An Old Goat Ranch in Texas

[Bill 55]

Good to see you back. I have missed this thread

[Arkaybee]

Now, come on Terry, you're killing us with anticipation here , waiting for the next installment of your project on TOGR. Do we have to wait for the movie of this project ~(:-).

Arkaybee

[Arkaybee]

Now, come on Terry, you're killing us with anticipation here , waiting for the next installment of your project on TOGR. Do we have to wait for the movie of this project ~(:-).

Arkaybee

[brin]

Now, come on Terry, you're killing us with anticipation here , waiting for the next installment of your project on TOGR. Do we have to wait for the movie of this project ~(:-).

Arkaybee

Mayhaps Good time Terry imbibed, as he would say...," A wee dram too much " ?

[terry.dinerman]

There ain't NO SUCH THING as a wee dram too much fellows...I just got sidetracked by that **** FACEBOOK thingie...

Isn't there a TBNET app for that?

Anyway...progress, tho slow, has been continuous...and we are now at the housebuilding stage...and it looks like I will have to be the General Contractor...

The builders in my part of Texas have lost their minds...maybe all the rebuilding from the last years brushfires has made them indolent, but I sought bids from ten of them...and you would not believe what some of these folks think a pole barn should cost...

My estimate for the materials cost to build just the shell of a 1600 square foot tin on a wood frame barn ran about $20k including the slab...the lowest bid I got for turn-key construction was $60K...one twit figured I would jump at the chance to acquire his services for a mere $91,000....

...that ain't gonna cut it...when I first moved to Texas I worked as a pole barn builder, and I figured a shell should go for about $35k...so it was time to dust off the old skills...

I drew up a set of plans, did the materials take-offs and got down to finding the supplies...

...it took some time to source all the bits and pieces...businesses I dealt with 30 years ago had long closed their doors...one of them, in fact, "Conroe Creosote" is now a Super Fund Site...but things came together....

...after a bit of hunting I found a local steel supplier in Navasota, who rolls and folds the steel in their own small plant, a McCoys lumber yard in Bryan College Station cut me a contractors discount on all the lumber and fittings, with only a $12 delivery charge no less, and I found a small family operated concrete plant in the beautiful cosmopolitan town of Iola, literally just up the road from the Ranch who is only charging $75 a yard for mud...

I got this stuff handled....

So, now an entire pole barn is laying scattered around the pad at TOGR....some assembly required...stay tuned for updates at the job presses on...like a mouse eating an elephant, I am going to tackle this one bite at a time...

T

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks for the update. Keep plenty of Ben Gay, Absorbine Junior, Ibuprofen, kneepads, and backrubs handy. Not necesarily in that order.

[terry.dinerman]

...looks like you were reading my shopping list...you missed the "Jamesons" tho...a wee dram to wash down the pills seems to help loosen things up much better than pills alone...

Be Safe Out There...

T

[brin]

...looks like you were reading my shopping list...you missed the "Jamesons" tho...a wee dram to wash down the pills seems to help loosen things up much better than pills alone...

Be Safe Out There...

T

Terry, I was my own general contractor on all my farm buildings and my houses....I did find local framers and hourly workers that were glad to have the work....If I were you...as around at the lumber yard you are dealing with and they will know a framer that desperately needs the work...You would be surprised how cheaply some of these fellas will work and how talented and fast they are if you treat them right....I have always had great luck with finding and working them....Keep us posted...

[terry.dinerman]

You are absolutely right, Bob....I already have an experienced framer lined up...a fellow I know and trust that lives right across the street...and I would sure rather put the money in his pocket as I can see it as it works its way thru his family...keeping the money local has benefits far in excess of price...and knowing every nail Marty puts in will be done right is priceless...

Stay warm over there...

T

[brin]

Terry...that's great, good to know you have someone like that and it sounds like he will treat you right...nice thing too, you are helping a neighbor...never hurts...Merry Christmas to you and yours.