I've had a few inquiring about how that big job I've been working on is going. Here's some pics.
This is what we started with. A local contractor poured this from a detailed drawing I gave him.
First day I was off to a bit of a slow start. I was by myself and took awhile to get my confidence. I got about 1/2 a pillar done.
Day two I had the help of my sister and my hubby Don. We completed the first pillar and finished the whole second one as well (this sucka is double-sided)
Day three was a great day. We got the sign applied on both sides. Nice of them to hold it while I snap the pics isn't it? I told my sister her butt may be on the internet!!
By the end of day three we had all the signs mounted and most of the brickwork done on one side.
Today was day four and we hoped to get the second side bricked, but we ran out of sand. We made a quick trip to get some (2hr round trip) and was too late to finish so tommorrows another day.
We still need to grout all the joints and apply post caps and wheat sheafs to the pillars.
This has been a real learning experience, and a great amount of fun.
Thanks for your support! It helped me get at it!!!
Suelynn
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
wow!!! you are da chick! thats awesome...you doin a great job!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
Go SL - I'm impressed. (my back would've been killing me after day one) Can you give us a little more play-by-play on installing the stone? And a pic when the plastic comes off.......
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
great Job Suelynn! The pics almost make it look easy. Probably a dumb question, but do you have to do a lot of cutting to get things to layout? Do you do that with a sledge & chisel, or a wetsaw?? It looks great however you did it.
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
Very impressive...
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
That is so cool! I can't wait to see what it looks like when it is done!
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Real nice Sue. You have more guts than I do. lol
Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
That is soooo above and beyond "sign work" to do all the brick too.
Looks great!!!!
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Very nice Suelynn..Looking forward to seeing the final pictures.
I hope this project gets you more of the same! (if you want them, that is?)
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
You take my breath away Suelynn, the stone masons are going to be looking for you. A truly beautiful job. I am with Doug on the question of the placement of thr stones. It appears that they were precut to fit the sign.
Posted by Elaine Beauchemin (Member # 136) on :
wow! most impressive. Very nice and class act. You rock! Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
Thanks for the kind words.
The cultured stone is in a pattern called cobblefield. Every piece is individual, and they come in a huge box of assorted sizes. We try not to cut them as much as we can, so most of the day is spent wandering around with a brick in each hand, trying to fit them in. The pattern is one of the reasons I was nervous. To look natural, it needs to look level in a "random" sort of way.
Originally, we were going to build the base out of treated lumber and cover it with tar paper and then metal lathe. It was only a couple thousand more to have the contractor switch from a wood base to building forms and pouring it, and we got scared that with a sign this size, the wood may have been a mistake. Because it is concrete, we could skip the metal lathe, and stick the stones directly on. Some recommend applying the mortor to the wall and then pushing the stones on. Some of these suckers are pretty heavy, and the supplier recommended buttering the back of each individual stone and applying it. We wet each stone in a bucket of water and sprayed the concrete with a spray bottle before applying. We are making cuts with a masonary blade on a circular saw, or nipping corners with nippers or a chisel and a hammer. It's usually better to use the saw, ask me how I know
I'm learning lots. In hindsite, I kinda wish I'd gone for stucco for the background and just done the pillars. It's almost too much with the whole thing stone, but who the hell knows how to stucco??? LOL
Suelynn
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
Just thought I'd add that the stones come in "flats" and "corners". The corners are preformed in all different sizes, so you start by applying them, and then fill in the centers and the background with the flats. You can get river rock, stacked shale, all kinds of beautiful stones.
Suelynn
[ September 12, 2005, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Suelynn Sedor ]
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
Suelynn you make an old veteran like me proud! It takes a lot of guts to bite off a job that big and involved.
Posted by Stevo Chartrand (Member # 2094) on :
Nice work Linnie!!! It's good to see this project finally coming togther.
Stevo
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
What a great job Suelynn!! Now we know why you were so nervous; this is a huge job. Very nicely done done and one gutsy girl that pulled it off. Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
That "ROCKS". Now I really do wish I had come down - what a learning experience . That beats the pants off sheet metalling your own roof. I gotta go wear a dress for a while - you da girl Can't wait to see the finished project....Proud of you Linnie. Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
Kudos to you Linnie...that's one terrific job. It's a great one for your portfolio.
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Wow! You really get to the biggies don't ya! You're my sign chic hero! Can't wait for the finished picture!
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
When you said "big job", you weren't exagerating! Nice!
I see a beautiful new fireplace in your future.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Suelynn
We've done quite a bit of work with that type of stone over the years on signs and other projects of that size. Speaking from experience... your project looks fabulous! Each project, like you say, is a learning experience and then some.
Hold your head high, for there aren't too many folks who could tackle a project like this from start to finish and pull it off.
I can hardly wait to see the finished pictures!
Great stuff!
-grampa dan
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Far Out!
What a supreme job, from design to done! Really something to be proud of!
Are you looking forward to doing more like it?
Nettie
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Man that is so cool. I'm designing a sign for our township hall. Maybe I'll throw this type of sign into this project. Very very nice.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Let's get back closer to the beginning.... Did you spec out the size of the columns and face to accommodate an even number of stones to minimize cutting? What is the foundation under it? How broad and deep? Did you need to get it engineered? What is the background behind the letters? Can you receive our words of praise without getting unreasonably puffed up with pride? Thanks much for sharing your life with us.
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Beautifull job, congradulations !
Roger
Posted by Bob Kaschak (Member # 3146) on :
Wow, what in impressive sign, design, size, creation, etc.
You should feel very proud of yourself for tackling such a big project.
Top notch, and very classy.
Nothing is impossible now.
Peace out, Bob
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
quote: I'm learning lots. In hindsite, I kinda wish I'd gone for stucco for the background and just done the pillars. It's almost too much with the whole thing stone, but who the hell knows how to stucco??? LOL
Oh, come on, Suelynn, we all KNOW that you will be doing stucco very soon. Who or what can stop you?
That is a terrific job! I'm so proud of you. Hey, are those Gemini letters?
Posted by Mark Yearwood (Member # 2723) on :
WOW! I'm impressed! It takes guts to jump into something like that. I have always wanted to work with that type of stone but have been intimidated. Now I have been inspired..and by a GIRL! Posted by Bob Nugent (Member # 3743) on :
There are many posts here about who's good and whose not. And there are many posts about what's profitable and what's not, but the pride that you can have with this job is priceless. You just can feel good about a job well done. You don't have to ask whether you are good, your fellow letterheads make it abundantly clear that you are to be respected for your work.
Posted by Jerry VanHorn (Member # 4704) on :
SL GREAT JOB!!!!!
You mentioned STUCCO. Here is one we finished a few months back. We laid concrete block on a poured foundation. We used cultured stone and applied stucco for the background. The stucco was DRYVIT brand and was fairly easy to do. Sign face is carved urethane.
(my niece helped me lay all the block)
[ September 12, 2005, 05:07 PM: Message edited by: Jerry VanHorn ]
Posted by Jerry VanHorn (Member # 4704) on :
btw- (helpful hint coming)
I noticed you started at the bottom and worked up with the stone. I started at the top and work down. If the last piece you applied happens to fall it will not knock off 8 others on the way down.
( ask me how I know )
Posted by Susan Banasky (Member # 1164) on :
Double Wow.....great job!
Posted by Terry Baird (Member # 3495) on :
That's beautiful, Suelynn!
Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Suelyn, you are awesome! I can't believe you tackled that stone work alone. From you picture, you just look too "dainty" for the job. Again, you are awesome.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
All I can say is "Congratulations! Great job!
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
Way to go Suelynn......TLC is headed for Carnduff.....!!!
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
Thats beautiful work! Maybe you were a stone mason in another life, if you believe that kind of stuff. Thats definitely top-notch signwork and masonry to boot. You sure are talented Suelynn, along with being so doggone pretty too. Guys, the girls on this board are making us all sit up and take notice!
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Suelynn,
That is just as good if not better than some of the stonework done around here by "professionals". Pat yourself on the back. You've earned it. Posted by Russ McMullin (Member # 5617) on :
Amazing!
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
No wonder you were a little freaked-out about no help that day startin' this job!!!!
This is a 'Monumental' task!! (had to come up with SOME kind'a pun, Kelly used 'Rocks' )
Suelynn, you did an awesome job!! Now you know for sure you can do ANY thing!!
I love the way you framed the oval with the material, and how it adds curves to all the straight lines of the stones.
Please do post a finished pic!!!!!!
Posted by Carl Wood (Member # 1223) on :
What more can be added - OUTSTANDING Suelynn - how much water did ya go thru? you got Guts - I would have passed on that install myself - kinda gits me motivated to see you doin it - realize whut we can be missing - by farming too much out - what kind of Wheat are ya goin to put on the pillars? Again, Awesome job - BTW _ just curious as how you did the initial concrete forms -
Posted by Mikes Mischeif (Member # 1744) on :
Really Nice.
Seems like a sign like that would make a great article.
It's one aspect that's often overlooked, but I can't imagine shutting down for a week for a monster like that.
[ September 13, 2005, 01:50 AM: Message edited by: Mikes Mischeif ]
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
That's wonderful, Linnie- really good, & you were brave to attempt it- well done!
(could you have got some fake foam-type of rocks to stick on at all?)
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
Wow you guys! You sure know how to make a gal feel great. Don's been reading these posts too, he's been a great help. He also wants you all to know that he didn't go golfing, he helped on all 4 days of his days off. See why I've been married to him for 18 years??? ha ha
Don, we built a fireplace last year...that was my practice run with the cultured stone. We loved how it turned out and it wasn't that hard so that's how I got the crazy notion that I could do this!
Rick
quote: Did you spec out the size of the columns and face to accommodate an even number of stones to minimize cutting? What is the foundation under it? How broad and deep? Did you need to get it engineered? What is the background behind the letters? Can you receive our words of praise without getting unreasonably puffed up with pride?
The columns are 32"WX24"d. The stones are really too random to figure out any pattern in advance. The foundation is a concrete base - 22'X4' by 10" deep. There are three piles under it drilled 9' deep. I left the engineering and construction up to the carpenter. The sign is constructed on an old abandoned road, so the ground is really hardpacked with a layer of ashfalt under the base. The background behind the letters is black baked enamel aluminum. It had to be done in two pieces, so there is a seam down the middle. I'm trying not to get too puffed, I know I've still got LOTS to learn.
Lotti, yes they are gemini letters. I originally designed the sign with a nicer typestyle, but when we went with gemini, I had to pick a similar style. They are goldleafed.
Jerry, I absolutely love that sign you posted. How did you fill in the shape at the top of the sign? I started at the bottom, cause I thought if I went off-level or had to fill in a bunch of small pieces, it would be hidden by the post caps.
Sheila, I'm glad you like how the rocks circle the oval. I thought about making an hdu border, but it was going to be so much more in material and labour. We set aside the more narrow rocks to use as a frame. If we had just bricked them all level, alot of the ugly cut edges would have shown.
Carl, the wheat was formed by gemini letters. I drew it and sent them a file. I was really happy with how they turned out. They called me and told me they really liked them too, and said they wanted to put them in their next catalogue. I thought that was pretty cool!
John D. funny you would say that about the "past life" I feel like I've done this type of work before and so does Don! Yesterday, Don was caulking in the grout lines with a grout bag and he said to me, "I'm having this flash like I've done this before...maybe I did this in a past life". I told him maybe he was a cake decorator!!! ha ha
Thanks again for your support everyone. Back to work I go!!
Suelynn
[ September 13, 2005, 11:38 AM: Message edited by: Suelynn Sedor ]
Posted by Murray MacDonald (Member # 3558) on :
Linnie, just gotta add my congrats on a terrific job! Great composition and execution. And ain't it wonderful to be able to say "Yeah, I can do that." Does this mean you can now join the Masons? WooHah! MUR
Posted by lolita leblanc (Member # 3453) on :
verry nice and impressive,chic and will never be out of style, it's incredible that a women would get into such a complicated, big and heavy project!!
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
Suelynn:
You should send some pics to Signcraft.
If they write and publish a story, be sure you get plenty of extra copies (to share with clients, friends - and the local media).
It's almost too bad that people driving by have been able to see that beauty coming together. Makes me think you should have had some hoarding (Sedor Signs branding all over it) and organized an unveiling for the community (and primed the media in advance).
Just a few thoughts.
You are an inspiration!
Posted by Dave Draper (Member # 102) on :
Very Nice, Sue, and excelent work. I'm very impressed!
Just a note about the stucco monuments:
We have spent the last 5 years learing how to build the bigger, better sign, and finally became a wholsale manufacturer of EIFS monument signs. (I dont want to sound like and advertisment, so that business will not be named here)
( EIFS stucco systems do not approve of urethane hard coats as the first coat, but only approve of the nylon mesh wrap and cementitious brown coating, the the acrylic finish over the top. )
For those thinking it may be nice to do stucco monuments, its not easy to get your hands on DRIVIT or other brands of stucco.
If you can get your hands on the products, the learning curve is a long one, its a skilled trade dealing with plastering disciplines,(especially if you want the signs to hold up 30 + years) and most sign people are not skilled in plastering techniques.
We also had to convince the stucco manufactures we had volume sales, (not just one or two signs a year) in order to become certified SENERGY stucco systems applicators.
DRIVIT would not even consider us for applicator approval as there is already a DRIVIT contractor in this area (we letter their trucks and do their sign work...and they were instramental in keeping us OUT of their market.
However:
If our new monument sign building venture doesn't pan out, we WILL be bidding commercial and residental EIFS work. and we will be in their markets!
Posted by Pat Welter (Member # 785) on :
Just checked in and found this post...This is Fantastic Suelynn...Its Just a Grrrreat job lassie....
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Now I really do wish I had come down - what a learning experience . That beats the pants off sheet metalling your own roof. I gotta go wear a dress for a while - you da girl ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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No wonder you were a little freaked-out about no help that day startin' this job!!!!