Recent Work

2011-03-29T00:29:00.000-07:00

Coldframe Notes from the Trenches
I have found that polycarbonate plastic corrugated sheets, (Lexan) while initially expensive, save in the long run. I tried a few sizes of boxes, mostly based on the scraps of wood I had, and found that a box that fits some multiple of the plastic trays (i seem to inevitably use these as they fit the mix of bought starts and leftover trays) are the least frustrating, and block the weeds that would want to grow around the edges.

So one of these strong and light 8 foot sheets, cut into fourths, can cover a certain number of 10x20 trays. There is a drip overhang, the wood dimension, the pitch (the long side of the triangle) and a bit of fuss room for the tray edges. I think it works for 8 trays, arrayed 2x4 or 1x8, or combination there of. As the plants grow, it seems necessary to move them around.

That said, we might build a small box to fit a single sash a la ReCover, or something else. After a season with old $5 sashes, the putty and lead paint, insulted by their new angle, begin to fertilize the soil. I had two big sliding door blanks, double glazed. Lifting these every day was so frustrating I must have dropped it too hard, for I remember what happened next: picking up diamond sized pieces of tempered glass for hours and hours, while Jasper drove his trucks in the mud. Interestingly, tempered glass lets ultraviolet light pass, so there might be an advantage.

The Center has a big stash of 1x pine, and you have greenhouse plastic. That might make a good interim, and you could add more permanent solutions as productivity soars. My friend Harald made these large, 4x8 perhaps, and just flipped them over each morning for access. In California, you don't really need to worry about snow load!

As for wood, plain 2x lasts a long time. I put boiled linseed oil on the wood when I first made the last batch. I cut rot off the bottom of 2x10's after some years, and bought more time. Now I have pressure treated bases, and fir or pine atop that. Critters seem deterred if the base is buried a bit, and frozen in the ground. If the roof needs much pitch, the two or three rows of wood can be staggered for strength. Cut a diagonal and the board is flipped for left and right sides. I had low pitched ones, say 6" higher in the back for years. Last spring, I made new boxes closer to 45 degrees to match the latitude here, and maximize the sun in the winter. Not sure if these are any better yet. Still had snow to remove. Another thing to try: Longwind Tomato Farm found that painting every surface white in the greenhouses increased productivity and available light. It was only a tiny percent, but it adds up when you are accounting for literally millions of dollars worth of tomatoes. And white paint is very reflective, over 30% more than aluminum foil.

Spinach this year seems to have not gotten enough water.... Not sure how to remedy that one. We had lots of cold dry. Have to be on top of that one. Might be due to the new pitch letting in more sun?

G

Remarkable Construction for Vermont

2010-11-30T19:17:00.000-08:00

Wall detail:

R-4.5?

This wall has 3/8 plywood laminated to studs laid flat. Dead air provides insulation. Some time, another 1/2 inch of Styrofoam and aluminum siding was added over the old siding.

Garage Apt. as of Spring 2010

2010-10-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

2010-09-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

Tower gets upper cupola and temporary tin roof

2010-09-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

"Cubbies"

2010-09-13T18:22:00.001-07:00

2010-04-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

Note repaired casing at left...bottom left of window rotten out repaired w/ "bondo" and primed

Solid Pine

2009-10-07T02:16:00.001-07:00

Old Stage Coach and Railroad Stop Goes on Sale

2009-09-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

Work in Progress.

Lost Marbles

2009-09-29T21:38:00.001-07:00

Blue marble found behind the base board....I guess you'll never know when they will turn up?

Flexibility is Key

2009-09-29T21:36:00.001-07:00

The nice thing is you can always change the layout, and re-remodel....

Smallest Kitchen Imaginable!

2009-09-29T21:27:00.001-07:00

(Its about 5'x8')Tiny counter in Slate to match the new floor and rest hot pots.

The counter fabrication in the shop.

2009-09-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

On the importance of Priming all wood in New England....

Almost done
Just add the base and plinth trim work

2009-09-29T21:11:00.000-07:00

Rotten spongy before.

2009-06-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

Gibbs Street Porch rebuild, in progress.

2009-06-08T06:32:00.001-07:00

Before the Porch Repair and Alteration

After, interior

and the Exterior

2009-06-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

Garden Boxes

Gutted Kitchen

2009-06-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

After

Before

2009-06-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

New Steps

The older ones had become damage by attachment to the house, and rising and falling with the frost each winter. The new set adds another step and makes four even strides to the porch, instead of 3, with a small bottom step and a big last one ( a real night time tripper!),

Hearth Rebuild for Wood Stove

2009-06-08T05:56:00.000-07:00

Rebuilt Hearth
Those are soapstone edges, cut from an old sink.

Before

Sink up grade

2009-03-13T22:25:00.001-07:00

2009-02-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

New Sliding door and porch, here not showing the wide steps now added.

Play Refrigerator

2009-01-04T20:59:00.001-08:00

Newly designed and completed Side-by-side Play Refrigerator designed for a happy person this past holiday season.

2009-01-04T20:58:00.000-08:00

2009-01-04T20:42:00.000-08:00

This nice porch had been down stream all winter, making for a nasty problem with water coming in to the porch...You would shutter at the sandbagging, billy-goat-bridges, and pump rigs the owner struggled with during the past winters!

Check back and I will publish a picture of the solution in a few days...
(don't you just hate the anticipation!)

2009-01-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

Upgraded WRJ Apt.

Here is an nice upgrade to a previously dicey pad. All new from the drywall up, including tile floors, new finishes to the birch hardwood bedroom and "chatroom taupe" living area floor.

2008-11-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

Garage Efficiency
"Suite P"

2008-11-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

'Tower'
Sheathed first floor, glued and nailed for the shear I expect from a tall building.
November 11, 2008

2008-11-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

Tower
Tearing into the back of the barn/shop to connect the lower level of the tower. Foundation slab doesn't show the 4 large piers rebared in the corners for stability.

New Work

2008-10-13T19:28:00.001-07:00

Before

Ancient leaky rinky-dinky drain pipe led to a rusted-out metal cabinet and rotten hardwood floor. Nice sink top went to Recover for resale to a lucky new owner.

After:
Adding a dishwasher will save some time with clean-up and new heavy-duty drain system will eliminate leaks down the road when the pipes get that bump from stored goods

Here is a close-up of my deluxe drain system. I added a vent, and am trying anti-air hammer extension with PEX to keep the dishwasher valve from thumping and jamming the copper pipes in the basement.

2008-08-10T17:41:00.000-07:00

2008-08-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

Custom bathroom cabinet and travertine countertop, drop-in sink.

2008-07-24T10:32:00.001-07:00

The "Double Unit" Play kitchen

2008-04-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

Library shelves with built-in desk and file cabinet, Maple with light stain.

2008-04-05T11:32:00.001-07:00

Pine Hutch, $750
FOB Hartland Vermont