Contractor Finished

 My bus contractor finished the contract! Pacific Builders Remodel, Humberto and Jr did a fantastic job and on time.

Wyndi and Izzy try out the cushions made by Fernando Palmatruillo. Look good and feel like they will sleep nice too.

Storage above the head of the bead.

It seems like  I waited a long time to see the shower completely installed.

More Kitchen Cabinets

New cabinets above counter and stove.

 

A couple coats of tong oil. I moved the stove to get the edges.

 

Kitchen Update

 The guys are working fast lately. The kitchen lower cabinets, sink and range are in. Now starting on the couches. They are going faster than i can update the blog!

The sink and stove in already

The ends of the couches.

Another view of the sink and stove.

I tried really hard to upload a video, but blogger does not like any of my tries lately. We have to get the fridge in before finishing the couch because the arm will block the door. I measured several times, but today it says the fridge is 1/2" wider than the side door I planned to load it through! So it has to come in the main front door and over the couch.

The electrical is starting too. The box is in but the breakers are on the slow boat from  California.

Starting the Kitchen

The guys have almost finished the bedroom. The closets are done except for staining and sealing the shelves. And the electrical has not been installed. I'm planning on 110 volt outlets at the head of the bed. The lights will be 12 volt LED strips in front of the closets.

Passenger side shelves for clothes and such

The closet rod is not up yet. The space between the wall and ceiling will be cedar planking, but maybe last.

Driver side closet hanging rod and shelves

The bathroom is almost finished too. Just lacking the trim at the top, light and a little more stain and seal. You can't see the floor in the bathroom because the kitchen counter top is leaning here.

Composting toilet drivers side

The shower and electrical closet are coming along. The shower needs the plastic wall panels and lights.  The batteries and inverter/charger are in place.

Electrical closet next to shower.

The start of the kitchen counter and cabinets. The counter top and breakfast bar higher, with the back splash being even with the center of the windows. That's the on-demand hot water heater in the floor. The water pump and pressure tank are in the back of the electrical closet.

Start of the framing for the kitchen

A video tour, part one:

A video tour, part two:

The Plumbing is Happening

The guys wanted to finish the plumbing first. So first was to put the barrels underneath. I pulled the bus down the street, over a dip at the bottom and had just enough room. 3 barrels under. Then back in Wyndi's driveway. 

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Adjusting the barrels up it became obvious that only 2 barrels will fit. Back down the street to the dip and take out one. And back in the driveway.

The gray water tank plumbing from the shower. But from the sink is not visible.

The fresh water tank plumbing includes a vent, fill, drain and line to the pressure pump.

Inside is an instant on hot water heater on the floor, pump and pressure tank in the corner and the back of the shower.

So we are making progress again.

Water Tanks

I hired a contractor to finish up the bus. So the first thing is water tanks underneath.

There's no room inside for them, so I'll hope we don't let them freeze.

I decided to go with 55 gallon blue plastic barrels. Two for freshwater and one for the kitchen sink and shower drains.

He has them all ready including the brackets and support blocks.

There's a catch though, they are too big to fit under the edge of the bus.

We plan to drive the bus over a dip in the driveway so that they can slide the barrels to the center where they will be up between the chassis frames.

Lower Bed Frame and Shower Walls

It doesn't seem like I did much this week. I had decided that the bed frame was too high. The mattress was thicker that I thought it would be when I made the frame. I lowered it by the width of a 2x4. So now I hope the pillows will not fall off the head onto the shelf in front of the window. The night stands may be a little more accessible now too.

I finally cut out the shower walls and set them in for a test fit. I may wait until I have the plumbing to install them permanently. I want to put spray foam insulation around the bottom to keep any bugs out from under it too.

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Toilet Getting Close - About 11 Weeks

The shower hasn't changed much the past few days. I put up the back wall with only a few screws cause I figured I'd forgot something. Yep, forgot to add the insulation in the bottom 10". So next will be to try again. The curved piece below left is the roof pattern for cutting the wall boards.

The first coat of stain and Wipe On Poly, polyurethane. You really can't quite see the seats and shelves up on the front wheel well.

The shelves in and the seat in place. I've yet to install the hinges. Haven't decided how to finish the upper wall. I may have a shelf above the window to integrate too.

The view from just forward looking back. I like the brick wall. It will get trim on the outside corners.

Being in lock-down, I can't take advantage of Eldon and Chip's shop. So I found a used table saw on OfferUp. It's a 9" saw but only came with an 8" blade, so it will not cut a 2x4. I need several pieces of outside corner molding and they are more than $7.50 each at Home Depot. $40 for a saw, so I can make my own for less.

Here's a video tour to date. I had to reduce the size before blogger would upload it. There is getting to be no room to work inside any more. I'm going to have to stop and cleanup soon!

The time-lapse of the past week or so. I had a lot of battery problems with the little camera. And the wor on the toilet area is behind the wall!

Shower Wall Frame and Toilet Seat

I got stuck on the shower so I went back to the toilet some more. The basic part is almost done now. Both tops open on hinges. The toilet seat for access to the composting bucket and some small storage. The smaller near side opens to a storage compartment for the peat-moss and compost litter.  Staining and polyurethane yet to go. And of course the walls. The clothes closet on the far side is still a dream that is not complete.

Composting toilet

Then I went back to the shower stall. Finally decided how to put up the hall wall frame. And the frame for a narrow cabinet on the near side. And shallow shelves on on the back side for bedroom clothes storage. Of course an original speaker and an overhead light fixture were directly in the way. Not sure about the speakers, but the lights will be converted to LEDs if not completely removed.

32 x 32 shower stall.

And a view of both. It is begining to look like I am doing something now. But I'm sure it will slow down again.

And last, the video of an old guy with saggy pants.

Shower Pan

The wainscoting is up by the bed now. A little more insulation is up too. Still need to make the trim and molding. So there is lots more to do.

Starboard by the bed.

I decided to sink the shower pan an inch into the sub-floor to give me a little more headroom. I cut a 3 inch hole in the floor! Then I had to make it 4 inch! Arrg.

Now I can stand in the shower and my head just touches the roof. It is just sitting in place ready to build the walls and attach. There are no tanks, plumbing, pumps or anything yet.

But now I can start designing the walls.

And the video ...

April Fools

A little more work on the starboard side by the bed. Ready for the wainscot, the white beadboard to cover the foam insulation.

Trinda insists that she wants wood trim in the upper corners above the windows. Possibly 12 inches of cedar tongue and groove.

 And the time lapse:

A few days thinking, trying to decide on the design and placement of the shower. I finall decided the drain has to miss the beams and storage compartment below and the way the wall studs next to the windows should be placed.

Then I realized that the 110 volt wires need to be passed through the overhead to the other side. So I paused and fed the wires across, leaving plenty extra on each end. I don't know where the inverter is going to be or which circuits should be on separate  breakers.

So here is the next time lapse as of today, Apr 5.