The Barn. Day 14 – Cupola and more siding.
 Day 14 – Click for larger image |
Wow! The cupola went up today, with a cute horse and buggy on the weather vane. The ridge cap is on as well, and the back door is now clad (looks great doesn't it?!). The builders put in another 12 hours again today and have almost finished the insulation and siding on the front gable end as well. Having the barn come together so nicely makes me strongly want to get the stalls in. Since I cannot do that until I save the money or the stock market helps me, I am not sure *wanting* the stalls to happen will *make* them happen. Patience and discipline will be more effective.
I am meeting with the electrician/plumber Friday to go over the things that need testing, fixing, finishing. He committed to testing the water lines then while I am here to watch. This has been very stressful and I am unsure that the end result will be all roses. But hopefully this part is almost history and there won't be lingering ill effects.
As a side note, every afternoon after work I visit Hiltje and Tsjemme at Va Tech equine hospital. Tsjemme is two weeks old now and he is so sweet. I really really like him. His new owners are going to be thrilled I think.
The Barn. Day 12, 13 – Doors and more.
 Day 12, 13 – Click for larger image |
I had 3 people mention over the weekend that they want more barn pictures! I guess a few people are keeping up with the blog, which is great. I jabbered with the barn builders after work so the picture is dark. Plus, they are doing a lot indoors, so I need to get pictures there. But let me fill you in on where we are….
The good news – the builders continue doing great. They installed the Dutch stall doors (except for one, which had the wrong color trim so I am supposedly getting a trim replacement). They have also built the frame for one of the ailse doors (the back door – you may be able to see it in the picture). They are working on the front aisle door now, then they will clad these. They look really cool. The builders have also put in the treated tongue and groove pieces that go up the aisleway between the stalls and the concrete ailse, AND they placed the posts for the stall doors which are on the aisle. It is looking so good.
The bad news – I am having a terrible time with Crockett's Home Improvement, who are – as you guessed – doing the plumbing and electrical. Mr. Crockett even came out today at my request to jump start things but the quality of the work is just terrible. I am very concerned about leaks in the plumbing once the water is turned on. Crockett did a great job on my roof last fall, but this performance has been absolutely dismal. I am sorry to say that I'll never use these guys again for anything. The best I can say is that they are basically done. But they left a terrible mess and I really am fearful that they screwed up the water lines. We'll see.
The Barn. Day 11 – Siding started and waterers stubbed out
The builders have been here 12 hours now and they are still going strong. Amazing. My electrician/plumber has been at it too, though his helper bagged out early, so the builders helped with the trenching too. They even helped get the exterior stall doors unloaded from the scuzzball freight company.
Again, the builders are from Brown's Construction in Bedford, VA – they are incredible.
Anyhow, a lot of the work today was in trenching and placing the waterers (well, where the waterers will be once I have the money to buy them), and in insulating and siding one of the gable ends. It has been cold and rainy today and those poor guys are freezing. Tomorrow should be much better on them. I'll get some pictures then too – with the sun out.
The Barn. Day 10 – Ups and Downs
As usual, the builders were great today, getting here before 7 am, finishing the roof, starting the ailse doors. Joe, the crew boss, also tried to help me get the exterior stall doors unloaded. The delivery driver could not get in the driveway, then would not wait for Joe and his team to help unload the doors. I was totally steamed and called the company to give them my opinion. Supposedly they'll come back with a smaller truck tomorrow. Regardless, I am pretty ticked at them. It is one thing to waste my time, but another to waste the time of the builders who are trying to help me. ARRGH! The plumber/electrician did more trenching but good Lord they are slow. I cannot believe they are ever here for more than a few hours a day. Thank goodness they are fixed price. Then again, on the plus side, Hiltje is accepting her colt a little better, and I finally got my tractor to crank after replacing the clogged fuel filter. Overall it was a nutso day.
The Barn. Day 9 – Roof is going up.
 Day 9 – Click for larger image |
A big day! The builders are back and got more than half the roof on. The plumber/electrician filled in most of the trench outside the barn (still have to trench inside for the waterers). Tomorrow I'll check on the exterior stall doors – they should be here by now. It looks fantastic. The builders especially are amazing.
