On October 19th we were finally able to break ground for our new shed. What a relief it was to get the building underway. My husband and I had met with several obstacles with the building codes and new zoning regulations that went into effect in 2012. The paperwork for this project began in March 2015. We were able to wade through the codes to get our project approved, thankfully. I've been taking photos of the progress as the workmen seem to make huge strides daily with some aspects while others appear to be at a stand still. I do know with my architectural background that this is how it goes, but when it's your building it can be very difficult to keep that perspective. All building was completed on November 13th, now it's just a few final details that need completed, most will need to wait until warmer weather.
Follow the progress:
9/11/15 - site prep
There were a lot of things that needed to be done before we could break ground for the new shed. We wanted to place the new shed in the exact same place as the existing one. So began the really hard work in my opinion. We needed to pick a place to move the existing shed to while the new one was being constructed. This is so that we have somewhere to still store the items that are in the shed.
Mom, Dad and I spent an entire day emptying out the shed so there was as little weight in it as possible when we go to slide it to it new location in the yard temporarily. Dad also detached the smaller shed from the larger one so that we could move them easier. The next day Dad and Eric spent the morning moving the shed - it took them about an hour. When I got home from work I helped to move everything back into the shed to store until the new one is completed. About 15 minutes after we started to move items back in to the old shed - it started to rain. For the next hour plus we worked in the rain until all items were locked up again.
9/24-26/15 - more site prep
The only problem with doing things yourself is that you are still working full-time jobs attempting to get things completed and now we're are entering fall with shorter days and longer nights. We spent an evening moving the landscaping blocks to the side of the woodshed against the house. In the process of moving things, Eric hit the standpipe with the blade on the tractor...one more item to repair UGH!
We also needed to remove my beautiful corkscrew willow tree. That was very hard for me - I love my trees - I have been promised a large tree to replace it. I am hoping to get all the landscaping done in the spring 2016.
Our neighbors, Scott and "Hot Dog" came to complete the leveling of the site, and to grind the stump from my precious tree. It took them a few hours in the morning of the 25th to get the site graded for the new building. We were able to get all site prep done prior to our mini-vacation to VA.
10/18/15 - site prep finished
All items are ready for the delivery of supplies and for work to begin.
10/19/2015 - ground breaking
Today was very exciting - the months of anticipation is finally here! Now to control our excitement over the next few weeks until its completed.
**our 1st snag - waiting for the codes inspection for the post holes...
** our 2nd snag - a busted pipe casing
"what comes in 2's comes in 3's" as the saying goes. Wonder what #3 will be??
delivery of ALL the supplies came that afternoon...the excitement is increasing for us, so glad that things are FINALLY underway.
10/23/15 - setting the poles
today the builder was able to set the poles to begin the framework. So exciting!! They will work up to the header beams today.
10/26/15 - setting the trusses
today it really started to look like the barn that Eric and I have been envisioning this for the past 15+ years as we designed, redesigned, changed, added items to our "Barn".
10/27/15 - putting the doors in on the 2nd story. I wanted sliding barn doors, but I compromised with Eric on french doors - they open to the interior.
10/29/15 - the siding and roof have begun to go up...the roof had to be abandoned because of the winds being too strong. The steel siding was like a kite trying to put the roof up. The builders were unable to complete the siding today because of wind conditions. The barn sat in the same state for almost a week due to weather conditions.
11/3-4/15 - the siding was completed as far as they could go. Waiting for more supplies to be delivered before they can continue. Need more flashing, matching colored screws for the siding & roofing, and a few other items. They will return next week and are to also install the stairs after the concrete floor has cured.
11/5/15 - prep for concrete floor
Oh, WOW! we are in the final stretch. The stone is being brought in and graded for the concrete pour tomorrow. How exciting!
11/16/15 - some final preperations prior to the arrival of the concrete.
11/6/15 - pouring the concrete floor
11/7/15 - scoring the concrete
11/12/15 - the stairs go in
11/13/15 - the shed is finished (sorta)
There is still quite a bit that needs to be done to finish the build site work; however the building shell is complete and we can begin using it after the final building inspections. Many of these final details need to wait for warmer weather. On the few warm days that we'll be getting here and there over the next few weeks, Eric will be installing the flooring in the 2nd story, filling the expansion joints with silicone caulk, wiring the lights and outlets. Then comes the chore of emptying out the old shed and moving it into the new "barn", tear down the old sheds, hual away the debris.
