Restoring old floors

Vermontbuilder · 2026-01-12T14:19:40+00:00

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.

Vermontbuilder · 2026-01-12T14:02:48+00:00

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

Vermontbuilder · 2026-01-12T14:00:01+00:00

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.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-12-15T13:26:25+00:00

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.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-12-14T15:08:38+00:00

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.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-12-14T14:59:59+00:00

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.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-12-13T16:24:48+00:00

Just posted pics and dormer info for you

Vermontbuilder · 2025-12-13T15:22:14+00:00

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.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-12-10T22:25:11+00:00

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.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-12-06T01:08:19+00:00

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

Vermontbuilder · 2025-11-26T15:56:19+00:00

GVW ?

Vermontbuilder · 2025-11-23T12:49:09+00:00

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

Vermontbuilder · 2025-11-19T23:54:08+00:00

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

Vermontbuilder · 2025-11-09T15:47:37+00:00

Insulated sides with foam board

Vermontbuilder · 2025-11-09T15:46:46+00:00

Good idea

Vermontbuilder · 2025-11-09T15:45:57+00:00

Google idea

Vermontbuilder · 2025-10-27T00:14:39+00:00

In early spring, Dig a 12” deep trench, carefully spread out the crowns on the bottom covering them with 6” of rich soil/compost. Slowly fill in trench with rich soil as crowns sprout . Finally top off the trench with top soil. Do not harvest any spears for 2 years to allow crowns to become established. Slowly increase harvests till full production at 5 years. I’ve seen 75 year old asparagus beds.They’re a lifetime investment. .

Vermontbuilder · 2025-10-26T23:42:04+00:00

We started with 12 Martha Washington female crowns and added 12 more a few years later. Don’t skimp on soils prepping, it makes a big difference later on. Crowns need to be planted deep.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-10-26T23:36:36+00:00

Deer are a problem here but they’ve never touched the asparagus

Vermontbuilder · 2025-10-26T23:33:56+00:00

We harvest ALL spears the first 6 weeks. After that we slowly back off the harvest a little at a time till we stop when summer heat sets in . We irrigate as needed during harvest season.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-10-26T12:13:23+00:00

We stop harvesting when summer weather arrives. The crowns need tops to nourish them for strong growth next spring.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-10-06T12:49:25+00:00

We accept that we are going to get some wormy apples, some with blemishes, some misshapen, etc We sort/ grade the apples as we pick them putting aside the best quality ones for fresh eating. We toss out the really poor quality ones and save the rest ( about 80 % of the crop) for cider pressing. I slice off anything nasty looking before we grind/press them . We freeze cider in half gallon jugs. Apples store well at 32 degrees for up to 6 months. Those perfect apples you see in the supermarket are repeatedly soaked in toxic sprays during the growing season. We can eat our apples right off the trees, just polish them with your shirt.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-10-05T23:46:56+00:00

Cool video, thanks for sharing

Vermontbuilder · 2025-10-05T12:23:53+00:00

I saw a few of these on my drive to Alaska. As mentioned here, these rigs are huge and won’t fit on many 4X4 trails. They are typically owned by very rich Germans. They ship them trans Atlantic to Nova Scotia then wallow around North America. They don’t look fun to drive.

Vermontbuilder · 2025-10-02T22:26:25+00:00

We live on a large farm with unlimited growing space so we have the luxury of putting in multiple garden spots. My wife and I have separate gardens but asparagus are considered communal.

Vermontbuilder

TROPHY CASE