Guests and the new Sitting Room

Anyone remember this?

We've spent a lot of time fixing this room so that it could be a nice added space for us as an outdoor sitting room. Brad's mum Meg arrived last night with my Dad on a float plane. It just so happened that they were on the same flight from Saskatoon (Dad was visiting my brother there), so they were able to travel together all the way here - including the sea plane.

Our new Sitting Room

Spruced up the little deck as well.

Incoming...

They made it... really small sea plane... not sure I'd like this tiny thing much but I guess I'll get used to it.

Dad, Meg and Brad

Room done and grounds work

We finished the sitting room walls and ceiling on Sunday and then set to work out in the grounds, the snow is finally gone and the temps here are hot hot hot. As much as we want to have the sitting room finished we have other priorities, the campground becomes 'open' on April 1st and we want it to be ready. We will be away for 3 days at the end of March ( I better start making plans for that) so we have to focus as time is ticking quickly.

Walls and ceiling up.

This big garden area has been cleaned up, that was a 2 day job.

I pulled out my golf cart, Brad's was out all winter as you know but mine was put away in storage for the winter. Now she is free once again.

Painted some bird houses in an attempt to add a bit of colour to the place.

Might paint the back panel of this birdhouse at some point but it wasn't yesterday.

There are a ton of wasps so Brad went to town and bought 4 catchers, the war of the wasps has begun.

At the end of the day, I put our camping chairs and Robbie's bed in the new room so we could get a feel for it. Aaahhhh, relaxing.

Sitting Room Day 8

We went to Brad's dental appt yesterday at 8am, while talking before the extraction we discovered that the aspirin he takes every morning meant he couldn't have the tooth pulled, even though he hadn't taken it that morning apparently its 5 days so it has had to be rescheduled yet again.

We managed to get all the walls done yesterday but the building is not square -- anywhere. Its literally all over the place. There are even wall centers that are higher than the edges.... no idea how the hell that happened but suffice to say it is taking a lot longer and the cuts are not precise no matter how careful we are and each piece has had to be edited several times to get a fit which is throwing off other measurements.... aye aye aye. We didn't have this much trouble when we built the house, but I guess when this shed was put together it was just a shed and built for that purpose.

No one ever anticipates me... LOL

After much ado we managed to get the walls completed and even put one on the ceiling -- oh yeah, that was fun, and at the end of a long day - it was enough and we called it.

Today we will finish the ceiling come hell or high water (I think...) and I might even get a first coat of stain on it.... unless we feel it needs trim first. This week is supposed to be a 'heatwave' for this time of year with temps in the teens which will be much welcome.

We need to get on with some gardening as we want the place ready for campers come April 1, though likely it will be May before we get any significant amount of bookings we will need to get the 'camper ring' finished for April and we will have time after that to work on the 'tent ring' which I don't anticipate anyone needing until May - even out here, but I could be wrong so speed is of the essence.

Sitting room Day 7

Spent another few hours putting the new sitting room together. Got quite a bit done yesterday.

Roof vent trays installed

Vapour barrier put up and tuck taped

We had a very small bit left when we ran out of vapour barrier so we managed to use small pieces and get it all covered. Vapour barrier can only be purchased in 50 ft rolls and we clearly didn't need that much. Its not pretty but it is effective.

Going to be a nice cozy space

Managed to get 3 sheets up on the walls as well.

Yes, plywood on the walls - it is a shed after all.

We left the 4'x8' plywood outside last night because those who never get it right said it wasn't going to rain.......

This morning when I checked the weather (1st site I go to every am) - shock of all shocks, light rain turning to showers... beginning in 15 minutes....

Grabbed the dog for his morning excursion and moved all the plywood inside.... likely won't be able to do anything in here today, sheets are too large to cut in this small space. We'll see if it actually rains.

Sitting room progress

We made a noticeable difference to the sitting room yesterday... 

All walls were insulated

Outside trim removed and roof trays begun

We needed to make some adjustments to allow for air flow within what will be essentially attic space.

Bug screen was added and blocks put on to allow for airflow

Roughly 1/2" gap below this top trim now, allowing air to pass into the attic

Holes made at the top end of roof

With any luck, today I can get mesh over the top holes, finish the roof trays, insulation in the roof and the vapour barrier put everywhere. If we have time, perhaps begin putting up the plywood walls.

This space feels so very different now compared to when we began and soon it will be toasty warm too.

Changes to the plan

Okay so as I mentioned there was a bit of fun over the 'Conservatory' name for our little shed remodel, so we have changed it. Deb at Kastle's Journey said it should be the 'Sitting Room' and it just seemed so obvious that we ( read: I ) changed it instantly.... big thanks to Deb as I was drawing a blank for anything good.

When the owner came by to do the lift of the building (to allow for better air flow underneath), he felt that it should be insulated and a proper job done of it, keeping in mind that it is still a shed of course. Not about to argue, we agreed and we are moving forward with the build now that the lift is complete.

The walls that were dividing the seating area from what was a potting area have come down and we now have a much larger space to work with. The new floor has been added with vapour barrier under the entire shed.

After the lift, with the vapour barrier

Floor bracing

Floor added

Even the owner was involved

There is meant to be some rain today, according to those who never get it right - but not until this afternoon, so I think I will do the painting on the ceiling this morning. Because of the mould issue that was in this space, having bleached it to oblivion, I purchased a mould deterrent paint which will go on before the insulation goes in. It will only go on the problem areas so it won't take very long to do but could save many problems later.

This sitting room is now 8 ft wide and 16 ft long, its like having a 2nd motorhome. This will be a great addition to our little Manager site here at the campground and I'm really excited about it. Not only will it be a nice added space for us, but if/when we move on it will be a great advantage/incentive to those who come after us.

Now that the floor is down, we will be able to work in here whether its sun or rain which is good news since the rains delete the snow and when the snow is gone -- there is other work to be done... and the sitting room goes on hold.

The campground owner has been supportive of my idea to create this little outdoor space and I'd like to thank him for allowing us to do a more extravagant space. I had originally figured I'd make it just a comfortable shed but now it will be an actual outdoor space and that is awesome.

With it now being a wide open space, it should not take very long to get it sorted and ready for my furniture builds... speaking of which, I have found a second and I believe much easier/better option for the couch/bed that I plan to build but I'm still looking into both options to figure out which one I will use as I want to use as much of the salvage wood around here as possible. Sounds like a jimmy rig but trust me, it'll be great - you will see.