FINISHED IN 2020! Sharward's Partial Garage Conversion

Post by **sharward** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:29 pm

saki wrote:So you don't recomment Visio? Whatever you're doing with it is producing great results. Do you have any other programs in mind that would be better?

Thanks 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.

Man, you are going full board with the isolated slab. What made you decide to do that? If you're garage was detached and say at least 20 feet away from any other building would you still need to isolate the slab?

Back on June 12, 2005, I posted my isolated slab plan. I believe that post will answer your "why" question.

As for your situation, I really don't know if you need to go to that extent. In many cases, neither isolated nor or floated slab is necessary.

I see you've started your own thread -- which is good. I'm sure you'll get some good advice there for your project.

Post by **sharward** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:20 am

A 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 make a stronger case for its repair, if it becomes necessary.

Jen had her first day back at work and she did OK. She's a bit uncomfortable but is OK overall.

knightfly · Post by **knightfly** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 6:46 pm

Man, have I been 'way too busy for too long - completely missed your accident post

- I'm glad Jen's on the mend, know what that's like. When Ann got "T-Boned" last year, she had 3" wide blood blisters everywhere her seat belt contacted. Took several months before they weren't visible any more

Not my recommended way of getting out of a car payment...

Good luck on the settlement outcome... Steve

BTW, Dream Theater ROCKS... (but never in the same time signature for more than a few bars

)

Stick · Post by **Stick** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:58 am

Been out of the loop myself... sorry to hear about Jen.

Lookin' good Keith.

Post by **sharward** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:46 am

Jen 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.

And yes, Dream Theater DOES rock!

I just bought tickets for the San Francisco show on their 20th anniversary tour!

Man, I love hijacking my own thread!

Post by **sharward** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 12:26 pm

I 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 won't know until Monday though.

Yeah... Monday... Twelve days after the accident.

She's doing pretty well, by the way, physically speaking. She's still very, very upset about the car -- anxiously waiting for "the answer" whether or not the car is fixable.

len-morgan · Post by **len-morgan** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:23 pm

I don't understand why salvaging the car is so important. Perhaps I missed something earlier that explained it. Does it have some sentimental value or does fixing rather than replacing involve different amounts of money from the insurance company?

I'm sorry to ask this here but the only dealings I've ever had with the insurance company in 30 years of driving is paying the premium.

len

Post by **sharward** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:38 am

First 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 quite attached to the car -- it's the first new car she's ever owned. We bought it five years ago after her previous car was totaled in a virtually identical rear-end collision at a traffic light. She picked it. We even did a dealer trade to get her favorite color. At the time she was still in pain from the accident, so it was all about making her happy. She deserved it.

Today, it's a low-mileage "creampuff" of a car. It's paid for, free and clear now. It has (hopefully) lots of life left.

If the car ends up being a total loss, we will probably purchase a new car (or a very gently used near-new car), using the property damage settlement (based on its "fair market value" prior to being wrecked) as a hefty down payment... But in that case, we'd be making payments for the remainder. She knows the studio project is costing a lot of money and would rather we not take on another payment... Especially just six months after our purchasing a new car for me six months ago.

I spoke with the body shop manager today -- he's pretty confident they're not going to find any latent damage. If he's right, then our insurance company will probably approve the repairs. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the news on Monday will be good.

Len, you're lucky you've never had this happen to you. Even when everything works out perfectly, it's still a burden. Ask anyone who's had it happen to them, and they'll tell you it's no picnic... Especially when injuries are involved.

Stick · Post by **Stick** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:57 pm

Yeah, it's a pain in the neck. Pun intended!

I was in a multi-car chain reaction wreck on PCH near Malibu and ended up totalling a great '91 Acura Integra. I still miss that car. Rental cars, insurance agents, blah blah blah blah, etc etc. No fun all around.

len-morgan · Post by **len-morgan** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:14 pm

Sentimental reasons is a very good reason to try and save it. I can also understand not wanting to take on another payment while the studio is in progress. I'm fast approaching the $30K mark (I haven't looked at or added up the invoices in a month or two - too afraid!)

At least I'm doing it on a debit card and not a credit card so when I'm done, I won't owe anybody anything!

len

Post by **sharward** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:42 am

Good 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 equity line!

Hey Stick -- I once owned an '90 Integra. I bought it new and owned it for 4 years and put 94K miles on it during that time. Great car!

Post by **sharward** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:56 am

For 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!

This makes Mrs. Sharward very happy... And having a very happy Mrs. Sharward makes Mr. Sharward very happy!

The body shop representative said she's seen an insurance company authorize a repair after it was "quick-spec'd" as a total loss only once before in her nine years with the company. This was very rare. We're very lucky! (Aside from her not being seriously injured, of course!)

I can't take credit for making this happen -- the numbers actually spoke for themselves. All I might have done is nudge the process along and maybe shaved a day or two off the time line.

Unfortunately, it will take at least three weeks for the repairs to be completed. They won't have the pieces-parts until the end of the week. This will put us over the 30 day car rental limit, so we'll have to go after the insurance company of the dolt that hit us for the remainder. But that shouldn't be a problem -- just another line item in the demand letter we're preparing.

--Keith

P.S.:

Post by **sharward** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:38 am

Well 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 rapid heart rate and chest pain. It was (thankfully) not a heart attack, but rather, something called Atrial fibrillation. Medication appears to have calmed things down. He's being discharged today, with I'm sure a solid treatment plan.

In other news, the used body parts for my wife's car came in and look good, so repairs are officially underway.

2006 hasn't exactly started off very well for us... Has it?

andy_eade · Post by **andy_eade** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:12 am

Sorry to hear that Keith... hang in there bud.. these things are sent to test us.

My prayers are with your father in law (and Mrs Sharwards car also)

Dan Fitzpatrick · Post by **Dan Fitzpatrick** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 5:22 am

Wow that is very scary Keith ... glad it wasn't a heart attack.