DreaminDrumBeats, 22 August 2005Here in PA we build the walls on the ground and then tip them up into place and dont use cats inbetween the studs so you don't need to worry about the walls tweaking…
• sharward, 22 August 2005Thanks, Doni. According to American Wood Council's Details for Conventional Wood Frame Construction (figure 43), all I need are two 2x6s for a load bearing doorway…
• DreaminDrumBeats, 22 August 2005How heavy of a door are you using? Just thinkin if your going HEAVY just add another King Stud to the hinge side of the of the RO to be able to support the weight of the…
• sharward, 23 August 2005This is it! I'm going to the sacred permit center tomorrow morning, armed with a fancy packet of plans and documentation! :shock: Wish me luck!!! 8) Hopefully I'll be…
• sharward, 23 August 2005Well I don't have a permit yet. However, I'm closer than ever! Planning has approved my project, since it does not involve any exterior modifications (except maybe…

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• sharward, 23 August 2005I went to the pizza place with my laptop at lunchtime today to do the concrete illustration. It's 766 pixels wide -- a bit beyond the rules for the forum, so I shrunk it…
• knightfly, 24 August 2005Keith, moving along VERY nicely; BTW, I'm now firmly convinced that you've been secretly paying all your "Northern California Obsessive Studio Droolers Club" members a…
• sharward, 24 August 2005Ha! :lol: Yeah, you'd think that were true, huh? ;) Actually, I've noticed that the "daily hit count" on my thread has gone from about 100 to about 200 per day, just…
• DreaminDrumBeats, 24 August 2005LOL to funny As Phil said a horizontal brace between 2 studs to help keep wall frame rigid. What can I say it's a framing term. Although I have never heard them called…
• sharward, 24 August 2005Well, the first "progress" you'll see after I get my permit will be (in somewhat chronological order): Ripping off existing wallboards Beefing up existing outer leaf…
• sharward, 24 August 2005I dropped off my plans at the permit center today, along with my $103 plan check fee. I asked the guy what he thought my chances of getting a permit after the first…
• sharward, 24 August 2005If it's just minor corrections/clarifications to something that's already been checked, then I don't think so. Here's my city's residential plan check fee schedule . The…
• knightfly, 27 August 2005Teacher in an adult sex ed class at a local community college - "How many have sex every night?" (3 hands raised) "How many have sex every OTHER night?" (7 hands raised)…
• sharward, 29 August 2005Ladies and gentlemen... Boys and girls... Hear ye, hear ye... I have an important announcement to make. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:…
• sharward, 30 August 2005I've got two concrete contractors lined up for on-site consultations, one for Wednesday and one for next Tuesday. The "Wednesday" guy has 16 years of experience and is…
• sharward, 31 August 2005Ha! :lol: Just when you thought I was done doing nifty drawings... Here's my plan for the concrete. Doing the outer leaf wall area first seems to make the most sense, so…
• sharward, 1 September 2005I met with the first concrete guy this morning. I really like him. He seems to really know his stuff and is very eager to do the work and knock my socks off with his…
• sharward, 4 September 2005Woo-hoo! 8) I broke ground today, tearing all the gypsum wallboard off my east wall. Unfortunately, I made a few unfortunate discoveries: The OSB is actually 3/8" thick,…

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• sharward, 6 September 2005Well, I'm really getting ready to do the exterior wall beef-up. I spent yesterday cleaning up (wow, ripping down 20 linear feet of 10 foot high drywall sure makes a…
• sharward, 6 September 2005Hi Frank, Welcome to my insane thread! :roll: See this thread for a discussion and photos of the concept of "beefing up" an outer leaf using drywall between studs or…
• sharward, 7 September 2005Thanks -- I'm really enjoying it. I drove my previous cheap-o car for 12 years, so it was time! 8) I'm getting ready to seal and beef up my outer leaf, so I need to buy…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 7 September 2005AMS stocks USG. unfortunately even though i had called to check, they had run out by the time i got there. next time, i'll buy over the phone, then pick up. i wouldn't…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 7 September 2005well not only does it sound like a pain to work with, that's also pretty expensive for a small size tube. you should be able to get a large 29 oz tube for about that…
• sharward, 7 September 2005Mike, this is the stuff you're looking for . Now that you have the specs, it should be easier to locate. I stopped by AMS today to inquire on the availability of the USG…
• sharward, 8 September 2005See Stick's experience with the Miracle stuff (including specs) . AMS sold me mine for $12.13 + 7¾% sales tax + ½% fuel charge = $13.13. Edit: I corrected the price. I…
• sharward, 10 September 2005Awesome! If you were just a bit closer, I'd be asking to borrow it for many Home Depot trips! :lol: Actually, a friend of mine who just bought a new truck (with much…
• sharward, 11 September 2005I have been following [url=http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?t=1886[/url]this great thread on StudioTips.com[/url] that challenges the notion that it is…

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• Dan Fitzpatrick, 12 September 2005i am not sealing my gaps between the osb and the studs, because i don't know how i would seal them, since the cleat will be in my way, and teh osb won't be attached…
• sharward, 13 September 2005Congratulations (again) on the arrival of Baby Fitzpatrick, Dan! ( I posted my congrats on your project thread , so hopefully all of your well-deserved "me toos" will…
• sharward, 13 September 2005I was typing the last post while waiting for Concrete Contractor #2 to show up. He didn't. :evil: And, truth be told, I had a feeling that was going to happen. :roll:…
• sharward, 15 September 2005I've been busy tonight! :twisted: First I applied a bead (technically many beads) of sealant between the joists along the soleplate where it meets the flashing. (Some…
• sharward, 17 September 2005Thanks for your thoughts on the concrete work, JohnG. Believe me, I'm not thrilled about the idea of doing that work myself... And the more I learn, the more I kind of…
• knightfly, 17 September 2005getting over my fear of the Skilsaw Fear, yes; respect, NEVER - right after losing respect for power tools, the next loss is typically a favorite appendage... Very cool…
• sharward, 18 September 2005So far I have been gluing the OSB to the building paper just prior to installing the cleats. Is this bad? :shock: And I'm planning on doing the same thing to the other…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 18 September 2005keith, i was afraid that might alarm you :) i think you are fine on glueing the first layer of osb. i'm not going to glue mine, but only because the surface i'd be…
• sharward, 19 September 2005Funny -- I've seen Green Glue mentioned often around here, yet I've never really investigated it. I had always assumed that since I was doing a complete "room in a room"…
• knightfly, 19 September 2005When you combine two different mass materials, each has its own coincidence frequency; when you bond them together, you create a new coincidence frequency that's…
• sharward, 19 September 2005OK. I think I'm getting this, and I think I'm appreciating some of the economies you're talking about. Unfortunately, I don't have 1" of stucco. I think I have about…
• sharward, 20 September 2005Progress! 8) My "beef-up base OSB" on the east wall is pretty much done now, except two narrow cavities (each about 3-5" wide) which I'll deal with last. I was hoping to…
• sharward, 20 September 2005Ha! :lol: Thanks guys... I know exactly what you mean. I'm glad you appreciate the progress reports and photos. It's a motivation factor for me too. Yesterday I almost…

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• sharward, 22 September 2005Hey Stick, I suppose it may be possible to use cleats between the studs to hold two "strips" of drywall firmly against the oposing layer. However, I'm going to go ahead…
• sharward, 23 September 2005I don't know the official answer to that, but in my mind, demolition is a part of the project, and since the project shouldn't begin without the permit, nor should the…
• sharward, 26 September 2005I spent most of the day removing the gypsum from the south and west walls -- 18 linear feet, about as much as the east wall I worked on the last couple of weekends.…
• knightfly, 26 September 2005My SW can only do two leaves with 2 material constants per leaf, and only one layer of the second material per leaf; so I calc'd your existing wall using 1/2" OSB one…
• sharward, 26 September 2005Cool. 8) Thanks, Steve. I appreciate the speedy calculations. My, what service -- I post details when I go to sleep, and voila, my answers await me before sunrise!…
• knightfly, 26 September 20053 x 5/8 gyp each side, + 1/2" OSB one side, double stud, 12" air space - About 51 dB @ 50 hZ, STC 78; your office leaf would still resonate at 100 hZ; if you add more…
• sharward, 27 September 2005Check it out -- I have 18 days scheduled off work between now and mid-January (not counting Saturdays & Sundays). I expect to get a lot of work done on my project on…
• sharward, 28 September 2005Ha! :twisted: Well, I haven't taken a vacation all year, 'cept for a day or two here and there. Right now I have about 200 hours of PTO. I earn 9.54 hours every two…
• sharward, 3 October 2005This weekend I focused my efforts on the west wall in preparation for adding lots of beef ! 8) The west wall is adjacent to the laundry room. It's eight feet long and,…
• sharward, 3 October 2005Here's a close-up of the screw/nail patterns. I plan to use: 1" drywall screws on the first layer, straight through into OSB 1 1/2" drywall nails * on the second layer,…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 3 October 2005hi keith, first off, that is some serious beef :D my home depot carries 1 1/2 screws in small boxes. but i had to dig for them (literally had to stick my head and…
• sharward, 3 October 2005Yeah, I thought of that too. That's why I had hoped to get my hands on 7/8" screws, but I wasn't able to find any. :-( I decided to do 3 layers of 1/2" because that adds…
• sharward, 4 October 2005I think it's the 5/8" drywall that made it firecode. It is (or was) throughout the garage, walls and ceilings alike. My original west wall had 5/8" drywall over 3.5" of…
• knightfly, 4 October 2005Got your PM, and good thing; you are heading for trouble with your screw plans. You need to keep in mind that ALL screws need to be into STUDS, not just the OSB, and…
• sharward, 4 October 2005Hold on a minute. You realize we're only talking about outer leaf beef-up strips, right? :roll: External image, not preserved — original:…

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• sharward, 5 October 2005Thanks, John. I hope I'm able to "get on with it" here, but I respect what Steve has to say. I agree that if it's only a 1 or 2 db difference, I will screw it (literally…
• knightfly, 5 October 2005Keith, you're right; musta been a combination of me posting right after last graveyard shift and being under the (weather) gun around here. Your beef-up layers would…
• sharward, 5 October 2005Whew! :roll: You had me really worried there! :) I think I'm better off leaving the cleats in place. The reason is that the gaps between edge of OSB and edge of stud…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 5 October 2005there are two competely different wall structures being talked about here. first i'm going to talk about the beef up on the existing stucco wall. i think keith is…
• sharward, 5 October 2005Actually, 3 layers screwed/nailed into 1/2 inch OSB, then 1 final layer of 5/8 screwed into the cleats (and possibly through to the studs). That's exactly what I'm…
• knightfly, 6 October 2005What you're proposing (not the last drawing, it's not necessary to rotate the cleats like that) the number of layers you're planning will be heavy, but as Dan mentioned…
• len-morgan, 6 October 2005To keep your new walls "safe" while you demo the concrete floor, couldn't you get the cheapest plywood or even 3/8" drywall and lay it up against the new walls (long…
• len-morgan, 6 October 2005Well, with a backhoe, I could do some SERIOUS damage. I seem to remember somewhere earlier in the thread he said he was going to use a cement saw to score and then break…
• sharward, 6 October 2005OK then. Settled. 8" spacing on screws into OSB, with glue along the edges for added protection. To clarify: Specifically, I'll be applying a bead of adhesive on the…
• sharward, 6 October 2005Ha! I'm 6 feet tall and I weigh more than both of you (Len and Stick) combined!! :lol: No wonder they call you Stick! ;-) Hey, Len -- great advice on jackhammering. I'll…
• knightfly, 7 October 2005Keith - buy ONE tube of the product you think you want to use - put a light bead of it on a piece of scrap gypsum, pretend you're doing all the things that get in the…
• sharward, 7 October 2005Great advice, Steve. Consider it taken. (I'll probably buy the quantity I I'll need with a plan to exchange for a different product after testing it as you described.)…
• sharward, 8 October 2005Well, it may not seem like I've done too much, but I'm still getting used to working with drywall. Overall, pretty easy. The 1/2" stuff is a breeze to work with. I…
• sharward, 9 October 2005Hey -- good to see you again, Vair! 8) Thanks for the encouragement! :mrgreen: Tonight I finished the first three layers of beef on the west wall. I'm really surprised…
• sharward, 10 October 2005I was only able to fill three stud bays today with the 3 layers of 1/2 stuff. :? Slow going, but moving along. I had to drive all over town today to replenish my screw…

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• sharward, 10 October 2005I'm a drummer, and my favorite genre is progressive metal . I hope to form a band along those lines when I'm done building. I just received official word that I'll be…
• knightfly, 10 October 2005Mark, we don't have many members who feel qualified to answer questions on possible life-threatening situations (supports, etc) and I've been running around like a…
• sharward, 11 October 2005Cool! An electrical type guy! We can put him to use around here now and then, eh Steve? :twisted: Well, as my artificial 4-day weekend comes to a close, I'm still not…
• sharward, 16 October 2005Yay! I'm done installing the 1/2" stuff! 8) I've been using the sealant on and off, depending on the size of the edge gaps. I'll probably work on more sealing tomorrow.…
• sharward, 20 October 2005East wall gaps now sealed up and ready for 4th layer with Green Glue. Here are the pix. I'll try to get the west wall gaps sealed up tomorrow. I talked with my gardner…
• sharward, 21 October 2005Not if you follow my beef-up practices you're not... :( However, I leave room for the possibility that I could have done it better. The twisted, bowed, and otherwise…
• sharward, 22 October 2005Argh -- I miscounted my 5/8" sheets -- ends up I'm going to have to retrieve the one I "hid" behind all the crap! :evil: Oh well... :roll: Things are going well with the…
• sharward, 23 October 2005I finally beefed up those odd narrow cavities in the east wall. Each is filled with two 2x4s and lots of acoustic sealant. One of the cavities was a little wider than…
• sharward, 24 October 2005Whew! I'm done with my east and west wall beef-up! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Well, almost -- I still need to seal all the edges, which I'll tend to this week. Man,…
• sharward, 27 October 2005Excellent news! :D I reserved the walk-behind concrete cutter for Sunday, and my landscaping buddy will indeed be able to help me! :mrgreen: Holy crap! :shock: It's…

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• sharward, 29 October 2005Cool! I always wanted a big brother! ;-) Today I went to DMV to pick up my custom license plates -- I'll post pics soon -- in fact, I may make it my avatar! :twisted: I…
• sharward, 31 October 2005OMG, I can't believe it -- just wait 'til you see what I got accomplished today! 8) I met my buddy at the equipment rental place at about 8:15 AM so pick up the concrete…
• sharward, 31 October 2005Here you can see that with the first series of chunks out of the way, I was able to more easily break up neighboring sections. Oh, by the way, there's no wire mesh in…
• sharward, 1 November 2005My existing garage floor is 4" thick with no rebar and no wire mesh. The slab inside my home is 6" with rebar. Since my new walls will be extremely heavy, especially…
• len-morgan, 1 November 2005Congratulations, Kieth!!!! When I rented my jack hammer (same as yours but red), I know it gave me great sense of power!!! :-) I had a little difficulty controlling it…
• sharward, 1 November 2005Indeed I will. I think they have electric-powered compactors for rent. I'll post some detailed prep plans in the near future... I'll be most interested in your input.…
• sharward, 2 November 2005Thanks vair! 8) In other news, my license plates arrived! :twisted: Fees for the special interest plate benefit the California Tahoe Conservancy . Unfortunately, the…
• len-morgan, 4 November 2005VOC means "Volatile (sp?) something or other" but basically its the solvants that are added to the product, be it Liquid Nails, paint, etc, that keeps the product "soft"…
• sharward, 5 November 2005Great news! I had arranged for my city's solid waste department to deliver an empty container for my concrete chunks next Monday, the soonest I'd be able to get one.…
• sharward, 6 November 2005The show runs 7 PM to about 9:30 PM. I won't know the sequence of acts until close to showtime, by which time the house will be full. I assume you're asking because…

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• sharward, 7 November 2005I opened the doors at first, but the doors are for dumping, not loading. :roll: There's a bar across the top of the doors for stability, and there's no ramp. So, yes,…
• sharward, 9 November 2005Woo-hoo!! :D -- I came home from work last night to a dumpster-free house! 8) I've been reading a lot about construction of slabs... :roll: ...I have the same "am I…
• sharward, 9 November 2005You mean like this one? External image, not preserved — original: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/files/breakup10_186.jpg See the bar in front of the impact hammer?…
• sharward, 11 November 2005My Weekend Warriors band rehearsed at House of Hits this evening -- $30 for 4 hours. The experience was mostly good, but there were some really unpleasant drawbacks. The…
• sharward, 12 November 2005I put several hours into excavating today. Not fun! The soil, as I've reported before, is dense clay, so it's very heavy and sticky. The pile of dirt in the back yard is…
• sharward, 14 November 2005My live performance debut!! It was awesome! We're actually going to play a second gig at the grand opening of Skip's Music's new Elk Grove store! :-) I realize this…
• sharward, 14 November 2005I came across this by accident today while looking up an unrelated city ordinance. My city's council (City of Sacramento) voted unanimously to double the fine associated…
• sharward, 20 November 2005Hello everyone! :mrgreen: I'm pleased to announce that, as of about 20 minutes ago, the primary excavation of my space is complete! :D "Primary excavation" is defined as…
• sharward, 20 November 2005Great info! Thanks for sharing! :-) Why don't you go 6" on your new slab? :? 4" seems kind of wimpy to me... You wouldn't want me to have a cooler slab than you, do you?…
• len-morgan, 20 November 2005Just a thought Keith, You might want to look into your concrete vendor now. As you know, they need crushed rock to mix into the concrete so they can probably get a…
• sharward, 20 November 2005I'm glad you like my dirty pictures, Mark! :P Seriously -- the reason I posted them is to show just how much earth had to be moved! :shock: About 2 hours before I…
• sharward, 21 November 2005Well, today I took a shot at hand-chiseling the "rash" concrete that spilled beyond the forms... And the verdict is not good. :evil: I think the jackhammer is necessary…
• sharward, 21 November 2005I think I may have found my savior! 8) Bosch 11311EVS 25 lb. Demolition Hammer External image, not preserved — original:…
• sharward, 21 November 2005Recovered from web.archive.org — originally hosted at http://www.scifimoviepage.com/images/term1a.jpg ...vs... External image, not preserved — original:…

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• sharward, 21 November 2005Great news! :-) I have a reservation for a lighter model for Wednesday, and because the store will be closed for two days, I'll basically get three days' rental for the…
• sharward, 21 November 2005That's a pretty darned good idea, Steve -- maybe I'll see about renting one of those things when I pick up my demolition hammer. Thanks for the tip! :D Doing damage to…
• knightfly, 21 November 2005Rebar in foundation, but NOT in the slab, right?? And, welcome to today's construction scene; I shudder to think what both my roofs would have looked like if I'd not…
• sharward, 21 November 2005I'm assuming there is rebar in the slab inside the house. My in-laws have rebar in their 2004 home. You're going to give me a lecture about post tensioning, huh? :oops:…
• sharward, 24 November 2005More good news! :D I picked up the demolition hammer from the rental place -- their lightest model (15 pound) with a 2" chisel. Things are coming along pretty well,…
• sharward, 24 November 2005In completely unrelated news, I've been thinking lately about my plan for the outer leaf ceiling. Wayyyyy back in the beginning, I planned to add a single layer of…
• giles117, 24 November 2005Hmmm might have to try that one. LOL Might get some great sound effects to layer in the back of the tracks. LOL. Got all the single folk moaning on tracks promoting…
• sharward, 25 November 2005Glue may be glue, John, but if you've never worked with Green Glue, you can't appreciate how unique it is. When wet it has the consistency of something between shave…
• sharward, 25 November 2005Unfortunately, the "foundation manicure" is indeed very labor intensive... I'm progressing at a rate of about one linear foot per hour . :roll: My iimpact hammer rental…
• len-morgan, 25 November 2005John, Green Glue is NOT glue. In fact their web site specifically says DON'T use it like glue! The name is unfortunate, in fact I don't even think it's green - maybe…
• sharward, 25 November 2005Here's another shot of the progress, however little it may be... :x I'm working on that "hell corner" now, where the contractor did a fabulously terrible job keeping the…
• sharward, 26 November 2005Hey, Fred'e -- thanks for dropping by! 8) Make yourself homely. ;-) Nahhh, that won't happen. But if Folsom dam blows... :!: :!: :!: ...Then you're going to see "New…

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• sharward, 28 November 2005Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to my question about my ceiling plan revision proposal! 8) I can see that I've confused y'all, so I've sketched what I'm…
• len-morgan, 28 November 2005Keith, As you know I'm no expert but don't all three of your proposed ceilings represent 3 leaves? You've got the new ceiling in your inner room, the ceiling attached to…
• sharward, 28 November 2005Hey Len, Ding-ding-ding! You are correct that it is a three leaf system... Kind of. As you said, the large amount of space inside the attic, in addition to the fact that…
• sharward, 29 November 2005Actually, I forgot to mention that I was considering Green Glue on the inside leaf as well ... Maybe not at 100% dosage though... So it's not necessarily an either/or…
• sharward, 5 December 2005Poof! -- another week just went by... And so did a weekend of studio construction! :twisted: First of all, for those who haven't followed my Green Glue thread on…
• sharward, 8 December 2005I hear you... :roll: ...I have talked to several people (neighbors, coworkers) who are in agreement with me that the water is coming from the ground. I'm considering…
• sharward, 10 December 2005Great news! I rented a heavier duty model (I think it was 25 or 30 pound, vs. the 15 pound model I used last time), and the shaft was larger so I could use a 3" chisel…
• sharward, 11 December 2005I just ordered a DVD titled "How-To Build a Monolithic Concrete Slab Foundation" ... http://us.st11.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/dirtcheapbuilderbooks_1874_1073741.jpg…
• sharward, 12 December 2005I've been busy contemplating how to set the concrete forms. I'm essentially torn between two schools of thought, specifically along the existing foundations (where I…
• len-morgan, 12 December 2005Good Morning, Keith! While the only concrete experience I have involves a jackhammer and a trip to the ER, I do have some thoughts. First off, on the Roxul product, I…

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• sharward, 12 December 2005How about if I stuff a small amount of rockwool into the crevice, then use expandable spray foam sealer (closed cell) over the top? The rockwool would act as a backer…
• sharward, 13 December 2005It's just an opportunity to do something right on the new slab that should have been done on the main slab but apparently wasn't. :x It hardly costs anything... You…
• sharward, 18 December 2005Thanks Steve (and all). In reviewing Bert's thread, and something specifically that Sir Woodlock wrote in it -- since I will be using a 6 mil plastic sheet under the new…
• sharward, 18 December 2005Thanks huddo! I'll definitely give that product (or anything similar) a good look! It looks quite promising! 8) I plan to hard-fasten my new inner leaf walls to my new…
• sharward, 18 December 2005According to termite.com: Western subterranean termites regularly infest homes in British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, California, western Nevada and…
• sharward, 19 December 2005OK, you guys are going to think I'm crazy. Correction: you guys are going to think I've really gone off the deep end. Tonight after the wife and I returned from dinner…
• len-morgan, 19 December 2005As I have learned building my studio (soon to be a "Do/Don't" elsewhere on this forum), if you change your framing from 2 x 6 to 2 x 4, look VERY closely at your design.…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 19 December 2005Hey Keith old buddy, long time no post. wanted to give some thoughts on the water problem. ideally a house should be built on a little hill, so the ground slopes away…
• sharward, 21 December 2005This is irritating... :evil: There are five pest control companies that appear in the Authorized Installers database on the Impasse Web site . I called one of them on…
• sharward, 22 December 2005Good news! 8) One of the pest control guys called me back. He took a sincere interest in my project we talked about it with some depth for over 30 minutes. He thinks the…
• sharward, 22 December 2005I just finished pumping out my trenches again! :lol: More good news! 8) While I was talking with my builder's water intrusion manager today, I got a lead on a good…

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• sharward, 30 December 200530,000 views!! :twisted: The termite guy was right on time at 7 AM for our consultation. We spent close to an hour discussing the situation. Overall, he's confident that…
• sharward, 2 January 2006OK, here we go -- illustrations of The Official Termite Solution! :shock: I'll be sharing these with The Official Termite Guy and possibly The Official Termite Blocker…
• knightfly, 3 January 2006All lookin' good, except for the (missing) sump pump in one corner with its exhaust plumbed into your toiled drain - because if you have THAT much water in the hole,…
• sharward, 3 January 2006As you probably know, we have been pummelled with heavy rains here in Sacramento and throughout the region over the past week or so, and in spite of that the water level…
• sharward, 5 January 2006At the very least I'll get one of those great humidity meters you recommended back on page 2 of this here insanely long thread, just to keep an eye on things: Steve, as…
• sharward, 8 January 2006Also, I did talk to my termite guy Friday afternoon -- he did finally get in touch with the rep, who will be getting back to him with answers to his questions. The rep…
• sharward, 11 January 2006Thanks for the tip, db. I was hoping I wouldn't have to go down an alternative road, but I may have to do that or something else, because... The product was quietly…
• sharward, 17 January 2006My pest control person arrived right on time today. Actually, there were two -- one whose specialty is working with homebuilders for their Tubes Under The Slab & Tubes…
• sharward, 19 January 2006Thanks for the props, Fly! John, I'd love to see your part of the world one day. Looks like termites were an issue there until recently . In other (bad) news, my wife…
• sharward, 19 January 2006Thanks for the well-wishes folks... Yeah, the 'ryche sticker is from the fan club as I recall... :roll: I can't imagine it looking like anything but crap if I tried to…
• sharward, 20 January 2006Thanks for the insight, Chris. Great timing and great advice. Yes, I expect there'll probably be a lowball offer forthcoming. We went through this five years ago last…

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• sharward, 21 January 2006Dan, I'm a big fan of yours too, so if you send me an 18" x 18" weather resistant sticker of your best pose (G rated please), I'll put that on my rear window for a…
• sharward, 22 January 2006Welcome, Saki! I use Microsoft Visio. I don't recommend it though. It just happens to be what is installed on my company-issued laptop. Nope. I have 10' ceilings as it…
• sharward, 23 January 2006Thanks for the compliment. :-) Actually Visio is OK, but I think it's rather expensive for what you get. Others here have had good luck with Smartdraw and/or Sketchup.…
• sharward, 24 January 2006A revised estimate for the repair of my wife's car is about $1,000 less and calls for a couple of "quality recycled parts" (trunk lid and tail lens). That should help…
• knightfly, 24 January 2006Man, have I been 'way too busy for too long - completely missed your accident post :cry: - I'm glad Jen's on the mend, know what that's like. When Ann got "T-Boned" last…
• sharward, 24 January 2006Jen will be quite pleased to know that she has so many of hubby's studio buddies rooting for her. :-) Thanks to all who have taken a moment to share their well wishes.…
• sharward, 27 January 2006I learned a short while ago that the insurance company has authorized a tear-down of Jennifer's car, so there's still a chance it will be deemed repairable. We probably…
• sharward, 28 January 2006First of all, let's use the word "saving" the car, rather than "salvaging." "Salvage" has a specific legal connotation that I'd like to steer away from. Jennifer is…
• sharward, 28 January 2006Good for you, Len... So far I'm also paying cash along the way. By the time I get around to the mini split air conditioner though, I may have to break out the home…
• sharward, 31 January 2006For those following the wife's car saga... I learned today that our insurance company has studied the numbers and has agreed to fix the car ! :-D This makes Mrs.…
• sharward, 5 February 2006Well I had hoped to get some work done on the studio this weekend, but something came up. My wife's dad was rushed to the hospital on Friday evening with an extremely…
• andy_eade, 10 February 2006Hi Keith, Wondering if there is any update on your termite solution. I am following with interest since I have an existing termite problem in my basement project that…
• sharward, 10 February 2006Well we've definitely been following each other then... Your damage discovery should sober everyone up on how serious of a potential problem termites can be. Very…
• sharward, 15 February 2006Dad's doing well, although picked up a cold from one of the 300-400 customers who hugged him on Friday, his last day in the store. The inventory taking went very…
• guitardad72, 15 February 2006Sharward, 1st I want to thank you on your own thread, as I have been thanking you for your comments on many other threads. I'm sorry to hear about the family stuff and…

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• sharward, 15 February 2006And now for something completely unrelated... I've made no secret of the fact that I'm a huge fan of progressive metal music , and specifically Dream Theater . Well,…
• sharward, 18 February 2006I tried to pick up the form boards after work yesterday (I got furloughed a bit early due to the President's Day holiday 8) ), but I arrived two minutes after closing.…
• sharward, 18 February 2006That's one of my favorites, Steve! In fact, snopes.com verified that it actually happened ! :lol: Actually, I'm pleased to report that I not only was able to transport…
• sharward, 19 February 2006So far, so good! I got my first form board set, using pretty much the same idea as the drawing above, only instead of attaching a block to the stake to support the…
• sharward, 19 February 2006Yes, Len, that's exactly the plan! :-) I plan to rock the stakes side to side to loosen them after the pour -- that's the main reason I'm not trimming them off at the…
• sharward, 20 February 2006Yayyyy! The first pour forms are set! I managed to do pretty well I think! 8) They're so sturdy that I can actually stand or walk on them and they don't budge! (And I'm…
• sharward, 20 February 2006Absolutely -- provided you cite it with "©2006 Mere Mortal Sharward. All rights reserved. Used with permission." ;-) Yeah, it's good to be back in the saddle. 8) Yeah,…
• knightfly, 20 February 2006"Did I mention that they're really sturdy?!" - And now, if I were you, I'd go back and put braces between each and every one of those, made at LEAST as sturdy as the…
• sharward, 20 February 2006Thanks for the advice, Steve -- and, yes, I'll be taking it. Some clarification though on the forms... They're 1 1/4" thick and 12" tall. The stakes are spaced about 3…
• sharward, 21 February 2006OK, the concrete form board stake beef-up process is underway. I went back to the equipment rental place (which has a really nice assortment of concrete equipment,…

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• sharward, 25 February 2006Thanks for letting me know that, Steve... I'll be sure to inquire about that come rebar time. I bought a 25-pack of 3-foot long wooden stakes this afternoon to steady…
• sharward, 26 February 2006I didn't get much done today... Kind of hard to get motivated. Here are the horizontal braces that I did manage to do today. On the image with the red squares and blue…
• sharward, 27 February 2006Made some progress today. Finished the horizontal bracing, so Steve ought to be satisfied! :lol: (Seriously, thanks Steve!) I also widened some of the trenches and…
• sharward, 3 March 2006I originally had planned to trim the stakes, but I'm concerned that I might need the leverage in order to remove them afterwards... I'll probably rely on my concrete…
• knightfly, 4 March 2006Keith, sorry about that; I do feel your pain, just wasn't sure whether you wanted other tales of loss or not. One of the reasons we tend to keep 'way too many pets is to…
• sharward, 5 March 2006I think I must be getting lazy, but I'm taking more breaks than I am working! :lol: But, alas, I have moved all the leftover crushed rock from the back yard pile and…
• sharward, 5 March 2006Thanks so much Rod, both for the condolences and for the blessing on the concrete forms! You know, it's all your fault that I'm doing this concrete stuff! Remember?…
• sharward, 5 March 2006OK, I just took some measurements for the supplemental crushed rock that is still needed. Field (not counting perimter) is about 7' x 14' with an average depth of 10".…
• sharward, 5 March 2006I just did the math, and 2 cubic yards of crushed granite is about 5,000 pounds -- now I'm definitely looking at having having that professionally delivered -- so much…
• sharward, 6 March 2006I stopped by Hastie's in West Sacramento this morning on my way to work. 2 yards of crushed rock will be delivered to my driveway on Saturday for about $105, which…
• sharward, 13 March 2006Wow, what a crazy four days it has been! Seeing Dream Theater perform in three California cities, driving in heavy rains, hail, and a bit of snow over the Tejon Pass,…
• sharward, 16 March 2006Progress!! The rock base is in place for the main pour and it has been tamped manually with the 10"x10" tamper. Thre's room for 6" of concrete throughout the main area…

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• sharward, 18 March 2006Good news -- I just met with the concrete guy (Victor). He gave me his "thumbs up" on the forms and he will be running some calculations over the weekend. He has access…
• sharward, 18 March 2006I too am hoping that once I've dislodged myself from slabness related work that things will move along more quickly. :) However, I've really mellowed out about…
• sharward, 18 March 2006Actually, I think I might have meant five sack... Whatever the case, I want it to be more than the "standard" 2,500 PSI mix. Some may recall that my plans call for 2,500…
• sharward, 23 March 2006:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: 50,000 views!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: And the best part about it is that I reached my…
• sharward, 24 March 2006It's official -- for $250 my licensed concrete contractor will be at my house with an employee at around 7:30 AM PST to do the compaction, plastic, and rebar! 8) 8) 8)…
• sharward, 24 March 2006I'll make sure he knows that when it's time to pour. But I don't think it will be much of an issue because the base is even with the bottom of the forms, so even if…
• sharward, 24 March 2006:lol: I offered him a venti, but he said he wanted a Grande. Of course, that was before I asked halfway through the rebar work, "Uh, stupid question -- isn't the plastic…
• sharward, 29 March 2006:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: Approval to pour is granted! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: I received what they term a "partial…
• sharward, 29 March 2006Great to have all you gents with me on this milestone day! 8) Dan, the slab will be flat/level, mostly ... My forms were perfectly level at one point, but all the…
• sharward, 30 March 2006I received a PM from whatalob with a question... I received his blessing to post the question and my answer here. The building department official I consulted told me…

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• sharward, 31 March 2006My concrete guy and I have tentatively scheduled the pour for Monday. The weather forecast calls for rain, which is good for him because he can knock out my job on a day…
• sharward, 31 March 2006Fascinating pictures of termiticide application comin' at ya'! Hey, if I'm going to spend $550 on this stuff, then I'm darned well going to make you look at pictures of…
• sharward, 1 April 2006Ahhh, all my peeps... ;-) Yeah, tell me about it. Actually, I'm told that Termidor is really expensive, but it's the most effective product on the market. Figure that…
• sharward, 1 April 2006Here's some interesting information about Termidor: Features and Benefits of Termidor® Acts on the termite's nervous system. Its speed of activity is dose dependent; the…
• sharward, 1 April 2006I just called the ready mix company and I got the breakdown of the costs for the concrete delivery... 5 yards of 5 sack mix w/ 1" aggregate and 4" slump @ $100 per yard…
• len-morgan, 1 April 2006If they're going to charge you almost the same price for 1 more yard (5 vs 6) is there any chance you have a patio that needs repair, or a extending a walkway a little…
• knightfly, 2 April 2006Len, glad you brought this up; when I schedule a pour, I ALWAYS try to form up one or two smaller projects for the extra; you get charged for it anyway. And in Keith's…
• sharward, 2 April 2006Great thoughts, guys... If I had anticipated this, I might have figured out a way to use an extra yard. However, with a lot size of .13 acres, I'd say I don't have a lot…
• sharward, 2 April 2006I had thought of that too... But honestly, I'd rather just bite the bullet and pay the price. Even if I could find a neighbors with a need for a yard of concrete, if…

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• sharward, 3 April 2006This is the closest you'll get a video feed -- pretty cool if you asked me! 8) [url=http://www.sharward.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=2&pid=36&slideshow=3000]…
• sharward, 13 April 2006I had hoped to have more progress to share, but beyond a few stakes and horizontal supports being removed (which are not really Kodak moments ;-) ), there's not much to…
• sharward, 13 April 2006Mahalo, Kendale. :) Sera's doing oustandingly well this morning -- the irrigation ritual went really well. It's obvious that the additional antibiotic she is on is…
• sharward, 16 April 2006Thanks for the sympathies, Dan (et al). I'm pleased to report that our lil' Sera is doing really well. The second antibiotic that she's on seems to be helping a lot, and…
• sharward, 17 April 2006Our kitty has been admitted to the vet hospital again. Our follow-up appointment didn't go so well... Ends up she has a good amount of diseased skin that will have to be…
• sharward, 26 April 2006Good grief -- my thread slipped to page two! Horror of horrors! We must not let that happen again! :lol: Anyway, we're heading home from Maui tomorrow... What a…

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• sharward, 28 April 2006Aloha everyone -- back on the mainland, and life has picked up the pace like I've never left! :cry: :lol: Anyway, we had a great time and a safe return. Sera (the cat)…
• sharward, 29 April 2006Today I had some fun playing in a band that consists of a friend of mine and three of his coworkers at an event at the office where they work. 8) External image, not…
• sharward, 3 May 2006Here are some more pics from Hawai'i! Here Comes the Sun Haleakala National Park, Sunrise [url=http://www.sharward.com/photos/albums/maui_2006-04/haleakala/DSCF0113.JPG]…
• sharward, 8 May 2006Thanks, Stan. I lived in the San Diego area during my teen years, and I can't count the number of times I would just go by myself to walk on the beach, sorting stuff out…
• sharward, 8 May 2006I'm done with the forms for the L-shaped foundation along the edge of the existing garage floor. External image, not preserved — original:…
• Luftweg, 8 May 2006Hey Keith, did you ever confirm which way you are going with firestopping? Did you ever consider this product: http://www.accumetricinc.com/boss/PDF/816.pdf What I like…
• sharward, 8 May 2006Hey Luftweg, That's a great product that you've found. I'll be interested in your experience with it, as I very well may get some myself when I get to framing. The specs…
• sharward, 10 May 2006Long story short: Sera's back at the vet, this time at an emergency clinic where she'll be monitored 'round the clock tonight. Short story long: As you may know, our…
• knightfly, 10 May 2006Same here Keith, I feel your pain; we have a total of 8 cats (+2 "guests") - 2 that are "inside only", 4 that are "garage/outside only", and 2 that go wherever they damn…
• sharward, 10 May 2006Thanks, Steve and Luftweg, for your kind thoughts. We just called the "Kitty ICU" to get the latest. Sera's body temperature last night at about 11:30 PM was normal, so…
• sharward, 10 May 2006UPDATE: We picked up Sera and took her to our regular vet, and met with her today. (We met with Sera too! :) ) So far, so good -- she's doing much better today, and the…
• sharward, 11 May 2006And now, an update not related to the cutie in the kennel across town... ;-) I just got off the phone with my concrete contractor. He's been understandably very busy now…

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• sharward, 12 May 2006Yeah, I was waiting until we picked her up before posting the big ol' update, including pictures. For now, in short, she continues to show lots of improvement. The last…
• sharward, 15 May 2006Sera is doing great . We brought her home on Friday afternoon and she's definitely back to her sweet old self. :) External image, not preserved — original:…
• sharward, 17 May 2006I'm out of town at a four-day training class (work-related). I scheduled the inspection for this morning and I asked Mrs. Sharward to give the inspector access. I just…
• sharward, 20 May 2006I talked to my concrete guy a couple of days ago, and he said that it would take him about the same amount of time to do this job as it took him to do the main slab...…
• sharward, 21 May 2006OK, my buddy is committed to do the pour next Saturday (a week from today)... Or there is a slight chance of our doing it tomorrow. I went by the rental yard, where they…
• sharward, 21 May 2006Here's a little QuickTime video for those who are interested in how little Sera is doing. 8) That noise she's making is her signature combo "purr-meow," which translates…
• sharward, 28 May 2006At long last, I'm done with concrete work!! :D :mrgreen: :twisted: :) 8) :D :mrgreen: :twisted: :) 8) :D :mrgreen: :twisted: :) 8) :D :mrgreen: :twisted: :) 8) :D…
• guitardad72, 28 May 2006Congrats on the finished concrete !!!! Man the pavers... I've spent hours laying out pavers around my property. In fact every single paver "path" I've picked up and put…
• sharward, 28 May 2006Thanks, Marc, but next time, more exclamation points for such a milestone -- at least six please. ;-) Yeah, I hope not too, but I'm not too stressed about it... :roll:…
• sharward, 2 June 2006Thanks guys! Indeed, it is a milestone, and one I'm delighted to have finally reached. There's not much else to do before I do real work on the room now. As far as what…
• sharward, 5 June 2006Just got back from another Southern California trip -- saw Fates Warning perform in Santa Ana on Wednesday, followed by several days hanging with old buddies. 8) While I…

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• sharward, 9 June 2006Well I finally pulled the forms last night. Man, what that a pain! It took me over two hours because a couple of the stakes were pinched so tightly against the existing…
• sharward, 9 June 2006Ohhhhhhhh, I feel a deal in the making! :twisted: I can get one freight shipped for $630. This is a high quality setup that allows a single person to easily lift panels…
• sharward, 10 June 2006My first ceiling drywall application is probably about the same time frame out, but I'm flexible. :) I have handled inline images in various ways over the past 18…
• camistan, 10 June 2006Hey Stick/Keith Another way you could do the pics is to simply use "Paint" that comes with Windows. It's really just a matter of copying a picture or sending it to a…
• camistan, 11 June 2006Greetings Aaron True, there is a haze around the text, but ask yourself this...From the 1st picture in my last post can you read what I wrote? Does the haze detract from…
• sharward, 13 June 2006Hey Aaron, I welcome the questions! I think what I'll do is lay plastic into the cavity and overlap it with the main slab and the outer concrete, whether it be the…
• sharward, 18 June 2006Back to work! 8) I went to Home Depot this morning to buy all the plumbing pieces for the future termiticide application solution (patent pending ;-) ). While I was…
• sharward, 19 June 2006Well I made some good progress on the termiticide plumbing thing yesterday. Most of the piping is glued together -- I just have to dig out some more holes in the gap…

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• sharward, 23 June 2006Yep -- we're going there. My wife and I attended an 8 hour pistol safety training class a week ago. We've got a little ways to go before we buy, but it will be soon.…
• sharward, 25 June 2006That target was a result of a .38 revolver (with six cylinders) reloaded a number of times. Actually, the "orders" we were receiving were varied: at first we loaded…
• sharward, 26 June 2006Dr. Patrick Moore is a founding member of Greenpeace. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from the Institute of Animal Resource Ecology, University of British Columbia. Here is…
• Luftweg, 26 June 2006My chinchillas have the life..... The basement never gets over 78 degrees -- even when it's 100 outside... With the continuous dehumidification, it is indeed quite…
• sharward, 26 June 2006Yup, they are native to the Andes. Here's a great Wikipedia article about them . Here's the makeshift ChinChiller -- pictures taken before I put up the "I've got good…
• sharward, 2 July 2006We got the air conditioning fixed a few days ago (Monday, to be exact). It was a blown capacitor on the compressor -- a very quick fix! We're all quite comfortable now.…
• Luftweg, 2 July 2006OMG, so THAT's what the makeshift chin-chiller was for? (when your AC was down?...) I must have missed that part... And you were having a heatwave, and the chinchillas…
• sharward, 2 July 2006That's correct, Luftweg -- it was a lifesaving measure that I implemented at 3 AM last Saturday to keep the chins alive the following day (and two, and three actually).…
• sharward, 3 July 2006Behold: My first framing lumber load from Home Depot! 20 10-foot long 2x4s 1 10-foot long 2x6 4 16 -foot long pressure-treated 2x4s And it all fit in my truck! External…
• len-morgan, 3 July 2006Lookin' good, Keith!! You DID get a permit modification for the SIOTSAS (termiticide piping), didn't you???? :-) See the Permits, Codes, Licenses -- and WHY YOU SHOULD…
• sharward, 3 July 2006Hey Len, good thoughts... And what a great thread you linked to!! ;-) :twisted: It may just be semantics, but I'm not actually burying it underground -- rather, my…
• sharward, 4 July 2006OMG, Kansas kicked butt tonight! I managed to snag a spot right in front of the stage, directly in front of Steve Walsh! I took some amazing photos of the show! You can…

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• knightfly, 4 July 2006Keith, your seal product should work as well as anything; in fact, I bookmarked the link for when I convert my garage to living/family room, thanks :) As to your…
• sharward, 4 July 2006Excellent -- thanks for your vote of confidence on this approach, Steve! 8) By the way, you may want to update your bookmark to this: Shaw "Silent Step" 3-in-1…
• sharward, 5 July 2006Thanks for the tip, Darryl! I had read a bit about Proto-Kaw in this Wikipedia article about Kansas , but it hadn't made an impression on me until now. I just downloaded…
• sharward, 5 July 2006I too heard about the New Orleans unconstitutional confiscations, and it was extremely troubling to Mrs. Sharward and me. However, one of the things we got in our pistol…
• sharward, 9 July 2006Well, I made good progress today -- I cut most of the sole plates and I'm about 2/3 done with the perimeter sealing. It was really hot today -- 100°F/38°C -- and I think…
• len-morgan, 9 July 2006Looking good, Kieth!! I remember when I got to the stage of actually cutting wood...seems like a year ago. Oh wait, it WAS a year ago (more or less). :-) BTW, your…
• sharward, 9 July 2006:lol: That's classic, Len! :lol: I actually did make one mistake on one cut. It was 3 1/2" too long . So I, uh, cut it again. (Lucky me!) Other than that, I'm pleased…
• sharward, 9 July 2006Thanks! 8) Here's a close-up... External image, not preserved — original: http://sharward.com/progrck-small.jpg Actually, all these questions are answered about two…
• sharward, 9 July 2006Here are the photos of today's progress. I believe that I'm done with the perimeter sealing and soleplate installation! I tightened down J-bolts so as to apply pressure…
• Luftweg, 9 July 2006Keith: Wow, that's almost too pretty (in a utilitarian way) to cover up... my guess is that you are sort of a perfectionist... Of course, this can most usually be a good…
• sharward, 10 July 2006I like the way you think, Luftweg, and I tend to agree with everything you just wrote. Including the "I must be a perfectionist" part. ;-) ...Like the way I usually…
• sharward, 10 July 2006Wow, 75K -- that snuck up on me too! 8) Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if at least 50% of that were e-mail address harvesting robots... :roll: ...I see them at work…
• sharward, 11 July 2006Thanks for the kind words! :) The slabs are different pitches, but the areas that have soleplates bolted down are level with each other. The original garage slab was…
• sharward, 11 July 2006I answered a question in cyeazel's own thread, so I thought I'd post both the question and the answer here as well. I plan to build my inner walls flat and then tip them…
• sharward, 11 July 2006I just returned from Home Depot on my lunch hour, where I bought this Ryobi 14.4V 2 Speed Drill Kit with Flashlight on a close-out for only about $63. I wasn't really…

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• sharward, 11 July 2006I'm familiar with the quick changer type devices -- I have one and I do use it at times. 8) I did see a power caulk gun there, but I recalled the price was much higher.…
• sharward, 15 July 2006Framing starts today! Unless you count the soleplates that I cut and positioned last weekend... But I like to think of the upward work as being the official start of…
• sharward, 15 July 2006The prohibition of screws actually has merit. Nails are the preferred fasteners for several reasons. They cost less to install than screws and are easier to install . .…
• Luftweg, 15 July 2006Keith: I'm finding all this code stuff about screws versus nails very interesting.... also wondering if there weren't other factors in the code's choices.... I'm led to…
• sharward, 16 July 2006From what I have been reading, nails are superior to screws for wood framing. Bear in mind that there are four properties to a nail and screw: shear strength, tensile…
• Luftweg, 16 July 2006Code is code... Although, according to this article, shear strength (of equivalent sized fasteners) seems to be at least the same....…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 16 July 2006as Knightfly mentioned in my thread, the actual solid part of a deck or drywall screw is pretty thin compared to a fat common nail. also, i've seen screws snap, but not…
• knightfly, 16 July 2006Without looking for a lot of links, etc, this partly depends on the type of screw; a standard wood screw may have a long enough full-diameter section near the head so…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 16 July 2006Hi Steve, I remember your warning about wood splitting ... however, I've been lucky and haven't had any problems for the most part. I've used them (common nails) on both…
• knightfly, 16 July 2006Yeah, green wood will "stretch" more often than splitting; and "old" wood can be a pain for sure. I've actually had better luck with the nailer on old wood, even common…
• sharward, 16 July 2006Time for a lunch break. OMG, this is such a pain!! (And I mean that literally -- my right arm hurts!) This may not seem like a lot of work, but it is, at least for me. I…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 16 July 2006yeah that "frame-in-place" vs "tip up" question screwed me up too. i definitely don't recommend doing it the way i did it, it's super lame (tip up, leave a gap, shims in…
• Luftweg, 16 July 2006I was wondering about this myself.... Is it possible to have double base plates? The bottom one can be bolted to the J bolts.... Then the whole frame, with the lower top…
• sharward, 17 July 2006Are you ready for this? :twisted: After lunch I was really worn out, arm still aching, and I think the heat was getting to me... :? ...I was "this close" to taking a two…

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• Luftweg, 17 July 2006...with DRYWALL screws you mean? lol... (anyway, what ARE all those stringers meant to be for in Sonic Clang's build?.... is it for some sort of randomization of…
• sharward, 17 July 2006Hi John -- thanks for weighing in. :) I did early on, but a professional framer (member of this forum) advised that it was not necessary , so I removed them from my…
• Luftweg, 17 July 2006From what I'm led to believe, these are also called 'stringers', 'cross-braces', 'blocking', 'battens', etc.... in various places and circles... (one reason I like being…
• sharward, 18 July 2006They are required for walls >10 feet. Mine's 10 feet, so none needed. Although the studs are very flexible side-to-side if I grab and shake them... :roll: ...I'm sure…
• Ro, 18 July 2006Well putting them clads/cats/stringers/fancytweezers back in the framing will make it a lot more "stiff" which is not what you want. You want flexible mass (or whatever…
• sharward, 18 July 2006Yeah, that's a good point -- floppy is better. Although I don't think it's as important when you're doing double frames as I am... :roll: I haven't framed the door yet…
• Luftweg, 19 July 2006I would think trying to make something be floppy, which is already solid or semi-solid can only work to a certain extent... In other words, sheetrock is a homogeneous…
• Luftweg, 19 July 2006Steve.... lol... I think you may be referring to my diagrams for the sump pump backups?.... Well, I guess there's only so many ways to go with electicity... Next will be…
• sharward, 30 July 2006Well, 10 extremely hot days have gone by, during which (as I promised) I did no construction. I enjoyed the mini vacation from the work, but this weekend is soooo nice…
• sharward, 30 July 2006Moving on... The trip to The Stickhouse was awesome. Our timing couldn't have been better - they're done with framing and will probably be drywalling in the coming week,…
• sharward, 30 July 2006Wow... Look at that -- over 80,000 views! :twisted: Well I framed another wall today -- it went smoother than the last one because it was a few feet shorter, so it was a…
• sharward, 31 July 2006I decided to stop framing when I ran out of lumber. ;-) Things are moving along nicely. 8) External image, not preserved — original:…

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• sharward, 31 July 2006Let me catch you (and others) up on that. My original plan was to rip all the drywall off the ceiling, install new 2x6 joists parallel to the trusses, and then attach…
• sharward, 31 July 2006Thanks for watching over my shoulder, Rod -- it's great to know you're following. 8) I'm feeling a lot better about this now. I think. ;-) So, let me see if I got this…
• sharward, 1 August 2006I just discovered this exemption to my local noise ordinance: 8.68.080(E) Noise sources due to the erection (including excavation), demolition, alteration or repair of…
• sharward, 2 August 2006Last night I penciled onto the floor the doorway openings. I'm leaving 39" for my 36" door, including the door frame. That doesn't include the king studs and trimmer…
• sharward, 3 August 2006Yeah, but think of all the time I'll save by not driving to and from the equipment rental yard! ;-) Didn't get to drilling the concrete tonight. Perhaps tomorrow. A good…
• sharward, 4 August 2006Thanks for dropping by the ol' ranch, jwl! Heh, that sledge hammer exercise idea is pretty, uh, unusual! Boy, after I did all that excavation for my slab, you'd think I…
• sharward, 6 August 2006Framing work continues! The climate has been wonderful for the last couple of days and today promises to be terrific too... So I'm trying to do as much as I can before…
• sharward, 7 August 2006Whew! :shock: I think I'm done with the outer leaf framing now. :twisted: I redid the soleplate at the corner next to the doorway, opting to double up on the bottom…
• len-morgan, 7 August 2006Keith, You may have brought this up much earlier and I've just forgotten but isn't building the outer framing first going to complicate building the inner walls? If…
• sharward, 7 August 2006Hey Luftweg, Yeah, having 10 foot ceilings to begin with is indeed a blessing. Think of how much easier Paul Woodlock's project would have been if that had been the case…
• sharward, 7 August 2006Great news! I visited a building inspector at the building department office today. (In bringing him up to speed on my project, he said, "Boy, I sure wish I had…

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• sharward, 9 August 2006Sorry about that Luftweg -- I see what you mean. The illustration says one thing but the langauge in the paragraphs says another. I've seen a lot of examples of…
• guitardad72, 10 August 2006Keith, In a conversation I had with building inspector a while ago (before I realized how a truss system bears its weight) I presented a load bearing wall under several…
• Luftweg, 10 August 2006Cool that you passed the inspection! Anyway, the load-bearing/non-load-bearing issue has concerned myself on my project too... Although with trusses it can be a far more…
• sharward, 10 August 2006That's the main reason I poured new concrete and used so much rebar. 8) Just remember that concrete can only be as strong as the base on which it sits. OK, that's…
• Luftweg, 10 August 2006Yes, I've never heard that from you, and would never expect that -- since you seem to be extra cautious, and not capricious.... Actually, I was never told directly that…
• sharward, 11 August 2006I ordered a case of Green Glue today -- hopefully ground shipment will arrive before next weekend, when I hope to work on the 2nd layer of drywall! :shock: I left voice…
• sharward, 12 August 2006My landscaper buddy came through today, big time! After taking care of my hard, we emptied his truck, headed to Home Depot, and bought 20 sheets of 4' x 8' x 5/8"…
• knightfly, 12 August 2006Truss uplift as it affects drywall cracking is covered on page 154 of Myron Ferguson's "Drywall" (catchy title, huh?) and Stanley's "Complete Drywall" (completely catchy…
• Luftweg, 12 August 2006Steve: Thanx for the insight. I had previously done similar calculations for my room project, and they seem to concur with yours (or at least be in the ballpark, due to…
• knightfly, 13 August 2006I don't think Keith cares, it just ups his thread views :lol: On the don't care/don't need question, I was probably premature; there's still a good chance I'll end up…
• Luftweg, 13 August 2006The lintel/header would only be supporting one end of the ceiling joists (with its layers), with no wall at all (except to cover the lintel itself); the opposite side…
• sharward, 13 August 2006No comment -- I just thought it beared repeating. ;-) OK, more progress to report. I'm kicking butt!! :twisted: Look, ma -- no more gaping holes along my new outer leaf…
• sharward, 14 August 2006Thanks for the kind words, John. :-) Humbled... Ted from Green Glue called me back today. He's just as gracious on the phone as he is on the Studiotips forum. 8) I told…
• sharward, 17 August 2006Not much to report, but I did snap chalk lines on the existing ceiling to mark the location of the truss chords. That should make it a lot easier to be on target with my…
• sharward, 20 August 2006I picked up the drywall lifter today (Thanks, Stick! 8) ) for some practice lifting, and maybe a bit of productive drywall work on the ceiling if things go well. We…
• sharward, 21 August 2006True enough, John! Of course, actual progress is more exciting. I had hoped to have something "progressive" to show today, but alas, I wasn't able. I did take the…

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• sharward, 23 August 2006Well I can't right now because I took the lifter back to The Stickhouse on Sunday so that he and his contractor could use it on Monday morning. But your illustration is…
• sharward, 23 August 2006Check out what I wrote 11 months ago! Late Winter or early Spring? It's mid-Summer and I haven't even started my inner leaf framing yet!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:…
• camistan, 24 August 2006Ok, so tell me now... You wanna predict a finsh date now? You seem to be rolling along a little faster. I think your floor took a lot of time and was REALLY involved,…
• len-morgan, 24 August 2006Stan, that's a fine target date. Just don't attach a year to it! :-) I WILL be finished by Christmas, I'm just not sure which Christmas it will be. I projected November…
• Luftweg, 26 August 2006Hardhats are a good idea, really, if you consider that the weight of a sheet of drywall falling from 10 feet could potentially kill you (although, even the hardhat might…
• sharward, 27 August 2006Well, none of the overhead stuff was done today, so the hardhats stayed in my car. But, some good points have been made about what hard hats are good for and what…
• sharward, 27 August 2006The wall I'm working on right now is actually the middle leaf in a three leaf wall. :roll: There is OSB sheathing on that wall on the garage side for seismic stability.…
• sharward, 28 August 2006I had a semi-productive day today. Lazy start (kind of achy from yesterday). When procrastination became pathetic, I pushed myself out there this afternoon. ;-) Then I…
• sharward, 28 August 2006I had a semi-productive day today. Lazy start (kind of achy from yesterday). When procrastination became pathetic, I pushed myself out there this afternoon. ;-) Then I…
• sharward, 28 August 2006From Marc's thread ... Yeah, I'm just using acoustic sealant on all the seams, no backing rod. It's already pretty much air tight -- I just did that because it's quick…

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• sharward, 3 September 2006Another semi-productive day. :) I mudded the 2nd layer of the back wall... External image, not preserved — original:…
• sharward, 4 September 2006Luftweg, you're not the only one who skims my thread, just looking for the photos! ;-) Today I spent an hour and a half moving crap along the west wall fo the garage to…
• Luftweg, 4 September 2006LoL... I can be forgetful like that -- especially when being all excited about a personal pet project... I sometimes get worried when I change the oil and filter in my…
• sharward, 5 September 2006What better to do on Labor day than... Manual labor! :lol: Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to report that I have finished the back outer leaf wall! 8) :twisted:…
• sharward, 5 September 2006I imagine! :o The 4' x 8' x 5/8" sheets are difficult enough to load solo. I've learned that it's easiest to lift the board up with one hand on the bottom and one hand…
• sharward, 9 September 2006Hey guys, thanks for dropping by and for the kind words and ongoing interest. 8) I took the day off today to work on the room, but I got a bit distracted with a couple…
• sharward, 10 September 2006Hey Stick, maybe you can dig a hole in your spacious back yard, bury the caulk gun, then backfill the hole with all the extra sealant you have left over! :lol: Ah, but…
• sharward, 11 September 2006Yippee -- I'm done * with the outer leaf drywalling! :twisted: * Done is done, as long as you're not counting the mudding and perimeter sealing I still need to do.…
• guitardad72, 11 September 2006Congrats BUT why can we still see from your garage into room, you still have those new outer leaf walls to cover... right? Watch out for the lumber Keith. I've learned,…
• sharward, 11 September 2006Hey Marc, Actually, the warpage risk was considered. There are some mitigating factors. First, the porch is under cover and the sunlight it gets is very limited (Nothern…
• guitardad72, 11 September 2006I don't know off the top I've my head, next trip to HD I'm going to ask. Years ago when I did not make enough money as a musician to get by I took on temp work, mostly…
• knightfly, 13 September 2006"Stickers" UNDER the pile promote drying (or NOT wetting) - stickers between every layer will help WET wood dry, in conjunction with a large fan and lots of time.…

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• guitardad72, 16 September 2006Keith, Just want to ask you before you put up your inner walls. Are sure you want your room to be a rectangle with primary purpose as sound isolated rehearsal room? I…
• sharward, 16 September 2006Hello, my friend. :-) You raise a good question that hasn't been covered in much detail so far on this marathon thread. In short, I'm building a soundproof rectangular…
• guitardad72, 16 September 2006"Nuts" ain't the right word. Need a few days to figure out the most appropriate word. BTW I figure you would loose less then 6 sqft if your side walls were splayed @ 6…
• sharward, 17 September 2006I'll consider a change in plans to splay the walls a bit in the way you describe, Marc... But one problem I have J-bolts already set in place. :roll: I'd have to use…
• guitardad72, 17 September 2006Minimum splay-age of parallel walls is 12 degrees. That equals 6 degrees per side wall or an angle of 1 foot in 10. In Keith's case 1" would not do it as his room as is…
• sharward, 21 September 2006Thanks for the thoughts, guys. Greatly appreciated, as always. 8) Earplugs? Absolutely! :twisted: I carry [url=http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx[/url]these…
• len-morgan, 21 September 2006Kieth, I don't remember how much space you have between your inner and outer walls, but if you have enough room, couldn't you just lay your 2x10s at the angles your…
• sharward, 23 September 2006Actually, Aaron, I could have used the padded room about a year and half ago when I was struggling with the plans for this project! :lol: Well, I was kind of sick…
• Luftweg, 24 September 2006Keith: Do you mean that your inner walls will not be 'splayed', or angled? If so, I'm not sure, but I DON'T think you are crazy for not doing it... Does Rod mention…
• sharward, 24 September 2006Cool. It's settled then. Tomorrow I'll be hammering together some very basic wall frames, sans splaying-schmaying. ;-) If I had more room to spare, I would have designed…
• sharward, 25 September 2006My awesome father-in-law helped me with framing today. 8) Here we are finishing up the west wall, which as planned was assembled in the main part of the garage. External…
• sharward, 26 September 2006Welcome to the forum, MIDIman, and thank you so much for the very thoughtful post. I'm really blown away by it. For you to process it all from start to here, and then…
• jwl, 27 September 2006Hi Sharward, congrats on your continuous progress. Slow but steady wins the race! Kudos to your craftsmanship, too, everything looks like it is fitting together nice and…
• sharward, 27 September 2006Thanks, jwl! If slow and steady wins the race, I'm winning a lot! ;-) I think your "superchunks in the corners and panels on the wall," coupled with my Stick-inspired…

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• sharward, 27 September 2006Problem is, the more layers of drywall that will be going on the walls (in my case, 3 layers of 5/8", plus 3/4" T&G OSB), where's the starting point of the yardstick?…
• jwl, 29 September 2006Hi Sharward, I've been thinking more about how you are going to treat this room acoustically. The Superchunks/RFZ/cloud concept is good. But I think if it were me, I'd…
• guitardad72, 29 September 2006Sharward, John's angled side wall absorbers are basically what Kendale built except Kendales are portable. Since you are not planning on mixing anything at present in…
• sharward, 29 September 2006Marc! :lol: You crack me up! :D Hey, I've been thinking a bit about using DOORS on hinges attached to the long walls, absorbant on the back and reflective on the front,…
• len-morgan, 2 October 2006Sharward, As far as marking your stud locations (something I wish I'd paid a little more attention to in my studio), why not put masking tape on the floor (just…
• sharward, 2 October 2006Hey Len, I may do something very similar to what you're describing. I'm actually thinking of maybe using a tiny brass brad (similar to the kind that come with picture…
• sharward, 8 October 2006Progress. :) I worked on framing today. I got the fourth inner leaf wall mostly done (jack studs, header, and cripple studs left to do) and all four walls are now…
• cadesignr, 8 October 2006Hey Kieth, why don't you pre pocket bore the studs and screw the studs to the plate from undernieth. Its real easy. Although you're probably done now. Frankly for studio…
• rod gervais, 8 October 2006fitZ, remember that Keith is doing this by the book - which means inspections - and the code doesn't allow for screws in framing - only nail schedules....... Unless the…
• sharward, 9 October 2006Indeed. I had hoped to use screws, but I called my building department before I started framing to find out if it was OK, and they told me it was not permitted. I…
• guitardad72, 9 October 2006cadesignr, Screws V.S. Nails in framing varies by local code and whether frame is exterior, interior/partition, load bearing, shear rating etc... IF you go back a few…
• sharward, 9 October 2006Marc, your advice and observations are always welcome, even if you are late. ;) I did use clamps, by the way, which was helpful in straightening slightly warped 16 foot…
• cadesignr, 9 October 2006In what way? Screw a small piece of stud and plate together with two 3" drywall type screws and try to knock the plate off with a hammer. Now try it with nails :roll:…
• rod gervais, 9 October 2006fitZ, Then you would be both wrong and right. The word "stronger" is subjective - and that's what you seem to be missing. Your hammer test is not reflective of the types…
• sharward, 9 October 2006Hey Rod and Steve -- I had planned to use this type of seismic/hurricane tie to fasten my ceiling joists to my top plates... Recovered from web.archive.org — originally…
• knightfly, 9 October 2006Haven't used those (Oregon is just now starting to realize that we're not immune to seismic) but should be fine - unless Rod brings up something that none of us has…
• cadesignr, 10 October 2006Well, I guess its better to have a glass half full of beer than totally empty, eh Rod. :lol: Unless your in a hurricane. :roll: :wink: Ha! Hey Rod, thanks a million for…
• sharward, 10 October 2006Awesome! 8) Maybe I'll pick up the ties on my way home from work tonight! :twisted: Thanks again Rod, and Steve! And fitZ. And Marc. And Dan! :) And fitZ, I see several…

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• Luftweg, 10 October 2006Keith, Steve, Rod or anyone else: I've been trying to compare conceptually the differences between ceiling and floor joists with respect to the 'flopping over' thing...…
• cadesignr, 10 October 2006c Oh, yea there is a few. But mostly the pocket bore/screws. This is a mockup for the panels. The block behind the stud is temp untill the stud was fastened. I had to do…
• cyeazel, 10 October 2006Keith, sorry to but in on your thread here but I was just wondering if you have any experience working with masonry block walls. I'm asking because I have a lot of…
• sharward, 10 October 2006Sorry, cyeazel -- I have no experience with concrete blocks. You may want to ask Marc. He's had a lot of experience lately with concrete blocks! :twisted: So.....…
• sharward, 12 October 2006The last couple of weeks have brought news at work that is likely going to slow me down on the build. I'm a Web software developer at a large not-for-profit hospital and…
• sharward, 13 October 2006Thanks for the tips, Marc! I'm sure I'll go the route you describe... But I really hope I can squeeze a band in there. I may have to lose some weight first though. ;-)…
• guitardad72, 13 October 2006YUP tuned into the several topics on last few pages of your thread. You just sent me on a definition hunt for "Ridge Board" and then a thinking quest as to where & how…
• sharward, 15 October 2006Unless someone tells me that I missed something... I'm finished with framing!! :D :D :D Here's a shot from the garage. You can see the joists extending past the ends of…
• len-morgan, 15 October 2006Having done a bunch of these electrical boxes in my studio, I can tell you that doing recessed boxes is tricky (depending on how much drywall you put up. We thought we…
• sharward, 15 October 2006It's always nice to upload pics just before going to sleep, then wake up to words from some of my favorite fans... :twisted: No parties yet, Luftweg, beyond maybe some…
• sharward, 16 October 2006I resisted working on electrical today (which would have been fun) in order to (hopefully) settle my fireblocking issue. I studied the illustrations in Rod's book…
• Luftweg, 16 October 2006A template as it were? that's a really good idea, len. Anyway, with all the fuss about depths and allowable mounting, etc., and potential compromises to sound isolation,…
• sharward, 16 October 2006It was slim pickins at AMS here in Sacramento today. The only mineral wool they had in stock is Thermafiber SAFB in 3" thickness (24" wide too :roll: ). anything else…
• sharward, 18 October 2006Great point, Devin! I became aware of that requirement in the permit office this morning. So, here's the good news: My plan to "pinch" some Thermafiber with some drywall…

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• sharward, 18 October 2006You are correct -- either can be used. However, I decided over a year ago that I'd be using mineral wool because I'm convinced of its superiority in terms of both sound…
• sharward, 19 October 2006I ordered 1,152 square feet (18 bags) of 3" x 24" x 48" Thermafiber SAFB from AMS. It will be delivered to my house sometime on Friday. 1,152 square feet @ 55¢ per…
• DreaminDrumBeats, 20 October 2006Yeah no kidding........ and ummm lets see on the other side of the country lmao. It's single staves of wire that are slightly larger than studs 16 o.c. I'll ask the guy…
• sharward, 20 October 2006Thanks, Doni! 8) I'm very glad to have your endorsement! :D Meanwhile... Did someone order some insulation?? External image, not preserved — original:…
• sharward, 20 October 2006Thanks much, Rod! 8) I visited the permit counter today to verify that my next inspection will consist of: Framing Rough Electrical Plumbing * Mechanical * Unless you…
• cadesignr, 21 October 2006Just curious Rod. Do you mean the "steel strap" could resonate like a guitar string? Would that transmit to the studs/drywall back into the room or to the exterior leaf…
• cadesignr, 21 October 2006Just curious Rod. Do you mean the "steel strap" could resonate like a guitar string? Would that transmit to the studs/drywall back into the room or to the exterior leaf…
• rod gervais, 21 October 2006FitZ, I don't know for a fact that anything would occur....... BUT - I try to think through all of the possibilities as I set up my designs.... and I know that if I take…
• cadesignr, 21 October 2006You may be right. However, length has no bearing on frequency unless tension is added, where the tighter the tension, the higher the frequency. Pluck any string with…
• sharward, 22 October 2006I pulled some Romex wire yesterday for a few hours. Kind of fun. 8) Except I had a strange feeling that I was doing something wrong on one of my three-way circuits -- a…
• sharward, 23 October 2006Yesteray I spent about a couple of hours fixing my 3-way circuit goof and running some more wire, which I then realized terminates to the wrong stud. :evil: I quit for…
• sharward, 24 October 2006Thanks man... :-) I needed that. Sometimes I lack motiviation, but I drag my butt out in that garage and start to put things together. After a little while I get a…
• sharward, 24 October 2006Yes, that's pretty much still the plan, although I do intend to add a recepticle (a pair of them) on the outer leaf next to the door for a future workbench. I was…

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• sharward, 30 October 2006I decided this weekend I'd do my best Dan Fitzpatrick impression... No studio progress to report! ;-) Y'all ever just get sick of working on your damned studios?! :roll:…
• sharward, 31 October 2006Hey Dan, you know the routine: piccies or it didn't hapen! ;-) Had dinner with my mom tonight, and she swung by the house so I could show off the progress. She was…
• len-morgan, 6 November 2006Constantly!!! And it gets worse the longer I work on it! I have had the pleasure though of actually using it in it's current state to make some sample recordings.…
• sharward, 17 November 2006Aloha and Mahalo! I've gone from having acouple of Dan Fitzpatrick weeks (a.k.a., being a slacker ;-) ) to having a couple of Steve/knightfly weeks (a.k.a., insanely…
• sharward, 27 November 2006Well, believe it or not, I actually dragged my butt out into the 50°F garage to spend a few hours pulling Romex. Some might have been uncomfortable working in that…
• sharward, 1 December 2006hahahaha -- good one, Dan! And I deserve it! :twisted: The "wiring" I did was, literally, just stapling wire along the backs and sides of the inner leaf studs and…
• sharward, 4 December 2006Consider my ass kicked, bro! :lol: Year, things have slowwd down a lot after an impressive progress spurt. :roll: This weekend's excuse was seeing Trans-Siberian…
• sharward, 19 December 2006No kidding -- I've been in the pit stop for quite a while, Dan -- so now's your chance to make up some laps! :lol: Gentlemen, I had really hoped to have some pics to…
• Aaronw, 19 December 2006THUMP! :lol: Hey Sharward, don't be giving up now. Yeah, I know, it can be difficult at times to get motivated. I've wrapped up my 3rd year now, working on the 4th, so I…
• sharward, 27 December 2006Yeah, I know... Another week went by without an update. :( This coming three day weekend (with New Year's day) should be a good one for getting some stuff done though.…
• sharward, 2 January 2007Ahhhhh, progress. :-) First of all, happy new year everyone... And happy two year anniversary to me: this thread began on January 2, 2005. :-) I'm pretty close to being…

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• guitardad72, 2 January 2007How many holes/conduit runs do you have from attic to panel? You could use any where there is enough space. You might not be limited to the aux conduit you're talking…
• sharward, 4 January 2007Yeah, yeah, yeah. :lol: Yesterday I worked about 12 hours, so there was just no time at all... :roll: In other news... My longtime audience ;-) will recall flood…
• sharward, 4 January 2007Second, I feel like things are finally going to start to come together to give us the flood protection WE THOUGHT WE HAD WHEN WE MOVED HERE. I need to stress that. Often…
• sharward, 5 January 2007Believe me -- there are times while I'm working on my build that I think, "This could all go under water ..." :evil: :roll: Good luck with the San Diego opportunity,…
• sharward, 5 January 2007Wow... :shock: ... More news in the paper about the Natomas flood risk situation. Yikes... Our flood insurance rates are probably going to go from an optional $317 per…
• sharward, 7 January 2007Back to the drawing board on my electric runs... :( I fell into the same trap that I'm always quick to warn others about: resist the urge to do do do and make sure to…
• sharward, 9 January 2007Just a quick update. Extremely busy at work this week. Painfully so... :evil: This weekend I discovered, purchased, and successfully installed this AWESOME new…
• guitardad72, 10 January 2007Well congrats on the ladder thing there. :D Seems kind of a little over kill for just attics access unless you're planning on converting some of attic space into storage…
• sharward, 10 January 2007Good point about the code inconsistencies across the country, Marc. I vaguely remember your writing that way back when. As for my getting my ladder and new attic door…
• sharward, 11 January 2007Hey Steve, You raise good points, as usual, both pro and con. I know there are cases where people have gotten ensnared by building inspectors allegedly abusing their…
• sharward, 13 January 2007This 3-day weekend's plans: Build small OSB platform in attic to allow for safe mount/dismount from nifty new ladder. I believe code calls for "24 inch wide path to…
• sharward, 15 January 2007Some progress to report. :) Yesterday I built that platform in the attic. Here's a shot standing in front of the furnace -- the yellow outline represents that which I…
• sharward, 16 January 2007Yeah, yeah, I know... :oops: There hasn't been much worth showing in the last three months or so, for a variety of reasons -- holidays and work-related stuff especially…
• Ro, 16 January 2007Hai Keith, nice to see some visuals of progress! About electrical wires: I don't know code in the US or other parts of the world, but here in the Netherlands THAT's sure…

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• sharward, 16 January 2007Hi Ro, Always good to have skilled people looking over my shoulder. :) Actually, you might be misinterpreting some of what you're seeing, and I also suspect we do things…
• Ro, 16 January 2007120volts, ah. We got 230volts over here :) The wires did look thin, but with 120v it seems ok. It's good to see the insulated wires are molded into a flame resistant PVC…
• sharward, 29 January 2007I returned a couple of days ago from a weeklong Walt Disney World vacation, during which I paid Marc (guitardad72) a visit and helped him with his stucco . 8) External…
• sharward, 5 February 2007Progress to report! I finished the fire blocks. I covered my plan for this on page 75 and I finally finished it up this weekend. In short, I used 3" batts of Thermafiber…
• sharward, 5 February 2007I had planned to do a complete fill, but I can only seem to get 3" batts locally. I already bought 19 bags of it. To do a complete fill would require probably 50 bags.…
• sharward, 11 February 2007I was certainly busy yesterday... Not busy doing manual labor, which always seems to lend itself to a feeling of more accomplishment than what I was doing. I was busy…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 12 February 2007Hi Keith, things are looking good! Here's $.02, since you miss me so much :) ... why not go with the 8 inch fan, it's not that much more expensive than going with a 6…
• sharward, 12 February 2007Actually, as far as HRVs go, the baby model (704) has 4" ducts and all the others have 6" ducts. This sales sheet shows the capacity differences. I'll consider upgrading…
• sharward, 14 February 2007It does seem like overkill to ventilate a single room with a whole-house ventilation system. However, y'all need to keep in mind that I am using mechanical ventilation…
• sharward, 15 February 2007Crap. I got rear-ended on the freeway on the way home tonight. :evil: Fairly ow impact. Pretty young woman standing outside her car parked on shoulder. Honda stopped in…
• guitardad72, 15 February 2007Sharward, Glad to here you are alright, you could be feeling a lot worse then "stiff" right now. Reminds me of years ago in a small town I used to gig in, the town news…
• sharward, 15 February 2007The bad news: I feel really stiff this morning. :? The good news: I always feel this way in the morning! :lol: Honestly, I've felt worse after some active studio…
• sharward, 15 February 2007Hey guys, thanks for the continued well-wishes. Shahwood! :lol: I dig it. :) Here's a photo of the rear-end damage: External image, not preserved — original:…

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• sharward, 17 February 2007OK, OK, "truce." :-) Yeah, the fuel economy is pretty poor... I get about 18 to 19 miles per gallon... About half what the most efficient compact cars get. It hasn't…
• sharward, 23 February 2007Yeah -- tell me about it! ;-) The estimate from the body shop came in at over $6,500! :shock: It will probably be off the road for a month! I'm renting a Toyota…
• sharward, 4 March 2007Things are moving along very nicely... The mini-split air conditioner / heat pump arrived on Friday morning. External image, not preserved — original:…
• sharward, 5 March 2007I edited the above post to include pictures from the last couple of days. I had hoped I'd be done with the exterior work on the mini split, but I ran out of steam at…
• sharward, 6 March 2007Thanks for the kind words and ideas, Dan. 8) Yeah, I'm digging the downspout idea myself. There are, I think, specially engineered tubes for the purpose, but I was…
• sharward, 6 March 2007Thanks. :-) Actually, speaking of pros... i'd like to reiterate that once everything is installed and the wiring and refrigerant lines are in place, I will be hiring a…
• sharward, 8 March 2007Great news! I got up into the attic twice tonight to pull those lines in... All set! I even managed to coax Mrs. Sharward into guiding the last one from the outside so…
• sharward, 8 March 2007Wicked!!! :twisted: I have a couple of coworkers who attended a week's worth of training in Boston... They came back and started saying "wicked" a lot as kind of a…

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• sharward, 19 March 2007...and it ain't even over. It's been 11 days since I took my mom to the emergency room. She's been In intensive care three times and as of this moment is still there. On…
• sharward, 6 April 2007Hey all, Mom had a major setback, but is doing great -- breathing really well, regaining her strength, etc. She had actually gone home but was taken back to the hospital…
• sharward, 6 April 2007Thanks, guys! Worry not, Kendale -- I'm extremely careful up there: I use a head-mounted flashlight and am very cautious about where I put my weight! I'm privileged to…

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• sharward, 7 April 2007Bless Rod's heart for trying not to embarrass me... ;-) He sent me a private message... Rod, in case you're not aware (and I'm hoping this makes it OK!)... I was…
• rod gervais, 7 April 2007If I were the inspector I would question this based on the following: The code allows that material to be exposed to the weather - BUT - when it is exposed to the…
• sharward, 7 April 2007I want everyone to know that I'm smiling right now, even though I'm facing possibly having to undo some work, spend some money, and end up with a less attractive…
• sharward, 7 April 2007(cont'd.) there aren't any!) Uncle Rod, let me know what you think I should do. Here are what I see as my options: Change nothing, roll the dice, see if inspector calls…
• guitardad72, 7 April 2007Sharward, IMHO That wins. If the inspector wants to fail you, he will. If it were me I would 1st make darn sure the wire is safe in there BUT you can't see it... so you…
• rod gervais, 7 April 2007Keith, Well, I know what would hapen if I was the inspector......... but then again - the companies I work for say if I was a building official no one would ever work in…
• sharward, 7 April 2007Aw, dammit... Looks like I'll be redoing all this crap. :-( Rod, and Marc, I really appreciate your help and opinions on this. The one ironic thing I can't help but…
• guitardad72, 7 April 2007See conduit installed 4 years ago on for my condensor below, AND my wife says (I should say) "nanny booboo". Note the the 5 gallon bucket which gets filled daily of…
• sharward, 7 April 2007Condensation drain hose is a special foam insulated hose. It's 65 feet long. I intend to cut it into two pieces and run one piece from indoor unit to the garage vent…
• rod gervais, 7 April 2007Keith, Just a couple of quick questions: - is this hose going to be hooked up to a condesate pump? - is thre a trap at it's connection point at the equipment? - is the…
• sharward, 8 April 2007No -- the plan is to run it downhill towards where it will penetrate to the outside, so a pump shouldn't be necessary. Actually, according to page 15 of the mini-split…
• guitardad72, 8 April 2007Keith, OK I had to ask my wife again cause I never said this Nanny-Booboo at any time in my life, she wanted to respond, I said type and: Really she said "you should…
• sharward, 8 April 2007OK, I get it now. :-) I know it as "nanny nanny BOO-BOO, stick your head in DOO-DOO" -- something I heard an awful lot directed at me as a tot. :-( (I have issues! ;-) )…
• guitardad72, 9 April 2007Eh Doo Doo, (urh sorry couldn't help it)... What looks like your last diagram of HVAC design is: Last posting of Sharwards HVAC Design Man of man you are planning on 4…
• sharward, 9 April 2007Yes, that is the plan, or was at the time. Bear in mind that there weren't many (any?) silencer designs prior to mine before I posted mine. Actually, so far my silencer…
• guitardad72, 13 April 2007Well OK your're swinging it with the doted 1/8ths, but then the last half of bar would still be quarters. Key point in writing melodies for everyone and pop songs...…

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• sharward, 18 April 2007Thanks, Axe! For those who aren't aware of the latest, she's home from the hospital for the third time in five weeks and seems to be doing well. In one sense, I'm…
• sharward, 20 April 2007I met with two inspectors at my city's building department counter this morning to go over my situation and to seek advice on how to go about correcting it. It took a…
• sharward, 23 April 2007Today's studio work was a complete waste. :evil: Yesterday I went to Home Depot to buy proper wire and stuff. Today I went into the attic and ventured all the way into…
• guitardad72, 23 April 2007Oh, I won't sing that simple tune again... Don't feel bad man. My best record is 3 trips to HD in one day, receiving a traffic ticket on the last trip home and still not…
• sharward, 30 April 2007Thanks for the condolences, Marc. :) You could call my previous post "venting" -- I knew I could count on some empathy from y'all. 8) Well, I do have a progress report…
• andy_eade, 1 May 2007Good for you Keith - both on your progress and for your caring of your fellow, non-drinking drivers. I saw the same thing one night and called it in, but never really…
• sharward, 13 May 2007Well, here it is two weeks later, and this is the only progress photo I have to share with you all... External image, not preserved — original:…
• Ro, 14 May 2007Hai Keith, Looking "good"... but could be better. Next time leave some extra wire within the box (just wire it one time around) to have some extra slack. Why are you…
• sharward, 14 May 2007There's actually a fair amount of slack in there... It may seem tighter than it actually is. They're standard here in the US... :roll: ...I actually looked for the type…
• Ro, 14 May 2007Keith, The extra slack is especially handy when using the kind of connectors you use. When you need to add another end, you have to cut the whole and strip wires again…
• sharward, 14 May 2007I've been thinking about this practically non-stop since I responded this morning... :roll: I think I might know how I should have made the transition from surface of…
• Ro, 15 May 2007Sorry, dunno where to buy them in your part of the globe. I do live in Holland/Europe. Romex, however, is a world-wide brand and do deliver the conduit boxes and…
• sharward, 20 May 2007Well, I'm slowly (emphasis on "slow") getting through my HVAC work, finishing up the redo on the electrical as per the very helpful corrections from Rod and company. I…
• sharward, 21 May 2007Shortly after I posted yesterday afternoon, I loaded up all my tools and ventured into the attic. I knew I was in for a tough time when the attic ladder was hot. I…
• sharward, 6 June 2007Hello again, We had a nice weekend here with some cooler weather, so I got an earlier start and headed up to do the much needed "PVC-to-Romex junction box" installation.…

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• sharward, 11 June 2007More good progress to report. 8) I made a quick and painless trip into the attic to drill a couple of holes and feed the refrigerant and electrical lines down into the…
• sharward, 15 June 2007Interesting couple of exchanges I had at work today... DUDE #1: So, last weekend, when I ran into you at Home Depot, in the electrical department, what were you doing…
• sharward, 15 June 2007...and yet, I remember being clueless a few years ago, doing Google searches for "soundproofing foam" and at one time thinking that a futon mattress covering a bedroom…
• sharward, 17 June 2007More progress to show off. :twisted: With the exception of the final hook-up to the electrical service panel (something I'm considering saving for a pro), the…
• sharward, 3 July 2007This past weekend was nice climate-wise. I got a little bit of work done (emphasis on "little" :roll: ). I finally ran the condensation line from the indor unit of the…
• sharward, 6 July 2007Hey, look at that -- my thread now has over 200,000 views (most of which are spiders and robots, I realize... :roll: ) and I have passed the 4,000 mark in number of…
• sharward, 14 July 2007Another milestone reached -- the mini-split is blowing cold! And warm! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: In cooling and heating modes, respectively! 8) Today I had a…
• sharward, 16 July 2007Thanks guys! 8) I'm really excited about having A/C out there now! :twisted: I've scheduled an inspection for Wednesday. I hope to receive final sign-off of the…
• sharward, 18 July 2007:-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( I can't believe it... :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( My mini-split isn't working. Both indoor and outdoor units operate, but there's no cool air blowing…
• sharward, 18 July 2007I haven't bought my HRV yet, but I will be in a few days. I do intend to talk to Fantech soon. I plan to use oversized ducts. The unit I'll be getting will have 6"…
• sharward, 18 July 2007The inspector came by today. He said there's really nothing for him to officiially inspect because there's no natural gas line on the mini split system, and there are no…
• sharward, 18 July 2007:D :D :D :D :D :D WAHOO!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D There was a leak in the flare connection on the 1/4" refrigerant line at the indoor unit -- my tech didn't connect them…

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• sharward, 1 August 2007I don't have anything but air around my new slab, but I did cover the gap with a premium grade (Shaw brand) three-in-one laminate floor underlayment material that acts…
• sharward, 6 August 2007I was pretty lazy this weekend... It seems the energy I expended during my trip and concerts caught up with me. But I did drag myself to Home De(s)pot to purchase some…
• sharward, 20 August 2007I wish I had something to report. Unfortunately, all I have to report is that I have nothing to report. :-( We're in the midst of a big upgrade at work, so I couldn't…
• sharward, 5 September 2007OK, finally -- something to report, with photos! 8) I'm done with one of my silencers and I'm working on my second one now. It will be a virtual twin of the first. I…
• Dan Fitzpatrick, 6 September 2007Hi Keith, Nice to see your progress. I know it's hot these days in Sactown. I also think the plastic is an odd choice. Isn't the rule that you want to use fabric you can…
• sharward, 8 September 2007By the way, I just wanted to say I had figured on using the plastic since I assumed low end TL was my biggest concern and that I might be able to afford a bit of high…
• rod gervais, 10 September 2007Any of the last 3 should be fine - I am not familiar ith the first. 1 1/2" thick is hat I ecommend......... if you have an HVAC contractor - that is a sure bet - just…
• sharward, 10 September 2007I'd like to make sure the goal of the silencers is clear: to maximize transmission loss (TL). I don't care very much about a little noise from the air movement through…
• rod gervais, 11 September 2007Keith, you're talking apples and oranges here.......... if outside noise getting into the room via the duct is an issue - then first you build a box based on the MAM…
• sharward, 21 September 2007Thanks for the clarification, Rod. I think I'm getting this. I do understand (and have understood for some time now, thankfully :-) ) the fundamentals of Mass-Air-Mass,…
• sharward, 1 October 2007I finally heard back from one place, saying they can't get their hands on Johns Manville Permacote® Linacoustic® R-300 Rigid Fiber Glass Plenum Liner Board . The other…
• sharward, 24 November 2007Hey everyone, I've been so busy with work and distracted by other family-related things lately. Plus I've taken up tennis again and that's taking up some of my weekend…
• len-morgan, 25 December 2007Merry Christmas (again) Keith! Perhaps your "layoff" on the studio work might be to your advantage. Remember the V cutting tool and PE "rope" (for sealing drywall…

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• sharward, 15 January 2008I just got approved for a whole week off next week, during which I hope to accomplish a lot on the room. I'll be ordering my HRV tonight or tomorrow (yikes, it's…
• sharward, 22 January 2008Today didn't start well. This morning I called the company from which I ordered my HRV system to check on the status of the delivery. It ends up that it hadn't shipped…
• sharward, 22 January 2008Hey James! Long see no time. Thanks for tuning in! I'm in Reno (actually, sparks) right now, enjoying a buffet lunch after shoehorning the HRV into the car. That's one…
• sharward, 23 January 2008Photos from today's HRV fetch experience... External image, not preserved — original: http://www.sharward.com/photos/albums/userpics/10001/normal_DSCF1868.jpg Like…
• sharward, 28 January 2008No pictures yet, but man, I've been busy. I decided to install the HRV in the attic above the laundry room, instead of the laundry room near the ceiling as I had…
• sharward, 3 February 2008BEHOLD! My HRV installation is complete! (I think! :roll: ) External image, not preserved — original:…
• camistan, 3 February 2008Hey Keith! Just looking over your pics on the ERV installation. GREAT JOB! Since the ERV and the HRV are "couZins", I thought some of the following info may be of…
• sharward, 3 February 2008Hey Cam, great to hear from you bro. :-) That's great info you've got there. I'm prepared for the possibility of having the system balanced by a pro if necessary - the…
• rod gervais, 4 February 2008Keith, a couple of coments / questions- how is the equipment physically attached to structure to keep it from "floating" and potentially damaging a pipe or something?…
• sharward, 4 February 2008Hi Rod, It's not shown in the picture, but the condensate tube drops down a couple of inches and then rises where it connects to the PVC. Is that a sufficient trap? The…
• Cram, 4 February 2008Sharward, that's quite the addition to your build. Great work. Rod's question of the drainage prompts my point from our history in our house: I had to change the trap on…
• sharward, 9 February 2008I passed my inspection today. :-) Well, kinda. I can't believe it, but in spite of my being extremely careful not to get my condensate lines swapped, I did exactly that.…
• sharward, 9 February 2008There's one baffle in each box. It's a 2x6 with duct liner on each side. There's about 3" of clearance above it, which is difficult to see in the picture. The air enters…

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• sharward, 18 February 2008I made the corrections to the HRV mounting. Whereas it had been hanging on chains, now it is sitting atop four EPS foam blocks that I assembled from cut pieces of foam…
• Lou, 19 February 2008Hey Keith - Been meaning to reply for the last couple of weeks or so! Just a quick chime in to say how great it is to have you back with us! I know I'm not alone in…
• sharward, 31 July 2008Not failed -- postponed, but I have picked it up again. I have been working on this, but I have had a number of distractions in my life. I'm fine, the wife is fine,…
• sharward, 12 August 2008Thanks, Ro! Well, I'm done with the rough eectrical now - wow, that took a lot more hours than I had originally thought it would take! Of course, that's been true of…
• sharward, 14 January 2009Hey everyone, Just a very quick note to let everyone know that I'm still alive and have every intention of resuming work on the studio. The part of town that I live in…
• cadesignr, 15 January 2009Holy shit Kieth. Just got notified of your return to this thread. I don't know if you remember me but my name is Fitz. Good to see you back. :lol: Damn, your dedication…
• sharward, 12 May 2009Hey everyone, Still no real progress to report, I'm afraid, at least with the studio... But I thought I'd just come one briefly to mention a pretty exciting bit of news,…

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• cadesignr, 12 May 2009I know the feeling well Kieth :roll: Been there for 5 yrs and counting. It sucks when you are so close, yet no time to deal with it. I'm from Sacramento Kieth. I know…
• sharward, 2 May 2013I plan to pick up the project again in a matter of weeks, actually. It's depressing to think about (and see every day) how much I did and how hard I worked, only to…
• sharward, 2 May 2013I should point out (for those who care?) that in 2009 and 2010 I was heavily involved in a political campaign to oust our entrenched and well-funded 10-year incumbent…
• Soundman2020, 2 May 2013I am really, really glad to see you back, Sharward! It was actually your thread that inspired me to join up here, all those years ago. I actually spent a few entire days…
• sharward, 17 May 2018Well, believe it or not, it is not done, and the latest photos are pretty indicative of where things have been left. I definitely was consumed with a lot of other…
• Soundman2020, 17 May 2018:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: Woohoo! This is gonna be GREAT! It was actually this very thread that induced (seduced?) me to sign up on the forum, all those years ago. I was…

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• sharward, 29 July 2018Next step is visiting the permit counter at the city building department, and I have already emailed my request for an appointment! But in terms of actual work involved,…
• sharward, 3 August 2018Mission accomplished -- I have a fresh permit! It cost me about $316. They only charged me based on about 40% of the original valuation I estimated since most of the…
• sharward, 25 August 2018Today I officially spent a few hours actually working on the project. :-) (As opposed to taking pictures or pulling a permit) Back on Page 93 , you'll notice I intalled…
• sharward, 27 August 2018I passed the inspection. :-) What's kind of weird is that there were a couple of items that I was advised about tweaking which would need to be done before final…
• sharward, 8 September 2018I wired up all the outlets and switches over the weekend. After throwing the breakers, one of them sparked and tripped, so I definitely have a short circuit. I was…
• sharward, 30 December 2018I'm recovered from my nasty back pain episode and getting ready to resume work on the project. I visited the building department last week to verify my understanding of…
• andy_eade, 6 January 2019:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: YOU’RE BACK!!!! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: I’d been wondering about you good sir. It’s been a while and yet somehow it seems like only yesterday. I…
• sharward, 20 January 2019It ain't much but my friend Jason and I tackled most of the outer leaf OSB today. I'm fighting a cold, so I was not the best and most productive worker today, but I did…
• sharward, 20 January 2019Speaking of doors, I need to make a decision whether or not to stick with my original spec of a 36" wide door or go with 32". My original thought was 36" to support ease…
• sharward, 24 January 2019I ordered the doors today from a local supplier whose price is very close to the one I got from the Los Angeles supplier but the overall cost is cheaper due to not…
• sharward, 26 January 2019I realized that my friend and I made a mistake when installing the OSB. We needed to leave a gap between the concrete base and the bottom edge of the OSB so that…

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• sharward, 29 January 2019I guess I will going forward. I wasn't too concerned about the gaps between boards since the OSB's purpose isn't so much for isolation as it is a surface to receive…
• sharward, 31 January 2019Today I bought some modeling clay and filled the underside of one of the door thresholds. I figured it was a good way to add mass to what would otherwise probably be one…
• sharward, 16 February 2019First door installed, OSB and first layer of drywall on garage side done, and now adding 2nd layer. Gonna work a lot of hours this three day weekend. End of next week…
• sharward, 21 February 2019I've been doing garage side drywall between two and six hours each day for the past six days. Third layer of drywall is going up now so there's not much left there.…
• sharward, 24 March 2019Thanks Steve -- those who are familiar with my earliest fact finding steps in this project know how instrumental you were in keeping me on the right track. Walls are ⅔…
• sharward, 6 May 2019It's been a few weeks, and I took a little time off the project to travel and see some concerts (three Queensryche shows with Fates Warning opening, plus a Fates Warning…
• sharward, 9 May 2019It does -- very "dead" and very quiet inside. However, I try not to get myself too excited by that as we all know it is low end isolation that I am doing this for, and…
• sharward, 26 May 2019Ready to hang boards. Had to do some clean-up and organizing plus some maintenance on the home air conditioner today, but after assembling this thing, there's nothing in…

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• sharward, 14 July 2019The past several weeks have been intense, not studio related though. I did manage to finish OSB installation on the studio side and sealed all of the gaps so it is now…
• sharward, 16 September 2019Nothing too exciting to report other than to say I have resumed hanging drywall and am almost done with the three layers of ceiling. Each layer is is smaller than the…
• sharward, 23 September 2019Facebook invented the "Like" button, and this forum and my build is older than Facebook! The digital camera I used to use back in 2005 was 1.3 megapixels! Anyway, I…
• sharward, 29 October 2019Still plugging away! I gotta get the third layer of drywall on the interior hung (not including tape and mud) before November 13 so I can get my inspection done before…
• sharward, 13 November 2019Guess who passed his drywall fastening inspection today? This guy! One day before my permit was due to expire. Here's a short video if you'd like to see what it looks…
• sharward, 6 December 2019Tape and mud is done. Next stop: sanding, followed by texture, followed by paint! It occurred to me today that everything I am now doing is directly tied to aesthetics.…
• sharward, 11 December 2019I had a bit of a setback. I was so eager to get paint started that I made an attempt to texture one wall as an experiment to see if I was up to the task. In short, I…
• sharward, 18 December 2019Operation "Fix My Terrible Attempt at Texturing The Walls" is going pretty good. My biggest mistake was not overlooking the parts that needed to be sanded down. I sanded…
• sharward, 25 December 2019Merry Christmas all, I textured the fourth wall last night. One wall is sanded. Ceiling will get textured on or after New Year's Day as I will be out of town for a few…
• sharward, 20 January 2020Painting just about done. I just have a bit of touch-up to do on the ceiling. I was hoping the paint was going to make the texture look better, but it doesn't really,…
• sharward, 27 January 2020I didn't start installing flooring this weekend as I had hoped, but I got a pesky chore out of the way -- installing the door thresholds. They are aluminum with ridges…
• sharward, 3 February 2020I seem to have lost my concrete slab. Once the transition pieces, baseboards, and door casings are in place, it's time to beef up those doors and then paint them. I can…
• sharward, 4 February 2020A side benefit of having a separated room with great noise isolation, even if not completely done, is that it affords me the opportunity to be a link in a chain of…

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• sharward, 8 March 2020I scheduled an inspection appointment for Monday! Doors are done! Even the self-closing hinges are adjusted and close and latch the door consistently, as long as the…
• sharward, 10 March 2020We did some "yell tests," and, as expected, the doors appear to be the weakest link in the isolation chain. But the performance is amazing. While standing directly by…
• sharward, 5 April 2020Not much else has happened on the studio lately. The Coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home kinda sucked my desire to work on the acoustic stuff, because I know when it's…
• Gregwor, 5 April 2020I feel ya! I'd actually love to be spending time building my studio but I'm super freaked out about finances. My wife's landlord for her hair salon isn't cutting her a…
• sharward, 19 April 2020So far I have one of my suspended 2x4 rails primed, painted, and installed, and pre-drilled, with five "Toggler" toggle bolts above the ceiling spaced evenly (32" on…
• sharward, 20 April 2020I used 3/8" Toggler anchors ( manufacturer's video ). Each one can safely hold over 150 pounds, so ten of them can hold 3/4 of a ton. The array of screws holding the OSB…
• sharward, 22 April 2020The 2x6 stained wood pieces will be attached to the bottom of the rails, and then I will attach 1x2 (¾" x 1½") painted strips of wood across the tops of and…
• sharward, 2 July 2020It brings me great pleasure to announce... COMPLETION!!! :yahoo: Here is a guided tour of my finished studio . I could not have done it without the support of this…
• sharward, 7 July 2020Hey, not only am I declaring "completion," I'm declaring resounding "success." I can bang on my drums and cymbals with utter abandon, and my wife in the house hears…