I just called and talked to my local building official. I can build a structure up to 120 square feet. I have a 2x3 Mason. Is there any reason to go with anything other than a 10x12 in this circumstance?
What size sugar shack to build
I just called and talked to my local building official. I can build a structure up to 120 square feet. I have a 2x3 Mason. Is there any reason to go with anything other than a 10x12 in this circumstance?
Larry
2013 4 taps then 8 taps then 19 taps - Steam tray pans on propane stove
2014 2x3 WF Mason Evaporator 75 taps all on sap saks
2015 2x3 WF Mason Evaporator 10x12 Sugar Shack 110 taps
2016 I need to figure out how to get a a small RO
Sounds perfect to me as long as there isn't much more growth in your future.
Pete Nightingale
Lisbon, NH
3 Teenage sap haulers & Plenty of friends and family to restock the beer fridge
2012 1 tap and a pot
2013 10 taps, oil tank evap, 2 gallons of slightly too thin syrup
2014 48 taps improved oil tank evap 3.5 gallons, ouch??
2015 88 taps 78 5/16" and 10 3/16" nat vac 40"x 48" Homemade Arch 13.25 Gallons
2016 100 taps 65 on 3/16 & 35 buckets 17 gallons + unknown amount of maple / Jack Daniels testers
It doesn't matter what size you build. In two years everything will be too small.
2024 - New Maine resident, 12X12 sugar shack under construction
2019 - New 12X12 boiling pavilion
2018 - New Mason 2X3 Hobby XL and homemade RO
A good formula is to estimate how much room you think you need, double it and you'll have half enough (for a while)!
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.
I started with a 2x3 in a 10x 12 sugar house I now have a 2x4 in same building and thats fine but I am going to have to go to a 2x6 and that means pulling out front of the building.
110 taps W.F Mason 2x3 and two turkey friers for finishing
2011 expanding to a Mason 2x4 with a blower increasing taps to about 200
2011 Hurricane Irene rips thru my small sugar bush cost me to lose 20% of taps
2014 I have reworked my lines for 2014
32 taps on 5/16 line with check valves
57 taps on 3/16 line with check valves
55 buckets with total tapped trees of 144
If they're going to limit you to 120 sq ft, just make sure it measures that on the inside, sounds like an 11x13 building now. Or see what it would take to go before the zoning board. They've probably approved lesser structures.
John Allin
14x18 Hemlock Timber Frame Sugar House 2009
Leader 2x6 w/Patriot Raised Flue Pan 2009
Leader Steam Hood 2014 - Clear Filter Press 2015
Leader Revolution Pan and SS Pre-Heater 2016
CDL Hobby RO & Air Tech L25 Hi Vac Pump 2019
06' Gator HPX to collect wood & sap
14' Ski-Doo Tundra for winter work in the woods
Great Family 3 grown kids+spouses and 7 grand kids who like the woods
7th Gen Born in Canada - Raised in Chardon Ohio - Maple Capital of the World..<grin>.
I'll second Big Eddy on the roof overhangs. If the code guy will let you, put a huge roof on it. A 48 inch overhang will shelter a row of pallets. Covered firewood is a must.
Design a building that can expand. Perhaps you'll add a woodshed...or two. Keep in mind that you may decide at some point to go to the zoning board, and don't corner yourself in some way that blocks your future expansion.
My 12x16 is new and I'm already looking at expanding at some point. Make sure you use a steep pitch roof so you can have overhead storage area for buckets tubing and everything else you will end up with. The others said to design for expansion that's a good idea.
Scott
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2014 125 taps 16 gallons
2015 210 taps 49 gallons
2016 164 taps 75 gallons new 2X6 leader max flue and homemade AOF/AUF arch
2017 1500 taps 196 gallons RO added additions to building new tap lease
2018 1588 taps 276 gallons
upgrades for 2019 season 3 phase vacuum pump, stainless tank in woods, tubing replacement
If I was limited to 120sqft, I'd consider 8x15 instead of 10x12. The extra length allows for a longer evaporator in the future, and a bit more space in front of the evaporator, plus more wall space for shelving, counters etc. 8' wide should still provide enough clearance on either side of the evaporator and a good clear work area in the middle.
I'd also consider a 6x15 lean-to roof on one side to store wood under. This would be outside the building and therefore should not count against your square footage limits.
Big_Eddy
Eastern Ontario (Quinte)
20+ years on a 2x3 block arch,
Homemade 20"x64" drop flue since 2011
Build a Block Arch
Build a Flat Pan
Build a Flue Pan
Sweetening the Pans
Build a Bending Brake
Using a Hydrotherm
How much Sap to Sweeten?
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