Transformation Photos of Barn to Workshop


Spring of 2005......


Before

Jesse helps summer 2006

David helps summer 2007



Overhead Door Co

Markert Construction
















After


.....October 2007



Transformation… Barn to Workshop

It all started with a dirt floor, three walls and a leaky roof.
( We are conquering leaky roofs one at a time)

**Note: The transformation of the “barn” began three years ago.





Step 1: Remove all debris including scrap wood, scrap metal, car parts, mower parts, animal nests and other miscellaneous goodies left by former occupants.

Step 2: Order dirt to fill in the three-foot deep hole in the NW corner of the interior and eliminate the standing water. Stand back and watch the dirt contractor sink his “bobcat” into the mud and then wait several days for the mud to dry before towing it out and finishing the dirt work.

Step 3: Contract with concrete company to poor interior slab.






Step 4: Contract good helper to assist in hanging temporary doors and walls to “dry in” the rest of the barn.





Step 5: Identify your obstacles and deal with them accordingly.






Step 6: Get a sketch, blueprints, or doodle something on a bar napkin – you need a plan.



Step 7: Hire good, skilled, knowledgeable contractors and stay out of their way.

Step 8: Repeat step 5 and modify step 6 as needed – “revision” is not just another pretty word.

Step 9: Repeat step 7 ( and keep your hired help happy)



Step 10: Repeat step 8 until you can manage the rest yourself and be glad you are not to stubborn to use steps 5-7 - then you can sit back and relax.



**See note above**

Remodel and Recovery


Wow - its been too long between posts and time to catch up! Repair on the house began in June 2007 and continued through November - just working on the exterior.




It all started because we needed a new roof. Small hole = big problem - so we needed to replace the rotton wood decking and fascia and soffit - so while the carpenter is here - also replace the rotton wood around all of the windows and doors, and while your at it - replace the rotton doors. Whew!



Long journey to new roof has begun. Now that the new wood is in place better get some paint on it.....
Roof company also installs gutters -
What color do you want??
Need to know that before we paint. After three trips to the hardware store we finally found the right shade of brown.

So we paint - the exterior trim and windows.

Did we mention there are 36 windows?


Also need to choose shingle color - journey to new roof continues. In the mean while new doors are installed. Also found some craftsman style lanterns for the front entry.

And after much deliberation on which shade of brown we wanted for the paint, gutters and shingles and a three month waiting period for the roofers - we started to get a roof and the sky turns dark and it looks like rain - and the race is on...

But wait -


- the old shingles are gone - the rain held off and the new shingles went on - and the house had a new roof. Yeah! No more leaks and no more buckets in the house to catch rain water......-
......and the peasants rejoiced!






We decided to keep the exsisting lightening rods and cable that where original to the house but we added some decorative glass-ball-rods to the front and rear of the house just to keep a bit of character.




The painting continued for several more weeks -
Did we mention the 36 windows?
By Thanksgiving we had the main house exterior complete
and we were indeed giving thanks!