Category: homestead (Page 4 of 13)

The Barn – Update VII – The Loft – Update V

November 4, 2016 / David & Susan Sifford / 0 Comments

After getting most of the barn loft platform done, and in preparation for hopefully adding another barn stall before winter, we really needed to get some steps in place, as going up an extension ladder was just not going to work, with trying to haul up tubs and boxes.

And so, here’s a quick look at the process:

After using a stair stringer calculator and figuring out the rise and run, I drew the steps to cut using a framing square (you use the outside edge to mark the rise/run cut) and then cut them out:

I decided to go with juxtaposed 2×6 and 2×4 boards for steps instead of 2×10…not sure if it saved money in the end, but I thought it might:

I had to torque over the one stringer to straighten it, so I hung the bucket of screws on a pipe wrench:

Torquing Steps Stringer with Pipe Wrench

And here are the stringers in place, tied to cross pieces and resting on the loft beam and tied to the floor joists structure:

And then the steps done:

I found it to be a little soft-feeling when walking up and down, so I added a vertical 2×6 brace down the center of the steps, which made it feel more sturdy. I had to remove the middle cross brace:

Top Part of Barn Loft Stairs Steps Center Bracing

And finally the last couple of ply wood pieces, save the last corner:

Yea! It’s nice to have it to this point, as it has been over 3 1/2 years since we posted the first blog post on the loft. It’s nice to be able to have it functional! 🙂

We are always thankful to the Lord for granting provision and progress on the homestead!

— David

A House – Update XLVI – Kitchen, Great Room, Bathroom, Front Closet Cabinets & Fixtures, and Porch Swing

October 21, 2016 / David & Susan Sifford / 2 Comments

Just a little update on some continued progress on getting the house more livable…

Great Room/Kitchen

Here’s a towel rack underneath the kitchen sink:

And a paper towel holder I found laying around here:

These are the cabinets we decided to go with for flatware and cookware. We wanted something enclosed to help keep dust off of it all. We hope to add one or two more:

And then something similar for the great room as a utility cabinet. We hope to add one or two more here as well:

Bathroom

We moved into the bathroom some of the things we’ve had sitting around just waiting for this time. The sink cabinet we bought at a yard sale, and the water from the red water container that has a spigot just goes into a bucket, much like the kitchen sink:

And a towel rack here too:

Front Closet

This is the front closet between the great room and library, and now we can hang our longer, cold-weather clothing here:

Porch Swing

As I mentioned in our blog post on our wood burning cook stove, Sue and my parents have been very supportive of us in living out here, and one set of parents bought us the very nice porch swing! It has gone from being in the barn for years, to being in the bathroom in the house, and with starting to try to get the bathroom in order, rather than just move it to under the house in pieces, I thought I should just put it together. Sadly, I’m not sure why I didn’t just put it together sooner. I still can’t believe the mice didn’t destroy the cushions and pillows while in the barn.

But, here it is in process of being built, with the frame done. It’s very well made and solid:

And then complete!

And the test run in our work grubbies! 🙂 It’s a very nice porch swing, and thank you to the parents again for getting this for us!

This was a walking stick that decided to hang out with us. Maybe it was waiting for a ride! 🙂

Once again, we are thankful to the Lord for providing these resources, and thanks again to those who are helping make all this possible!

— David

A House – Update XLV – Bedroom Closet Clothes Hanging Rods & Pantry Shelves

September 16, 2016 / David & Susan Sifford / 2 Comments

The Lord has granted some more progress on the house, more internal furnishings to be able to continue the “move in” process!

Here are some clothes hanging rods for the bedroom closet. I used adjustable-length metal rods, and double stacked them for my clothes:

Clothes Hanging Double Stacked in the Bedroom Closet

And then extended the top rod to allow for Sue’s dresses:

Also, we put up our first shelves in the pantry!

Once again, we are thankful to God for allowing these things. We always pray the house will be a place where His glory is brought forth, in our lives and through those in the community.

— David

A House – Update XLIV – Entry & Bedroom Closets Siding & Bedroom Screen Door

August 12, 2016 / David & Susan Sifford / 2 Comments

The Lord granted we be able to continue on the house…

We added siding to the main entry closet:

Main Entry Closet Siding from Great Room

And then the bedroom closet:

And we put in the the bedroom screen door:

And with those, that’s basically all of the major indoor construction complete! Wow.

We thank God for granting this by His graces, and thanks much to those who are making this possible!

— David

The Barn – Update VI – The Loft – Update IV

July 29, 2016 / David & Susan Sifford / 0 Comments

After the last update in February, the Lord graciously granted we be able to pick up some more materials to finish the floor joists, and get most of the plywood down!

Here is some more of the plywood in place:

And then the final floor joists in place:

Finally, the plywood to finish the north side and center to north east side:

All that’s left is the few plywood pieces on the east side! We are very thankful to the Lord for His provisions for the homestead!

— David

A House – Update XLIII – Bedroom, Library & Pantry Siding & Kitchen Screen Door

June 29, 2016 / David & Susan Sifford / 0 Comments

We are grateful to the Lord to be able to continue on the house!

After starting on the rest of the bedroom siding, we were able to finish the other cross wall on the east side:

And then it was off to the library. This is the north wall:

And west wall:

And looking back toward the bedroom:

And with that, the visual internal siding is done! Yippee!!

I was able to continue down the middle section of the house, where the bathroom was from last time, and now this time adding the pantry siding:

And finally, I was able to add our second screen door, this time on the kitchen door, now adding some more cross breeze!

Again, we thank God for allowing these provisions for the home, and again we pray it is a place where people meet for the glory of His name! Thanks again to those who are making the house building possible!

— David