The drywall was definitely the toughest task
After talking with several electricians, including my building inspector who was a former construction foreman, I learned how to do the wiring. I wired the entire inside of the studio, which was not too difficult. Once again, just labor intensive. Although I wired the studio, I hired an electrician to fire up the circuit box and make the power live.
With the electrical complete, I started the drywall. Since I was able to work well into the night, and with the cable installed, I moved my TV in to keep me company. Unlike the other tasks, working with the drywall proved extremely challenging. Due to it's weight, I found myself struggling to lift the sheets and was relieved when I was placing the lower sheets. I didn't think I was going to come out of this alive. This truly wore me out!
My Dad came over to help hang the drywall on the ceiling. We needed a special tool to help lift the sheets. With the unique shape of the studio, a lot of math was required. On a normal 600 square foot studio, the ceiling might have taken 4-5 hours to complete. My studio took 2 days! It was worth it! Once again, I had a great time with my Dad.
After painting several rooms in my house by paint brush and roller, I vowed not to do that in the studio. I rented a paint sprayer, which made the job a breeze. I painted the entire studio in less than two hours.
At one point, I considered doing the stucco myself. But by the time it was time for this task, I was so worn out, plus, I had proven everything I set out to prove to myself. I decided to hire a crew. It felt great to stand back and watch. These guys worked in total unity; it was something to see! Here they are applying the final coat, the color.
It took four months to complete, and $25,000 fully loaded! By doing this myself, I saved a ton of money!
I do not know which was more of an accomplishment, physically building the studio, or mentally overcoming the many people who felt it their duty to keep reminding me that I would fail!
This was such an awesome project for me that I will never forget. At the time of building it, I swore I would never do it again. However, looking back at these photos, I am reminded of what an incredible experience this was and I look forward to more projects in the future. If you have the determination and the time, even the most seemingly impossible goals are worth tackling, because the rewards are incredible!
Completed 2003!
Chapter 6 Beautiful Deck & Landscape
