View Full Version : Deer Meadow Farm's sugar house build
Looks like we'll be boiling outside for one more season, but next year we'll be boiling in style! Everything at Deer Meadow Farm is on a hill so a conventional slab would be difficult and costly. We built a heavy duty deck, framed the floor 12" OC and glued down 3/4" T&G plywood. This summer we'll lay plastic on the floor and pour a floating cement slab.
The shack is 14 x 16 with a 4' porch out front. The loft is over the porch and extends into the building 2'. There will be an attached woodshed on the right side.
Other than the PT, plywood and pine top beams (Three 2 x 8's laminated) all the wood has been cut off the property. Posts are all hardwood (oak, ash, hickory) We're going for a timber-frame look. Here is where we finished off this weekend; all 4x8 oak rafters up and the cupola framing started.
bigschuss
02-06-2018, 07:23 PM
Looks good. Never heard of floating a cement slab over a box sill and floor joists. What are you going to do for siding and a roof?
Maybe floating slab isn't the correct term. I was concerned about the differences in expansion and contraction between the cement and the wood. When I researched it, I found a method of "free floating the cement slab from the wooden deck. By adding a layer of plastic on the wood before pouring the cement, the two surfaces will be able to react independently from each other. The slab "floats"...
For siding, most of our forest is hardwood; we have very little pine. I do have some huge poplar and the plan is to mill 1" boards, shiplap them, and use them for the siding and for the ceiling on top of the beam rafters. Then I'll sheath the roof with metal.
bigschuss
02-07-2018, 07:52 PM
Maybe floating slab isn't the correct term. I was concerned about the differences in expansion and contraction between the cement and the wood. When I researched it, I found a method of "free floating the cement slab from the wooden deck. By adding a layer of plastic on the wood before pouring the cement, the two surfaces will be able to react independently from each other. The slab "floats"...
For siding, most of our forest is hardwood; we have very little pine. I do have some huge poplar and the plan is to mill 1" boards, shiplap them, and use them for the siding and for the ceiling on top of the beam rafters. Then I'll sheath the roof with metal.
That's going to look great! I got what you meant about the floor. Just never heard of pouring a cement floor over wood joists. Good luck with the rest of the build.
It's been a while since my last update. Here are pictures from last weekend. Metal roof came in yesterday and will begin to go on this weekend!
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minehart gap
07-13-2018, 06:31 AM
DMF, that really looks great.
Flat Lander Sugaring
07-20-2018, 05:13 AM
looks awesome, is that a driveway you built next to or a road? just curious.
looks awesome, is that a driveway you built next to or a road? just curious.
Thanks. That's our driveway, but being that it was over 1/3 mile long they gave us the road rate! ;)
Flat Lander Sugaring
07-20-2018, 08:19 PM
Thanks. That's our driveway, but being that it was over 1/3 mile long they gave us the road rate! ;)
my driveway is only 65ft and I could not afford taxes if I paved it! no joke.
my driveway is only 65ft and I could not afford taxes if I paved it! no joke.
We had no tax increase by paving.
Here are some updates! I need to wood side the ends of the cupola, install rake trim on cupola, and the ridge cap on the cupola and the roof is DONE!
Windows, doors, railings and stairs and then I can get my inspection!
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MISugarDaddy
08-03-2018, 06:21 AM
Your sugarhouse is coming along nicely. It will feel good to have it completely closed in. I bet you are looking forward to next season's sap run. Have fun.
Gary
Thanks Gary! We are very excited for next season. We also have some new equipment on the way!
chickenplucker
08-10-2018, 06:28 AM
That's a great looking sugarhouse! Did you get the concrete floor poured, and if so how did that turn out?
That's a great looking sugarhouse! Did you get the concrete floor poured, and if so how did that turn out?
Thank you! No, not yet. I will post pics when I do!
No floor pics yet. The cement guy came by this weekend and I'm waiting for a quote. I did get more done though. Most of the windows are installed and the stairs are framed. More to follow! 1874718748
Interior shots:
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Cupola doors built and attached:
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red dorakeen
08-27-2018, 11:48 AM
Great looking sugar house.
Added window stays: 18795
Sunday Rock Maple
09-04-2018, 10:54 PM
Our cupola doors are very similar. After a few years of use we ended up putting a short chain at the top to limit how far the door opens to less than 45 degrees. This didn't limit the steam escaping at all and made it a lot easier to close the door (using a rope through a pulley mounted in the peak).
Our cupola doors are very similar. After a few years of use we ended up putting a short chain at the top to limit how far the door opens to less than 45 degrees. This didn't limit the steam escaping at all and made it a lot easier to close the door (using a rope through a pulley mounted in the peak).
This was my plan as well!
More updates. I got the stay chains on the cupola doors and the pulley system installed:
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Maplewalnut
09-19-2018, 10:04 AM
Nice looking sugar house. One trick you will learn. If boiling in the rain, pull the cupola doors so they are just cracked not past the eave of the cupola roof. That will prevent the rain from rolling off cupola roof onto the inside of cupola door and dripping on your head!!
Nice looking sugar house. One trick you will learn. If boiling in the rain, pull the cupola doors so they are just cracked not past the eave of the cupola roof. That will prevent the rain from rolling off cupola roof onto the inside of cupola door and dripping on your head!!
Yah, my wife was commenting yesterday that we should have hinged them from the top... :cry:
maineboiler
09-19-2018, 02:08 PM
I hadn't thought about the cupola doors bringing in rain water before. That's a good piece of advice. I have stay chains and I will put a hook in that will limit their opening more if it's raining.
Maple Enthusiast---are you planning to expand your number of taps ? The sugar house looks awesome
We are planning to expand. Last year we had 30 taps, mostly all on 5/16 tubing with a few buckets. We've marked 100+ trees this summer, but we probably won't tap all of them this year; probably 60+, maybe more... We are switching to 3/16 tubing this year as well. Big changes for us! More trees, new sugarhouse, new equipment coming...exciting times ahead!
lyford
09-20-2018, 10:03 AM
In regards to the cupola doors discussion. I also have chain stops on my doors that allow them to open at a 90 degree angle to the cupola (so they are completely horizontal when open) . They hinge at the bottom, and we have never had an issue with rain dripping in from the doors. So I wouldnt worry too much about that. BTW the shack looks great!
maineboiler
09-21-2018, 06:15 PM
Good luck with the expansion. Put that sugar home to work
Floor was poured yesterday!
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Getting excited! We got the doors hung this weekend and I will be finishing up with the door locks/hardware this week. I received an e-mail from Jim Schumacher that my new evaporator and associated equipment is being loaded on their truck today! I should be getting a delivery by the end of the week!!!
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The evaporator arrived! It looks awesome! We have it in place and leveled and we are working on the chimney install. Once that's done we'll do a final level and start bricking!
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Finished the chimney on Thursday just before the weekend rains came. I also got the arch insulated and bricked!
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maineboiler
10-29-2018, 12:25 PM
Nice digs. You're doin' it right
Aa2tn
10-29-2018, 01:19 PM
Nice job, it is looking good! I wish mine was as far along as yours is, this darn rain is killing me ......
maple flats
10-30-2018, 07:23 AM
You're in good shape. The year I built my sugarhouse I made the mistake of getting a permit (applied in May) and the city held me up with hoops to jump thru until the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. I later learned I didn't even need a permit for agricultural buildings. The codes guy admitted that when I asked him 2 years later. Of course he would not tell me ahead. He said he figured I wanted to be sure everything was safe (we all know, he wanted to be a pain in my side and to be sure the assessor knew it was there.
That fall, I got a group of family and friends to spend New Years Eve day putting up the homemade trusses. The steel went up the next Saturday and I was working on it everyday, rain, snow or shine (it may have shined 1 or 2 days) right up to tapping time.
Maple Flats: I actually took out a building permit and have called for two inspections but he has never shown up. The assessor showed up the day they were pouring the floor however!
More progress! Got the evaporator set up:
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maineboiler
11-06-2018, 10:05 AM
Looks good. Do you plan to put in a hood or just use the cupola for venting?
Thanks! For now we are going to rely on the cupola for venting. This will be our first year in the new sugarhouse with the new evaporator so at this point, it's all new for us!
More progress being made! Head tank is hung, conduit for wiring is continuing and we have 6 lights are now wired temporarily! Getting close but running out of time!!!19173191741917519176
Sugarmaker
01-14-2019, 02:54 PM
DMF,
Your sugarhouse looks awesome and inviting. You have done a ton of work on it! The evaporator looks great. Your going to really like boiling in there. It could get a little steamy.:)
Regards,
Chris
n8hutch
01-14-2019, 03:17 PM
Nice looking rig. Your going to be boiling in style this year.
maple flats
01-14-2019, 05:25 PM
Looks great. Question, do you have a way planned to wash the head tank?
raptorfan85
01-14-2019, 06:04 PM
Great looking sugar house. I cant wait to get my operation indoors... very jealous.
Looks great. Question, do you have a way planned to wash the head tank?
For this year it will be done by hand on a ladder. We are thinking about putting unions in the black pipes that support the tank to make it easier to take down. We'll see how it goes.
MISugarDaddy
01-15-2019, 02:00 PM
Just a suggestion. We had our feed tank exposed like yours is the first year we had it and it was constantly sweating due to condensation from the concentrate being colder than the sugar house. We insulated it the next year. You may not want to store anything under that will be damaged by water.
Gary
Chickenman
01-15-2019, 02:21 PM
Just a suggestion. We had our feed tank exposed like yours is the first year we had it and it was constantly sweating due to condensation from the concentrate being colder than the sugar house. We insulated it the next year. You may not want to store anything under that will be damaged by water.
Gary
Great build. But I was thinking about that too. A drip pan under it would catch the condensate that drips off, but the condensate would let you know the level inside the tank if it does not have a sight glass.
Michael Greer
01-16-2019, 12:45 PM
I put a tee and valve under my head tank that allows me to divert wash water to the floor drain. This also allows me to drain the tank and its plumbing in case of a really cold spell.
Very good ideas and suggestions. Thanks for the tips; I'll have to look into these...
Aa2tn
01-16-2019, 02:01 PM
Nice job, it looks great!! How big is that head tank? Just wondering how much it will weigh? Hope you bolted right though the rafters....
Nice job, it looks great!! How big is that head tank? Just wondering how much it will weigh? Hope you bolted right though the rafters....
100 gallon tank. Supported by 1" pipe attached to the walls and rafters with pipe flanges; four #14 screws/flange. Say 1,000 pounds? So that's 16 screws in shear, 62 pounds per screw; double that for safety to 124 pounds. #12 screws have a shear rating of 1,800 pounds (I couldn't find any for #14 size which is bigger) I think I'm good...?
Aa2tn
01-19-2019, 12:50 AM
You should be good then. What brand of tank did you get and how much did it cost, if you don't mind me asking? I could use one like that or a little larger...
It's a CDL 100 gallon tank. I got it at Bascom's last year at their open house. I think we paid $425 at the time...?
Old Farmer
08-12-2019, 06:34 AM
Hey DMF, I know this is an old thread, but I am building now and will be doing something similar to what you did for a floor. It looks like you poured 1.5 inches of concrete. Have you had any cracking? Also, what strength (how many psi)was the concrete? Did you call a ready mix truck ou mix it on site? Sorry for all the questions.
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Old Farmer
08-12-2019, 06:36 AM
By the way, your sugar house looks awesome. Mine is stick framed and won't look quite as nice.
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Are you pouring a slab on a wooden floor like I did? I used plastic on the floor and foam along all the edges to allow the floor to "float"; expand and contract separately from the wood. I poured 3" of concrete and used wire mesh in the concrete. I had it poured by a local cement guy. I don't remember the strength of the mix. I do not have any cracks after one year (fingers crossed).
Old Farmer
08-12-2019, 08:53 AM
Thanks for the reply. Yes, will be poured on a wood deck. Maybe 3 inches of concrete would be better and less likely to crack. Did you cut strips of foam for along the edges? I'm thinking about water on the slab. How did you seal the edges?
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Yes we used foam on the edges. I did not seal the edges.
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