NW side of Mount Misery near Beech Mtn, NC. Gusts to 50mph, near constant15mph. Highs in the teens. Snow and ice. 15 degree incline.
Owners want house to generate rental income asap and as well as interior upfit in progress want now to add a 340 sq ft addition.
Whadyathink?
Would you start an addition under the above conditions?
Replies
I would likely tell them it was niether safe nor practical to start under those conditions, then depending on how much of a premium they were offering to pay, I might think about it. Frankly from the ecomonic standpoint, I think the premium (for all the trades) would be more than the extra few months rent. I could foresee some problems with the excavation and the concrete pour that would need to be looked at in advance.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Two words.....
Time...
and materials.
Ok, that's 3, but you get the idea. Make sure the deal works for you. It appears you don't have the experience working in the cold and windy conditions a crew from Wisconson might, and I am with you! I know it would take me longer.....if you suggest a T&M range, based on what you expect it might take, and they balk at the price, then you could suggest they wait.Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
I recently started framing three townhouses in Michigan on lakefront property and the conditions here on the lake are highs in the teens gusty winds and lots of snow everyday. I realized the other day while sheathing the roof by myself that I probably am going to end up on the losing side of the financial end of the deal. I would wait if I had the choice. No matter how long and hard you work something with the weather always comes back to haunt you, between my airlines for my framing guns freezing every 20 minutes, scraping ice and snow from joists,plates,floor and roof decks, and trying to find your materials under six inches of fresh snow its a losing battle.
Edited 12/18/2005 7:34 pm ET by Stilletto
I really appreciate the feedback and am hoping for more
"No matter how long and hard you work something with the weather always comes back to haunt you, between my airlines for my framing guns freezing every 20 minutes,"What hoses are you using? Have you ever heard of "Flexeel" air hoses before. They are great. I never had then freeze yet and they have worked in 5° wheather. They're worth every penny.http://www.tools-plus.com/coipfe40504t.htmlJoe Carola
Joe:
I have Flexeel hoses but didn't know they were supposed to be less likely to freeze. Why is that that they are less likely to freeze? We don't get a lot of daytime below freezing temps, I'm just curious.
All: Another unadvertised benefit of Flexeele is they they don't get so muddy - sounds strange huh? Actually I think what happens is that the material they are made of is such that the mud doesn't stick, so it immediately flakes off as soon as it dries. Either that, or maybe when you re-pressurize the hose the mud flakes off - not sure - but I know they are much less messy than, say a blue - cheepie hose.
Edited 12/19/2005 7:18 am ET by Matt
matt... the hoses don't freeze... do you have a line-dryer on your outlet ?
if you can keep the water out of your hoses, you shouldn't have a problem Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Hey Mike: I have line dryers but don't find the need to use them. Normally just draining the tank on a regular basis is enough. Remember though that I mainly just do punch work, though it may be a bit heavier than most construction manager types would do.
on an exposed framing site... you move so much air thru the tank that just draining it won't keep the moisture out of the lines..
the extremely low humidity in winter helps, but a line dryer can save a lot of frustration..
getting ready for the big drive to NC for Christmas week...sounds like a coin toss for the eastern route or the western route thru the mountainsMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Thanks again. It gets better. Everything from cement to paint has to be hand carried from the road downhill approximately 100 ft.
Mike,I would go West if I were you (I assume you mean 81).Stay away from I95.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Split the difference and use rt 29. I went to Ashville and back over turkey day and 81 was awful, many 30 mph stretches. The big trucks have just about taken 81 over completely and seem to love their 30 mph, 20 mile long drag races.
Oh and to stay on thread throw a few 16d's in your pocket : )
now you know why they call it mount "misery". And what about this "beech" mountain. Is there suppose to be a sandy beach somewhere?
Sounds like a typical ridgetop site in windy southern Wyoming! :-) If you don't frame here in the wind, it never gets framed.
A big word of warning, not about the many safety issues, but about the time it takes. Putting on a roof can easily take twice as long if the conditions are bad. Some days it's three times or worse. Bid it wrong and you'll be in deep doodoo. It's not uncommon to bid all materials and most labor, but seperate out the tasks that are the most effected by wind and those are cost plus.
As a carpenter, working safely is mostly a matter of staying upwind of sheet goods and having good footing. Caution translates into everything slowing down.
Forget about Tyvek until the day siding is going on, or plan on replacing it regularly as it shreds easily in the wind. Caulking the edges of osb keeps out water surprisingly well. There are high-tech roofing "paper" that holds up to high winds well. It's funny rolling the stuff out in 2' increments and peppering it with green caps, but it works well.
An addition wouldn't be bad since you'll have a spot close by to get warmed up.
If your ground is already frozen, stacking straw bales where you want to dig will thaw the ground, or rather the ground thaws itself, but not overnight. At the end of a long day, restacking straw is one of the all time worst jobs a carpenter can pull.
Overall it's a young man's job, and I'll pass thank you. :-)
Don