One of them days.: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 15, 2009 1:36 a.m. Spinout007 Reader

Sp a week or so ago my wife slipped on the steps going up to our house. It's an older mobile home that is up on stilts with the area underneath enclosed as a shop. So I decided to do something about it this morning. Got out the tools, and got down to work, I had already bought the wood to replace the stringers on the steps yesterday on the way home from work. I get the stringers cut, put them into position, and climb up the outside of the porch to secure the tops of the stringers so I can start putting the steps on, I take one step into the middle of our front porch and I could feel the porch shifting I goto make a step for the front door, and next thing I know EVERYTHING is coming down! I mean The whole freaking porch, with me standing on it, TIMBER, as I'm saying OH S$#%$#% in my head, roll with impact and cover my head when I hit the ground. Ended up being covered in old lumber with rusty nails everywhere, (my grandfather built the porch 20 some odd years ago) Anyway it's off to the store to get some more lumber/bulding ties/hangers. get home and now I've gotta figure out how to put a porch 10 foot or so in the air! After 12 hours of work, I've got a partially completed set of stairs that will get us up and down for the moment.

And the fall friggin split the crotch out of my favorite pair of work on cars, yard, backup paintball pants. needless to say I'm kinda floating from the pain meds I've taken tonight combined with the scalding hot shower. /rant's over

Later all
Nov. 15, 2009 3:45 a.m. Appleseed Dork

At least you didn't get a rusty nail in the eye. Those suck.
Nov. 15, 2009 6:03 a.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

Must be something going around about porches. In the last two months, we've had lotsa rain, and both my front and rear porches are suffering from it. They are both painted, but the constant moisture is relentless.. it's just a matter of time now before, uh.. (nail in eye.. deafening scream, etc.).

Keep us aprised; I'll be right behind you. Thankfully, I have lots of old lumber in the yard.. and some paint, and water seal, nails, etc. It will definitely be a grassroots build.
Nov. 15, 2009 8:02 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork

My side steps get hammered every year by ice & snow falling off the 2nd story roof. After replacing them twice I went for mono-crete steps. It's a one piece hollow concrete steps affair that they set up with a boom crane. Costs about the same as doing wood.

Dan

http://www.monocrete.com/
Nov. 15, 2009 9:49 a.m. Spinout007 Reader

Looks like it would work great for "normal" houses, but this far in the air it seems like it would take up a TON of space and I'm not going to think about the money part.
Nov. 15, 2009 10:45 a.m. integraguy HalfDork

About 2 years ago I painted (actually, repainted to a "nicer" color) my folks front porch. My folks wanted the front porch done in a color other than the grey it was so it would look cleaner. The pale green I used looks wonderful when it's IMMACULATE, all other times it looks dirty. Anyway, my dad is bugging me last year to paint the ceiling on his front porch. He's 88 years old, and I'm afraid if I don't paint it, he will do it or seriously injure himself trying. I put it off and put it off, because it actually looks pretty good. It looks like it's varnished or lightly stained....he says it hasn't ever been painted.

To finish this story, they just sold the house. I thank God I didn't have to paint the ceiling of that porch. Floors and walls, I can paint....ceilings, I don't care to paint unless absolutely necessary.
Nov. 16, 2009 6:16 a.m. GameboyRMH UltraDork

Spinout007 wrote: It's an older mobile home that is up on stilts with the area underneath enclosed as a shop.

You know you need to post pics of this grassrootstastic house right? Before & After pics if possible