This photo was taken about a year after construction was begun. The siding is local cypress from a
nearby sawmill. It was my intention to never paint the siding which was why I went to the expense of using
cypress. There are buildings all over the south that have exposed cypress siding that has turned almost
black after 50 plus years of exposure to the weather. The windows and door openings were covered by
hinged shutters of plywood laminated between 2 layers of tongue and groove pine boards. At this point
the plumbing was confined to the toilet and sink in the shed to the right. Working by myself, it took
another year to learn how to wire the structure for electricity and construct and plumb a tiled bathroom
with shower and water heater. Each step had to be researched and designed because I had done none of
it before and I wanted to get it right. When I could get a couple of days off I would sleep within the
structure and cook my meals on a campfire in the yard while I worked to complete this first section. When I
left to return to work I would store all tools and materials inside under lock and key.
nearby sawmill. It was my intention to never paint the siding which was why I went to the expense of using
cypress. There are buildings all over the south that have exposed cypress siding that has turned almost
black after 50 plus years of exposure to the weather. The windows and door openings were covered by
hinged shutters of plywood laminated between 2 layers of tongue and groove pine boards. At this point
the plumbing was confined to the toilet and sink in the shed to the right. Working by myself, it took
another year to learn how to wire the structure for electricity and construct and plumb a tiled bathroom
with shower and water heater. Each step had to be researched and designed because I had done none of
it before and I wanted to get it right. When I could get a couple of days off I would sleep within the
structure and cook my meals on a campfire in the yard while I worked to complete this first section. When I
left to return to work I would store all tools and materials inside under lock and key.
With the first section complete, the beams to support the rest of the structure had to be constructed.
After several weekends of mixing concrete for the support post bases in a wheel barrow, my buddy John,
(above) and I began to laminate the treated wood beams that rest on top of the posts.
After several weekends of mixing concrete for the support post bases in a wheel barrow, my buddy John,
(above) and I began to laminate the treated wood beams that rest on top of the posts.
This photo was taken about a year later than the one above it. We got too busy with the construction to
take pictures of the stages of construction in between. Every Saturday and Sunday morning for 2 years
I would pick up John before daylight and head for Boggybottom, work until about 2:30 p.m., clean up and
head home, getting there about 4 p.m., some times so bone tired I couldn't even take a shower without
resting for an hour or so. I look at this photo and find it amazing that we could have hauled, measured,
cut, and nailed together so much heavy, wet, pressure treated wood.
All of the "bones" of the structure were pressure treated 2" X 6" for strength and resistance to termites
and rot. By the time we began to apply exterior sheathing the wood had hardened so that in places it
became difficult to drive a nail into it.
take pictures of the stages of construction in between. Every Saturday and Sunday morning for 2 years
I would pick up John before daylight and head for Boggybottom, work until about 2:30 p.m., clean up and
head home, getting there about 4 p.m., some times so bone tired I couldn't even take a shower without
resting for an hour or so. I look at this photo and find it amazing that we could have hauled, measured,
cut, and nailed together so much heavy, wet, pressure treated wood.
All of the "bones" of the structure were pressure treated 2" X 6" for strength and resistance to termites
and rot. By the time we began to apply exterior sheathing the wood had hardened so that in places it
became difficult to drive a nail into it.
Looking from the future dining area into what would become the kitchen, below is approximately the
same view showing the kitchen after we moved in. The thing under the tarp is a radial arm saw.
same view showing the kitchen after we moved in. The thing under the tarp is a radial arm saw.
There was and is great satisfaction in knowing that each task accomplished and each problem solved was
likely to last a long time, perhaps a lifetime and beyond.
I don't know if I would set out to do it again, but I'm very glad I did it once. Every day Jan and I enjoy living in
the result of the adventure. The fact that there never was a mortgage makes it that much sweeter.
I never could have built the house without the help of friends, and I will always be grateful for their help.
likely to last a long time, perhaps a lifetime and beyond.
I don't know if I would set out to do it again, but I'm very glad I did it once. Every day Jan and I enjoy living in
the result of the adventure. The fact that there never was a mortgage makes it that much sweeter.
I never could have built the house without the help of friends, and I will always be grateful for their help.
For the first 18 months the kitchen
counters were unfinished plywood.
When we finally had enough money we
had white acrylic counter tops and a
ceramic back splash installed by a
kitchen contractor.
Building a house that you intend to live
in is a lot of work over a long period of
time. The trick is to know before hand
that you can do anything you set out
to do if your health holds out and you
never look too far ahead.
Each day spent in construction of this
house was a new adventure filled with
mental and physical challenges.
counters were unfinished plywood.
When we finally had enough money we
had white acrylic counter tops and a
ceramic back splash installed by a
kitchen contractor.
Building a house that you intend to live
in is a lot of work over a long period of
time. The trick is to know before hand
that you can do anything you set out
to do if your health holds out and you
never look too far ahead.
Each day spent in construction of this
house was a new adventure filled with
mental and physical challenges.