Author Archives: Thor

This was a project beyond my skill level, but I was willing, even eager, to use it as an excuse to acquire some woodworking tools for my workshop. And I committed to the materials by ordering hardwood maple treads and … Continue reading →

Having beautiful plans for how something is going to be does not really acknowledge how things actually are. In order to “get there from here” requires that the existing stairway be stripped back to its basic elements. The carpet must … Continue reading →

Most of the remodeling and renovation has been completed at This Odd House, but there remained a few more, less urgent, projects still to be done. The next one up was to revitalize the stairway leading from the main floor … Continue reading →

I had intended to document the construction of my replacement garage, but really only got as far as describing the plans and fighting city hall.  There are a number of topics that I started writing about, but somehow never completed, including “The … Continue reading →

I previously described the preparation of molds for creating castings from molten iron.  On an early day in August (coincidentally my birthday), we returned to Franconia to watch the iron smelters and artists process the raw metal through a furnace and pour it into … Continue reading →

The demolition of the garage had forced a few actions. The surplus refrigerator being stored there had to find a new home. And the three cast iron radiators had to go somewhere too. I couldn’t see them going to a … Continue reading →

The pressing issue is now identifying exactly the location of the garage foundation and walls. The original plan, approved after several rounds of review, called for the walls being set back 3-feet from the lot line. This seemed like a … Continue reading →

I reported that it took three guys, two dumpsters, and two days to demolish a garage. I erred. It takes three dumpsters. When the truck arrived to haul away the second dumpster, its lift was unable to load it onto … Continue reading →

I now know what it takes to demolish and remove a garage: three strong guys, two days, two dumpsters. The garage/workshop project began in earnest this week and the first order of business was to remove the existing structure. A … Continue reading →

The designer/contractor I have been working with put the latest plans together, included the recommendations from the structural engineer, and submitted them again to the city. The garage ceiling was now at 10-feet, zero-inches (depending on where you measured it … Continue reading →