FINALLY!! The saga begins

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 8:34 pm

Not that it matters, but an update none the less...

Well at last, the studio build looks like it should start in ernest within the month.

The surveyors called Friday of last week to let me know that the survey is complete. 3 sets of drawings and the CAD file is on it's way as of TOMORROW!!

Once they arrive I'm off to the health department to get the site selection/approval for the septic.

WHAT A PROCESS!! It's been 2 months waiting for the surveyor to get done... and I only had to get the survey done since the Health Dept engineer could find 1 friggin' stake!

Oh well, it's almost footin' diggin' time! Thank goodness cool weather's comming... should make the diggin a bit easier to deal with.

Max

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:16 pm

OT - I see you're in Graham. I lived in Greensboro from '86-'94. I worked in Elon College for about half that time (ECII - was REGO back then). I remember when we first moved down there, whenever I would lose my way driving around Burlington I'd end up in Graham.

My wife and I decided pretty quickly that "All roads lead to Graham."

Best of luck with the Studio project.

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 7:33 am

MadMax wrote:

Not that it matters, but an update none the less...

Well at last, the studio build looks like it should start in ernest within the month.

The surveyors called Friday of last week to let me know that the survey is complete. 3 sets of drawings and the CAD file is on it's way as of TOMORROW!!

Once they arrive I'm off to the health department to get the site selection/approval for the septic.

WHAT A PROCESS!! It's been 2 months waiting for the surveyor to get done... and I only had to get the survey done since the Health Dept engineer could find 1 friggin' stake!

Oh well, it's almost footin' diggin' time! Thank goodness cool weather's comming... should make the diggin a bit easier to deal with.

Max

Studio Build Diary with Piccies or it didn't happen! Smile

Paul

Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:40 pm

zemlin wrote:

OT - <snippage>My wife and I decided pretty quickly that "All roads lead to Graham."

Best of luck with the Studio project.

Yeah, it seems like it anyway... or at least to the Graham Theater... $5.00 seats, $.99 popcorn and cokes with FREE refills!

Heck, that's almost a draw for the studio itself!... then there's Pulcinella's down the street, Sal's in Burlington and the new Hersey's BBQ just up the road from the house! (Killer good pig, man!) Hersey's is kind of a cross between Lexington and Bullock's.

It's not too sweet, but not all cayenne/Texas Pete either. A smooth smoked flavor without being too overwhelming like Goldsboro or Memphis style. If you get down this way, you owe it to yourself (and your wife) to stop by there. If you do, you gotta try the key-lime and the Banana Puddin'!... awe shit... now I'm droolin' on the keyboard!

... anybody got a towel?

Thanks for the wishes! We'll need em!

Max

Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:44 pm

Paul Woodlock wrote:

Studio Build Diary with Piccies or it didn't happen! Smile

Paul

I'll do it Paul!

I just snagged a Fuji S2 from the shop to play with for a few weeks. I'll start grabbin' a few shots once the weather breaks, (remnants of Ivan the Terrible) and post em' on my site.

Take it easy!

Max

Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 8:38 pm

MadMax wrote:

Paul Woodlock wrote:

Studio Build Diary with Piccies or it didn't happen! Smile

Paul

I'll do it Paul!

I just snagged a Fuji S2 from the shop to play with for a few weeks. I'll start grabbin' a few shots once the weather breaks, (remnants of Ivan the Terrible) and post em' on my site.

Take it easy!

Max

Cool!

My advice would be to keep a studio diary on this forum.

I started my Studio Build Diary in order to give back to the group at Studio tips. But I soon realised it was good therapy for myself. You see before I started the diary, I used to go to bed and not sleep for ages becuase I had studio build crap constantly whirring around in my head. Soon after I started the diary I realised I was sleeping much better. Because I'd offloaded a brain full of the day's events onto the diary

And the more studio build diaries the better I say!! You see acoustics/studio design forums are full of people asking and answering questions on design matters, and that's great. But then people get their solution and go away, usually never to be heard of again.

We rarely get to to read about what actually happens in practise. i.e What happened during the build, and how well the build worked when it was finished.

My diary has clocked up over 17,000 hits to date, which proves there's a need for this kind of info.

It only takes 20mins to half hour a day to do the diary, and it's a great investment in sleep quality and time Smile

Paul

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 6:15 am

MadMax wrote:

It's not too sweet, but not all cayenne/Texas Pete either.

Carolina Bar-B-Que is something I never took to while I was there. There's a story I could tell about that (I smuggled some sauce from Illinois to NC & it was a BIG hit) - but it doesn't belong in this thread. Wink

Looking forward to pictures of your studio!

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:22 pm

How many different ways can YOU spell delay? Evil or Very Mad

Got the drawings from the Surveyor over to the county health dept. SEVERAL weeks ago... STILL no answer!

ARRRRRRRRRGH!!!

At any rate...

Anyone got a "formula" or name for the studio build diary? Should I post it here in Acoustics & Design?

Just waiting....

...and waiting...

...and waiting.

Max

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 6:20 am

Hey Max,

I think you have already started the diary right here, and the original title of the thread is more than Ok.

Good luck,
Sam

Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 6:07 am

Well, it seems that Sam's comment stands. With everyones approval, (e.g. no one elses dis-approval) this looks to be the studio build diary...

2/6/05:
I got a call from the septic/plumbing contractor at 9:30 AM Saturday morning. It was a bit of a rude awakening after a 21 hour gig Friday, but a welcomed call none the less.

It's tentatively scheduled for the contractor to come out Wednedsay morning, with a backhoe, to do a couple of test digs with the county health inspector.

If all goes well, they could possibly issue the septic permit on the spot!

Just a word of advice to ANYONE trying to do a similar studio build...

Do it right. Yes, the waiting is unbelievable and absolutely frustrating, but the consequences are potentially devastating. If I went ahead and built the studio without going through the process correctly, the county could potentially have me tear the whole thing down.

So, if all goes well Wednesday, we start that day with the septic and drain fields!

The essentials are thus;
I'm spec-ing the system for 4 "employees". This is the minimum size tank and field that the county will allow. (100 Gal tank with 200 feet of latteral-line)

Hope to post the first "construction" photos either Thursday or Friday - IF I get the approval.

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 7:07 pm

Here's a few images to get started with...

These images are of the existing 2x8 wall on block and the 2x4 truss system for the roof.

This will be the bath, kitchen and lounge. Note that the roof/structure will be removed and replaced to conform to standard builiding code.

We were going to try to put a circular drive around the studio, but due to costs, the plumbing to the septic and need for additional storage space, this "bump" on the hill will hopefully become storage and a small woodshop.

Max

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 6:00 pm

Well some of the wait is over...

The Health Inspector came out today and did the soil samples.

WE PASSED!!! (But barely!)

Looks like the leach field will be around 120 feet from the tank! Thank goodness it's all downhill to the field.

Didn't get pix... nothin' to really see.

Permit should be ready by mid week next week.

Till then...
Max

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:44 pm

An unexpected suprise awaited me when I got home from the day gig this evening...

The inspector left a message that the permit is ready!

YEAH!!!!

Step one is almost complete.

Once I pick up the permit, we can get started on the septic system.

As soon as the system is in, we see about getting that approved.
After approval of the system, I can get the building permit.

Not quite sure of the order after that, but it should go something like this;

2. Building Permit
3. Power Co runs lines from pole - Temp Service
4. Plumbing Co installs larger pressure tank and runs water lines from house to studio
5. Footings dug for Bath/Lounge
6. Footings for Storage/Woodshop
7. Footings for studio rooms
8. Plumbing Rough-in
9. Framing for Bath/Lounge
10. Electrical for Bath/Lounge
11. Plumbing Final
12. Solar/Generator Backup Rough-in
13. Floors for studio rooms
14. Walls Framed
15. Studio Electrical Rough-in
16. Ceiling Framing
17. HVAC
18. Final Electrical/Mechanical Tie-in
19. Insulation/drywall
20. Final Electrical/Mechanical
21. Punch-out
22. Certificate of Occupancy
23. Rock-n-Roll

FINALLY, the Saga Begins!

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 12:32 pm

You are one patient dude.

You should have a little party when it's done.

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 5:19 pm

The God's ARE crazy!!!!

I can't believe this happened!

I got home about 9:30PM last night only to find a pile of survey marker tape on my porch... Oh shit, it's not just marker tape, it's MY marker tape... it's my marker tape for my septic system AND my freakin' boundary tape from the survey I just spent $1000 and 4 months getting!

Then I notice a note taped to my door that says; "Don't put these markings on MY property anymore!"
... signed by some guy who's name I'm not familiar with!

WTF!?!

I swear, you can't make this shit up!

So, I carried my butt up to the local community store this morning and talked to the fella's around the coffee pot. They're all neghborhood gentlemen... at least of retirement age, or FAR better.

I lucked up and one of them was the man who sold part of his property to the neighbor in question. He seems to agree with the rest of the guys who looked over the survey. The neighbor is mistaken, but obviously needs to be informed... without resorting to shotguns at 3 acres.

If it weren't so unbelievable it wouldn't be funny.

I wonder how long it's gonna take to get this mess cleared up?

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