Newly inspired...

I'm newly inspired to try my hand at putting together a small house (if you can call it that) on our land in Gilmer, TX. Katie and I went out to Haughton this weekend to Kristina and Kevin's house, where they were going to be working on their barn, putting the roof on. I mentioned earlier in the week that I might be able to go out there and help, so when Saturday rolled around Katie and I did.

Their barn is 30' by 40', two stories and has a large, steep sloped roof just like a barn should. The roof being steep and large was an important factor in my helping them with the barn... in that I didn't think about it being large and steep. The roof had my legs trembling like a tickle me elmo. I was ok climbing with the plywood sheets (along with steven on a seperate extension ladder) and putting them in place for the first row, though I only trusted myself to use the nailgun on the first two sheets before deciding to let kevin get my side as the next sheet would go up.

The next row was left to Kevin and Steven, since it was another 6 feet or so higher than the previous and required being on the rop rung of the ladder. I was only able to help again when the third row of plywood sheets were to go up... then Steven and I passed sheets through the rafters to kevin on the side of the barn for nailing.

I should always preface my volunteers with a list of my phobias. Ya'll need some help with that? Ok, I'll be there, provided there are no high, shaky ladders, snakes, needles, diaper changing, or calculus problems involved. Sign here, initial here. I'll see you Saturday.

Anywho, After seeing what it looked like on the inside, and what Kevin's been able to do (though he's much more technically able than I am in mechanical things and construction) I'm tinkering around with the idea of putting a little one room something or other out on our land.

I'm not as ambitious as kevin is... but I think a 20' x 20' one room cabin would be fairly easy to put together.

The only tools I think I'd need for the frame(please allow me to show my naiveity):

Circular saw
Nail Gun
Hammer
Level
Tape Measure

I think I'll need some other various implements related to fastening pieces of wood to the foundation and fastening plywood and such... This DIY article says a 14' by 20' will cost about $4,000, so I'd guess a 20' by 20' would cost $6,500 for tools and materials.

Interesting idea. I've talked about it for a while, with Katie and Taylor, saying it would be a great project for Taylor and I... and a good place to have for Katie and I to get out for a weekend or something. She might not be as excited about it as I am, but in a few years it's something I'd like to do.

The biggest concern I have with putting something on the land would be the easy access for thieves and vandals. We've had two or three incidents on our land already, so I'd hate to spend time and money on something like that to have someone go out and mess it up. I'll have to work that out later, I guess... maybe I'll work some sharks with lasers and trap doors into my budget.