Making a built in altar?

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[Binanca]

As a pseudo home owner I would like to have some permanent built in conveyances as I’m trying to be a better Wiccan and actually do some rituals to thank the Lord and Lady for things that I am blessed with at the moment.  My plan is to have shelves recessed into a wall, with an alter attached to the wall under the shelves at waist level, I also want narrow cupboards under the alter that can be locked so I can keep my incense and Athame and other things like that locked up so little hands (and not so little hands) don’t get into where they don’t belong.

Now comes the problem: my dear sweet father comes over to help and he pulls out the little device to find where the studs are.  He spends several minutes saying things like ‘Hmmm’ and ‘That’s odd’.  Then he checked some other walls and repeated the same cryptic words.  My father is not ‘good’ with this kind of stuff so he needs to concentrate and I didn’t want to asking what was so odd.

Eventually put is device away and said ‘For some inexplicable reason the studs in all the walls are only 9 inched apart, not 16 like they should…9.  I really don’t want to mess around in there without knowing why.’

So should I just not mess with it and make a better movable alter than I already have?  Or should I barrow the neighbor's chain saw and go for it?

Bianca

[Devo]

So should I just not mess with it and make a better movable alter than I already have?  Or should I barrow the neighbor's chain saw and go for it?

Honestly? Get a professional and do it right (IMO).

If you want a nice altar- an altar that makes your jaw drop, and looks really good- don't screw up your walls by messing around where you're not sure. Get someone who knows what they are doing, and make sure the job is done right- the first time. Last think you want to do is to go messing around cutting into your walls- messing up the structure of the studs, accidentally cutting water and electrical lines, and then having to pay more to fix what was started.

It may cost more to get a contractor, but as I've always been taught- if you're going to do something, do it right. I'm sure the gods will appreciate the quality.

-Devo

[Dragondaughter]

Honestly? Get a professional and do it right (IMO).

If you want a nice altar- an altar that makes your jaw drop, and looks really good- don't screw up your walls by messing around where you're not sure. Get someone who knows what they are doing, and make sure the job is done right- the first time. Last think you want to do is to go messing around cutting into your walls- messing up the structure of the studs, accidentally cutting water and electrical lines, and then having to pay more to fix what was started.

It may cost more to get a contractor, but as I've always been taught- if you're going to do something, do it right. I'm sure the gods will appreciate the quality.

-Devo

As a carpenter's daughter, I have to agree with everything Devo said. I can't count the times over the years that my Dad and I have had to go back in and fix things that home owners have screwed up. You might be able to find the original plans for the house at the planning commission for your county, but some don't keep them. Messing with the studs on a weight bearing wall without blocking them properly will cause problems later.

Things like this take time and care to do correctly. The only time my Dad uses a chain saw on a building is when it's a complete demolition, and that's after all the electrical and water is cut off from the place. He then finds the bulk of them, because nothing will ruin a chain saw faster than accidentally hitting a copper water line!!

Just my two coppers....

[Binanca]

As a carpenter's daughter, I have to agree with everything Devo said. I can't count the times over the years that my Dad and I have had to go back in and fix things that home owners have screwed up. You might be able to find the original plans for the house at the planning commission for your county, but some don't keep them. Messing with the studs on a weight bearing wall without blocking them properly will cause problems later.

Things like this take time and care to do correctly. The only time my Dad uses a chain saw on a building is when it's a complete demolition, and that's after all the electrical and water is cut off from the place. He then finds the bulk of them, because nothing will ruin a chain saw faster than accidentally hitting a copper water line!!

Just my two coppers....

Ok, the chain saw bit was just a joke, but I would like to use one someday, it looks dangerously exciting.  You both are probably right; I should just leave it alone jet some professional help, of some kind or another.

Thank you for your help, Devo and Drangondaughter, I do appreciate it.

Binanca

[stephyjh]

Ok, the chain saw bit was just a joke, but I would like to use one someday, it looks dangerously exciting.  You both are probably right; I should just leave it alone jet some professional help, of some kind or another.

Thank you for your help, Devo and Drangondaughter, I do appreciate it.

Binanca

Get a professional, and then feel free to PM me about my grandmother's adventures in chainsaw demolition (open to telling anyone, but I don't want to derail the thread).

Load-bearing walls are nothing to play around with, and if the studs are that close together, chances are there's a reason. Hire a contractor, and be ready to agree to using a different wall if necessary (if you have another that will work, that is).

[Caomi_Brannon]

Honestly? Get a professional and do it right (IMO).

If you want a nice altar- an altar that makes your jaw drop, and looks really good- don't screw up your walls by messing around where you're not sure. Get someone who knows what they are doing, and make sure the job is done right- the first time. Last think you want to do is to go messing around cutting into your walls- messing up the structure of the studs, accidentally cutting water and electrical lines, and then having to pay more to fix what was started.

It may cost more to get a contractor, but as I've always been taught- if you're going to do something, do it right. I'm sure the gods will appreciate the quality.

-Devo

I second this. If you really want to build it yourself, though, at least get the contractor in to advise you. Chances are the people who built the house just messed up. We moved into a house once where all of our doors would pop open from time to time. Scared us to death (as both me and my adoptive mother believe in/have had experience with spirits) until we got a carpenter friend of ours to look at it and fix the issue. But hiring a contractor to build your altar/give you a consult will be a lot cheaper for in the long run than going in blind and possibly messing up your walls.

[Derek]

My plan is to have shelves recessed into a wall, with an alter attached to the wall under the shelves at waist level, I also want narrow cupboards under the alter that can be locked so I can keep my incense and Athame and other things like that locked up so little hands (and not so little hands) don’t get into where they don’t belong.

So should I just not mess with it and make a better movable alter than I already have?  Or should I barrow the neighbor's chain saw and go for it?

If you have the resources for it and the room is large enough, you could cheat.  Build an entire false wall around where you want the recess.  About 1 foot deep should be plenty.  You could even cabinet the remaining wallspace.

You could leave it free-floating which would mean more structural elements, or you could attatch it to the wall.  Making it a true built in.

[mandrina]

If you have the resources for it and the room is large enough, you could cheat.  Build an entire false wall around where you want the recess.  About 1 foot deep should be plenty.  You could even cabinet the remaining wallspace.

You could leave it free-floating which would mean more structural elements, or you could attatch it to the wall.  Making it a true built in.

If you are only a pseudo homeowner (unless this is a synonym for still owing the bank), then the freefloating up agaisnt the wall would be your best bet.

[Binanca]

If you are only a pseudo homeowner (unless this is a synonym for still owing the bank), then the freefloating up agaisnt the wall would be your best bet.

By pseudo home owner I mean it’s in the family and I’m buying out my siblings interest in it so it’s only sort of home ownership.

I do like the idea of a free floating wall, and as soon I am I’m feeling better I’m to start calling people.  I was hoping to do it myself but it seems like I should start on something easier. 

Thanks
Bianca

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