Where to Build

[WebbyMaple]

We have been planning to build a real sugarhouse for the past couple of years, as we have become more and more annoyed by our setup on the porch of out barn. Where should we build?

Here is a picture of our property and where our taps are. Note that the slope is mostly falling off to the right/east side of the picture

http://s1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/WebbyMaple/?action=view&current=Picture2.png

[GramaCindy]

If access to power isn't too much of an issue, I'd suggest on the edge of the woods near your sugarbush. How handy would that be?

[500592]

To left of the pin a little is were I would put it

[WebbyMaple]

there is water, electricity, and septic in the barn and house and it would be nice to have atleast water and power. 500592, we would like to keep that section of the field clear. also, we only own 25 feet into the woods on the left and 100 to the right

[Revi]

I'd put it where you can get power and water. It's nice to have them.

[SSFLLC]

Add a room off thr back of the barn. Everything is there for you. Keith

[WebbyMaple]

SSFLLC, thats the best spot that weve come up with so far...only problem is that is where the septic tank is....

[John c]

How high is the roof line on the left side of the barn? If it's high enough I'd build off the side of the barn. Heck, that way one wall is already done!

[sap retreiver]

Not to tread on your topic, but it's a great one I've been pondering. Is there a preference in which way to face said sap shack. South facing gable or side wall for sun, natural llight inside or wood drying purposes, a north wall to hide sap storage out of the sun, north side, and many other things I've been thinking of. hope all works out I agree with attaching to barn, any side might work if setbacks allow.
Sap on, Happy tappers

[Kev]

can you plot the septic on the pic?

[WebbyMaple]

i believe the walls are 10 feet, but a driveway was put in after these pics were taken that goes to a side door. here is a picture of the septic system from the north side of the barn.
http://s1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/WebbyMaple/?action=view&current=Picture3.png

[WebbyMaple]

I will try to take some pictures "from the ground" tomorrow and get those on here

[Kev]

Is the timber on the east loaded with maples and do you intend to tap them?

[3rdgen.maple]

If it were me I would be putting it at the end of your gravity line towards the upper left corner. This way in the not so far distant future you can run a vac setup right down that section and pick up all the bag taps and have the relaser and vac pump right at the sugarhouse and the sap dumping right in a tank at the sugarhouse. It will save you alot of time running around and gathering sap when age starts to creep up on you. Think about the future and not today.

[WebbyMaple]

I updated the photos:
http://s1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/WebbyMaple/

kev, there are maples down there and we will probably tap them when we decide to expand...problem is getting the sap back up

[John c]

http://emob1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/WebbyMaple/IMG_1943.jpg

Now that I see the pics, I would consider building across the driveway from the garage door with a breeze way between the barn and sugar house. It would be nice to be able to use the breeze way as a place to keep plenty of fire wood nice and dry and with the drive way right there it would make all deliveries very simple!
Just my thoughts,

John c.

[Kev]

I updated the photos:
http://s1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/WebbyMaple/

kev, there are maples down there and we will probably tap them when we decide to expand...problem is getting the sap back up

thats what I suspected. I would be very tempted to trench in power and water due east, to a shack at the trees there. I would then run a temp sap line during the season from the west trees to the shack on the east side. Yes, you would then have a 300 some foot haul of bottled syrup back up(that is about how far it is isn't it?). how much fall from the house to the east trees?
Or if you are planing on getting real serious about it all with growth beyond what is on your property . I would consider trenching water from the well or or your water service. To a building to south on the east side of the drive nearer the road, just north of those trees. . the retail store by the drive with its own parking area. and its own electric service for it and the shack. and the shack east of that a bit. then all of the trees could be done on gravity correct?. with just transfering from a collecting tank on the west side of the drive across the drive to the shack.
if you do not want to bo that big down the road then I like the breezeway between the sugarshack and the barn suggestion. and just plan on hauling the majority of the sap from the south east collection up to the shack.

[WebbyMaple]

John, i like the idea of building across the driveway, im just trying to figure out logistics with it now, that is where most of the snow ends up once out 1/8 mi drive way gets plowed....so im not sure about the breezeway.

kev, it is around 300 feet to the tree line from the barn, with im guessing around 20-25 foot drop. Also, the field drifts to around 3 feet of snow in the winter, which would make access an issue. im not sure that we will ever expand enough to need a separate store, but if we were it would probably end up closer to the road in another field. Im guessing the biggest we will ever get is around 200 taps, and that could be a few years.

ps. john, where would you attach the breezeway to the barn?...heres another pic up of that side of the barn.
http://s1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/WebbyMaple/?action=view&current=IMG_1988.jpg

[WebbyMaple]

i just went out and measured, the driveway is 12ft, with about 20-25 feet from the barbed wire fence. we own 25 feet past that, but zoning ordinances restict building 25 feet from the prop. line. Therefore, we have about 20-25 feet to build...should be plenty
http://s1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/WebbyMaple/?action=view&current=Picture5.png

[John c]

http://emob1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/WebbyMaple/IMG_1988.jpg

My thought was that the breeze way would be the same width as the dormer above the door. I would have the peak of the breeze way roof centered just below the bottom sill of the dormer window.
What are your desired detentions for the sugar shack?

[WebbyMaple]

i dont think the breezeway is practical with the snow and added cost. We are not exactly sure how big we are going to go with it yet.

[John c]

i dont think the breezeway is practical with the snow and added cost. We are not exactly sure how big we are going to go with it yet.

Roger that! It will still be nice to have the black top to walk back n forth on. It sure will help with keeping the sugar shack cleaner! Perhaps the breeze way can come at a later time if you design properly.