Sniper

Yep, there was a porch. It also made a great Man Cave, and a place to escape from wifey. Here's some pics of the inside:

Actually, my wife is neutral, she really doesn't say much or care about the money. On occasion, when I bring something home or cleaning something, she'll pick it up, but has no interest after that. I don't have a basement, so it's tough to find place for the ammo, can't put all that weight in one place. When she sees the cardboard box in the closet, all I hear is, "another one????" Mine has never yelled, I just use the "You never said anything when I bought all those cordless drills, saws and other tools to do all your renovation projects...". Works every time!

I can work around the fender wells, I did when I built the last one. It's actually better with the lower deck, since there's a maximum overall height I have to stay under. A deckover takes up more of that space.

My wife isn't a fan either of the firearms or the ammo, or the sport in general. But she realizes that its not fair to push her wishes/beliefs on others. She refuses to go to the range with me (that could be a good thing). When something new follows me home, she just looks the other way. When the UPS/Fedex guy shows up with a box, and it looks like he's getting a hernia, she just shakes her head (and goes to off to Kohl's). So, we have an informal agreement. I don't count the number of shoes, outfits and purses in her closet, and she doesn't count the number of firearms or cases of ammo in my possession. See how easy it is to "compromise"? You should try that.

Actually not hauling. Looking to build on it (a tiny house). A 10K would be fine. Is your new or old?

Wondering if any members here work for a trailer supplier or know someone. I'm looking for a new open 20 foot flat bed equipment trailer with a wood deck, the type you see used to haul backhoes or skid steer type equipment or even cars. Anyone know of someone in the state?

So, she's OK with you owning and possessing a handgun in the house, but not OK with having ammo there? Sounds....

These are the two correct answers. Anyone that experienced the madness after the Sandy Hook school shooting can attest on how difficult/expensive it was to find ammo afterwards. Plus, with all the new crap the anti 2A crowd is trying to get passed, stock up what you think you'll need for quite a while. You'll be glad you did.

Sod, it's quicker.

I'm seeing a bunch of new weeds popping up this year that I hadn't seen in previous years. Problem is, I can't put out a herbicide like you mentioned, as my 4 legged knucklehead must have been a goat or woodchuck in a previous life. He loves to "graze" on what ever he finds in the yard, and based on what I've got invested in him, I can't take the chance of poisoning him. So I've been hand pulling a bunch of the weeds. When an occasional dandelion yellow flower pops, it's a race to see who gets to it first. Maybe I should just train him to pull the whole damn weed, and have him earn his keep.

Actually, the city and state government should have no part in us getting a firearm either. It's just between us and the big guy way upstairs.

Sounds like you fit my description.

I'm retired, so guess what, I just write "retired" in that space. The PD never questions it. I've heard they will ask questions about "unemployed", which could be understandable. They wouldn't want a pissed off ex employee getting their hands on a firearm for retaliation. But, I don't remember the 2A having an employment qualifier...

Definitely DON'T poke the bear. I was having delays when I lived in Jackson, so I would send a nice, upbeat, friendly email to the Chief, just asking nicely if my permits were ready yet. It took two of these emails to get my permits completed. Sometimes, with their busy schedules, getting to paperwork is not a priority, so a nice, friendly "nudge" sometimes helps.

I have both with the string trimmers, a Ryobi 18v 4ah and a Homelight gas. Depending on what I'm hacking through, I'll grab the particular one. For normal grass and edging, the electric is fine, for heavier weeds, I use the gas. Electric usually is what I use, and the 4ah batteries last a few trimmings before recharge. Plus, I share the 18v batteries with a few other tools, which makes them more universal. For blowers, I always use gas, one, because it's a pain to drag a cord all over the yard, and two, battery versions don't push enough air.

@AVB-AMG I'm all about learning something new from more educated people. That's why I asked you to provide verifiable links and data to this wonderful 2" offset joist sistering method. It's the first time I ever heard of it in multiple decades, so it must be revolutionary, a thing that experienced Architects and Structural Engineers use all the time today. So please, I want to learn about this awesome new way to build additional structural integrity to joists. I searched all over and couldn't find a single reference anywhere. It must be the best kept secret in he construction industry today. Please post all the construction links showing this offset joist sistering so I can learn from the smartest guy on the forum. I would appreciate links to the new code books showing that this is the approved way to add support to joists too. My current code references don't have it yet. While you're at it, please post the links to the references where stainless steel screws are required to fasten together these joists too, versus using wood screws, lag bolts or through bolting with Grade 8 bolts. These stainless steel screws must also be a new construction secret. Or, are we worrying that the salt air and corrosion in the attic will degrade the normally used fasteners. And lastly, if you're so concerned about covering any additional weight someone might put in the attic, why didn't you specify he use PSL or LVL beams instead of this abnormal 2" offset sistering? These type of beams are regularly used to cross spans for support, or were you not aware of them? All you seem to be able to do is type walls of text with no verifiable or reference data. So, I'm still waiting for the links, data and construction methods on your recommend construction method of offset sistering. I'm willing to learn this new technique from someone brilliant like yourself!

Well no, you're wrong again. I touched on that days ago. Please try and keep up when pushing your superiority: So, based on limited information, we can give recommendations based on traditional, normal situations. Once again, try reading comprehension from the OP: So, he's planning on loading the lightweight boxes generally over the load bearing wall in the center of the house. There's zero reason and need to double up and sister additional 2x6's in that situation. The load bearing wall directly below supporting the 2x6's plays a big part here. Stop with the straw men, we weren't discussing main floors, it's attics.. please focus. And since it's a attic with proposed light storage, 20 psf is normal design, but I used 30 psf above to give some additional leeway. He's not planning on living in his attic. That's all great, but that's not his responsibility. A future homeowner would have to determine if the attic was suitable for what they want to put up there. The OP wants to store his holiday decorations and some misc stuff. Of course you wouldn't consider this over design, and this has been my big issue with the AIA guys. Over design and over spec, because it's not their time or not their money, and they have hardly any real world field experience. Hell, why don't you recommend 2x12's, after all, he might want to put an additional floor on the house.

But he said he wasn't interested in that. He was concerned about storage. Try reading comprehension next time. Here, try this, it won't hurt so much next time: and don't be a "sheep" and follow people blindly.

I also know what I know and also what I've learned with schooling and practical hands on experience for over 3 DECADES. It's really sad that you just can't handle any criticism and have to deal with someone who has equal or more knowledge than you on a subject. That's YOUR problem. So, let's put this to bed, pulling information from sources that have just a bit of experience in this area. The OP stated he had a span of 10'-3" to his load bearing wall and the joists were 2x6's. So, let's plug that information into a structural calculator. Hey @AVB-AMG, have you ever heard of: American Wood Council? Seems they have a little bit of knowledge, right? So, normal live load for an attic with simple storage would be 20 pounds per square foot (psf). I'm going to up that to 30 psf for an added safety factor (how's that AVB?) plus have a dead load rating of 10 psf. Lets see the results: So, based on that calculation, the existing 2x6's should be acceptable structurally as they are, without doing the whole sistering project, to hold the weight of the storage with an added 10 psf live load. Now, let's just check another source from a guy that has used a hammer once or twice on his life. Here's his views on attic storage and support: INSTALLING ATTIC FLOORING FOR LIGHT STORAGE ONLY If your attic joists won’t bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage, you can install ½-inch plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) in 4-foot-by-8-foot panels over existing 16-inch OC joists. For joists spaced 24 inches OC, use thicker, ¾-inch plywood to prevent sagging between them. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/attic-flooring/ I would bet most of you would think Bob Villa would know a thing or two about this subject. So, to repost what I said days ago: So, Based on that information, the OP can rest assured that his Christmas decorations won't end up in his bedroom. @AVB-AMG and @Zeke, what your professional opinion, since you're experts?

Talk about uneducated statements. I went looking to see if this 2" offset sistering of joists was some new type of construction. I started building custom residential housing when you were still picking your nose in middle school, and I have NEVER seen a single instance of offsetting joists 2" to sister them. Is this some new common core architecture, just like the new screwed up common core math? I even went and searched in all types of construction forums and web sites to see if I could find a single example, nope, not a single one. In every case of sistered 2x6's, they were placed directly next to each other at the same height, basically to make a 4x6, not a offset higher joist. I challenge you to post examples where this was done in residential construction. While there are different ways to sister existing joists, the majority all use the same size joist and join them on the same plane, not offset 2". @AVB-AMG In your true fashion, you come on here with your "I'm smarter then everyone here" attitude, and your demeaning, and belittling posts, when you know crap about what a persons actual background and experience is. I went through this bullshit before with you, when you were mocking people here about lack of education, until I had to remind you I had two engineering degrees. It's a consistent pattern, where you think you're FAR superior to everyone here. Guess what, Bud, guess again! Here's another hint for you, I built custom residential housing, and later on when on to designing and building custom medical and dental offices in all types of structures and buildings. As a matter of fact, I lost count on how many times I had to re-design and field engineer errors on plans that came from some clown with AIA after his name. The majority of you clowns with AIA after your names don't know which end of a hammer to hold, but think you have all the answers. It's a joke. So, you can try and impress other people here with your BS and short novels talking about nonsense, but leave the practical, reality based construction to the guys who have decades of hands on experience in the field, not a clown sitting behind a CAD program. Now, I wait for you to provide some verifiable links or details showing that offsetting 2x6 joists 2" is the correct way to sister them.

I'm surprised the ACLU is stepping into this, but fair is fair. Those kids were targeted unfairly by the communists in the school system. ..." LACEY, N.J. — The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of two students suspended from Lacey Township High School for posting photos of firearms to social media outside of school. The ACLU-NJ called the suspensions a violation of First Amendment rights. " The ACLU's complaint states that according to the School District, a parent of another student reported the Snapchat pictures March 12, 2018. The parent allegedly said the picture made her child nervous to come to school, according to the ACLU. https://patch.com/new-jersey/lacey/aclu-sues-lacey-district-gun-photo-suspensions

I see a couple of potential issues here. You're telling him to sister another 2x6, 2" up on the existing joist (by screwing it to the old joist) and to run it full length. Depending on his roof line, he might not have the clearance, as the top of the new joist can hit the underside of the roof sheathing on the exterior wall. Second, all the weight of these new joists are going to be carried by that 2" of existing joist resting on the load bearing walls, instead of increasing it by having BOTH joists rest on the load bearing walls. If he's going through this un-necessary exercise, he should rest the new joist on the existing exterior wall and center load bearing wall, just like the existing joist, NOT raise it 2 inches. This way, the weight of the attic floor is being supported by BOTH old joist and new joist, resting on the load bearing walls. Then, he can screw the new to the old to increase structural integrity, if he wishes. To raise the new joist 2 inches, and have to put in tons of screws to fasten it to the existing joist is overkill and a waste of time and effort.

@AVB-AMG Let's start off, you can go stuff it where the sun don't shine. First, you have no idea what I know about construction, but in your usual "I'm smarter than every one else" attitude you spew here regularly, you feel the need to spew your crap. Here's a hint, you AIN'T the sharpest knife in the drawer here, even though you think so. I really don't know what your fu*kin problem is? I'm certainly NOT a "lay-person" in this field. Try some reading comprehension for once. I stated there were variables the OP needed to consider in how his existing structure is built and supported. Without seeing his situation, everyone here is just speculating. I gave some general information based on normal conditions, he's not building a 50 floor office building in NY... geez... @AVB-AMG Oh look, what is he storing? Christmas decorations and light weight boxes. Hey AVB, he needs to double up all his 2x6's with 2x12's, add steel "I" beams, then put down 1-1/2" tongue and groove plywood, right, because after all, he's needs total structural safety in that attic. Thank GOD we have such educated and morally superior people on this forum, like yourself, to protect us peons from major structural collapse. Can you imagine what it would be like to have your Christmas decorations crash down on you while sleeping on your bed? Talk about a national disaster. He has a bunch of variables we don't know. Can he get full 4x8 sheets up there, or will they have to be cut to get them up there. Spreading that 20 lbs over 32 sq ft covering at least 4 joists (depending which way he lays the sheets) would be a non-issue. The flexing while walking on it can be un-nerving, might be time to cut back on the extra Twinkees.

These are great points about how life really operates. Unfortunately, the Special Snowflakes, (like one we have here), have no interest in working their way up the ladder. They expect $70K a year jobs right after college, with their Liberal Arts BS degree. Then, they expect to get a raise and promotion every year, just because. Plus stock options, pensions, FREE healthcare, huge 401K matches, 6 weeks vacation, etc. in their first year of full time employment. The also expect/entitled to be able to buy the same sized 2500 sq. ft. McMansion, that they lived in with their parents when they were teenagers as their first house. They also feel entitled to have two new SUV's in the driveway. Add in they should be able to eat dinner out at least a dozen times a month, buy $5 lattees every morning, and get take out everyday for lunch. This is why they think it's fair to TAKE money from all those evil rich people, as they think they are ENTITLED to the life style I just outlined. Work hard to achieve it? That's not in the plan at all, it should be given to them.

Ha.. I really hate having that same problem. I have my three sitting.. decisions, decisions.. Plus I had to go out of town for a week, so valuable time is clicking off the clock without making a decision..