72-year-old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

There are always good places to make a first post, but I LOVE this shop build, especially since you aren't using a kit. Hopefully when I get to be 70 I'll be able to do someing like this. You guys rock!!!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

fourdoordemon said:

There are always good places to make a first post, but I LOVE this shop build, especially since you aren't using a kit. Hopefully when I get to be 70 I'll be able to do someing like this. You guys rock!!!

Click to expand...

Welcome to the thread and thanks for the kind words.
You don't have to wait to be 70 tho. Fifties and sixties and all ages can do it.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Great job! I hope I'm as good as y'all when I'm 70!!!!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Ok, let me get this straight. You're 70 years old, have only one eye, and are doing this mammoth project all by yourself? You sir, are the embodiment of what the old American can do attitude used to be. I am in complete awe. Bravo!!!!!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

flyng_fool said:

Ok, let me get this straight. You're 70 years old, have only one eye, and are doing this mammoth project all by yourself? You sir, are the embodiment of what the old American can do attitude used to be. I am in complete awe. Bravo!!!!!

Click to expand...

Well you didn't include the wife. Best damn go-pher one could have. She is indispensable and loves to stain. She is not in the pictures much when things are being held etc. cause she is taking the picture. She has got pretty good with the camera too.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

I just started reading this thread today at work I could finish it as soon as i got home I went straight here to read the rest.

Nasman you and your wife are amazing.. both of you are running circles around me I'm 52 and thought I was feeling old


great job can't wait to see the finshed product

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

NASMAN said:

Well you didn't include the wife. Best damn go-pher one could have. She is indispensable and loves to stain. She is not in the pictures much when things are being held etc. cause she is taking the picture. She has got pretty good with the camera too.

Click to expand...

My apologies for forgetting your wife. Kudos to her as well. You are one lucky man.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Bump for an inspirational pair!
What's the news? Any progress or just to hot to do much?

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Yeah I think the bump was good been wondering how this is going hope they are allright

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

With the heat they have been experiencing I suspect it's been tough.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

It's been pretty hot down there. I hope there sitting in the air drinking Martini's and admiring their work!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Lin and Dave,

I just wanted to thank you for maintaining this thread. You might want to know that it is enjoyed in places as far away from you as Manila, Philippines (where I live) and in Hong Kong (where I am presently).

Best wishes,

Andres

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

This is not a garage, it's a piece of furniture.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Well thank y'all for the kind words and interest in us.
Yes it has been hot. Set the high record here eight days in a row. Some rain and a front on Friday got the temp down to low 90's but shot the humidity sky high.
We have been working everyday. Putting a metal roof on is hard work on a good day, at 105 it is nuts. Lin has been doing as much as she can, but can only help from the ground. We take a lot of breaks and drink a lot of Gatorade G2 (low cal).
Hard area is where the flashing meets the wall and putting on the siding and window trim. The siding and trim is cedar, local for the siding and western red for the trim. Lin's favorite part is doing the staining.
We have 12 feet of the north wing roof up and just yesterday finished the first eight feet of the siding and trim. Decided to do siding and trim eight feet at a time as we put up roof so as to minimize walking across whole roof. The way we are doing it requires going up on roof several times.
Sorry no pictures. When we post pictures on here they come from the web server that host our web site, and we have not taking the time to update the web site. It usually take me about two days to complete both.
Next time we get a couple rainy days we will do that.
Have also had to keep up with other day to day stuff and six trips to Conway (50 miles one way) to the dentist for upper denture work.
We find it totally awesome that we are being watched all around the world, not only on this forum but the web site also has hits from all over. Both Google and Bing have us on their images. Amazing!!
Thanks again and stay cool.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Lin and Dave,

I've been watching your progress as well during my "off" times during this heat and humidity in IL. Thanks for taking the time out to post updates. Keeping hydrated and protected from the direct sun when working outdoors helps. I find it easier to work in these conditions when someone isn't always asking me if I'm feeling alright or if I'm sore at the end of the day of work.

My breaks during the day come when I have to show apartments (we have 5 buildings) or do some work there. My maintenance guy and I dry walled a ceiling last week and replaced a shower stall. Sort of breaks up the monotony of weeding and mulching.

Tom and our son have been out at the new barn daily from 8am-8pm doing grading, setting timbers with rebar to hold the river rock along the drip line of the barn, rocking, trimming trees, roofing repairs, and generally just trying to get it done between the rains (which have not come even when promised, so we've had to spend time watering those 38 new trees). I've been feeling guilty about not being able to help on the 5-acres much because of not being able to lift with my "frozen shoulder" injury. I had my last physical therapy session this week and will just continue with my own exercises and walking twice a day until I see the orthopedist on Aug 17. I still have a ways to go to get back all the joint rotation (if I ever do) - it'll just take time and continued work on building up the muscles.

I can manage to lift a bag of mulch, so I decided to get into the sunken/waterfall garden and other gardens around our house which I haven't done anything with for the past three summers. It's very overgrown and needs lots of attention. I'm about 1/3 done and I'm trying to be very careful not to re-injure the right shoulder and not to overdo it with the "good" shoulder.

Everything takes time and I certainly have that. My inside-house housekeeping is suffering though. We have guests coming for a week around the 23rd, so I have a goal to get the two guest rooms straightened up! The barn is housing a few cars this month before they go out east to race, so with the weather being nice for outside work, all the inside work has been set aside until a rainy day.

Work safe!

Chris (of the Restored 1930's Auto Shop)

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Have had some weather issues so have found some time to update the web site and to add some photos here on the forum.
This section will attempt to show how we will add the metal roof and flashing. Also how I will be able to do the siding and window trim between the two roofs. All this at over 100 degrees.
As always, there is more info and pics on the web site.

http://www.ninetyninesigns.com/barnproject/nosidewingroof/nsr0808101.html


Above; Placing hooks and ropes at each post. These will hold various things but mostly me.

Above; Standing on Derrick and stapling up first roll of foil bubble foil.

Above; Staple at top.

Above; Trim bottom, this stuff is bright and hot.

Above; Adding weep strip and foam closure.

Above; Board with rug glued on bottom, clamped to fir strip. This will allow me to slide the top of the 10 foot metal across the foil without harm to the foil.

Above; Lin holding tin on ramps. Added two blocks to do this job on future sheets. Ramps were side supports that we saved. Note rope has been attached to top so that Lin can hold it up on roof while I get back to staging.

Above; Set of “hands” that go under sheet and over first fir strip. Gravity attachment. Holds sheet while I get rope undone from top.

Above; After tacking bottom in place, go to top and pull out the slide board.

Above; Second sheet of foil. Taping the seam with aluminum tape.

Above; 12 Feet done. Decided to do siding and trim at this time to minimize the walking across the metal.

Above; Making a new “sit” board. Heavy metal pipe to form rib humps was Lin’s idea. We found when we were doing the top roof that standing on the flat board put pressure on the metal that overlaps the previous sheet. When I got off the board the overlap would come back and on some areas it would leave a score mark in the paint. This was barley visible and only occurred on the last sheet on each side. However on this roof I will be up there a lot more and on all the sheets, so this should cure it.

Above; Here is how it looks on the roof.

Above; preparing first flashing 10 foot section.

Above; Profile vent strip. Used regular caulk to hold in place but takes too long to set so will use F-26 in the future and won’t have to use cloth strips or wait overnight. Blue tape to show where bottom of flashing will attach.

Above; Temporary shelve to hold left end of flashing as I slide it in place.

Above; Sliding it in place. Check out the white sneaks.

Above; Made it

Above; Adding the six inch membrane. This will go on under the window, down both sides and on both left and right at top of flashing.

Above; Lin staining the local grown cedar siding pieces. This dries much lighter. Lin loves to stain.

Above; first piece up.

Above; Also check out the Super Jumbo Tex on the right of the window.

Above; Siding without the window trim.

Above; Caulking the side of window.

Above; Window trim is western red cedar. Same stain.

Above; I also have to do windows. Might as well, may not get back here for awhile.

Above; This is how it all should look.

Above; Replaced the three center hooks with stainless steel. Decided to leave them up there and trim around them. They may be handy later on.

That's it for now, hope y'all enjoyed.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Dave
The pictures of you up on the roof made me think of something I've seen before. Someone had the tip of shaking and spraying a soft drink on the roof to make it sticky, so it gives you some traction. They said the rain would wash it off. Just a thought.
Your barn looks great, be careful.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Beautiful building & excellent looking work!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Somewhere during those 70 years you acquired exceptional taste. Your building profile is my favorite on the forum, and I love all your creative material handling solutions. Thanks for keeping us posted!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Holy. ****. This thread is AWESOME.

Your mission barn garage is an awesome design, beautifully crafted. And it's so ******** that you're doing it all, just you and your wife.

I feel the sudden urge to drive across the country and try to absorb as much of your knowledge as possible.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

OK. I am fan now too. Love the passion being realized!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Very nice, you are a true inspiration!!!

RUMBLON

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

that is awesome!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

I am in awe of your sheer ingenuity. Not only have you built your barn with your own hands, but you've also built/engineered all of your "helper" tools from derrick to the slide to prevent damage to the metal sheeting. Your attention to detail in your build is second to none. Thanks for sharing with us, and I look forward to future updates.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Having spent several months following this thread I really should have got beyond the "Wow!" stage but............................................WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys are amazing!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Ok kids-it's been a month or more since the last update, what you been upto?

Hope everything's alright.......

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

51rider said:

Ok kids-it's been a month or more since the last update, what you been upto?

Hope everything's alright.......

Click to expand...

Yes it is, and thanks for asking. We worked thru the extreme hot weather, didn't accomplish near as much as we should have, but each day we pushed on.
Also I should add that half of the team is now no more a 70 year old. And she won't let me forget it either (older and superior).
Have 80 % of the north roof and window siding and trim done, hope to finish that by end of this month. Pictures then.
Thanks Lin and Dave

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Lin and Dave, I have spent the past few hours trying to absorb the magnitude of what I was reading and seeing. Many, many others have said all the words that come to mind and I feel bad that I can’t come up with anything new.

Your ingenuity and creative approach to all you do is a true inspiration. You and Lin remind me of the tortoise and the hare story. You keep plugging away, making progress on a truly inspirational build. I was stuck with your skills and craftsmanship and wondered where you learned it all – then you said you were self taught and learned by making mistakes along the way. You are an inspiration to me personally and many others as well. I salute you and your best helper, Lin, for working side by side on this amazing barn project.

Thank you both for sharing so much of yourselves and your time through your photos and this thread.

Larry

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

The following picture shows the progress to date. (10-12-10)
To see all the pics showing how we got to this point from the last posting
please click the following link.

http://www.ninetyninesigns.com/barnproject/lowertinno/ltn1010101.html

Enjoy

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Congrats on getting it "under roof". Looks like you have most of the hard part done.
Looks good.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Boosted1 said:

Congrats on getting it "under roof". Looks like you have most of the hard part done.
Looks good.

Click to expand...

Sorry if I have misled with the picture that I posted. The roof is only done on the lower portion on the side showing in the picture.
Sure do wish we had it all " under roof ". Not looking forward to trying to get the other side to that point with the winter coming on.
Thanks, Dave

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Still very much a case of "WOW!"

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

UPDATE
Today was my birthday so now Lin and I are both 71. She has always been older than me and always will be. ( one and a half months )
Don't know how to change the title of the thread to 71 year old couple. If we could we would have done it. May have to change it two or three times by the time we get the barn done.
Thanks all, Lin and Dave

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Happy Birthday and keep up the good work! You and Lin are truly an inspiration to us all

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

NASMAN said:

UPDATE
Today was my birthday so now Lin and I are both 71.

Click to expand...

Happy Birthday!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

happy birthday! Now back to work for you.lol I can't wait to see the finished project.
All kidding aside y'all are an inspiration!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Quite an inspiration! I particularly like your rolling scaffold/crane construction. That really shows ingenuity!

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

A belated happy Birthday to you.

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Well guys, another month has gone by and we need an update!

Hopefully you're both still doing well and are making progress on your project.

Lane

Re: 70 Yr old couple building a barn (garage/workshop)

Thanks for asking.
We are doing well and have made some progress. It is on the roof of the other wing and is a repeat of work already shown on the north side. It is ready to start installing the foil and tin. We got the tin Sat (11-20-10 ). Now the weather has turned on us. But just in case we get lucky and have some warm Dec or Jan days we will be able to get at it. We are also working on a system to get the tin on the roof on that side. It is different then the other side where-as the land falls off about three feet from that side.

Another milestone that comes up for us this Sat. ( 11-27-10 ) is our 50th wedding aniversary. So not much is getting done this week.

Happy Holidays to all.

Lin and Dave