My man cave build - UK edition

[recycled sixtie]

Yes well done Mr and Mrs Ahab. Everything you have done is in keeping with the surrounding area. The bricks and stones do not stand out but your workmanship and the Mrs. and the builder's does. Congrats and have a great new year. You all deserve it!

[URY914]

Can't wait to see this completed. Great work.

[ckelly78z]

Congrats on your steady progress thus far, and may you keep the drive towards the finish in focus.

Happy Holidaze !

[jyl]

So impressive. I'm so happy to see the materials and worksmanship. Not green 2x4 and Hardie board.

I think its more of a "man hangar".

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Thanks gents, first update for 2019, plenty more to follow

Not getting much time on the build in the evenings but Mrs Ahab and our builder are making good progress

Mrs Ahab deserves a special mention, her 'side project' is shaping up very nicely, when she's not running the house hold she has built/concreted steps up to the garden next to the shed and extended the garden wall



To make the most of my building time on weekends Mrs Ahab has turned her hand to roofing too, cementing in the gable end tiles. So impressed with how straight/even the tiles are, really finishes of this end of the house





Our builder has been working on the stone work for the garage rear extension which adds much needed extra length to the garage space. Believe it or not this part is the only part of the house build that extends beyond the foot print of our original garage foot print



This weekend Mrs Ahab and myself tiled half of the front roof, 1500 tiles in 3 hrs, my Iphone health monitor measured 71 stories, 6500 steps, it didn't account for me having 5kgs of tiles in each hand while walking up the ladder Tiling isn't tiring but sure stretches the muscles.



We worked on the rear too and I also spent some tile trimming up the fascia boards to match the profile of the stone wall

[Sooner or later]

Mrs Ahab is a whale of a builder.

[astrochex]

More stellar work! I still cannot quite apprehend the scope of effort here, its really tremendous.

Are those skylights a nod to modernity?

[oldE]

My curiosity is getting the better of me.
The rafters look like 3x8 are they oak?
The battens to hold the tiles look like 2x3 are they hardwood?
How are the tiles attached? Are there a couple of holes in the top end to take galvanized nails or screws?
In '01 I came across a building site in Helmsley in which the structure had been taken down to the top of the ground floor wall and they had built upon that. Construction with rafters to a ridge pole has given way to trusses in NA and I have never seen tiles applied.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Best
Les

[rfuerst911sc]

Some really great work going on there I am really looking forward to pics of the completed building .

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Some really great work going on there I am really looking forward to pics of the completed building .

I bet the Ahabs are also looking forward to that day.

[911 Rod]

Wow. I think we should start calling you Noha.

[cairns]

I believe this is the most wonderful thread ever posted here. I follow it regularly. Fantastic work!

[daepp]

Yes - such a GREAT thread, made even more so by the team you and Mrs Ahab have created with one another. It's truly inspiring.

FWIW, I think she deserves Wife of the Year award to go with the Best Pelican Build Thread Award!!

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Sooner or later, Mrs Ahab is not a large lady but pound for pound she would give a Leaf Cutter Ant a run for it's money

thanks, rfuerst911sc

Les, roof joists are softwood, C24 premium pressure treated structural grade, tile battens are small, only 3/4" x 1.5" pressure treated softwood,
Using plain concrete 6.5" x 10.5" tiles which have 2 fixing holes and two hanging nibs underneath, using aluminium nails every few courses
Tiles are all reclaimed, from the garage demolition and buying lots up cheap over the years. Total cost for approx. 6000 tiles must be no more than $500

911Rod, thanks, I've been called worse before

cairns, wow, not sure how to reply other than thank you
If you're enjoying it now you'll really enjoy what I've got planned for my man cave fitting out but this is quite away off. Unlike when we bought our house this time around I've promised Mrs Ahab the garage work will be done after the internal house work is complete

daepp, thanks and agree Mrs Ahab deserves Wife of the Year award

Making good progress on the roof despite only doing a bit each evening under floodlight/head torch. Noisy jobs stop at 9pm, quiet lifting/moving work goes on until I hear the village church clock chiming 11pm

In 1.5hrs I can move 638 or 1406lbs/638kgs of tiles in batches of a dozen up onto the scaffolding, my Iphone measured 6000 steps, 51 floors and 2.5 miles/4km

Not as strenuous as the stone chopping/moving but a very pleasant work out after a day sat in an office

[Captain Ahab Jr]

astrochex, sorry missed your question about skylights, not a nod to modernity but a subtle way of adding light without changing the profile of the roof to being sympathetic to the 'conservation area' planning restrictions

Was really hoping to post pictures of a fully finished roof

Wasn't from a lack of trying, spent every spare minute working nights and weekends in the rain, strong winds, snow and in the dark. Even took a day off work last Fri., made good progress but not quite there yet.

Old roof meets new roof, to blend the new roof into the old I used lots of plywood spacers to try and add some curvature to the tile battens as each roof is slightly misaligned to each other. New modern, lightweight breathable roofing membrane on the right, old 70's, heavy, reinforced bitumen on the left



Our builder finished off the rear dormer window stonework, as the rear took shape I wished we'd designed in 2 dormer's but just the one has worked out very well. It is almost halfway between our rear extension with it's pitched roof and the end wall of our new build. Really has added some height above the driveway

Also a good lookout for spotting if our rear defenses have been breached by marauding neighbors



Yesterday in the wind and rain we has a 'topping out' moment, the fitment of the first roof ridge tile, rightly deserved the honors of cementing it on had to go to Mrs Ahab We endured the weather to do about half of the ridge tiles too.



Rear is now water tight (ignoring the 2 roof light holes ) and nearly fully battened, just got the dormer to do and replace a few broken battens I snapped while climbing up and down. I also trimmed up and fitted the tiles around the garage roof light.

I have one small slight tiling problem, I mean challenge to sort it's in full view if you can find it



The front is pretty much done, doesn't look too bad considering I tiled most of it in the dark with only a head torch for illumination. Only have the bottom 2 courses to finish but need to fit the fascia boards and rainwater guttering first



Today was spent trimming the end tiles and fitting the lead soaker's up to the old house. These allow the rain water to drain down the roof and not soak into the wall. They will be covered by another single piece additional heavier weight lead flashing.



Got plenty of night jobs planned this week but snow is forecast so I may have to get a bit creative with my job list

[Sooner or later]

An update!

[911 Rod]

Nice work!
Will you spray something on the new tiles to promote moss growth? Or clean of the old ones? Or say F##k it a leave them as is?

[Captain Ahab Jr]

thanks 911 Rod, tiles are quite dirty so will be left as is, a winter or 2 and they'll also look like they have broccoli growing out of them too.

Read somewhere strings of copper wire across the roof help to keep the moss growth down but have never been bothered enough to try it

[Captain Ahab Jr]

No building action this week

Tried working one evening but froze my hands, couldn't feel my fingers until I went for the rapid defrost under a cold tap and gradually warming the water up, the pain was excruciating



Not polar vortex cold but plenty cold for me, weather didn't stop weekend progress, front fascia boards all done and some more tiling on the rear

[tevake]

Dang so close to getting all closed in before the snow came. Realize how many here are pulling for you and the Mrs. Capt.
It's been such a great ride you have taken us on with your project.

I was looking at the steps and walkway, then those amazing walls. And started to think how contrasting to your F1 work, both skillful. This very demanding phisically.

This will last for generations, the F1 work tho very exacting, eclipsed in a year or two.

A real legacy you two have created.

Cheers Richard