Elf Cottage interior build/renovation

[PcHistorian]

quick peek of the latest (and last) set of cabinet doors, mounted hinge centered to take advantage of the mirrors.




I'm just now considering hinging upward the area where the two doors hinge, in case I'm not small enough to look in the mirrors as they are, attached to the wall. I will be able to tip them upward to see myself with. (pictures to follow...)

[PcHistorian]

Ok, the WORST part of the ceiling vents seemed to be the ends, so I tackled them first.

3 pics to fill the space.
1. Trial chunk of "hardwood flooring scrap" to "cap" the end vent.


2. Sizes/dimensions


3. Solution pieces, 4 to make (2 for each end) and attach, with the cap pieces.


Then just 3 fans to complete the vent system for one end. (1 fan draws in air at the top to the interior, 2 fans to draw out air at the soffits (both of these exhaust fans will probably be operated at the same time to move air from inside out the soffit. probably not the same time as the interior draw fan though. ) Time to start tearing apart old computer power supplies.
:-)

[PcHistorian]

While working on the ceiling I noticed light coming through at the ridge line...

So,...
I looked closely to see WTF and that's what I see.

Finishing nails to hold DOWN the ridge cap shingles. (not wiggling loose and penetrating up, but pounded down through the upper/outer surface...

So, to remedy that... All roof exterior is 50/50 oil based poly and mineral spirits to seal along with tar based roofing caulking to the ridge line and to the finishing nail(s) holes.

[PcHistorian]

This should clear up a lot about what I am going to do with the ventilation system.









If it is too cold inside, I'll bring in air from the sunny sides. If it is too hot inside, I'll intake from the shady side.
The register can be closed, too.

[PcHistorian]

this is where a duplicate message was.

[PcHistorian]

As far as the ceiling ventilation system goes, I'm going to follow Bonnie's lead and make a cardboard ductwork, then from there I'll decide whether to go to paneling or to just poly the cardboard.

in the mean time I wanted to get some things out of the way.
first thing was the window framing.
:-)

(CLICK ON PICTURE TO EXPAND)

Note the red stained, chip board behind the paneling. What you will see on the right side is indicative of the other 3 sides. (yes, that's 12v wiring all over the place.)





I was surprised at how "untrue" the chip board was from the original builder. So I sanded it true. Where the red is missing is what got sanded. (I did not restain.)





I had 3 pieces of 1/4 round and I liked this one the best. :-) I did shim the paneling some in spots to level it with the trim.




so window is trimmed, first phase.
I am considering one other piece of trim, a 1" x 1/4" trim piece on the paneling face to frame it, once more.

final phase for that is the window dressing.
options include drapes, pull down ratchet blind, horizontal blinds.
I think I'll go with the drapes and horizontal blinds...
Ceiling goes in first, so I can put the window dressing hardware safely in the "wall meets ceiling" corner, out of the way.
I am planning on putting as much interior hardware as I can in the corners to keep from "braining" myself on them, or at least minimizing the damage to me.

[PcHistorian]

quick blurb on my build page.

I'm trying to bring my build page, pictures and build documentaries up to date.

Big break through coming, the completion of the air and water routing in the ceiling area.

those are the two biggies going on.
some littlies like hitch wiring re-routing, and awning work. mail box. flag pole base.

other biggie left is the sink area. (fold down sink.)
I do have the "faucet piece" which is really a garden hose "Y" with two valves. But it will do. :-)
(must be garden elves in the elf cottage. :-)

[PcHistorian]

Sorry about the double on the window trim install. I'll delete the first post as soon as I figure out how.

Well, I have been making sawdust. (here's the proof. ;-)


this is a progress report mostly.
Here's a before picture to start it. This is the raw interior as I got it.


And here it is up to date around the walls and a spot look at the ceiling duct work.





Yes, some carpet trimming is due, for the vertical cabinet door posts. I may cut the posts though, since they are screwed to the wall anyway.

This shot shows the ceiling duct board(s) but the register is yet to be installed in them. (fore and aft.)

More on the ventilation and those updates in the next post.

These next shots are of the exterior doors, and they are going to get paneled. The door triangle braces are going to get paneled, or sanded, and painted, or stained and poly.



then here's a view from a bit away.


lastly, here are some of the ceiling interior panels. square for the center, triangular for the corners.

[PcHistorian]

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[PcHistorian]

Ok, I did get the ceiling peak heat/cool ventilation fans and duct installed. I still have the ends roof/ceiling interior surfaces to install, although the side/middle (fore-aft) interior ceiling pieces are basically installed. The guides for them are too long at this point. I have to cut them shorter for the panels to slide in and out. First item for storage in behind them is installed though. A removable hanger bar, like for cars to have a pole across side to side in the back seat of the car. I have it stored until needed inside of the Elf Cottage. Stores on broom clips I was going to use for the portable battery holder.

Because I want to use the ceiling compartments for heating water and air, I decided to put the portable 12v power supply in the forward left side closet top shelf, along with the medium sized 12v motorcycle battery. These will be there until I get the tongue box built and installed for a full sized deep cycle battery power.

I do have pictures for some of this, but I have to post them yet. maybe later today.
:-)

[S. Heisley]

Your build is definitely a unique and interesting one. I suspect that the previous owner put those nails in the shingles because shingles are known to fly off in heavy winds, not unlike going down the highway at, I shall say, 60 MPH. Do you know how much your build currently weighs?
- - - - -

To get rid of your duplicate postings, I would simply click edit (upper right corner) and then replace the repeated post with "Duplicate deleted." Or, you could ask one of the administrators to delete the duplicates for you.

We're watching, even when we don't say much.

[PcHistorian]

the original weight was 780 pounds, empty. now I'm adding in cabinet doors but I am also cutting out the wall (wood, octagon shaped openings) to make the cabinets. so I am betting that I'm still pretty close to the 800 lbs mark.

I am wondering if I should delete the postings that I did not continue to follow in the build, or to leave them as "well I thought about this or that and then went in another direction."

As far as my photo album here goes, I tried to cut things down to chronological order and no duplications. so the only picture duplicates are from the clarity of a specific post's completeness, even though I know it might confuse the flow as a whole. (so I try to keep it to a minimum.)

There is always the specific "Documentary" page on google (see my signature) but all of that is pretty much hind sight, documentary, for the "NEXT ONE I BUILD." The "work out the problems as I go," are here.

[bonnie]

Good to see your progress! I left my older posts in my build thread and have had the same thoughts about deleting them. Maybe after I finish. Don't know.

[S. Heisley]

That is a surprisingly light-weight trailer. It must not be as big as it looks.

As far as whether to leave certain entries or not, if it might help someone or give them an idea, I'd say leave it.

[WhitneyK]

Good progress, it just takes an amazing amount of time on the "custom" builds. It was usually 3 steps forward and 2 steps back for me. Build it the way my mind thinks is should be done, then rebuild a section so that it works.

If I build another one, it will be made of cardboard, because it always works out better on paper.