First things first. Back up to late summer of 2010. I needed a place to build my airplane since I live in a small house with an even smaller garage. I know that some have built within their living quarters, but starting a multi-year project with aluminum shavings on the living room carpet is probably not a recipe for domestic tranquility. So I put my project on hold for a year while I constructed my playhouse.
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| Pad cut |
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| Retaining wall underway |
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Building arrives
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| foundation |
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| skeleton |
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| Siding begins |
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| Inside framing for drywall |
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| Electrical |
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| Epoxy floor. Golf shoes :) |
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| Exterior complete |
38' x 50' was the largest building I could fit given the plethora of county imposed restrictions and fees. Experienced builders won't be surprised that the in-officious bunch at the building department were personally offended by the very idea of it.
Anyway, the layout of the building was designed primarily around the idea of building an aircraft. For example, the center post between the front doors can be removed when the doors are up, giving an access of 28' x 12'. It wasn't all sunshine and roses though, the weather tried as hard as the county did to slow my progress. We had a lot of rain and some snow in the winter of 2011. Fortunately, I had help and support along the way. Let's meet the important players:
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| My wife Carolina, ready for the Arctic! |
I'm not sure if we're even allowed to have coats like that in California. And lastly, our dog Roxy.
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| Hapless squirrel hunter and unrequited sheep herder. |
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| It's too cold! "We'll supervise from the house." |
Oh, and this is me:
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| Practicing for my debut as the newest Wallenda |
I didn't do everything, I had a lot of help from contractors: Grading the pad, pouring the concrete, and assembling the building. I also hired out the hanging of drywall and laying a small amount of carpet.
Inside nearly finished, epoxy floor in, and most of the tools ready to go.
