Completing the Waste Lines and Log Siding Installation

On Monday we had our crew stop by and get started on the log siding on the garage.  We are having them install the sofit and siding on the front and rear of the garage only because the peak of the roof is high enough that we didn't feel comfortable working that high on scaffolding out side.  The important thing to remember when installing this type of siding is that everything begins with the corners. If they are installed correctly everything else goes smoothly.  This crew had never installed real tongue and groove log siding before so there was a little bit of a learning curve but once they got the hang of it everything moved right along.

It took a couple days to get this far, only because of the weather.  It can get windy up here in the mountains and when you combine the wind with a good rain shower that can cut your work day short.

With the scaffolding removed you can see the plan for the front of the garage.  The center section will be sided with vertical tongue and groove.   1 x 6 trim material will then be added in an "X" pattern along wrought iron hardware to simulate an old barn door.  We will also add a ramp that goes up to the door when we get to the landscaping.  This will make the front of the garage much more interesting and will make a much better presentation when viewed from the street.

After the front was complete the crew moved on to the rear.  The siding on the sides of the garage we will do ourselves but that is a project for another day.

While the crew was busy outside we completed the waste lines in the crawl space.  Doing your own plumbing is not terribly difficult but there are basic rules you need to follow.  The main rule is that waste lines are most efficient when sloped at 1/4" drop for each foot of run.  Anything more or less and solid material may not be transported to the septic system without eventually clogging the lines.  This slope is not as important when dealing with lines that won't carry solids but if possible and to keep things simple maintaining 1/4" per foot drop works best.

In our area of the country black ABS plastic pipe is commonly used for waste lines.  Care should always be taken when gluing any waste lines together because a leaking waste line can cause health problems not to mention the odor.  Always and I do mean always use the cleaner on both sides before applying the glue.   Failure to do so WILL result in leaks.  Trust me, been there done that.

In our case most of the vent lines are 2" or 3".  All toilets are 3" lines and once they migrate to the crawl space all lines are hooked to the main 4" line that eventually makes it's way to the septic tank.  Here you see the 4" line that goes through the foundation wall to the septic system and the main 4" line from the house.  We installed a clean out, for the septic line here and we have another clean out at the far end of the main house line.   Installing clean-outs is a requirement in most areas and for good reason.  If the line is ever clogged a plumber can open the clean-out and use a snake to clear the line much easier than trying to do it through a toilet or some other drain.

That's it for another week.  We also energized the pantry, utility room, and refrigerator electrical circuits this week and installed our main garage door opener.  Next week we'll be completing the sheet rock in the utility room, only sheet rock in the house, and we'll install the water heater and get started on the water supply lines and the "boss" will continue with her tongue and groove mission.

Check back Soon