The Trailer 1.2: The Tarps and the Cat

I pulled the galvanized metal roof off the trailer last weekend as we prepare to remove the walls.  There is a construction axiom:  When you pull a roof off it will rain!  ... and it rained.  Hard.  It is monsoon season out here which means afternoon rains anywhere from sprinkles to deluges. 

So the tarps were installed the next day and it rained again last night...hard.  The tarps held.  They are tied off to the trailer with screws and parachute cord.  I actually fastened a couple of edges to the structure with screws and fender washers.  There is an interesting tie off technique I employed...and it is working.  The trailer got damp...but not soaked, so I can get the drywall off the inside in reasonable fashion. without it all crumbling 

I need some hot, dry weather to dry the place out.  Airing it out will help also.  It is an interesting series of smells when water hits materials that had absorbed things inside.  Needless to say it will be good to finish the deconstruction of this 720 SF structure.

The Cat:

Since we bought the place I have noticed two cats prowling the property.  One is a white calico - a neighbors cat - the other a stealthy gray cat.  The gray cat has my attention.  We know each other...as well as we can under the circumstances.  The cat knows I am around.  I have made efforts to let the cat know I am friend not foe.  It is an interesting process getting to know this critter.

Each Wednesday I take a trash can to the street since we are paying for it.  Filled with construction debris it is another means of disposing of debris.  This morning was no different.

Except, when I went to get the trash can from under the garage lean-to I woke the gray cat up.  Smart cat that one...found a warm, sheltered place to crash.  It (don't know the gender of this cat) got up, stretched, looked at me, meowed, and slowly walked toward the fence and disappeared through the sage. 

This cat has been around a while and hangs out at the property.  I know it's around when the magpies start squawking incessently.  They are brutally harassing this feline.  I suspect the cat has taken some of their colleagues out - for good reason.  I would too. 

So the cat becomes another story line here.

Monsoons will bring more afternoon rains...as we head into August it should dry up a little bit.

The Trailer 1.2: The Tarps and the Cat

I pulled the galvanized metal roof off the trailer last weekend as we prepare to remove the walls.  There is a construction axiom:  When you pull a roof off it will rain!  ... and it rained.  Hard.  It is monsoon season out here which means afternoon rains anywhere from sprinkles to deluges. 

So the tarps were installed the next day and it rained again last night...hard.  The tarps held.  They are tied off to the trailer with screws and parachute cord.  I actually fastened a couple of edges to the structure with screws and fender washers.  There is an interesting tie off technique I employed...and it is working.  The trailer got damp...but not soaked, so I can get the drywall off the inside in reasonable fashion. without it all crumbling 

I need some hot, dry weather to dry the place out.  Airing it out will help also.  It is an interesting series of smells when water hits materials that had absorbed things inside.  Needless to say it will be good to finish the deconstruction of this 720 SF structure.

The Cat:

Since we bought the place I have noticed two cats prowling the property.  One is a white calico - a neighbors cat - the other a stealthy gray cat.  The gray cat has my attention.  We know each other...as well as we can under the circumstances.  The cat knows I am around.  I have made efforts to let the cat know I am friend not foe.  It is an interesting process getting to know this critter.

Each Wednesday I take a trash can to the street since we are paying for it.  Filled with construction debris it is another means of disposing of debris.  This morning was no different.

Except, when I went to get the trash can from under the garage lean-to I woke the gray cat up.  Smart cat that one...found a warm, sheltered place to crash.  It (don't know the gender of this cat) got up, stretched, looked at me, meowed, and slowly walked toward the fence and disappeared through the sage. 

This cat has been around a while and hangs out at the property.  I know it's around when the magpies start squawking incessently.  They are brutally harassing this feline.  I suspect the cat has taken some of their colleagues out - for good reason.  I would too. 

So the cat becomes another story line here.

Monsoons will bring more afternoon rains...as we head into August it should dry up a little bit.

The Trailer 1.1: The Dumpster Cometh

Last weekend saw the first load go to the landfill in the back of the truck.  Unfortunately I was not able to recycle the carpet or pad up here and a load of trim complete with nails, staples and screws was included in the trip - 420 pounds worth.

Upon my return to my de-construction task I proceeded to remove the bathroom, utility room and kitchen.  I uncovered some moldy areas in the bathroom, a stash of golf balls, a wiffle ball a pink barbie comb and some old dog food under the kitchen cabinets.  I have salvaged a few cabinets for the garage work area.  The granite tile kitchen counter required my 5lb framing mallet, and both my demo crowbars saw action.

At the completion of Saturday's effort I realized the amount of material I had generated had exceeded the capacity of the back of the truck several times over and the time had come...an alternative disposal method is now required...THE DUMPSTER.  It will be delivered Friday morning - a 30 yarder.

In the meantime I will begin taking the stove, furnace, bathtub and water heater to the recyler.  And...by the way...per a discussion with my local electrical provider I can also get credit for recycling the refrigerator.  I believe I get a rebate / utility credit and can get a few sheckles for it when I hand it to the recycling agent...will report.

For those that have never uncovered a mobile home structure I submit the photo below of the minimally engineered roof...amazing the thing has lasted for 38+ years actually.

The Trailer 1.1: The Dumpster Cometh

Last weekend saw the first load go to the landfill in the back of the truck.  Unfortunately I was not able to recycle the carpet or pad up here and a load of trim complete with nails, staples and screws was included in the trip - 420 pounds worth.

Upon my return to my de-construction task I proceeded to remove the bathroom, utility room and kitchen.  I uncovered some moldy areas in the bathroom, a stash of golf balls, a wiffle ball a pink barbie comb and some old dog food under the kitchen cabinets.  I have salvaged a few cabinets for the garage work area.  The granite tile kitchen counter required my 5lb framing mallet, and both my demo crowbars saw action.

At the completion of Saturday's effort I realized the amount of material I had generated had exceeded the capacity of the back of the truck several times over and the time had come...an alternative disposal method is now required...THE DUMPSTER.  It will be delivered Friday morning - a 30 yarder.

In the meantime I will begin taking the stove, furnace, bathtub and water heater to the recyler.  And...by the way...per a discussion with my local electrical provider I can also get credit for recycling the refrigerator.  I believe I get a rebate / utility credit and can get a few sheckles for it when I hand it to the recycling agent...will report.

For those that have never uncovered a mobile home structure I submit the photo below of the minimally engineered roof...amazing the thing has lasted for 38+ years actually.

6th Street: The Trailer 1.0

I have committed to removing a 12' x 60' (720 SF) single wide from the property we now own here in Eagle.  There are several ways to remove a trailer:
1.  D-9 Demo (A two pass run with the blade of a D-9)...fast;
2.  I could hire a trailer company to pull the skirt,
     set new tires on the frame, and haul it to the landfill -
     costs money, totally negates embodied energy and
     recycle potential;
3.   Sell it - or as a colleague in Cincinnatti suggested,
      put a "free trailer" sign on it and let someone else do
      the work (pretty good idea actually); or,
4.   De-construct and re-cycle.

I have chosen option 4, primarily because there are two steel beams on the undercarriage that I want and can re-use in the architectural work planned for the cabin and elsewhere on the site.

Admittedly there have been several unsolicited offers to rent the trailer.  It was in decent shape until I got my sawzall out over the last few weeks.  However, the siting of the trailer is in the way of what we want to do.

In looking at the site and wandering it - as I regularly do in contemplation with a fermented beverage in hand - I realized there is a space on the site that will be opened up with the trailer gone that will be very cool under the canopy of a very nice tree on the North side of the lot.  So the trailer is going to be dis-assembled.

I am investigating recycle options as I have a structure that weighs - as nearly as I can calculate - around 10,400 pounds.  I want to find all the recycling options I can...and up here in Eagle there are limited options I am finding.

METALS:  I can recycle all metals.  So electric cable, siding, screws, hardware, are all going to be re-cycled. 

DRYWALL:  I can't find a reasonably close facility to take drywall.  I called the drywall plant in gypsum.  They won't take the used stuff because they are concerned about product contamination.  The drywall appears destined for the landfill.

CARPET:  Nobody up here recycles carpet.  I am trying to find a place in Denver and have not been able to do so.  This material my wind up in the landfill.

INSULATION:  Cannot find a recycler for this material.

WOOD:  Cannot find a recycler for this material.  One problem is getting all the nails, screws and staples out of the material I am removing.  It is a time factor.

WINDOWS:  Removed and delivered to Habitat Re-Store.

APPLIANCES:  The refrigerator got powerwashed out, is sitting in the garage with four boxes of baking soda attempting to mitigate the powerful odor from the appliance.  Will attempt to get it re-cycled by the local utility.  The stove falls under the "METALS" re-cycling category as does the furnace and miscellaneous items. Will track the weight.

CABINETS:  Re-used in the Architect's garage.

So...as I work on this I am logging the materials I am removing, where they are going and approximately how much based on the eye of the architect.

More data to follow.

CG

6th Street: The Trailer 1.0

I have committed to removing a 12' x 60' (720 SF) single wide from the property we now own here in Eagle.  There are several ways to remove a trailer:
1.  D-9 Demo (A two pass run with the blade of a D-9)...fast;
2.  I could hire a trailer company to pull the skirt,
     set new tires on the frame, and haul it to the landfill -
     costs money, totally negates embodied energy and
     recycle potential;
3.   Sell it - or as a colleague in Cincinnatti suggested,
      put a "free trailer" sign on it and let someone else do
      the work (pretty good idea actually); or,
4.   De-construct and re-cycle.

I have chosen option 4, primarily because there are two steel beams on the undercarriage that I want and can re-use in the architectural work planned for the cabin and elsewhere on the site.

Admittedly there have been several unsolicited offers to rent the trailer.  It was in decent shape until I got my sawzall out over the last few weeks.  However, the siting of the trailer is in the way of what we want to do.

In looking at the site and wandering it - as I regularly do in contemplation with a fermented beverage in hand - I realized there is a space on the site that will be opened up with the trailer gone that will be very cool under the canopy of a very nice tree on the North side of the lot.  So the trailer is going to be dis-assembled.

I am investigating recycle options as I have a structure that weighs - as nearly as I can calculate - around 10,400 pounds.  I want to find all the recycling options I can...and up here in Eagle there are limited options I am finding.

METALS:  I can recycle all metals.  So electric cable, siding, screws, hardware, are all going to be re-cycled. 

DRYWALL:  I can't find a reasonably close facility to take drywall.  I called the drywall plant in gypsum.  They won't take the used stuff because they are concerned about product contamination.  The drywall appears destined for the landfill.

CARPET:  Nobody up here recycles carpet.  I am trying to find a place in Denver and have not been able to do so.  This material my wind up in the landfill.

INSULATION:  Cannot find a recycler for this material.

WOOD:  Cannot find a recycler for this material.  One problem is getting all the nails, screws and staples out of the material I am removing.  It is a time factor.

WINDOWS:  Removed and delivered to Habitat Re-Store.

APPLIANCES:  The refrigerator got powerwashed out, is sitting in the garage with four boxes of baking soda attempting to mitigate the powerful odor from the appliance.  Will attempt to get it re-cycled by the local utility.  The stove falls under the "METALS" re-cycling category as does the furnace and miscellaneous items. Will track the weight.

CABINETS:  Re-used in the Architect's garage.

So...as I work on this I am logging the materials I am removing, where they are going and approximately how much based on the eye of the architect.

More data to follow.

CG

Project Start: 6th Street

This spring my wife and I bought a lot.  For a new home.  With a cabin on it.  And with a single wide mobile home on it.  We started a project.

This project adventure started when a series of events culminated with my wife spotting the lot, we both watched it, walked it multiple times, drove by it multiple times and evaluated it against a whole series of criteria because we were looking at other lots at the time.  Criteria included site development costs (tap fees, construction of utilities, etc.), cost of the site, design review fees and criteria, and whether we liked the site.  All said and done we made an offer, it was accepted, we patiently pursued a somewhat circuitous route to the finish and here we are.

Once we closed on the lot we were unable to do anything with the mobile home until we got title, which meant it sat without any work until the title paperwork got cleared.  This is a circa 1974 +/- structure with no HUD credentials.  That means it was not certified by HUD and means there is very little demand for a structure like this on any mobile home park because of 1) age; and, 2) no HUD plate. It is 12' wide x 60' long (720 SF).  Two bedrooms, one bath, a kitchen / living space, and a small utility space for a washer/dryer. 

The cabin was built, we think, around 1947.  It is approximately 750 SF as I have measured it.  One bedroom, one bath, kitchen, utility space, and living area.  It has a log veneer with interior framing, un-insulated floors, minimally insulated walls, insulation in the attic and a crawl space below the kitchen with the water heater, furnace, and main water shutoff.

The site is in Eagle, Colorado.  It consists of a very cool corner in old Eagle platted in 1907, four lots.

There have been numerous discussions about how to use the site, what we want to do, best use of the site, views, and, of course, costs of construction.

One of my personal goals is to be a good steward of the resources available to us.  This includes being responsible stewards of the resources that come with the site including previously constructed materials existent on site, trees and landscaping, energy resources and financial resources.  So we are dealing with issues such as embodied energy, re-cycling of materials, de-construction, re-use of materials. and a focus on minimizing energy consumption.  We will get technical.

So we begin, with this post,  a story of the creation of a residence for an architect and his wife, a place of work, play, rest, good food, and space for friends to stay and enjoy and relax.  It is the story of design, development, thoughts and strategies, and ultimately the final form.  

Post 1 of .....

CG

Project Start: 6th Street

This spring my wife and I bought a lot.  For a new home.  With a cabin on it.  And with a single wide mobile home on it.  We started a project.

This project adventure started when a series of events culminated with my wife spotting the lot, we both watched it, walked it multiple times, drove by it multiple times and evaluated it against a whole series of criteria because we were looking at other lots at the time.  Criteria included site development costs (tap fees, construction of utilities, etc.), cost of the site, design review fees and criteria, and whether we liked the site.  All said and done we made an offer, it was accepted, we patiently pursued a somewhat circuitous route to the finish and here we are.

Once we closed on the lot we were unable to do anything with the mobile home until we got title, which meant it sat without any work until the title paperwork got cleared.  This is a circa 1974 +/- structure with no HUD credentials.  That means it was not certified by HUD and means there is very little demand for a structure like this on any mobile home park because of 1) age; and, 2) no HUD plate. It is 12' wide x 60' long (720 SF).  Two bedrooms, one bath, a kitchen / living space, and a small utility space for a washer/dryer. 

The cabin was built, we think, around 1947.  It is approximately 750 SF as I have measured it.  One bedroom, one bath, kitchen, utility space, and living area.  It has a log veneer with interior framing, un-insulated floors, minimally insulated walls, insulation in the attic and a crawl space below the kitchen with the water heater, furnace, and main water shutoff.

The site is in Eagle, Colorado.  It consists of a very cool corner in old Eagle platted in 1907, four lots.

There have been numerous discussions about how to use the site, what we want to do, best use of the site, views, and, of course, costs of construction.

One of my personal goals is to be a good steward of the resources available to us.  This includes being responsible stewards of the resources that come with the site including previously constructed materials existent on site, trees and landscaping, energy resources and financial resources.  So we are dealing with issues such as embodied energy, re-cycling of materials, de-construction, re-use of materials. and a focus on minimizing energy consumption.  We will get technical.

So we begin, with this post,  a story of the creation of a residence for an architect and his wife, a place of work, play, rest, good food, and space for friends to stay and enjoy and relax.  It is the story of design, development, thoughts and strategies, and ultimately the final form.  

Post 1 of .....

CG