Step 1 - Start assembling all the pieces. It takes a real professional to put one of these together--you have to have a keen knowledge of sophisticated connection hardware. In other words, does the nut go on the bolt first, then the washer? Or does the washer go on first, then the nut? It takes a cool head and calm disposition to do this. [So you're wondering, why is Dad doing it then?]
Step 2 - Move the assembled pieces into the Assembled Pieces Installation Area. The smiley one is Ken, one of our ace carpenters. I'm the one on the other end, sweating like a dog. We're moving the slide from the Office into the little hallway area outside the Home Theater entrance.
Step 3 - Muscle the almost fully assembled slide into position. This thing really is heavy. It's incredibly sturdy and has a 30" diameter--big enough for adults, even though adults would never dream of going down it.
Step 4 - Prop it up into final position.
Step 5 - Install the 90-degree end piece on top, frame in the opening, and attach it to the faceplate. This is the slide entrance up in the East Loft looking into the Bumper Car Room. Amazingly it all worked out to the exact right length! This is truly a miracle of almost Biblical proportions.
Step 6 - Inspect it from the top down...waayyyy down. The Inspector (Mom) says, "Looks great guys! Nice long run. Should build up enough speed to really pop the kids out the other end. Well done gentlemen." The crew is very pleased to hear The Inspector's pronouncement.
Step 7 - Inspect the landing area. Here's where the Evel Knievels will pop out. Still need to get some more pieces to finish it off properly--it's a little high right now. The little opening to the left of the end of the slide is meant to be a crawl-through for the little ones (so they're not running through the Home Theater to race upstairs for another hair-raising ride).
Step 8 - Final Inspection. The Inspector wanted to make sure the grandkids could get through the crawl-through. So she tested it herself. She squeezed through just fine and stated, "If a big momma like me can get through this mouse hole, then anyone can." So let it be written, so let it be done.Now all we need to do is finish framing up around the Super Slide, fill in the areas around it with insulation, sheetrock it...and enjoy!!!
8 comments:
1. I like how your post was done at midnight
2. Is this really a slide? For real?
Dear Daughter:
1. You have to post them when you can.
2. Of course it is. How could you possibly doubt me?
Don't you think a 30-foot indoor tube slide sounds fun? Of course, the Fleming kiddos are probably too calm and cultured to want to engage in a wild, fun activity like this--but I think the other grandkids will LOVE IT!!!
Actually LeeAnn, you caught me. No, it's NOT a Super Slide (who would be dopey enough to take up valuable indoor space on such a silly thing).
It's actually a laundry chute that goes from the East Loft down into a tiny back corner on the second floor behind a wall alongside the Home Theater.
All the dirty clothes from the attic are sent down the chute and pop out where no one will ever see them again. This way Mom doesn't have to wash them (which increases our carbon footprint) and haul them back upstairs (which increases her stairs footprints). The dirty clothes simply disappear. It's a big win-win for both Mom and the environment.
re: step #6
This really is not a verticle drop. Dad likes to make life exciting (have you ever noticed that?) so he took the picture at a slant. Just look at it with your head tilted about 45 degrees.
And the bumper car room...
This is a space that provides access to the air handler for the HVAC. You know Dad.. he couldn't stand to see any possible space wasted, so he had them finish it off. It's only about 4 feet high. So we thought it would be wise to get some creepers like mechanics use, (we had some in Jr Hi P.E.) to make it easier for anyone having to access that stuff to get in and out. Then we started thinking about how much fun kids would have scooting around in there. Hence: it became the bumper car room. Jenny suggested we make the walls free for writing on (ala Kevin). I'm all for it. Please tell dad you think it's a great idea!
I think the laundry chute idea would have sounded really inviting 20 years ago. I only have to do 2 or 3 loads a week now.
Oh yeah...
The carpenters are drawing numbers to see who gets to be the first one down.
Someone posted about you on a blog?
http://gizmodo.com/5028441/
awesome-adults-build-giant-indoor
So apparently it is a WATER slide
A WATER slide? Oh, great. That means I'm going to have to figure out how to get a hose up to the attic. Then when all the water comes out at the bottom it's going to leak through the floor and pour into the garage below. I guess if we parked the car under the leak we'd never have to wash it again--it would get doused with water whenever we turned the "Water Slide" on.
So, this isn't just a Super Slide anymore--it's a Super Slide Car Wash. Mom is REALLY going to be excited when she hears about this!
Well, what do you know? I thought we were going to have a washing machine in that downstairs laundry room. But now, anyone with dirty clothes will be invited to turn on the water in the attic and just go down the slide a few times! I guess we can just use that downstairs room for something else. I'm sure Dad will come up with something good!!!
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