I designed and drafted a two story addition to our house. This is the mechanical and laundry room. I even did an isometric drawing of the plans.
I excavated the foundation, framed it and did all the plumbing and then sided and roofed it. Tools I got, but I’ve given a lot of them away. The nail guns for instance. I kept the palm nailer just cause it’s so damn handy (no pun intended).
I designed and constructed the in-floor hydronic heat.
I didn’t do the concrete work or the electrical.
I was a framer for a summer/winter. And then exterior trim. I then owned a sprinkler system company, so that’s where the plumbing part comes in.
The design and drafting comes from, well I was a draftsman. Then moved into GIS, so I did all of this on a computer.
Ok, 21 years ago, we’d just bought our current house and we spent the first 4 months tearing out some walls, moving a doorway, creating a foyer, completely redoing the kitchen, including building a pantry. So wiring, plumbing, carpentry, tiling, cabinets and counters, painting, flooring… everything but carpeting - we had that done. So yeah, at 50, I was able to do all that while working full time. Several weeks of washing the dishes in the bathtub. Good times!
Very cool. I think I remember reading about them! Either here or just having stumbled on their story some time ago.
Perhaps some Doper’s offers could be to read this book and get the inspiration for our project?! We have a lot of folks willing to get down and dirty and do whatever!
A lot of women have stepped up so that makes me happy
