upcoming Spring projects

[mapsedge]

For the second morning in a row, I've come awake with a headache bad enough to make me doubt the advisability of having a head.

The spring projects are starting to gel.  They include:

• A decorative fence at the south-east corner of the property, along which will be arranged our many, many peonies.  This has to be done in the next few weeks.  Any later and we can't move the peonies.  Michelle called DigRite yesterday.  I want it about half the length that Michelle does.  We'll see how that goes.
   
• A garden/tool shed in the back yard, which, I hope, will be built for us.  If not, I have a few ideas.  I've always thought a backyard shed that looked like a train depot would be fun.  Give it a nice 18-24" soffit with gingerbread at the corners and a schedule board on the wall.  A little sign on the end that says "OSAGE ACRES - ELEVATION 1033 FEET".  That'd be cute*.
   
• A new front porch, ASAP.  Will we have to move the gas meter?  I don't know.  If we move the front door we will.
   
• A new wall by the garage to stop the slow erosion of the southwest corner...although if it erodes enough maybe that corner of the garage will sink, level the floor, and the garage will stop flooding every goddamn time it rains.  Hmm...
   
• An arch-y-thingy to replace the walk-in gate to the backyard.  What are those called...Oh!  Yeah, arbor.  That will hopefully tie in somehow to the new garage wall and not look weird.  As if.
   
• A raised bed for the four-o'clocks.
   
• A raised and fenced bed for a vegetable garden.  Not my idea, I like Del Monte.

Is that it?  I think so.  I hope so.  Anybody out there enjoy digging post holes?  We could use the help.

* Is that the real number?  According to city-data.com it is.

Comments

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of experience building decks, by the way. Got a two level 12x12/10x15 with low voltage lighting and the whole shebang. I'm just sayin... :)

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

I might pick your brain then when the day comes :)

The deck part is appearing to be rather straightforward.
The cleats of both the porch and the roof that attach to the house are in solid shape. Attaching a 1 each generic deck to either should be simple framing and deck hardware.
We probably -are- going to go with untreated wood and then seal it with maybe an oil base, as the treated stuff has too many nasties embedded in it; and cedar is just too pricey.

The "remove the old porch and roof" is going to be the issue. The roof isn't some lightweight awning. It's 1940's vintage beam construction; a thick and framed structure with beaded panel on the underside. Probably weighs many hundred pounds.
I'm gonna have to concoct a way to brace it while I dismantle it.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

We probably -are- going to go with untreated wood and then seal it with maybe an oil base, as the treated stuff has too many nasties embedded in it; and cedar is just too pricey.

I can tell you what un-treated lumber looks like after only a few years, unless you re-seal it every two years. You won't like it.

Chromated copper arsenate is no longer available for treated lumber anyway, thanks to our legislators knee jerk reaction to the miniscule amount of arsenic that would require eating an entire 18' 2x12 to sicken someone.

Now the treatment method is called ACQ - I don't know what that stands for. Same benefits without the toxicity. The only drawback is that you must use double-dipped galvanized - or, better: stainless steel - fasteners. The chemicals are extremely corrosive to ferrous metal, and any chip in the coating will cause the fastener to be destroyed in short order.