Welcome to Thunderdome

Posted: **Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:36 pm**

There's a question at the end of all this.

So for the last few years I have been planning on building an outdoor vegetable-washing station out near the gardens. Often times I pick a basket full of stuff for supper, bring it all inside to wash, and the bugs I that didn't see, scatter. So I wanted to be able to wash the bugs out while I am outside.

I built it with 2 existing fence posts, and put in 2 new posts. I built redneck extensions to make the existing posts higher, as you can see.

And I put a nice roof on it and e'rything....

But the thing is, I have been saving this old piece of linoleum counter-top I saved from the kitchen remodel project a few years ago for just this reason. I planned on putting the sink in that section, having a couple feet of prep area, and the rest of the 4 feet I would just slap in a piece of wood, stain/seal both pieces (the raw part of the linoleum especially, so it doesn't absorb moisture), and call it good.

But now that I am seeing it dry fitted, I think have 2 different surfaces looks ghetto, and I should just buy a single piece of wood and then it will look nice.

New piece of wood will only cost me about $40, I already have the stain and shit.

Thoughts? Does the half piece of actual counter-top look nicer than would a uniform piece of stained and finished pine counter-top?

Posted: **Wed Jul 09, 2014 8:05 pm**

Does the half piece of actual counter-top look nicer than would a uniform piece of stained and finished pine counter-top?

No.

Posted: **Wed Jul 09, 2014 8:17 pm**

I could pretend the actual counter-top was the washing station and the wood was a butcher block.

My wife's chick friends on facebook are saying the mismatch looks fine, but chicks, man. You know? Chicks.

Posted: **Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:12 pm**

GORDON wrote:I could pretend the actual counter-top was the washing station and the wood was a butcher block.

My wife's chick friends on facebook are saying the mismatch looks fine, but chicks, man. You know? Chicks.

It's not the mismatch. Wood looks better, particularly outside. It's half a decent top.

Posted: **Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:18 pm**

What if I kept the mismatch and disguised the midline by gluing down some tile pieces so it looks all artsy.

Posted: **Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:20 pm**

GORDON wrote:What if I kept the mismatch and disguised the midline by gluing down some tile pieces so it looks all artsy.

Increasing the amount of tile is not the goal.

Posted: **Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:25 pm**

Heh. It's the cosmetic aspect I have been wrestling with, for utility anything is fine.

Right this second I am leaning toward leaving it as you see it and making it a mini art project, and see how I like it. I can always change it to a solid piece next year with the minimal extra effort if I decide I hate it.

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2014 3:47 pm**

So here's what I did:

Bought a couple pieces of floor tile of different colors, $2 each. Broke them up. Came up with a design. Used landscape adhesive to put them in place.

The wood portion of the top is actually a good piece of oak that I had left over from when I built my desk. It just happened to be the exact size I needed, I didn't cut it at all.

Added some cross-supports for the structure at the end... it was a little more wobbly than I liked. Plus those 2 long boards in the back will keep some of the rain from blowing in during storms.

Once the adhesive was dry I went ahead and grouted (a first for me) and sealed it all up, twice.

The entire thing is sealed up. All exposed particle board on the linoleum section got a coating of the same red stain/sealant that went on the fence, and the oak portion got sealed up with outdoor polyurethane. The dark brown trim around the whole thing is also sealed with poly, and I put silicone along the top seem to keep water from getting behind it. So we should be good.

Just need to run to Menard's to get a garden hose ---> sink faucet adapter, and I can call it done.

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2014 3:55 pm**

My first thoughts on comments:

1. To be finished sometime in 2018.

2. He's slowly and subtly moving his wife out.

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:01 pm**

All the wood for the project cost about $100. Two bundles of shingles, $70. Had nails, tar paper, and staples for the tar paper, already. Drip edge around the roof perimeter, about $12.

SO, approximately $200+time project so I wouldn't bring bugs in the house when I pick vegetables in my garden. Maybe $250... yeah, cost of tile and grout and stuff.

Shut up, worth it to me.

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:04 pm**

Leisher wrote:2. He's slowly and subtly moving his wife out.

He's moving outside to get away from his wife. The plans for the semi-open cabin are in the works.

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:06 pm**

Malcolm wrote:
Leisher wrote:2. He's slowly and subtly moving his wife out.

He's moving outside to get away from his wife. The plans for the semi-open cabin are in the works.

That actually isn't far from the truth. About the livable outbuilding, that is.

I need more space for brewing and a gym and a big garage and stuff.

Edited By GORDON on 1405541194

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:09 pm**

On a side note, I ended up with poly all over my hand, one night (I was low on disposable brushes and tried to wash one off... mistake). Fingers all sticking together and shit. Know what takes it off? Vegetable oil. Slather it on, rub it in, then wash your hands in soap and water.

Edited By GORDON on 1405541524

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:42 pm**

$5 bucket of water. Swish vegetables in water. Dump out bug filled water.

Why were you worried about water proofing calk. . . when it's outside. . . . in the rain.

And be sure to rinse all the bugs out of your sink before rinsing the bugs out of your food.

The birds will appreciate the roof over their new stainless bird bath.

Is the hose feeding it permanent, or do you have to move it when you mow?

Thought I just had. . . should have built it up on/by your deck. It could eventually become a wet bar for entertaining. Now it looks too far from the deck for that. "Boy, I sure could use a drink." "Let me go way to the back corner of my yard and fix you one!"

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:49 pm**

QUOTE
$5 bucket of water. Swish vegetables in water. Dump out bug filled water.

What am I, an animal?

Why were you worried about water proofing calk. . . when it's outside. . . . in the rain.

So moisture doesn't get in the seems and support mold and mildew.

Is the hose feeding it permanent, or do you have to move it when you mow?

The faucet is under the counter, I ran that out there a bunch of years ago to make watering the garden easier. I will just put a splitter on it so I can still use the hose for the garden even when it is attached to the sink. Also, I disconnect it every Fall so it doesn't freeze up.

Thought I just had. . . should have built it up on/by your deck. It could eventually become a wet bar for entertaining. Now it looks too far from the deck for that. "Boy, I sure could use a drink." "Let me go way to the back corner of my yard and fix you one!"

It may get expanded to a full-on entertaining area, but that's a few years down the road after I get the rest of my land fenced and the beehives and chicken coop in place. Not a hard job moving the raised beds.

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2014 8:44 pm**

It just suddenly hit me why the color of grout I chose, "Delorian Gray," is funny.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:36 pm**

Cakedaddy wrote:Is the hose feeding it permanent, or do you have to move it when you mow?

I don't know what kind of slapdash operation you think I am running, here.

Permanent water spigot terminates under the counter. I put a splitter on it so I could have everything plugged in at once. Even have room for expansion.

I washed my hands out here today after I weeded the garden. It's like it is already paying for itself.

Leisher wrote:My first thoughts on comments:

1. To be finished sometime in 2018.

It is now 100% done.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:37 pm**

It's like it is already paying for itself.

You were charged some kind of toll walking from your garden to the sink in your indoor kitchen?

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:39 pm**

Paying for itself in convenience.

And awesomeness.

This is WAY better than the outdoor kitchen you built.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:52 pm**

Not going to paint it? Or do we just not have a painted picture?

Welcome to Thunderdome

My outdoor kitchen