Need to Build a Sugar Shack/ Honey House!

[DonMcJr]

Well this summer I think I am going to build a Sugar Shack/ Honey House.

I need a Builing just for Making Maple Syrup and Harvesting Honey that I can Store all the Supplies in too.

I am thinking of going from scratch and laying a cement floor then Framing with 2x4's and Trusses. Not sure what to use on the Outside yet.

The Cupola... Is that or can it be Watertight? When I am doing Honey there can't be anywhere bees can enter.

What size does everyone have here for around 100 Tap Operation? This is just an expensive Hobby for me that makes me a bit of money to help support the hobby, LOL! But it's FUN!

[lakeview maple]

Don ,if your going to build ,build for the future if you can swing the cost.The next thing you know your at 200 taps and need more room ,it happens to almost all of us.Ive added on 2 years in a row and now am looking at doubling the size of my building this spring.AL

[Clarkfield Farms]

Don, I'd highly suggest a separate room for the honey. Maybe make it dual-purpose by using it as the kitchen during maple time. That way, you can make it bee-proof and not have extra overhead. It's along the lines of what lakeview maple suggested as far as building for the future: Your maple operation may not start off big enough to warrant any kind of separate room, but if you use that room now for honey, it'll be a natural move when your maple production IS big enough to need that room. Just my two cents. :cool:

- Tim

[stoweski]

If you plan on a metal roof make sure to put plywood or something else under it before installing. Trying to boil while getting dripped on sucks.

My sugarshack/honeyhouse is 14x20 with a 12x14 extension (roof only) on the back for wood storage & my head tank. It's plenty big for my evaporator, bottling unit, bottle storage (large rubbermaid containers), buckets, extra tubing, and other maple-related tools & supplies.
I also have room for my extractor (6 frame, Maxant) and two stacks of supers for storage. A wash tub is right next to the sink and a table & four chairs are also in the building.

Plenty of room to walk around. I've had six people visit without a problem. Wouldn't want to fit 10 though.

If I had to do it again I'd add another two feet to the width. Though it wouldn't hurt at all to go larger I honestly don't feel I need the room. I would however like an umbrella! Solving that problem can only be done with a steam hood at this point.

Good luck!

[Scribner's Mountain Maple]

I have a few thoughts for your new sugar/bee house. 18*24 would offer some room for growth. I suggest adding the cupola. You can build doors that can be closed tight controlled with a rope. And to address the other posts problems of dripping condensation all over the sugarhouse, I suggest a cheap and cleaver trick my dad built. He surrounded the arch starting about 6'6" from the ground with poly up to the cupola with a gutter under it to catch any drips. This way all steam is channeled out the cupola only and not in every corner of your sugarhouse. I would use rafters instead of trusses. Maybe that is just my preference. For siding, Board and batten is cheap and looks nice too. My tank that feeds the arch is located above my woodshed which is handy. No pumps needed. You could make a clean room for canning syrup and bee work. 6*10 or something. Good luck.

[DonMcJr]

All good Ideas! I'm probally gonna go 16 x 20 and have an outside overhang for wood storage. There won't be running water but I'd add a well later if needed. I've got some time to think up the plans cause IF I can swing it this year I won't break ground til August.

[Sugarmaker]

Don,
Our maple and honey house. 16 x 24 evaporator room. 24 x 10 wood shed attached. back room is 26 x 12 with loft for the sap tanks. We have grown from 300 taps to 600 taps and have 7 hives, Hope those little buggers are alive:)
Regards,
Chris

[TerryEspo]

Man oh man DonJr,,,you go the bug, lol.

Good for you if you build that shack, I,m sure we will all enjoy the build along with you.

Does this mean now we will have to log into Male Trader in the summer time too!! LOL :lol:

Love to see you get the building, you seems to work hard and deserve it.

Terry

[DonMcJr]

Well Terry if you saw my basement and garage... It's just I need a Storage Shed, A Pole Barn and and Sugar Shack/ Honey house!

I think if I build the Storage Shed, like a 12 x 12 first then all the lawn and food plot stuff will go in there and the wife gets to park in the garage...

2nd the Sugar/Honey Shack... Then alot more good stuff laying around gets gone out of Basement and Garage and I can find all my fishing stuff!

Then a Pole Barn and Poof the wife AND I will both be parking in the garage and I have room to build all my future Projects!

So Storage Shed and Sugar Shack this year... Pole Barn next year...that's the plan!

[jcb]

Plan out just what you need and then make it bigger the worst that could happen is you would have to much room

[TerryEspo]

Hey Don:

I bought off Michigan Craigs List these portable white fiberglass buildings. They would actually make a great covered area for a sugar shack for the right person. I have thought about useing one for boiling.

They are a dream for me, I have two and they store a lot of mine and the kids outdoor crap, yard items, dirtbikes, snowmachines, riding mower, seasonal stuff too,,, etc.

I have the guys number if you want. Price is $1200.00 or $1400.00.
They are 14 feet wide by 26 feet long. Mine just sit on the ground, no foundation at all, they never move.

I love mine, simple and keep lots of items covered.

Terry

[DonMcJr]

Do they have a Website? That might work for my storage shed...

[Tweegs]

Someone once told me that the cupola needed to be at least the same size as your pans.

I have a 2x6, but built the cupola for a 3x9…future growth and all that.

You’d have to price it out, but I think it would be cheaper to put up a pole structure for your shack, it was in my case anyway. Just set the posts first then pour the concrete.

Expansion later is pretty easy, set a few more posts. No load bearing walls to worry about since the load is carried by the posts and beams.

I went metal sided and roofed, 10 foot walls, 4/12 pitch, 12x24, ridge beam as opposed to trusses. If I carried the same pitch, I could shove each wall out 6 feet and still have an 8 foot clearance at the eave. In my case, this would double the square footage. Since the material on the exterior wall can be reused, your wallet doesn’t take as much of a beating on the expansion.

Food for thought.