Potty Trained-ish, Next Up, Architecture School?

He has an eye for design, and the other one for chewing slippers.

Oh ya! Some dogs can learn to sit, stay and roll over. Maybe even poop outside! But interior design skills? YIP YUP! So here is the story, and I have Jimmy to back me up on this. As we were installing the insulation in the roof area of the new old office at the Railway, we had planned on layering Cedar planks on the ceiling to retain some of the character of the space. But several things bugged me, and well.

Bruiser wants to go outside!

Bruiser could sense that. It’s that one eye… it has special mind bending powers. Anyway. As the ceiling insulation has been going in. And trust me. It takes a ton longer than one would think. Bruiser let me know he needed to go out. Sitting at the door. Here’s the deal on that. You get about 30 seconds now. So its dive for the door type stuff.

I thought he just liked the mud. turns out he is “designing”

Out we went. We have a little circle around the boatyard he likes. Only this time he went straight for the wood stacks. Juniper,  white oak, and some grey stuff yet to be figured out. These are raw cut planks in various widths, that need to be addressed. They are out in the yard and covered in old metal roof and wall panels. Some very old. One man’s trash.

We installed an LED strip pointing up to light the ceiling and make that part of the space. It makes the entire room feel larger and balanced

And Bruiser kept going to them. I am thinking what in the hell does Bruiser want with the panels. Jesus Bruiser, just pee so we can go inside. We pee together BTW.. TMI? All the water is cut off. So no toilet. Just sayn… So anyway, Bruiser keeps messing with the roofing. And it hits me. WHAT THE HELL? That stuff is cool as hell, and flipped over would make an insane cool ceiling. And far far far lighter and cooler than the wood. AND it’s from the boat yard. The original roof panels from a gazillion years ago. All sorts of styles. Yet curated and now preserved. IT’S PERFECT!

One of the roof panels installed. WOW!

Jim, not Jimmy, Two Jims. Anyway, Jim working in the 80 degree ceiling. Its warm up there. FOR THE RECORD, and this needs to be said. Everyone helping is vaccinated. Either over 65 and on top of that First Responders. Jim here flies medivacs. Only 3 of us in the office at a time. more than 6 feet apart..

Cutting the first set of panels is not easy, and requires some contortions. BTW, Jim broke three ribs 3 weeks ago. YIKES!

We started at the top, not the way a roof should be installed. But this is for art. And the top panels needed to be not a sliver of a different size to fit. thats for the bottom where its a little wonky.

This is more of a still life now. The highlight of the Gear drive is amazing, and the metal on the ceiling brings out the industrial look of it all, mixed with the old wood. AHHHHHHHHHH. And yes, the two Jim’s are laughing at me. And now Bruiser as well.

Thats what you are seeing here. Old rusty and painted roof panels cleaned-ish up, and flipped over and the ceiling of the Railway office. DAMMMMMMM, Good boy, good boy.. Here’s a treat. Now, you need to go back home so if a panel falls it doesn’t cut you in half. YIKES, this stuff is scary to work with, upside down and in between old rafters. One could say.. IT’S TO DIE FOR!

Same room reminder. Note the drywall ceiling

17 replies
  1. Jaxon
    Jaxon says:

    I have one of those necklaces like Bruiser. People look at it and I get lots of hugs and pets. Sometimes a treat. Wish I could read.

  2. Jon
    Jon says:

    To get the heat down from the ceiling in the winter and cool you in the summer, you need the appropriate fan, one of the old industrial belt driven ones

  3. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    Is the lack of running water a temporary issue? Seems like that would severely limit the utility of the space!

  4. Andy C
    Andy C says:

    Are you going to seal those metal panels? I know from experience that little specs of rust will be all over everything…

    • Art
      Art says:

      I agree Andy, especially if there will be any varnishing going on in there.

      Matt did Bruiser sniff that pile outside and go RUFF-RUFF……justaskingforafriend

  5. Jim Staib
    Jim Staib says:

    Matt,
    Need a doggy door for Bruiser? I bought this one that goes in the wall and couldn’t find a clear space for it. Ended up putting one in the door.

  6. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    and I am anxious about the span of those ceiling joist and the single down from the ridge vertical support??? Banging and crawling around on top of that…in an old building…is scary…I know because I have seen those collapse ….. know you all are being careful…but just going by the pics…I would keep that ladder under a joist even if not snug.
    IMHO John in Va.

    • Matt
      Matt says:

      We are on scaffolding and ladders. I don’t trust anything. I will say there was a ton of stuff up there, including all the drywall

  7. Chug-A-Lug
    Chug-A-Lug says:

    I love that you’re having so much fun with”Bruiser”My little dog”John-Boy” has got to be the first one out the door when I pick up tools or lumber.Then I got to wait till he finishes his dinkin’ around until I do some thing and don’t put any thing on floor if you don’t want him to whizz on it.

  8. steve bunda
    steve bunda says:

    Lots of weight on the roof rafters ( with wide spacing to boot) whether installing wood or steel panels. I would have an engineer take a look at the roof structure and calculate the roof loads. You may have to beef up the roof structure, including sisters, truss framing, bolts , and hurricane clips.

    Just for safety sake , steve

  9. Jack
    Jack says:

    I have boats, I have a shop, I have a dog named Bruiser, and we go out together also. It’s a small world after all.

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