Metal Barn Roof ~ Done! :)

 

I cannot begin to express how wonderful it is to draft a blog about something that from start to finish went smoothly, if not absolutely perfectly. 

The roof!!

I always knew exactly what I wanted in regards to the roof.  I envisioned the workshop looking somewhat like an old, gutted, rehabilitated barn.  When I was a kid we had the best barn ever on our farm.  It was big.  There was a huge loft with a lot of hay in it, and a big rope swing.  I remember swinging on the rope swing and landing in the hay ~ laughing until my sides ached.  I absolutely love old barns ~ everything about them.  One of my favorite parts ~ the roof.  If you were raise on a farm, and/or in the country like me ~ you know there is nothing better than sitting under a metal roof on a rainy day.  So as you can see there was never any doubt that I would put a metal roof on the workshop (as I will the cabin). 

The only question that stumped me on the roof was which ridge line I wanted.  Let me just say that as I write this, I am laughing because "ridge line" is neither correct or a technical term, but it is the best I can do and recall as I draft this blog.  Anyway, I really looked to Steve (GC) and others for their opinion because all I knew was metal, galvenized..period.  With regards to a galvenized roof (plain, one might say), I know that everyone is doing colors these days...I guess I am a purist because I just cannot go down that road.  Sorry.

Also, a couple of learning lessons.  There is all sorts of ventilation, etc. coming out of the roof line that has to be considered, etc. with the roof and siding (to be discussed later) styles I had selected.  I highly recommend that you hire a great roofer (whatever it takes) and someone who knows all the extras that make it not simply a structure, but craftsmanship.  I may not know or understand all that Steve and his crew has done (bless my heart), but I know quality when I see it....the workshop is solid with great attention to detail, and I not only appreciate that but the lessons Steve is teaching me along the way...

So, it is February and we have a roof.  A beautiful roof.  A perfect roof.  :)

A Road for the Spring House (3rd Week in February 2010)

Around the first of February it was time to begin thinking and planning on a spring house.  I am very blessed to have a wonderful spring (actually more than one) on my land.  It sources out of Caney Cave (also on my land) and produces 65,000 gallons of water a day, gravity flow.  Now only a true "water man" could educate a girl like me on how wonderful gravity flow water is...not to mention what 65,000 gallons of water a day really MEANS.  Thankfully, I had such a man.  Yes, we could say that I really didn't "get it" :)  So, my water education began.  First, repair work had to be done on the existing water line coming out of the spring.  During a camping trip in the cave around New Year's Eve, I (yes me) had actually discovered some damage to the line.  In addition, we had to decide where the line needed to cross the creek before coming up and leading over to the workshop.  In lining that out, we had to bear in mind "The Cabin".  For those of you who don't know, the workshop is really only the beginning.  I have had plans for a log cabin in my back pocket for about 17+ years.  My first day on the land, I knew where I wanted the workshop and where I wanted the cabin....making both of those happen has been the rest of the story :).  So since the cabin will need to also be fed from this spring and subsequent spring house, where future structures, lines, etc. could be located had to be not only thought out, but drawn out (if only in our minds). 

In walks the best "water man" and a great GC.  Between the two of them, they had a "plan".  I had pointed out where I wanted the cabin, some trees I wanted to save, and a future picnic spot...the rest I left to them.  So when I came in that third weekend of February (2010), I was told I had a surprise.  As you can see from the pictures above, Wesley had not only fixed the water lines, but he had taken the dozer and built a road from past the workshop to the cabin, and then down to Caney Creek right in front of the cave, waterfall, and water line.  Seriously?!  It was a first edition :) 

I want to brag on Wesley some because frankly the pictures may oversimplify it.  First, the water line goes all the way up the waterfall/mountain you see behind the jeep (the dark line you see on the right from top to 3/4 up the picture) and back into the cave (the large dark spot you see to the left of the waterfall).  He had to troubleshoot that from the source all the way down to the creek, and then do any repairs.  The hike up there (not to mention with tools and supplies) is something to be proud of, to be sure.  Then he had to chainsaw his way to make a clearing from the creek up to the cabin site (which has been cleared ~ to some degree already).  Remember I had sustained substantial ice storm damage, but with help from others I had worked to clear out this spot (but we were no way done).   Then, he took the dozer and pushed over trees, etc. clearing a road all the way down.  This is the first time a vehicle has ever been to the creek (at least this section).  I was (and continue to be) impressed and thrilled (as the pictures above clearly show). 

So Wesley takes me down in the Jeep to unveil my surprise, and after the squealing and picture taking is over...decisions have to be made.  At first it seemed easy, put the spring house down near the creek (which will be below the future cabin) as we had originally discussed.  Problem!  Wesley had done such a wonderful job clearing out for the road, I now saw a bigger future picnic area.  What to do?!  We walked up and down that new road looking up and down that hollow from every angle trying to determine where there could be an alternate spot that worked functionally and aesthetically ;)  After a lot of head scratching, we agreed on a spot, but bless his heart it meant more work for him :(  The other side of this is that Wesley on that dozer is like placing a child in a candy store with a credit card...he really loves it (and he is very good with it).  So I was grateful, and felt only a teeny weeny bit guilty over the extra work.

The spring house will produce 20 gallons of water a minute ~ enough to supply the workshop and a future cabin.  Wow!!

So after a lot of work (95% Wesley) and a lot of head scratching (95% us), the spring house was well on its way.  One step closer...

The Deck ~ Bringing the Hollow to You

In between the snow and the window delivery (January to mid-Feb), the deck went up along with the rafters above it.  I had to share a small post about it with some photos.  Steve Fitzpatrick and his crew built the most beautiful deck.  It is 6' wide and the full length of the upstairs.  It is gorgeous!!! 

Just standing and sitting on it, I could imagine myself out there with a cup of coffee watching the sunrise, listening to the birds...I felt such peace even imagining it.  From every angle on the deck, you have the most beautiful view.  Looking out front, you have a straight shot down Caney Creek and Caney Hollow.  It is simply amazing!  To your right, you have another beautiful view of Caney Creek and the stunning bluff lines.  To your left, you have the engineering marvel of "the road" framed by the most beautiful bluff line I have ever seen, and a side creek that winds down from another hollow.

Wesley took pictures of me sitting on the deck, swinging my legs over the side of the deck, and generally acting goofy.  I am a little goofy.  I am also very, very happy.  The dream is coming true, and with every huge bout of stress there is also an amazing moment of WOW!  God is always good that way.  Isn't that amazing?  I sure think so. 

I also wanted to share a picture of me and Wesley on the new deck.  I am a private person (oxymoron considering I am blogging), but I feel inclined to share the blessing that is Wesley Shipman.  Through this process, he has been my true partner in crime, and I could not have done it without him.  There are lots of dreams that are coming true through this process.  I am starting to think the hollow is magical.  Wesley comes from excellent stock, and they have taken me in and made me one of them.  The Shipman family has been this huge cheering section for me, encouraging me to live the dream even when it looked bleak.  I am blessed to call them "my family".  Thank you ~ all of you!

Window Delivery ~ Finally (February 15, 2010)

Windows! 

I have been waiting patiently for months to write this post, and even now I am not completely comfortable telling the drama that became my window and door order.  As a student of management styles and techniques, let me start out with a little constructive feedback for myself ~ the notorious went wells and next times :). 

What I did well...the windows are absolutely gorgeous.  It is hard to tell that from the pictures with this post, but you will see...I did a great job selecting great windows, great color, great style, and chose a great manufacturer.  Okay, that is where it ends.  What I did not do well...I did not budget well.  I did not utilize my GC in the selection process.  I ultimately chose the worst retailer to order them through...EVER.  I ordered one too many windows, custom (so I get one for the cabin early:) ...due in no small part for the previous two noted errors.  Okay, I am going to stop...it still burns a little :(

I will certainly do a post at some point dedicated to the retailer that I purchased the windows and doors from...not as a bashing of them, though there is plenty of material, but as a learning lesson to share on what not to do.  Frankly too, who not to use.  For now, all I will say is I ordered the windows and doors the first of December, and mid-February (15th to be exact) the windows arrived (still no doors...read between the lines). 

To say that I was estatic to finally see the windows I had ordered 2 1/2 months earlier would be the understatement of the year.  The truck backed up to the driveway entrance at the top of the hill, and I watched them unload them one by one onto the dump trailer.  I inspected each as best I could, and I checked off the list twice to make sure everything was there.  My GC and Wesley were both there helping the door guys do all of this.  My GC, Steve Fitzpatrick, is amazing!  He handled what might have been a tense situation perfectly.  He protected the windows...perfectly.  They had to remain in the dump trailer at the top of the hill overnight.  The next day Steve and his crew would gently take the windows, one by one, down the mountain to place in the workshop.  There they would be stored as the installation, one by one, would begin.  It was a tedious process.  Precious cargo too.  I am highly uncomfortable describing how precious in monetary terms but no doubt we could not afford to damage one.  More important than my money, the construction progress had been delayed enough at this point...I needed to keep the crew working.  Time is money ~ for them, and they have families.  With the delays, I was learning the responsibility of running your own jobsite.  Weather delays ~ that is God.  Material delays ~ that rests with me.

Let me say this too at this point...Steve Fitzpatrick is amazing!  Wesley is amazing!  I could not be doing this without Steve and Wesley...period.  End of discussion.  I am so blessed.  I like to say that Wesley has become co-GC to Steve.  He is literally my eyes and ears on the ground which has been such a blessing and eased the frustration of being two hours away from the jobsite.  Also, my little sister Hilde and her husband David (who are general contractors in Northeast Arkansas) have been a rock for me with great advice and support.  You do not doing anything worth doing by yourself...no man is an island.  NO man (or woman:)! 

Finally I am getting closer to "being in the dry" as the contractors say....but not quite yet...

Snow!

Snow! Snow and more snow...January 2010 brought two snow storms, and they were beautiful!! They also slowed down the jobsite. Next lesson learned ~ maybe September is not the best start date for construction AND maybe the middle of winter is not the most optimum time to build at the bottom of a mountain...:)

In between the two storms, Cole, Wesley, and I all spent time cutting wood down by the creek. We were having to clear out fallen trees from the February 2009 ice storm so that we could get a small road down there...so we could build the spring house at the most optimum site. Sometimes as I describe the transition of how we got from A to Z, I have to laugh because it reminds me of grade school when we sang that song about under the rock, on the tree, below the sea, and on and on. I sure hope someone reading this remembers that song. Anyway, nothing is as simple as you believe it should be when building in the hollow. One cannot simply BUILD a spring house. First, you have to determine the most optimum site based on where your water is coming from, where you want the water to go to (in my case both to the workshop, the future cabin, and back up to the top of the mountain (Wesley's idea). Then since there was a devastating ice storm last year, you have to beg, pay, etc. people to come down and help you chainsaw, burn, drag, etc. your way to the starting point, and then all the way to the where the spring house needs to be. Sounding pretty easy right? Nope. Then the snow starts...

Ann let me borrow her Stihl chainsaw. Now this is a shameless plug for this chainsaw ~ it is great! Ann's in particular is perfect for a woman since it is lightweight and has an easy start. The young kids in the family love it because they feel comfortable using it....okay, I just went back and read that realizing how it read...by "young" I mean teenagers or those in their 20s (man am I feeling my age:). Anyway, it is a great chainsaw. I will have to do a whole post at some point on the ice storm with before and after photos. It is amazing the damage. Everyone that was impacted always believes their land got hit the worst, and I am no exception. My hollow was devastated, and it will literally take me years to clean it up to a point that it looks "normal".

So me and my partners in crime are working down the creek from the workshop prepping and clearing the area for the spring house. Steve and his crew are working on the roof. The workshop really begins to take shape right before me...the dreams and the reality slowly blending into a single, solitary view right in front of me. I am amazed.

One final note about the snow...the difference between a good GC and a less than good one....snow didn't slow them down as much as I thought because my GC took the dozer, bladed off the road, and they went to work clearing the snow off the partial roof so that it could start drying immediately. Unfortunately, he bladed right over the snow angels Wesley and I made when we huffed it down to the bottom to get the chainsaws out of the snow (don't tell Ann).

The deck is on too.  Steve had a great idea and we are using cedar for the rafters on the overhang above the deck.  When sitting out on the deck and you look up, you will be able to look through the rafters to the metal roof. :)

Work must go on...

Trusses and More Walls!

The roof is going up! Slight weather delay (surprise:) due to temperatures at 10 year lows week before last. What a construction crew...they made it 2 1/2 days that record-setting week, but finally Wed. afternoon with the wind chill dropping the temps into the negative...they called it a week. Last week they made up for lost time in a big way with interior walls and trusses going up. The pictures above tell the story. It is amazing!

My contractor laid more decisions and options on me last Friday (January 15th) as final decisions on deck materials, windows, tub locations, etc. had to be made (by today - Monday). He wanted me to consider some wall changes...especially after I met with the first kitchen cabinet maker. Lets just say that this is going to be a SMALL kitchen...actually the entire "living" area upstairs is small, but it is a "studio apt." style floorplan. The other side of that is that the square footage for the "living area" is twice what I originally drew it out as/planned for...so I remain grateful for all the room I have up there :)

I did tours in the hollow over the weekend so I could get opinions on what to do with the walls...keep the office layout as is...or create more room in the living room (and maybe the kitchen). After everyone sharing a lot of wonderful ideas, I stuck with my original plan - large, dream office (for Projects - so sometimes I call it the Project Office) and super small kitchen and living room. I soothe the extremely small space with Beci's words...three seasons out of four you will be outdoors more often than indoors. So true. That is why I am putting a 6' deck across the front of the second floor - and they will start it this week :)

I am learning a lot of lessons in these latest questions/decisions. First, it is good to stick (more often than not) with your original plan - gut instinct. I designed this "Workshop" around three things - a darkroom, the workshop area, and a large dream office big enough to tackle any project that I (or others) came up with for me to do :) Now with the photography office downstairs having been shrunk some (my fault - drawing/design error), the upstairs office becomes even more important.

What is the primary use for the structure - very important. Though I will be staying in this building a lot in the coming months, etc. It will not be my permanent residence for the rest of my life...so if it is small in areas...that is okay. The size is perfect for the immediate and future use.

The week ahead will be full of a lot of work and even more decisions. They are continuing work on the roof. They will start the deck this week. As soon as the deck is up, the galvanized metal roof will go on (maybe 2 weeks). The windows and doors are set to be delivered the week of January 25th. I will meet with a local blacksmith next weekend to discuss options for the metal spiral staircase and railing for the deck. I need to make final decisions on yes or no on the stain glass window that I want for the downstairs bathroom. I also need to select the tub and shower units and get rough openings for both. I also will be meeting with the plumber and electrician this upcoming weekend to select outlets, etc. Whew! My head is spinning just listing it all out, and the sad thing is that I know that I am forgetting a lot of it. If my contractor is reading this...don't worry. I have a list - just not in front of me. :)

I am loving this process...I cannot even begin to describe how much I am learning...but I worry constantly about making the right decisions. I guess that is par for the course. I am so anxious each weekend to get home to see the process, take pictures, and then share them on here. I hope whoever is reading this is enjoying my antics and maybe learning something from my mistakes.

Until next weekend...:)

Walls Walls, and More Walls

The walls are continuing to go up. The second floor exterior walls are nearly completed as of New Years Eve. In under a week and a half - with only five work days, the framers have gotten a lot accomplished. As they make progress, I am left to make more and more decisions. Also, it seems, more errors in my drawings are discovered. I am trying to learn from each mistake :) I am also working to make lemons out of lemonade. First, the bedroom closet was too small (though I figured that error out with the doors and windows). A solution was found, but not before going through multiple revisions on the bathroom. My contractor and I decided that the best layout remained the first layout for the upstairs bathroom.

Next, we moved to the kitchen, and long story short...I am off somewhere between 1.5 - 3 feet. I will know how bad this is when I meet with the kitchen cabinet people in the next week. The worst case is that there are less cabinets, but since I am going to the ceiling with them....I am not that worried. As Beci told me, sometimes the biggest mistakes turn into the neatest things about your place.

I am watching the weather for next week as I write this....low -2 one night...snow chances four out of the next seven days....Steve said Thursday that he hoped to have the roof up by next weekend...I am thinking that might not happen. If anyone can, he can. :)