CaptainJ
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# Posted: 8 May 2011 06:47pm
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Well I just spent the last 10 days down at the cabin trying (in between rain storms) to get a number of projects done, Including, gutters, downspouts, rain water collection system, outside shower, outside composting privy, steps down to fire pit area, cut some firewood from deadfalls and general grounds cleanup. I'll attach some pics of what I got done.
First was the gutters and downspouts. Installed gutters down both sides and output one into three barrels. I lucked out on the gutters, the lumber yard, had Brown gutters on sale for $10 per 10' section, VS $23 normal price. Seems they were overstocked on brown, which is what I wanted anyway. Two of the barrels are typical 'blue' barrels I got for $10 each and a third commercial rain barrel I found at a garage sale for $13. Had to build a platform for them, from 2X10's and cement blocks after creating a mostly level gravel bed to put the on. The hose valves cost me almost as much as the barrels, but one good rain and I had 140 gallons of rain water as all filled quickly.
The outside shower, is built on a base of recycled 2X6's, and some some wood from the 'cull bin' at Home Depot, the floor is decking planks that were 4' long and the sides are some leftover T1-11 I had in my garage from a shed I built at home. I made the floor extend beyond the enclosure, so that I had a place to put my Zodi portable water heater and the 5 gal bucket(s), I use to hold the water supply.
The steps are again mostly recycled lumber, except the actual step treads, which again came from the 'cull bin' at Home Depot, or $1 each. Someone had them cut the standard 4' treads to 3' and then didn't buy them. So I saved about $3.50 for each tread.
A friend of mine in the printing business talked his boss out of four shipping skids to use at home for a project but never got it done. He mentioned he was going to throw them away! My response was 'Throw them in the back of my truck!" They're 3'X4' with oak planking and 6"X8" oak runners under them. One can be seen beside my temporary firewood rack. Another became the base for my new privy. I still have to finish the front and make a door, but the basic structure got done in one day (again between rain showers). The main cost there was 4 sheets of T1-11 siding, one sheet of CDX 1/2 roof, some 6' cull 2/4's and a couple of new 2/4's and firing strips to use as trim. I still need to paint it and finish the roof also, but the basic structure is done. Inside is a wood box, made from scrap 2x2's and plywood, I've still got to cut the hole in the top, for the bucket below and attach a toilet seat, I got from the sale rack at K-mart for $5.
Seems I'm getting good as scrounging and I seem to haunt the sale and clearance racks when I go to hardware, used furniture, and slow down for garage and yard sales these days, looking for good deals on anything I might be able to use.
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