Home stuff

Okay, I'm showing off. I just finished a couple photos for a potential customer so I figured I'd share them.

The picture I'm showing is my first concrete counter attempt and is installed in my own home - on my kitchen island bar. The other focus is the pole wrap technique I've used. I've never, ever seen it done elsewhere and all my internet searches has failed to turn up a picture like it. Finally you'll see the floor with the diamond mosaic inlays. I'm kinda partial to that.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by Phobia

There's two things popping out to me. Your house has a hip roof throughout. The garage is a gabled roof which is important for the finished office upstairs. It will probably be alright but it's something to be aware of. Are you considering a breezeway attaching the house to the garage?

The second thing is the posts. Make sure they design the garage posts to match the house or the garage will catch your eye from the street. You don't want your garage to have more curb appeal than your house.

No breeze way, I have a huge patio I want to keep.

I like the posts on the garage because they are like the ones inside my house. But they do kind of worry me and I think you make a good point not to have a garage that has more appeal than my house. I've just have had a hell of a time finding anything that doesn't look too tall and modern in comparison to my house. I almost wonder is a carriage house type garage might be the way to go.

Just have them convert the 4 columns on your porch to match the garage design. That wouldn't be incredibly difficult.

[Bowser]

Let me jump in and say Phobes and his guys do good work, and I'd recommend them anytime.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Let me jump in and say Phobes and his guys do good work, and I'd recommend them anytime.

Thats for sure!!

[DeezNutz]

Nice looking place, Hoover.

[Hoover]

Thanks. Its a bitch to heat.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Phobia

This is about as proud as I've been since the Scottsdale outdoor kitchen. I wish I'd have known how to do concrete counters then.

Before:

After:

Absolutely outstanding work! Kudos!

[stlchiefs]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Granite is the new Formica. Concrete is the new high end. It just hasn't hit the midwest hard yet. It's really big on the coasts.

From what I've read a major drawback of concrete is the risk of staining of a colored liquid is spilled and left on the countertop. Is this a myth or something that has been corrected recently? I know any surface can stain in some manner, but I've heard that because concrete is so porous it increases the chances of staining.

[stlchiefs]

Originally Posted by Phobia

There's two things popping out to me. Your house has a hip roof throughout. The garage is a gabled roof which is important for the finished office upstairs. It will probably be alright but it's something to be aware of. Are you considering a breezeway attaching the house to the garage?

The second thing is the posts. Make sure they design the garage posts to match the house or the garage will catch your eye from the street. You don't want your garage to have more curb appeal than your house.

I'm not a contractor like Phobia, but I did notice those two aspects as well as the roof. This may be a dumb post and you already planned on matching your current house, but I'd say you definitely want a tiled roof on the garage as well.

I'd also try to match the brick from the house and try to incorporate what appears to be limestone under the windows into the garage design. Once again I'm not a contractor, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[stlchiefs]

Originally Posted by Phobia

This is about as proud as I've been since the Scottsdale outdoor kitchen. I wish I'd have known how to do concrete counters then.

Before:

After:

Awesome transformation. What a great way to incorporate/hide the supports. You appear to do great work Phobia. Your pole wrapping skills are nothing to be ashamed of either.

[Hoover]

You know I amaze at how much roomier the space seems in the after photo.

Originally Posted by stlchiefs

From what I've read a major drawback of concrete is the risk of staining of a colored liquid is spilled and left on the countertop. Is this a myth or something that has been corrected recently? I know any surface can stain in some manner, but I've heard that because concrete is so porous it increases the chances of staining.

Yes, that's a concern - which is why we seal and wax it.

Alternatively, you can just let it stain and let your counters develop their own patina. That's another popular option.

Originally Posted by Hoover

You know I amaze at how much roomier the space seems in the after photo.

So,.... any decisions on your garage/office yet? I really like that plan. Looks like a fun build. I wish you were in Liberty instead of 3 hours away.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by Phobia

So,.... any decisions on your garage/office yet? I really like that plan. Looks like a fun build. I wish you were in Liberty instead of 3 hours away.

Actually I'm going to see if I can fit this thing on my lot. I think the Roof lines work better with the house.

Wow - that's a hip roof but I'm not sure it goes any better than the gabled roof. The architect of your home went to a lot of effort to insure the pitch of your roof was symmetrical throughout - which is typical of the craftsman era. But here you're introducing an element with a much steeper pitch.

I think the only way to make that garage work would be to modify the plans to a ~12' wall in order to match the pitch on the house.

Otherwise, I think the gabled roof will work equally well because it doesn't look like you shoehorned an addition to "match" when it really doesn't. Plus, you'll be more comfortable on the 2nd level of a gabled roof than a hip roof.

I should really be charging a consulting fee. Heh.