building Man Cave One in Scottsdale AZ

[walkingbear]

the 5th column was added today and the
4 x4 are now in place.. it is like my own stonehenge.

[vader1701]

This is so awesome to watch, what's the weather like there?

[walkingbear]

Originally Posted by vader1701

This is so awesome to watch, what's the weather like there?

low 70's and sunny. Rainy weather will be here later this week.

[dirt panda]

Thanks for the step by step build of your man cave. You have put a lot of time into your build report. It is good to see how people in different parts of the world build and the different products used. I'm sure you and your young fellow will have many hours of fun working together.

[Gerg]

Bear, Mine went up about the same time frame, maybe a bit sooner... I was restricted to the square footage of the house and no higher. That precluded a second story and due to a prior install of a ham radio tower the shop gods kept me to 1350 sq feet. I'd sure like to have the extra 150 sq feet I was allowed. Scope creep was about 25-30% over budget and I still don't have the lift in and more concrete is being poured in January.

Nice cave you have there!!!

Gerg

[walkingbear]

Shopped at Lowes today. Scored a load of redwood 2x4, 2x6 and a few 2x8 for 60% off. They were in the cull section (bent, twisted or slightly split )of the lumber yd.

We are putting a roof of the trees to the corners. A little shed roof maybe.

I will have pics later this week.

[Deadly99]

When I grow up I want a manhouse like yours

Very well done, thanks for taking the time

[RecycledRS]

Great build and report!

[walkingbear]

Lots of people are here this morning. My carpenter and his helper, the concrete guys pouring the ribbon and me .. making the coffee and running to Lowes for extra material.

First the tree house is taking form. The deck is up and we came up a different framing plan for the crows nest,

The deck is fully covered. We are going to add an additional platform .. 5 feet from the deck



framing and the composite decking




we are adding an additional block under the joist hangers. We wanted take addition strength to the hanger.


headers are 4x8 x12 joist are 4 x 6 x 8










Friday we worked on the landscaping water control. We have water control piping under the concrete driveway.

[advNZer?]

You havent left much room for that tree to move in the wind!

[walkingbear]

I read that you only need 2 inches for movement and growth ..on the base of that tree (mesquite tree).

There was concerns about keeping the root system and keeping a water supply to it. We have been trimming the tree upward and out.

Topping the tree to keep it's shady canopy , thinning out the shoots off the top branches so it would get top heavy in the wind.

[advNZer?]

Originally Posted by walkingbear

I read that you only need 2 inches for movement and growth ..on the base of that tree (mesquite tree).

There was concerns about keeping the root system and keeping a water supply to it. We have been trimming the tree upward and out.

Topping the tree to keep it's shady canopy , thinning out the shoots off the top branches so it would get top heavy in the wind.

i guess it get windier here than there then,although 2 inches per side gives 4 inches back and forth.I guess a biggish tree like that wouldnt move much

[Keith]

Very nice to see all the progress. Congratulations on the project.

[walkingbear]

The cold windy morning .. but as the day worn on .. it gotten warmer.

Task at hand was to finish the tree deck or get as much done as we could before sunset. First the rail framing and building the connecting bride from the deck to the tree deck.









The sides of the railing are 1 x4 industrial grade strips. They are spaced 3 inch apart.. and sits 48 inch high.

The picture below is the 4 x 6 douglas fir beam hanging between the tree deck and double post column. We used all-thread with fender washer and nuts on
both ends. We will be blocking under the beam later. This thing is really rigid.



The north railing side was set higher to prevent little climbers onto the swing beam.


Picture below of all the finished railing walls. There are spaces open to attach the climbing wall, the slide and the ladder. The extra wood material came in
handy today .. as we ran out of lumber that we ordered.

The first swing piece was hung this evening as a test fit.








The bridge from the deck to the tree deck




The tree .. we decided we are going to build a table around the tree .. for activity. Next weeks task


sunsets from the decks



Along day on the decks and running for supplies. Couldn't have done this job without the carpenter and his helpers.

[walkingbear]

Had a hammer dropped on my foot Sunday... and yesterday.. I had a bout of the gout. Finished putting the swings up and leveling the area.

Waiting for the landscaper to install the under ground water and electrical lighting. I set order 4 yards of sand and stacking rocks before finishing off the ladder, climbing wall and attaching the slide.

Pics to follow