Ready For Mud Season?

basswood

We just had our first two "Springy" days this weekend (almost hit 40*F today).

So the meltdown has begun and it is getting muddy out there. You might have seen this in another post of mine here, or in the Jan. '09 Fine Homebuilding Mag. (FHB), but for those who missed it... I build roll-up boardwalks for getting in and out of muddy places.

Here is a copy of the FHB tip I submitted and a couple of pics of one I built today. My new version is made of #2 common white oak (cheap right now):

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D.Foster

Very nice, and when your done you can build that Roll top desk you always wanted!!!

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IHI

Very nice trick, i always just buy a bunch of cheap OSB and throw it down that way big fatties down sink in the muck, no labor, no storing, dun. but the walk way is cool though

and to answer the original question, no i'm not, i hate this crap.

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Bodger

Those are cool Bass. Would they work as a small suspension bridge over gas line ditches?

basswood

might be a cool way to make a garage door.

Greg Di

Cool idea.

I would love to flank a deck perimeter with the contraptions, but I'm just too darn lazy to make these #1, and number #2 I have no place to store them.

But...I have a nearly unlimited supply of firehose...hmmm....

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basswood

Using sheet goods (OSB or ply rips or scraps) as a makeshift walkway never seems to work very well IMO.

One windy day, a friend of mine was hit in the face with a piece of plywood that was part of a makeshift walkway. A gust of wind hurled it into his face and peeled half of his face off...no joke. Laying on damp ground the bottom swells and the top dries out, so they cup, giving the wind a way to get under them.

These roll-up walkways are cheap... all I paid for the first time I made one was the screws (I got paid to haul off the salvaged decking and the fire hose was a gift from the local FD). Storage is not a problem. I have an extra one on the path from the house to the shop here.

I agree, though, mud season is not much fun.

basswood

hey bodger,

It would work nice for a play structure suspension bridge. You could run rope or cable inside the firehose for extra strength.

basswood

That is a good idea, mud can be tiresome to work in. They do roll up pretty tight for transport or storage... or can be stored flat or hung up.

I might make a version, with wider spaces between the boards, and hang them from the shop ceiling as trim drying racks (in pairs). When I don't need them, they would roll up and be tied at the ceiling.

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Greg Di

How many LF is that roll in the picture just to get an idea...

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basswood

Greg,

That section is just over 8 l.f.

Might be a good way to use cutoffs and salvage decking from tearouts. I use 30" boards.

KMac

I remember reading that tip!

basswood

KMac,

I think every builder should have a few of these. And decent temporary front steps! (but I digress).

When I roll these back up, I just throw them on my flatbed trailer and take them to the car wash, clean them up, take them to the shop, hang 'til dry, and reuse on the next job.

Have a great day,

Bass

basswood

Here are some pics of a walkway deployment and a link to a slide show on the roll-up boardwalk.

http://s436.photobucket.com/albums/q...view=slideshow

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Tinstaafl

Hmm. Now there's a challenge. If I know we'll need 'em for quite a while, I'll throw together a pair of stringers and a few treads out of whatever's lying around, and pitch 'em when the job's done.

Has anyone tried designing a re-usable variable height set of steps that would be worth the trouble of storing and transporting as needed?

Gold Tie

That is such a great idea!!! I'm actually involved in a pending deal (not construction related) with every fire department in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and east Texas. I'm gonna have to hit them up for their old hoses!!! I'll let you know if I end up with miles of it!!!

Did you get all that house from one local department?

basswood

Maybe ramps are the most adaptable to the "variable height" entries.

basswood

I got 150' of hose from one FD. I use 20' of hose for each 8' walk section. I've made 3 sections so far.

Tinstaafl

No doubt, though they do eat up longer lumber. And there are always those times when you have space restrictions. Just toying with the idea; never seriously sat down to think about it. Heck, I've gone through some fairly long-lasting jobs that we used a short stepladder throughout.

dkillianjr

Thats a cool idea basswood! I was just cussing the mud out today My boots were sinking a couple of inches deep!

Dave