Building/equipping a workshop/garage.

[Steve]

Firstly, the paper is wider than the insulation and gets stapled to the wood. That keeps it in place, for the most part, but it will also be covered with OSB (oriented-strand board, the panel seen behind the left end of the ladder). The walls and the ceiling will be paneled with OSB.

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[Grimly]

Right, so it's actually slightly thicker than the cavity is deep, so is effectively lightly pressed into place.
My wall cavity is 6" deep but only needs 4" of insulation (only a workshop, not domestic, so less vital) and these are the kind of thing I need to find locally, but can't get.

http://www.goodwins.ie/p-709-rockwool-flexi-slab-100mm-38kg-12x6m-432sqmpack-6sheets.aspx

The advantage of the semi-rigid batt is it will stay in place and stay up without slumping. There's no shortage of attic insulation locally, but it's loosely-formed stuff with no rigidity to it. Sure, I can just stuff large amounts in and hope it stays there, but it's less than ideal. I've seen too many builders doing exactly that, with unsuitable materials and when I've gone to fit electrics or plumbing later, I can see the shortcuts and bad workmanship the homeowner has paid for, out of sight.

[metalfab]

Looking good. I have been renting a shop to play in. I am getting really tired of paying rent on it.

[ridingtherockies]

my handy lift.jpgThis is perhaps the best tool I've ever bought ! The Handy lift is...... well.... Handy !

[Steve]

This is perhaps the best tool I've ever bought ! The Handy lift is...... well.... Handy !

I have not yet purchased a lift (not quite ready for it), and am open to suggestions.

Any other information/links/etc. on the Handy lift?

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[Vmass]

Aside from the OSB making it a little easier to hang/attach things to, why did you chose it over blue board and plaster?

[Steve]

Pardon the pun, but you nailed it.

Besides, it's a lot easier to "finish". I just plan on tossing some paint on the OSB and calling it "done". If something happens to fall to a wall and put a dent in it, it will be far less noticeable with the OSB than with drywall (blue board). OSB is also just a little bit cheaper per sheet, then factor in that you don't have to mud and tape, it's a lot quicker.

If I were going for a more elegant showplace of a garage, I might have considered drywall, but it's a work place, not a show place.

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[Steve]

OK, it has been a couple weeks of small detail work that does not photograph well, but the last few days have made some more-dramatic changes.

The upstairs room has been the focus, so it can be ready for #2 son when he comes home for #1 son's wedding next weekend. Since other family members are also staying with us, he has volunteered to stay in the garage, so I am concentrating on making it very liveable.

Last week, the room looked like this:


Then I started masking the trusses so I could paint the ceiling:


After painting the ceiling and the end wall:


The stair treads got stained and three coats of clear polyurethane: (the risers will end up being painted white)


The floor got painted a light gray:


All of this trim:


Was put around these windows:


So they ended up looking like this:




A near-perfect match to the windows in the house.

Over the next week or so, the plan is to install the pocket door at the bottom of the stairs, so I can finish panelling the second wall on the stairway. THEN I can get back to working on the downstairs, which will be to finish the insulation, install one more electrical outlet outside, install a motion sensor for the entry light, put up the ceiling, then the walls. Then a coat (or two) of paint, and maybe the ground will have dried out enough for the plumber to come in and do his "thing". Also need to make a decision on which air compressor to get, so I can work on finishing up my 220-volt wiring.

Progress is a bit slower than originally planned, but, dog-gone it, it's getting done RIGHT!

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[cowboyup3371]

Wow Steve, looking great. As I'm actually not working this weekend for the first time in awhile, I'll have to try swinging by to see it in person.

[Steve]

You may end up "looking at it" with a hammer in your hand, but come on by.

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[portdave]

Sweet work Steve. Very nice quality.

[Vmass]

Looks awesome! The neon " OPEN " sign will be hanging out front in no time!

[Steve]

And, in the words of Tom Bodett: "We'll leave the light on for you."

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[Vmass]

A couple of thoughts: It looks like your original plan was to have the bathroom in line with the stairs. Based on the PT bottom plate, it looks like you ended up going a couple of feet wider. So, instead of doing a custom pocket door ( looks like you will need to hang it above the first tread), how about continue the bath wall all the way to the end wall? This would allow you to have a good size closet as well as a door to the upstairs? Keep in mind that I don't have a clear shot of that area in it's current state, so disregard if you are beyond that point.

[Allie]

And, in the words of Tom Bodett: "We'll leave the light on for you."

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I had a counterpoint teacher in college that talked just like Tom Bodett. It's pretty funny having someone who sounds like that explain the intricacies of writing a five voice fugue.