The Master of the Stairs

And just like that, the stairs are almost done. Went to work yesterday and within 30 minutes had figured out the right sequence and process for installing the treads. I finished 7 treads in 1 day, matching my total from the previous 5 days effort. Crazy isn't it, but that's the way it goes.  I will continue making the woodpile disappear and all other materials that are on job site. My nightmare has ended and it's on to easier and faster jobs. I  wish I had figured it out sooner, because I did so much better a job on the last 7.  They really are a piece of art, but I will always still harbor a small grudge against them, can't wait to get a finish on them.  Playing the Low Gap Cafe tonight and having a lot of family and friends come by. Should be a blast,  were gonna go get some swimming in at Steele Creek before setting up. I'll post pics of the completed stairs later. The next month will be Roger's wood shop at the house, it's all stuff I'm good at, but there is a lot to do. Still, this is the fun stuff, everything I do completes something, and I get to create things from thin air. Victory is MINE!!!!!! Later, Filled up Hollohead

The Evil Stairs

Enough of the negativity, full steam ahead, 1-2-3 steps a day, whatever it takes, I can do this. I still hate the stairs, but they are standing in the way of progress and I will not quit until they are done. Oh yea, they are very beautiful. My next project will be the oven cabinet in the kitchen and the huge valance that goes over the cooktop cabinets. Then I  will install the rest of the window trims and the ext. door trims. After that it's time to install all finish plumbing and electrical lights and fans. I will finish all of the projects that we already have material for and then get busy on what's left, which should be kitchen cabinets and septic system. Oh yes, can't forget the interior doors, which should be a pretty tough project, but easier than the stairs. And of course the awesome room cherry paneling is still left. It appears that the stairs and paneling will have been the hardest woodwork to do, and I wish I had an easier way, but some things just are a bitch. My estimate is about a month of hard work to complete all these items, and then another month to finish up. That would put us at mid July to put an end to this adventure, just in time for vacation on the beach. After the stairs I should be in a zone on woodworking and really kick ass the rest of the way. Later, The Hollohead

Strange New World

I was reviewing posts from the blog from last year, and wow what a difference in the weather. Last year the creek did not dry up until late july and started running again in late august. In late may temps were in the 60s during the day and daily showers were playing hell on my framing. Oh well, you take things as they come and we are very lucky. Went to the bank today and was shocked to find out how bad things are, not for us, but for this once great nation. It's so sad to see a total collapse of our system and the ones that are paying the price are not the ones responsible for this mess. We will of course move on, but it is very disheartening to realize how bad things are. Tough year so far, no rain, the river dry, lots of bad news, it makes me that much more appreciative of how we are so blessed. I hope things are good for everyone reading this. Daughter Whitney is here for several days and we just love having her here, Matt always misses his sisters and Jordan should be home from Japan middle of july. I am hoping she can get here for a visit soon after. Party on Garth, The Hollohead

Nine Kinds of Stair Hell

I have met my nemesis, it's name is stairs. 15 months of hard work creating this place, and nothing has come close to the difficulty of these stairs. Measure 10 time, prefit 3 times, everything looks perfect, install the stair tread and it is not 7-5/8s high it measured 10 times in a row, it is now 7-1/2". The project is way down the list of hardest jobs I have ever done, yet it over and over has defeated my best efforts. 4 days of work=6 treads, I have stepped back and come at it from different perspectives and new plans, only to be slapped around. For once in my career, I don't have an answer, I have come to hate these stairs and even though they look awesome, will forever hate them. I made the initial mistake in laying the stairs out in framing, and this has compounded into adding height to every tread that incrementally is reduced on each tread. We installed 800 sf of flooring in 4 days, we installed most of the roofing in 4 days, I did all of the window trims so far in 2 days, and so on and so on. I have made more rookie mistakes on these stairs than  my entire 14 years owning a cabinet and countertop shop doing precise work. Math is not math, level is not level, exact is not exact. The most expensive and rare material I have ever worked with, and I have mis-cut repeatedly, this wood is irreplaceable. I have hated each and every second working on these stairs, and it wears me out thinking about the next at least 4 days I have to complete them. But complete them I must to go on to the next step, which now seems light years away. They may end up being one of the most awesome features of the house, but I will never forget this maddening time building them, and I will never enjoy them. I wish I felt better after this rant, but I have at least 4 days and 9 kinds of hell still to go. This too shall pass. Later, Hollow and Vacuous Head!!!!!!!!!!xzcfdbvtsvcdhfk