Project: rebuild

[Speedling]

In April i had a stroke. I have come out of it with some limitations for sure but have also gained a different perspective on things. It is time to live now! Carpe diem?
In any case, i have started a huge house project. We have been saving for this for a few years and are ready to take on the first chunk!
First step is to clear the area!
2 years ago, 3 trees down. Last year, a massive oak. This year a locust and a small oak that had died. Next up is bushes and landscaping getting ripped out!
I will be using this thread to track my very slow progress.

 

[djetok]

Good for you man.

 

[Speedling]

Good for you man.

According to your signature, my new driveway will need your truck, LOL!

 

[djetok]

According to your signature, my new driveway will need your truck, LOL!

They have 0 percent financing right now. Next month it will probably be 0 for 72

 

[Speedling]

They have 0 percent financing right now. Next month it will probably be 0 for 72

House project first! Besides, I always buy used. If I can't buy it cash, then I can't buy it.

 

[djetok]

House project first! Besides, I always buy used. If I can't buy it cash, then I can't buy it.

That's a great plan. I pretty much do the same 0 percent is like cash for me though

 

[itsdgm]

That's awesome @Speedling glad to see that you're moving forward and kicking butt!!!

 

[zipper]

@Speedling Make sure you clear enough room for those blueberry bushes, they like full sun. Also if that tree is a black locust...it makes for a nice outdoor hardwood lumber with highest rot resistance, if those are white oaks, also highest rot resistance. Will be watching.

 

[Speedling]

@Speedling Make sure you clear enough room for those blueberry bushes, they like full sun. Also if that tree is a black locust...it makes for a nice outdoor hardwood lumber with highest rot resistance, if those are white oaks, also highest rot resistance. Will be watching.

The oaks are beautiful and I only take them down if I NEED to. White Oaks. Had to take down one with a 3 foot round trunk last year. Was going to bring it to a mill and make a 3" slab and make it an awesome desktop BUT, the ants had destroyed it beyond making anything other than firewood.
The locust, don't know if it is a black but I will look into it. It seems very stringy compared to the Oak Not as dense. But smells great after I do a bit of sawing!
Sadly, I have only had one night to work on it all so I have a pile of tree branches in my yard yet. We also have a 20' wide firepit that we normally would be using to dispose of the leaves and smallest branches that get raked up, but it currently is busy growing pumpkins that are nice and orange! Probably 10" round on the biggest one and we HAVE to wait a bit longer to see how big they go! I have most the rest of everything cut into fireplace size pieces so I can use to heat my house! We keep a fire every night in the winter and make it a ROARING fire while we sit there and let it die down over the night and I shut the dampers etc in morning if it's all out, which all depends on how late a night it was! We have a small system that blows the hot air into the room, but it's really not that effective. It may essentially even out the heat lost out the chimney when the fire isn't going and that's about it.
The blueberry bushes have a spot set aside. I am going to be looking for smaller sized bushes than what the typical blueberry farms have. We have like a 20'x40' spot we want to put them which doesn't mean huge ugly things.
Besides, I hope to be putting in a garden next to it. They will be sharing a rain barrel system so I can water whatever whenever. Problem Is I really need to replace my shed before I plant the bushes so I don't regret where I put things!

 

[Speedling]

End of labor day weekend recap:
1. Diverter box for my septic repaired
2. Lots of tree burnt and cleaned up
3. Sump pump died and kids had unplugged the secondary (i tied the house sump to the garage sump as a backup) thus flooding the crawlspace/basement so that added some excitement
4. Grilled fillets with parmesan crust and homemade bacon wrapped brat-burgers
5. Started retaining wall along ditch because it keeps washing my yard away.
6. Tonight i watch a movie with wife!
So lots done this weekend but still unable to pull permit cuz they are never open when i am available

 

[Speedling]

Just gotta say, permits can be frustrating

 

[Speedling]

Did get the front door in last week. Forgot to get a before, but my wife has on facebook. Door really pops with sunlight!
The glass on the door really brightens the room up too.

 

[Speedling]

A couple shots so people can see what i am doing and of course constructive criticism appreciated!

 

[Speedling]

So that is the square cutout that i am going to roof in and make that my living room!
Also installed one 1000 lb beam for the floor:

 

[Speedling]

Also figuring out where the driveway will be going. I want a horseshoe so i can pull in and back the boat alongside the back of the house.

Picture is to show how parking is now. Kids and wife get the 24x24 garage. Was going to build a garage or extend but with electric and gas both needing to move and money running thin, doing the driveway and using storage is far cheaper.

 

[Speedling]

my progress "peeking" out the top.