Build Blog - New Home in Michigan

DirecTV SWiM Switch Installation

2010-12-06T21:20:00.000-05:00

Check out my recent DirecTV Splitter installation by clicking here: DirecTV SWiM Splitter Install

Upgrading the Master Bath

2010-07-12T23:12:00.000-04:00

Kohler Fluence Bypass Door - Matte Nickle. I don't do shower curtains. The only exception was A) College Living B) directly after I moved into this house. Both were a fleeting experience that I will not miss. Above is the installation result of my toils on last Friday evening. I had ordered this particular door setup from HomeDepot.com, but in the two weeks it took for the freight company

My Lawn is Dead

2010-07-09T14:05:00.001-04:00

Backyard, Post 4th of July Heat. Backyard/Sideyard, Post 4th of July Heat. I certainly don't have a green thumb, but the sod that I bought last year is officially looking the roughest it has since it was installed. Let's get a little run down here: 1) The back yard (seen in picture 1) has been brown before -- but I was able to resuscitate it with a ton of watering. 2) We left town for 4

Harbor Freight Trailer Build

2010-06-29T12:17:00.000-04:00

The Toy-Hauler... Harbor Freight's Folding 4x8 Utility Trailer. Sunken wheel chock for the motorcycle, folds away for towing other goodies. Painted the 23/32 Plywood Deck with Valspar's Non-Skid Porch Paint. Pre-Mixed with silica for a non-skid surface. Disclaimer: It's pretty much been ages since I've posted on here. Mostly because work situations have changed, the house really is pretty

New Faucet Installation - Touch 2o Technology

2010-03-25T20:30:00.000-04:00

The 'contractor-grade' faucet - which was leaking and poorly installed. Original faucet removed, hard-water stains cleaned from the granite. Faucet stem installed. Finished installation with the control handle and the spigot installed. Wide-angle of the final product. Last weekend, after living in the new house for about 6 months-- the faucet started squeaking and grinding as we turned it back

Finished Product: SV650 Slip-On Project

2010-03-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

The results of the Slip-On exhaust installation videos. This is what it looks like with a little dirt on it... Final installation 'Sound' video.

Anyone need a DIY Cable Show Host??

2010-03-05T09:34:00.001-05:00

Is Summer Here Yet?

2010-02-22T11:14:00.000-05:00

The new commuter bike! I might find a way to have some fun with it too... From the front. I sold my last motorcycle to buy the house. It's that simple, I've been riding now for 3 summers and I was really bummed when I had to let the previous motorcycle go. Fortunately, I was able to find a little bit 'less' bike for a whole lot cheaper -- which enabled me to get at least -something- to ride

Work Area Finished

2010-02-03T21:34:00.001-05:00

Work surface covered with plywood, lower shelf finished. Goodies organized on the lower shelf.

Work Bench

2010-02-01T09:01:00.002-05:00

The Top - Face Laminated 2x4 lumber with 2x6 trim around the outside edge. Assembling the top with the lower unit. Finished with assembly. Plywood shelf has not yet been cut to fit the bottom platform. It took me 3 months to 'build' this bench... not in actual assembly time, but time between when the project was conceived to when it actually came to fruition. I broke my hand about 2 days

Laundry!

2010-01-10T13:03:00.002-05:00

The dryer (left) and washer (right) delivered on Saturday afternoon. My plan when I moved in last year was to wait until the new year (and my tax return) to get the laundry room finished. My mind was already made up on front-loading machines for their inherent water efficiency and low-energy design, but i just didn't have the money to spend on them from day one. On a random trip to the

New Year - New Toys

2010-01-04T22:14:00.000-05:00

Toro PowerClear - CCR 3650 GTS I confess that I hated moving snow as a kid. We lived in the snowbelt of Michigan and while my brother and I scooped shovel after shovel, my dad was always using our big John Deer 2-Stage to clean up the driveways. When we finally got old enough to run the snow blower, it wasn't as much fun as I expected... but it was a hell of a lot easier than shoveling.

Building Deck Stairs in December!

2009-12-07T19:14:00.001-05:00

Cutting out the stringers from a piece of 2x12x10. Stringers cut, rough visualization of the steps. Assembly begins, 4x4 supports, 5/8 deck material for steps. All treated lumber. Finished product in the garage... It was a lot warmer to build inside! Digging out the foundation for the steps. Laying and leveling the blocks to ensure proper alignment with the walk-out door. Better

Settling into the House

2009-11-15T18:13:00.003-05:00

The kitchen, most everything is done here. Living Room is still in flux, I'm trying do find a layout I like. This is how it's setup right now! The master bedroom is a work in progress... I haven't bought or setup anything. Most of the first floor looks pretty much the way I like. I've got the kitchen setup quite nicely and the living room is at least functional. You kind of

SPECIAL EDITION: Adding A Dog to the Mix

2009-11-10T12:28:00.000-05:00

6-month old Husky/German Shepherd Mix. House. Check. Yard. Check. Grass. Check. Anyone who knows me knows that I've wanted to get a dog for quite a while. My family back in Gaylord got a 'pound-puppy' when I was in middle school and we all loved him. When that one passed, I was away at college and it was a huge bummer-- no one to greet you when you came home with a bag of laundry and a

DirecTV Installation - Part 2

2009-11-02T00:02:00.002-05:00

Dish installed on my previously mounted 4x4 post. Close-up of the mount on the post. Two struts to steady the dish were used at the top. Wiring job, needs a little clean-up work still. Also, note the 'ground' wire which the installer attached to the water spigot. A company named 'Multiband' came out on Friday morning to install the dish and run the wires. To their credit, they

DirecTV Installation - Part 1

2009-10-29T23:22:00.002-04:00

The midnight satellite post-mount installation. (DirecTV wants 100 dollars to do this... Ridiculous). Hand dug a 2' 6" deep hole (with a garden trowel-- so as not to interrupt any unknown utility lines). Mixed quick-setting 'Quickrete' in a 5 gallon bucket. Leveled and tamped the concrete and post. Final product (post is nice and level). Little PVC finishing cap from

Landscaping and Sod Installed

2009-10-27T13:22:00.006-04:00

Front shrub-garden with flowering tree and a few perennials.Close-up of the shrubs at the front entry.Pulled-back, look from the road. Trees mandated by the city are up in front.The backyard, covered in sod (it took 16 pallets to complete).Side-yard and the little shrub-garden on the left side of the garage (click to enlarge!).

Finished Product

2009-09-30T22:24:00.005-04:00

The finished product from the outside.The kitchen, sans appliances-- completed.Livingroom and Fireplace with carpet installed.Looking through the dining room into the living room.

Wood Floors Installed

2009-09-21T21:31:00.004-04:00

Front of the house, Porch pillars installed. (Door and Pillars waiting for paint)The kitchen is a High-Traffic area...Hardwoods stained and first-coat of urethane applied.

Race to the Finish

2009-09-19T19:01:00.004-04:00

Final grade filled-- front yard. Also, porch and walkpath poured.Dining room light fixture installed... waiting for Compact Fluorescents.Backyard from the corner of the property line (blue wood post).Air conditioning unit installed.Furnace (also 'Comfort Maker') and the ridiculously high-efficiency Water heater (50gal).

Granite Counters Installed

2009-09-15T17:08:00.000-04:00

Counters installed, Under-mount stainless steel sink, Delta faucet fixtures.Overview with the counters installed.Another angle (see a little more color/texture on the stone).Master vanity with double bowl sink, Delta fixtures.Close-up for texture and color.

Fireplace and Mantle, Obligatory Outside Shot!

2009-09-14T22:12:00.000-04:00

Another shot of the front, 20 days to completion.Fireplace and Mantle finished. Impressed with the work around the fireplace... Color needs some work.

Siding, Tile, Cabinets

2009-09-05T21:54:00.000-04:00

Front of the house, siding and trim completed.Siding from the corner.Siding from the back of the house.Full kitchen (refrigerator and pantry on opposite wall).Fireplace and tile work begin.

Garage Doors, Cabinets, and More!

2009-09-01T22:25:00.001-04:00

New Garage Door installed.Cabinets being installed.Cabinets prior to installation, waiting in the crates.Cabinet color close-up.Banister and trim installed.