A Project of a Different Sort - 1924 Brick Schoolhouse Needing Attention.

[RxR Sawdust Station]

I wasn't sure where to put this so I'll put it here and see if it gets moved ?

It's more construction than it is "Woodworking", so to speak.

As mentioned in my introduction post, I intended to drop a Shed-to-Shop building.  I still do plan to do that but a few things have prevented getting it done up to this point in time.

This is a tour of the 1924 Brick Schoolhouse I live in (it's on my brother's property - 19 acres in Mid-Missouri West).  This first pictures are how I received it after my niece moved out.  Note the painting up on the loft partition wall.

First [copied from introduction thread] "when a neighbor saw my niece rehabbing the place she gave this painting to my niece.  It is an old painting done a long time ago by that neighbors Aunt.  That well head is still on the property, although the concrete pad is different now...the pad is larger than what is in the painting.  That tree is still there, too!"

The plaque I mentioned in my introduction thread is posted here.

Next are the pictures when I first walked in to take up residence here, from the foyer (4 foot wide pocket door to right in first image. *it was dragging at this time* *also note the gaps in between the ceiling panel and the trim. I tried to nail it down from the top and it won't nail down. I think I'm going to have to move the trim up that distance*  These next pictures are clockwise from the first image.

She had a huge island built.  My plans are to reduce its size while leaving an overhang like a dine-at counter.  Also, this is where I'd like to put the kitchen sink.  *that refrigerator went to my brothers house*

This is where the kitchen sink is now, staring at a solid wall.  Also, you can see here the damaged lath & stucco.  When I first saw the place, before the work had even started on it, I thought it would make a great feature to retain to tell the history of the schoolhouse.  I'm still leaning in that direction.  I just can't figure out how best to stabilize it.  And, that's also the reason I plan to build stand-alone kitchen cabinets and not rely on this wall to hang the uppers from.  Back in the shadowed area, behind the refrigerator is a 2x4 sort of ladder that was used to access the loft.  Nothing wrong in a pinch but, the rungs were spaced widely apart for some reason. 

Next is what was once a "Cloak Room" that is now the bathroom.  The shelves you see are original to the structure.  I'd like to move that sink to the wall with the window (it will fit there as far as height) and restore the original shelving.  There is at least one board I found being used as a shelf that I know came from the bathroom shelving to the left as you enter enter the bathroom.  In this doorway you also see the remains of the second 4 foot pocket door.  It was ruined and beyond use.  I want to rebuild it and reinstall it.  The original is outside here I can use a pattern.

Note there the shelving on the right.  It's original.  Also note, my niece bathed and didn't shower.  There is no shower curtain.  I have to get a shower curtain of some sort up there.  I really want to make a bentwood shower curtain rod.  We'll see.

Next is the wall behind the refrigerator, in the partitioned area used by my niece's son, a young person.  That shelve is the one I found that came from the bathroom.

My niece's son's bunk bed and better shows the loft access.  That service panel and its conduits for it will be boxed in at some point.

This is the antique I mentioned with the bottom trimmed off.  It was on the other side of the blue luan you see in the previous picture and used as a partition.

I tried my best to remove it without damaging it BUT, there were two screws that was attaching it to the loft support post and both were nailed over.

Next is where my niece had her commercial sized propane range.  But, this really just to show you the damaged lath & stucco wall that I'd really like to keep as a feature but it may not be feasible.  That rectangular opening is the chimney clean-out.

Note there that the electrical conduit that was installed must have been installed before the exhaust hood was mounted as it is exterior to the chase which also prevented the installed of the upper section of the chase.  I had the conduit moved to within the chase and will install the upper portion when I can.

Going back to the foyer doorway, the 4 foot pocket door.  This is from the inside look out toward the foyer and the front door.

Then where I removed the trim to figure out what was going on that was causing it to drag across the floor when trying to open or close it.

All it took was turning one adjustment screw on the trolley setup.  I did have to take it apart this far to fully see what exactly was happening.  I still have the trim off until I can figure out how to better stabilize the track that's deep in the wall.  *It 'may' have to wait until I decide to remove the lath & stucco to access it better*

This is looking up at the loft standing next to the refrigerator.

Then the other end of the loft where the Modified Ship's Ladder went.  The front of the wall and this end was covered by the remaining portions of the original 1924 tin ceiling that was painted blue.  Oh, the chalk writing on this was what remained of the original tongue and groove flooring.  It is also used as the flooring in the loft.

This handrail was one of the salvageable original flooring joists.  Super heavy per foot.  I was surprised how heavy this small section was when I cut it out so the Modified Ship's Ladder.

This was also about the time I realized the conduit was in the way of properly installing the ship's ladder.

Next is when I first started trying to figure out how to fit the Modified Ship's Ladder, brainstorming and prototyping, working out the angles and dimension.

That white board was laying around here when I moved it.  It's what was used at the ceiling trim.  It came in handy as a prototyping material.  Those markings on it are my lines working out the angles where it would connect with the landing and the angle of the treads.  Those screw holes is where I did have short 2x4 scraps screwed to it to see how the rise and run was going to work out.  That is the base structure that is the landing.

Then where I'm at now.  The wood the lower stringer is attached to is the cut-off end of that antique door.  It's the reason I thought about not painting the assembly.  But, I'm fairly certain I'm going to paint the rest of it because I can see now that it could get pretty dirty.  I want to make it easy to clean if one was so inclined.

The above is probably not what you were expecting as a "Project".  But, before I can get to the actual "woodworking" projects I have a few really important things to complete around here before those projects can get started.

This, bellow, is one of those things.  Those gaps in the ceiling panels in previous images along with what you see here are the those things.  The insulation they put in is 15 inch batt insulation in 24 inch bays ?.  Also note the daylight coming in to the attic.  That's NOT supposed to be like that! ? The fascia is rotted away or missing entirely.  AND, I have plans to put a Air Conditioning Heat Pump in here, the "cassette" type.  The only good place I can think to install one is in the center of the main space, so I have to get that done before I can insulate UNLESS I spray foam the underside of the roof, which I am contemplating.  I was watching Guildbrook Farm's video yesterday which made me aware of a MrCool product that might work here as well.  It's the MrCool Universal 2 & 3 Ton DIY Central AC & Heat Pump Split System with 35 Feet Precharged Quick Connect Lineset.

That's it for now.

:wave:,

RR

Edited November 2, 2020 by RxR Sawdust Station

[RxR Sawdust Station]

Wonky Delivery! ?

I started on the window insulation trim and this task jumped up on the priority list.  I realize it isn't much but, I have to keep the landlord happy ?.

A while back, when I first started getting deliveries here, it was suggested I devise a way that my deliveries arrive at my domicile and not the main house.  I threw something together.  It's lasted more than a year even though nothing about it was protected.  This one is different.  One thing is the same, they were both made from horribly disfigured wood.  This sign board (3/4" plywood) is badly warped.  The 1x2 trim is even worse.  In the pictures I tried to show these two pieces of trim but the form of each doesn't really come across in pictures.  Well, the one is obvious.  The other is less so but it has huge hunks removed from it...like forklift fork damage.

I painted all sides on this material, the edge of the plywood and trim after gluing.  At least two coats.  Oh, that #Rockler #MixingMate has been on that can of paint for 6+ months and it has maintained a viable product - the paint is still good.  A few minutes spinning the built-in mixing blade and it looked as good as it did when it was new.  This was a test of the product.  It has passed the test thus far.  I would certainly purchase another one if (when) the need arises.

I still have to mount the board then adhere the poster board (that plastic sign material they use for political signs and such - not sure what it is called).

The first image is where the old sign was (and where my brother's address is posted that I edited out), a tree where the driveway forks.

The material and the MixingMate.  Then the wonky trim.  Then the wonky trim cut to length and glued and pin nailed in place.

Then laying out the letters and adhering them in place.

I haven't decided how I'm going to attach the poster board (for lack of another term), but I think I'm going to use a few dabs of silicone sealant in case it needs to be replaced...which I don't anticipate.  Even though the materials used here were less than desirable in most situations, this assemblage is 100% improved over the first one! ?

I used tape tabs on the edge of the poster board for a test fit and still be able to remove it.  I want to mount the new sign board to the tree, then attach the poster board to it.  *if and when I find a manufactured arrow I'll replace this electric tape arrow I made*

Make it a great week, folks!

On a final note; I'm organizing a material buy and transportation of the fascia wood and thinking about buying a "Bakers Scaffold" for working on the ceiling trim (IF I can find an amazing deal on Craigslist or Facebook (IF I remain on FB, that is! ? )) (unless I can come up with some other way in between that time).

?,

RR

 

[RxR Sawdust Station]

Well, this is done.  I can move on to the other non-woodworking tasks that need done around here ? ?.

I left the lifting tabs on it because I haven't adhered the sign to the sign board.  I have multiple tube of adhesives here but none are opened tubes.  I don't want to open a tube just for 3 or 4 dabs of adhesive.  I'll try and pick up a small squeeze tube of something.  I do have an open squeeze tube of Shoe Goo I'm thinking about trying.  I think it would work in this instance.

I found some 12" red arrows I'm thinking about using.  That's the direction I'm now leaning toward.

?,

RR

[Coop]

This is a really neat project. Good luck and continue to keep us posted. 

[RxR Sawdust Station]

2 hours ago, Coop said:

This is a really neat project. Good luck and continue to keep us posted. 

Thanks, Coop...that's nice of you to say!  I certainly will, thank you!

?,

RR

[Bushwacked]

this will be awesome to watch as you keep working through things in there! 

[RxR Sawdust Station]

On 11/11/2020 at 1:24 PM, Bushwacked said:

this will be awesome to watch as you keep working through things in there! 

Thanks, Bushwacked!