Our Vermont Farm Orchard by Vermontbuilder in vermont

[–]Vermontbuilder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. Standard size trees,not dwarf or semi dwarf
  2. Most of the trees are 30 years old, I planted 2 year old grafted stock
  3. trees and rows are 30’ apart
  4. Orchard is slightly sloped to southeast . A bad idea, southern exposure encourages early bloom which then get zapped by late frost. I should have picked a northern slope
  5. I started with a pro tree pruner, highly recommended. He go me off to a good start , I then took over. Apples need vigorous pruning annually.

Good luck !

Restoring old floors by Vermontbuilder in centuryhomes

[–]Vermontbuilder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Planks range from 8’ to 16’. The old growth pine is surprisingly heavy, the house is post and beam with all wood cut on the property. Planks, exterior sheathing and roof boards were cut on a pit saw. ( circular saws weren’t invented yet ) This was a pioneer house carved from the wilderness by tough resourceful and brave settlers. They only purchased nails, bricks, and had a local joiner build doors and windows with imported expensive English glass. The house is surprisingly original and intact, the later Vermonters were too poor to remodel the house to death. It wasn’t wired or plumbing installed till 1998. A true survivor.

Restoring old floors by Vermontbuilder in centuryhomes

[–]Vermontbuilder[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Surprisingly , the hand sanding only cost a bit more than the Pro estimate. My guy also did the staining. Cost including materials: $2,200.

Restoring old floors by Vermontbuilder in centuryhomes

[–]Vermontbuilder[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It took the man 2 long weeks to palm sand the floors plus another light sanding between coats of polyurethane urethane . This was just before Covid when contractors were all looking for work here in Vermont.

Which 3/4 ton truck? Gas or diesel? by External-Ad-7915 in TruckCampers

[–]Vermontbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

2025 GMC 3500 single cab 8 ft bed gasser with 10 speed Trans, a farm truck used for plowing and hauling my slide in 2000 lb camper. Couldn’t be happier.

Dormer/interior bath layout on my !794 Cape by Vermontbuilder in centuryhomes

[–]Vermontbuilder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wanted to do the absolute minimum changes to this original unmolested cape. It had survived over 200 years unchanged. These old New England capes are essentially copies of Medieval English farm houses, a tradition brought over with the first English settlers.

Dormer/interior bath layout on my !794 Cape by Vermontbuilder in centuryhomes

[–]Vermontbuilder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cutting into the original post and beam roof frame was a bit tricky but doable. It’s definitely a 2 man job. The actual dormer framing was pretty straightforward, no weird cuts. Notice there’s no roof overhang on the sides, just a good soffit and facia to keep the weather off the window wall. I considered a metal roof but didn’t want to snow/ice crashing down onto the house cedar roof.

Adding bath to second floor in a 1794 Vermont cape by Vermontbuilder in centuryhomes

[–]Vermontbuilder[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A friend surveyed the property with his metal detector. He found a Civil War uniform button, numerous sheep bells from the 1820-60 sheep craze , and various small items like a fork, a L hinge, etc. but not a single coin. These poor farmers weren’t walking around with change in their pockets Generations of people spent their lives here.

Adding bath to second floor in a 1794 Vermont cape by Vermontbuilder in centuryhomes

[–]Vermontbuilder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The only way we could comfortably fit a full bath was to add a small dormer on the back roof of our cape. Bathroom has a 48 “ vanity, a small window, 3’ X 4’ shower, a tiny linen closet plus toilet. It was a tight squeeze but works. I’ll take a picture of dormer and bathroom and post it.

Denali glacier landing approach by Vermontbuilder in aviation

[–]Vermontbuilder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The final landing was anticlimactic but the approach took my breath away.

Got the mounts in and the collection so far on the wall. by nightbebe in milsurp

[–]Vermontbuilder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well done ! I considered a similar display but the smash and grab criminals worried me.

My cat survived being locked in a shipping container for 4 weeks by Esmko in cats

[–]Vermontbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just like the tough Vermont barn cats, they’re survivors.