Finally building my Sugar Shack!

[tbear]

20170928_081439.jpg20170928_081439.jpg

This worked out pretty good, was easy and looks kind of cool.20170922_112950.jpg20170927_115436.jpg

[tbear]

I was doing the previous from my phone, my apologies. Anyway, 2x4 frame, cement board on the bottom (i don't recall why) lay out the brick, fill the gaps with polymuric sand (from Lowes), water it down. Easy peasy. A 3x5 piece of steel works too. Nice job on the shack! Ted

[Warpath]

This place has been so helpful as I got my setup going last year I thought I would post a few suggestions after a season under my belt. The wood floor is no issue at all, I do recommend putting down some sort of rubber flooring under the arch. I purchased 2 universal truck bed liners from tractor supply which are 4' x 8' each and they catch any sap/syrup that happens to escape the pan. It is super easy to wipe clean at the end of a boil and no sticky floor issues. I glued (pl-400) concrete landscape stones from home depot 3 high and had zero heat issues, the floor always stayed cool. And you might think the whole thing might move setting on the stones like that but it does not budge. I actually tried to move it just a tiny bit to center my stack perfectly but no go. I used aluminum diamond plate in front of the firebox and that caught any embers and again I had no issues. The only thing I wished I had done about where your last photos show your progress was to frame in an opening at the peak of the cupola roof for the stack. Having to do it after the roof was on was much more work. Here are a couple of photos before the season got started, I've made a ton of changes now that the maple bug has bit hard.

smokylake1.jpg IMG_20181208_170142452.jpg

[claystroup]

Time for an update. Got the overhangs and fascia framed in this week. Got 75% of one side of the roof sheeted with 1" x 12" rough sawn pine today before I got rained out. Hope to finish getting the roof boards on tomorrow then get to frame the cupola this week then onto shingles.100_9143.jpg100_9144.jpg100_9145.jpg100_9146.jpg

[claystroup]

Time for another update. 98% done!!! Only have about 2 hours of electrical left and need to purchase and install the double wall Stainless chimney pipe. Other than help raising the walls, I have done everything myself-glad I am retired and had the time to do it. Just finished stacking wood inside today and need to finish splitting some more then will be ready to go. Had 110 taps last year, going up to 150-160 this year. Will be nice to be in out of the weather.100_9179.jpg100_9180.jpg100_9181.jpg100_9181.jpg100_9182.jpg100_9175.jpg

[claystroup]

Some more pictures.100_9176.jpg100_9177.jpg100_9178.jpg

[Mead Maple]

Woooooow! I had not visited this thread in a while but the shack looks amazing!!! You should be extremely proud of the work you have done. Congratulations and best wishes on a successful season and many rewarding seasons to come in your new Sugar house!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[n8hutch]

That's a very nice looking sugarhouse that you built, you've got me thinking about painting my board &Batten siding.

[claystroup]

Funny thing on the paint I used. Went to local Sherwin Williams dealer when they had a 40% off sale and got a sample quart of Rustic Red and one of Barn Red. Try them on some sample boards and one was too red and one was too brown. Said what the hell and mixed both together and tried it on a sample board and it looked perfect. Took the board to SW and they matched it at no additional cost and thats what I used. Turned out exactly the way I pictured it. Thanks for all the positive comments-it has been a fun but long project.

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

looks good Clay, like you said much nicer than standing outside