Restoring what was once old...

 

 

(Photo courtesy or Ricky Van)

When we bought our home in 2004, the prior owner was a carpenter.  He had a 19' x 20' workshop set up along the back of the property, along with a garden shed just below it.  "I'm gonna take up WOODWORKING!" was the intentions and I planned to use the workshop to hone my skills. I did and still consider myself and amateur in the field; but taught myself enough over the years (Hey! I watch "This Old House!") to get through basic projects on my own.  

2004 turned into 2014.... the garden shed was brought down; either I could bring it down or it was determined to come down on its own.   Wood rot, termites, critters - all had taken its toll on the structure.

 

(Garden shed just prior to demolition)

2014 turned into 2024.  That wonderful woodshed had turned into a convenient place to dump crap; packing boxes, empty planters, etc. All of the junk from the garden shed was just slammed into it. A white pine tree that I planted back in 2004 had grown and infiltrated the eaves of the roof and was growing along rafters, allowing easy access for most every critter to come in and nest.  It was a mess.  

 

(Yes, there is a woodshed buried in that bramble)

We contemplated tearing it down and building new, but a new shed of equal size would easily run north of $40k.  So we opted to restore the structure.  

 

 

Hired a contractor who evaluated the structure - found a good foundation.  Most of the siding was exterior wall board and easily replaced.  New roof, new floor decking. All done for a fraction of what it would have cost to replace the structure.  It has been a year since that project completed.  I did the exterior painting and built the deck and doors.  

 

  

(I re-glazed and painted the windows)

 

 

(and dropped in a piece of vinyl flooring that just fit perfectly!)

 

It's no longer a carpenters workshop, but a really good, functional extra building that will hopefully last until long after we are gone. 

 

 

Thank you, Ricky, for jogging my thoughts about this project! 

 

Rade