*The Father & Son Bar*
INTRODUCTION
My 14yo son recently came home from school and told me that he’s considering a career in Carpentry when he leaves school.
I was never really taught much as a boy and my chosen career path never made up for it. I’m far from a qualified trade and I couldn’t even call myself a DIY’er. As a parent, it’s something I’ve always stressed about; not having any hands-on skills to pass on to my boy. He certainly isn’t getting any younger.
Luckily for me, information nowadays is more accessible than ever. The double-edged sword is that It’s becoming ever increasingly difficult to get the kids of today outside and off of screens. So instead of outsourcing and hiring trades, I figured I’d use this opportunity to tackle putting together the “Man Cave” that we’ve been envisioning for some time. This will be put together inside the shed that is in our backyard.
By using it as a Father & Son project, I hope to try and at least teach him something and bond in the process. I’m sure it will be far from perfect, but I’ll give it a shot. The lesson here is that perfection is impossible, and you don’t know if you don’t try. I’m sure I’ll make mistakes, but those are part of life.
Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing the progress of our project as a bit of a keepsake memento. Something that I can look back on one day. I encourage anyone with any know how to share your advice on any of the stages as we progress, and to tell me if you see me making any fatal errors. No doubt there will be some of you that will receive a call/text to ask a dumb question somewhere along the way.
*A little about the shed*
Footing: Concrete Slab
Construction: Steel Portal Frame, Gable Roof and Colorbond Steel Cladding
Dimensions: 3,160mm (W) x 6,210mm (L)
Wall Height: 2,400mm
Roof Pitch: 20 degrees
Stay tuned.
Steps
Step 1
DAY 1 & 2 - ***THE FATHER & SON BAR***
Alex and I kicked off the project last weekend. We started off by giving the slab a good pressure wash on the Friday arvo’. The following morning, we applied a Moisture barrier to the concrete.
We plan to build a false floor over the slab and so a painted or sealed finish wasn't required. We came across a product called “Moisture Proof” (Manufactured by Duracore). By using this product, we avoided the messy and time-consuming process of traditional two part epoxy systems. It also turned out to be very cost effective. The other big benefit being that it is a trafficable surface.
No mixing was required, and a single coat was all that was needed. The product was applied using a low pressure weed sprayer. After 45 minutes, any excess pooling was pushed around with broom. The product is fully dry within 24 hours. The product is designed to penetrate the concrete up to 200mm and forms a non-destructive, 100% colloidal gel. The colloidal gel provides a permanent barrier that withstands hydro static pressure (rising damp); which is all we needed it to do.
Next, we moved onto some painting. Due to the way that we intend to line the walls, part of the frame will remain visible. We started off using a palm sander together with hand sanding. Very quickly realising the job would be much quicker by using a wire wheel on a drill.
The masking wasn’t necessarily required as the adjacent surfaces will be covered. It was mostly about showing Alex the entire painting process. As you can see from the end result, I gave up on the masking by the time the top coat went on 😅.
The frame at the rear will most likely end up being covered. I figured we were already there, and it gives us some flexibility if we change direction later on.
After hitting it all with the sander / wire wheel, it was given a wipe down with solvent. We then applied two coats of primer followed by two coats of topcoat (Colorbond ‘Monument’). The $149 investment in a spray gun was well worth the investment.
Step 2
***THE FATHER & SON BAR***
After consulting with an Electrician, we made the decision to save ourselves some cash and do the Electrical “Rough In” ourselves.
Before the shed slab was laid, conduit was trenched in with a 20amp supply cable. We’ve just finished installing 3 circuits in the shed. Each circuit has been installed in conduit and affixed to the inside of the wall girts and roof purlins.
-Circuit 1-
2.5mm Twin and Earth cable. Allocation has been made for 12 x Double GPO’s (2 in each bay). These will run on a 20 Amp RCBO. To ensure no cable ever touches the steel structure, we have used “Purlmate” 3650 mounting blocks at the intended fit off point. The conduit was reduced down to 20mm corrugated flex conduit at the mounting blocks to give the cable protection in the void that will be behind the wall lining and steel frame.
-Circuit 2-
Another run of 2.5mm Twin & Earth installed in conduit in the upper girt. This will power the 3.5kw Split System Aircon that will end up on the back wall. As such, it requires its own circuit. This will come back to the distribution board on a 16 Amp RCBO.
-Circuit 3-
1.5mm Twin & Earth cable installed in conduit inside the roof purlins. This circuit will power the lighting and will come back to the distribution board on a 10 Amp Distribution board. The flex conduit pictured will eventually tuck into the ceiling battens that we intend to use to mount the lining boards to.
A recessed surface mount Distribution Board will house the RCBO’s together with a 32amp MCB Circuit Breaker.
Once the walls have been completed, we will engage an Electrician to complete the fit off and connect the supply cable to the house.
