Building the Retirement Place

[ultrarunner]

Please send some West to California!

 

[hcallaway]

I feel for you. Our delays etc really strike home. It will at some point get going. There was nothing for so long and then it really takes off.

 

[ultrarunner]

Sounds like you have my luck... it may not rain for months here... but, sure enough, if I plan something special months in advance... chances are weather will be an issue.

 

[bobm6996]

Finally the rain has let up the past week or so. Got the hay cut and in the barn and lumber deliveries started coming Friday. Work starts tomorrow morning, it just started pouring as I am typing. It is not supposed to be much do not expect it to impact work starting. My plan is to post almost everyday that progress has been made and upload lots of pics. FINALLY getting excited! Hay in barn, first cut up last month and second cut put in Friday. A few pictures of the property before the work starts, it is approx. 15 acres. House in the picture is part of the property, we rent it to our son. There is an equipment barn and a woodworking in that view as well. View of the back of the property and the view from the back of the house once built.

 

[bobm6996]

End of day 2, pole barn is almost ready for metal, should get close to done tomorrow. House is getting started but most of the shell will probably go up next week. Here are a few pics Barn





House start

 

[ultrarunner]

Looks great and just in time to enjoy...

 

[prevent]

We have considered the Menards/Lowes house packages but none of the plans are quite what we want and not comfortable with the pricing, I bet it goes up significantly.

For the house plans menards just basically buys rights to them (from the company that drew them) and just does take offs, the pole barns are all designed in house by midwest manufacturing (sister company)

I'm probably late to the party but having worked for Menards going on 7 years, their pole barns are some of the best offered around. I've been to the truss plant and steel plant and everything is top notch (yes truly made in america) . People will knock their steel because it's not a "heavy" gauge but it has such a high tensile strength and the paint on the steel is by far the best i've seen. Up in at General Office just about every building there is a pole-barn (even if they don't look like it) and some have been standing since the 60's with little to no rust my stores pole barn is around 30 years old and is beat to piss from the forklifts but there's no rust on the **** thing. My parents have a pole barn from a 'Huber' (about 15 years old) and some panels have rust through the surface (doesn't make any sense).

Menards does some things wrong in my book (no name brand tools, chinese made stuff) but also gets the stuff they make right ( trusses, steel, block, concrete, etc)

 

[ultrarunner]

My nearest Menards is about 1000 miles away... well over 900 if I go to Casper Wyoming.

We did have an 84 Lumber before they closed up...

Even Tractor Supply is several hours each way...

I do envy you guys when I read up the local talent and places you have to buy farm and ranch materials.

Never heard of Menards or TSC before Tractorbynet...

 

[prevent]

My nearest Menards is about 1000 miles away... well over 900 if I go to Casper Wyoming.

We did have an 84 Lumber before they closed up...

Even Tractor Supply is several hours each way...

I do envy you guys when I read up the local talent and places you have to buy farm and ranch materials.

Never heard of Menards or TSC before Tractorbynet...

Menards is huge in the midwest but crazy small compared to lowes/hd. Last i checked there were 290 stores. Generally they open 15 new stores a year (focusing a lot on the west now) but I think in the next couple years they're aiming for 30+ new stores a year. I *think* rapid city, south dakota is a new distribution center but id have to double check the map at work.

 

[bobm6996]

The barn is done, need to get fill dirt and start on stalls and fencing soon. House is now starting to move, installed dormers yesterday. Have to start prepping crawl space, frame up the gable roof patio cover (16 x 24) off the back of house. The same Amish crew will be back to build the raised floor and pour the garage floor. Then we can start moving pretty quick on interior framing, closing up the walls and getting windows and ext doors installed. Looking like we could end up having an early fall, need to close it up soon. Starting to realize at 64 I am not able to do what I could in my 40s and 50s, but it will be worth all the pain when it is done. Here are some pics of the progress