Finally building a tower blind

[Robert_in_NY]

If thats what you have then follow Eddies suggestion. Me personally I didn't want to worry about painting so I used pine for the facia then vinyl soffits and wrapped the pine with aluminum coil stock.

 

[jk96]

Thanks Eddie.

I would agree that Hardi would be better. I'm just being cheap and trying to save a buck. I've actually used the Hardi 4x8 sheets in the past. I'm in the pyrotechnics industry and we have strict limitations on the storage of explosives. One of the specifications is that the storage magazine has to be fire resistant. We've always used 40' shipping containers as explosive magazines since they meet the fire resistance specifications of the ATF regs as well as most other requirements with little modification. Since we can only store 10,000 lbs per location, we have over 15 containers. Several of the shipping containers have started to rust and leak in spots. We started replacing them 2 years ago with small 16'x36' buildings. I've built 3 so far using the Hardi cement siding.

Since fiber cement was not a material in the ATF explosive regulations, I had to apply for a variance to use the cement siding in place of metal. It was heavy to work with and a little more difficult as you suggested but has worked out well so far. The buildings have much more room for storage and are easier to get into and out of. They also have a pitched roof so we don't have to worry about the water pooling on the roof and rusting like the containers do.

I know I'm getting off topic, but if your interested, here's a video I made showing the heat transfer characteristics of metal over wood vs fibercement. I used this as part of the variance request to show that the fiber cement siding met the fire resistance specifications and was equal to or better than metal siding. It's a pretty generic test but was enough to get the approval. It clearly showed it was far superior as far as heat transfer.

FiberConcreteTesting.mp4 video by jk96 - Photobucket

Jeremy

 

[jk96]

I made it out yesterday and was able to get the roof on and install the door. I ended up using the Ondura panels for the roof. Probably not my first choice for durability but the price was right. My lumberyard had several sheets that were damaged (corners split, cracked, or missing). Since I needed to cut them shorter it didn't really matter to me. I was able to pick up the 6 sheets needed for $10/sheet. I'll see how these last. Even if they only last a few years I'm not out much and can redo the roof with regular shingles.

I will say that after installing them, I don't think I would use them on anything other than a blind or playhouse. I've never used them before and there seems to be a very fine line as far as getting just enough pressure when driving the nails. Not enough and the nails didn't seat well enough and just slightly too much pressure and the nail would crack the panels. I had a few spots I had to caulk after overdriving the nails.

I still need to finish trimming out the building corners, windows, facia, etc as well as insulate the inside. It's at least sealed up from the weather now. Eventually I'll add stairs but that will probably be a spring project.

Jeremy

 

[jonyyuma]

Nice building, be careful, someone will move into that one?

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks great!!!

Are you building stairs to get in to it?

Eddie

 

[buck12]

I would have to take my boots off to enter that stand. Nice work!

 

[jk96]

Thanks for the comments.

Eddy - yes I plan on building stairs eventually. If I don't get it done this winter it will be a spring project. Since I plan on hunting with my kids I'd like to get stars with railings built to make it as safe as possible.

I've only cut stingers one time and that was for the deck on our building. I had a really nice book on deck building at the time that helped a lot with the stairs and deck build. I need to dig it out again for a refresher course. Since I'm not a carpenter by trade, it usually takes me a little longer and a little more planning for projects like this. The deck and stairs turned out nice, but my wife was ready to shoot me by the time it was done. I think it probably took twice as long as it should have. lol.

Jeremy

 

[EddieWalker]

Most of the time, I just buy the stringers already cut, but for those times that I have to figure it out, I do a google search for a stair calculator. Here is one that I just found, but have never used before.

EZ Stairs Calculator

Eddie

 

[jk96]

Thanks for the link. I appreciate it. The only thing I don't like about the pre-cut stringers is that the steps are usually a bit steeper and not as deep as I'd prefer. I figure this would be important with sometimes wet and muddy boots.

Jeremy

 

[jk96]

I was able to use the blind for the first time yesterday afternoon. My youngest son came down with a fever last night so I didn't make it out today.

I only saw one small doe that was well out of range, but it was nice to be able to use it. I've got my buddy heater moved to the blind as well. I had to run it on high and was just enough to keep the chill out of the air. It should make a big difference once I get it insulated.

Here are a couple of pics I took from the blind. Had a really nice sunset yesterday.


DSC_6576 by jjk96, on Flickr


Here's a panoramic shot looking out from the blind. Three photos stitched together with photoshop.


land by jjk96, on Flickr

One more


Land5 by jjk96, on Flickr