Creating my "Over the Top" Deer Blind

[EddieWalker]

I'm really in no rush to finish this except for the fact that I absolutely refuse to start another project until this one is done. I'm really wanting to get on the dozer and move some dirt or add insulation to me shop. The list is growing, but I need to finish this project first.

Last weekend, I put the door in. Then Steph came out and started caulking the inside so that she can paint it.

While she was doing that, I installed some of the trim for the windows. I used what I had on hand and now have a shopping list to finish it off.

Today, I started putting up some of the Hardi trim.

It's cold out in the mornings, so I use just about every excuse there is to stay inside where it's nice and cozy instead of going outside and suffering. I try to never work outside when it's under 50 degrees outside. I will if I can avoid it, I will.

The door went in pretty easily. I made it from 2x4's with 3/8 exterior plywood. I have never made a door like this before and really didn't think about the thickness and the door knob. Luckily, it worked out. Another 1/8'th of an inch and I'm not sure if I could have started those threads. Unlike a conventional door, I built the door to install onto the jack studs of my framing. No door frame at all. The width was good, but I wasn't sure about the height of the door until I put the threshold in. After that, I cut about half an inch off of the door. Then I put a weatherstrip onto the bottom of the door to keep bugs and the wind out. The jams are pieces of 5/4 PT decking. It has a very solid feel to it. I like it.

The markings on the door are from painting the letters for the sign. I'll prime it and then paint it dark brown, so those markings will disappear.

Eddie

[Tororider]

Looking good. You know, if you only worked in weather above 50 degrees you wouldn't be able to work for half the year in Michigan.

[WayneB]

Hey Eddie and I thought the door was some sort-of art deco design you came up with??

As I see it the next thing to do is extend the deck for the hot tub shooting position LOL

[dynasim]

I recently fininshed siding the remodel of our house with hardiboard(prefinished 8" lap siding). I used to make all the cuts in cement board with a skill saw(with either carbide, or diamond). For this project, though, I just scored the pieces on both sides with a normal utility knife, and snapped them. I was amazed at how well it works. It does not work on bits and pieces less than say 3".

I hate that dust!

Chris

[PAGUY]

Eddie - Enjoyed reading this thread as a deer hunter myself. I know you have plans for it beside a deer stand but if I were to copy your effort the only thing I would change is putting the steps inside wrapping around interior walls with a trap door that would be part of the floor once inside. That way the steps would be weather protected and access would be protected by double doors. One for the ground entrance and then a locked trap door inside.

[EddieWalker]

Here's some pics of my latest progress. I did some of the siding last week, but didn't take any pictures until today. I was going to buy more siding to finish it off this week, but the forecast has been for rain this weekend all week. Like a dummy, I got suckered in and fell for it again. Of course it didn't rain all weekend.

On the siding, I have one wall done and part of another. I didn't have a clue on how much siding to buy, so I just bout a dozen and saw how much that got done. Looks like I need 14 more. On the bottom half, I'm trying something new. I've never done this, but I want it to look like board and batton. I used 4x8 sheets of cedar grained Hardi and then 1x4 trim for the battons. It's pricey, but I think the look will be worth it. The fact that it will never rot is a big plus!!!! Another big factor in the look is that I wanted to separate the upstairs part from the bottom part. The two different types of siding should do this. At least, I'm hopeing it will when it's all said and done.

The interior trip is mostly scrap wood that I had in my wood pile. Some is 5/4 decking, others are 3/4 pine. It's going to be painted dark brown, so I wasn't concerned with making it all the same. The trim is 1x3 furring strips that I bought from Home Depot with 2x4 studs cut to length at the bottom.

The food plot never really did anything. I'm thinking that the soil needs amendments pretty bad. You can see the feeder in the background. On Tuesday, Peyton and I shot a hog that was feeding on the corn. It's an easy shot, so the blind is working out nicely.

Eddie

[weldingisfun]

Looking good, Eddie. I'll be interested to see how that OSB takes the paint. Just assuming you are going to paint it since you filled all the nail holes and caulked.

[hunterridgefarm]

Dang Eddie thats a nice deer blind/small apartment.

I always enjoy your projects.

Thanks
David

[EddieWalker]

Yes, we've (Steph) decided to paint the OSB a shade of green. We're not sure what shade of gree she wants just yet, but she has picked up several dozen samples from the stores. The idea is to bring the outside in. My part on the interior is done for now. After Steph finishes the painting, I'll finish it off with a few suprises that came to me while looking through some catalogs.

Eddie

[CurlyDave]

In many parts of the world you would have an entire family living in there by now.