Thanks!

I'm just glad it doesn't look like a little kid built it, lol. Ive got no background in construction, so all of the reno to this house so far has been internet + the IRC code book.

The block work is definitely amateur hour, but luckily its a stucco + paint finish, so thatll hide all of the imperfections.

 

That pick looks like real nice progress!

 

Well, it's finally done!

Got the final inspection + sign-off on Friday. Its got some cosmetic work left (stucco the columns and paint) and I need to add gutters (thats the reason for the added aluminum flashing on that backside) as well as doing something about that step in the concrete (left side sunk from previous owners poor drainage). But the permit itself is closed as construction is complete, so I resubmitted for approval on my garage permit now that the pool ramada is no longer a freestanding accessory structure). Fingers crossed that goes smoothly; I'm hoping to hear back today.

I just got an email that my garage permit was pulled back into the review cycle (it was 'waiting reply' status), so hopefully things are moving.



Timing couldn't have been better. We had a really strong storm rip through last Tuesday (you can see the dirt on that center slab - that was the water line from flooding). But the roof was 100% waterproof and the structure held up great.

The city actually had me re-roof the original section as well (right half) as Id put shingles on it and the slope was technically too low for shingles (which sucks as they were holding up 100% leak free after 3 years). So I ended up doing white TPO single ply across the whole thing in one shot. One more specialty tool to add to the collection- a TPO manual seam welder.

Got the gutter on the side in the picture over the weekend, but still need to add downspouts/ connect to my driveway side drain system I'm working on.

Took a lot longer than Id hoped - permit was approved at the end of December, but we had to relocate the shed first (it used to sit on that sunken slab against the edge - part of what added to the poor drainage issue). So it was about 9 months start to finish all DIY working occasional weekends around typical family stuff. Luckily cost came in lower than expected - I'm about $4500 into it now. Will likely be right about $5k flat once we're done with gutters, paint, and stucco. So at least it didn't destroy the garage budget too much.

I do regret not pushing harder in the cooler months. Stacking block / grout fill / roofing in 100+ is definitely not my jam.

 

Congrats on wrapping up part of your project! And hopefully you and your family actually like it (and don't see it as the silly annoyance to get to having your dream garage).

 

I'll admit, there are a few upsides:

• More shade in the desert is never a bad thing. We've already stuck the picnic table under it to get it out of the elements. Also talking about knocking out some of the built in concrete furniture on the old section to redo the layout to better utilize the space.
• It doesn't look too bad (especially once we finish it to match). I was worried that 70 feet of patio sticking off the back of the house would look odd. But with the pool nesteld into the L shape, it makes it look more cohesive/ like it has a purpose.
• We've had several friends / neighbors/ relatives complement us on how it came out - especially those who saw all of the work that go into it. There's certainly a sense of pride saying 'we did that'.

To be totally honest though, I'll always have a level of disdain for this project / lack of respect for the system coming out of this. Just wish I had the connections or cash to magically get variances pushed through to be allowed to violate the same ordinance multiple times on the same size lot in the same city in the same zoning.

 

Finally some good news- permit has been approved!!

Ordered some full size prints online and have already started reaching out to surveying (to mark the area as Im pushing right up against the setback) and foundation companies. Fingers crossed the building market has slowed out here and companies are starting to get hungry for work again.


Last shot of the covered patio. Added gutters after this (the aluminum flashing was to ensure I could slope the gutters enough without having a gap to the wood) and 3 downspouts (start, center, and end).