Looks like we'll be boiling outside for one more season, but next year we'll be boiling in style! Everything at Deer Meadow Farm is on a hill so a conventional slab would be difficult and costly. We built a heavy duty deck, framed the floor 12" OC and glued down 3/4" T&G plywood. This summer we'll lay plastic on the floor and pour a floating cement slab. Here is the floor and decking:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/Floor_framing_3.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1517859327)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/Floor_framing_2.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1517859325)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/Floor_complete_4.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1517859324)
Other than the PT, plywood and pine top beams (Three 2 x 8's laminated) all the wood has been cut off the property. Posts are all hardwood (oak, ash, hickory) We're going for a timber-frame look. Here is where we finished off this weekend; all 4x8 oak rafters up and the cupola framing started.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/002~12.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1517859316)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/003~13.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1517859315)
Looks nice!
Nice keep the pictures coming 8)
Why are you doing a concrete floor? I would think with what you just did you should be very happy. Linoleum or paint to cover the floor and life be good. Linoleum be easier to clean.
My first 3 years on my sugarhouse I had a wooden deck. I placed a layer of 8" concrete blocks for a raised area to put the 2x6 evaporator I had at the time and I capped it with 18 ga galvanized tin. It extended out 36 in front of the arch and was 4' wide. Under the firebox area it was only about 4" wider than the arch, also on those blocks and the 18 ga. galv. Then the back legs just sat on 8" blocks without the tin. That worked good for the first 3 seasons, but then I removed the wood floor and poured a concrete floor as I was changing from a 2x6 to a 3x8 evaporator. While the wood was good, the concrete is better. My land was not level either, I filled it in with 40 tons of crusher run, tamped each new 4-6" layer, and hosed it a few times to help the compacting. The concrete has not cracked in the 13 seasons since.
What size is your sugarhouse? It looks nice.
Mine is 16x24 which I never thought I'd fill it up, but with a small RO room, 2 chest freezers a sink, counter space, a 2x6 finisher, a water jacket bottler and a filter press, plus a firewood rack that is 2' x 4.5', things are tight. I now wish I'd built it 24 x 36.
Looks good. We need one too. I am very small scale. I only do enough for me,about 2 gallons. At the most we have 20 taps. We are sick of doing it outside.
Nice Work! I hear ya on the " sick of doing it outside"
Outside is fine,IF the weather is fine. We have watched it boil from the car a few times. One year I had to dump about 30-40 gallons of sap. :o This was all collected by hand. That year was a warm spring and the snow melted. Was dry too. With the leaves and a stove pipe that I could see the flames out of at times,I did not dare to burn it. I had a garden hose and would wet the leaves down,but the snow kept melting and just was taking to long to wet down a larger area.
I like it! Keep the pictures coming!
Looking real good! 8)
INFO: For those that don't know, the ash pan for the firebox on most evaporators is the floor, so you will need something fireproof under the firebox and extended out in front! You will very likely, at times have coals and burning wood out on the floor!
Thanks. The shack is 14 x 16 with a 4' porch out front. The loft is over the porch and extends into the building 2'. There will be an attached woodshed on the right side.
Cement is a must. Like Chuck stated, the ash pan is the floor. When we're loading the wood, it's hot, flames, sparks, chunks of coals come out...it's not pretty! I'm hoping a 2" thick reinforced floating slab will hold up without cracking. ???
Looks good. I like the Cat hoe in the background. Is that a 416?
DMF
There are special mixes for thin pours like that.
Check with you local batch plant or site mix truck owner.
You didn't want ice and water shied membrane on top of the wood ?
I think the mix is called gipcrete
The Hoe is a 426.
I can still use ice and water barrier on the wood deck I guess. I'm not sure if I'd still want a sheet of plastic over it to allow the cement to move easily...?
You must have one short leg from walking around on that hillside wow .
Quote from: Gearbox on February 07, 2018, 05:50:02 PM
You must have one short leg from walking around on that hillside wow .
It's really tough to build anything here that's for sure... :(
OK, it's been a while. A lot of progress has been made. Here are the photos from the weekend. My metal roof arrived today as well so we will begin installing that this weekend.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5068.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1531337557)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5069_2800229.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1531337558)
Nice work :)
Looks like a beauty!
Nice looking sugarhouse there!
It has bothered me for a long time, why would anyone have a real nice sugarhouse and call it a shack? A shack is something that is run down and looks like it will fall down in a light wind.
Be proud of what you are building and do it justice by calling it a sugar house.
Never thought of a sugar shack that way.
Yes,call it a house,it deserves that.
Thanks for the comments!
The posts on the porch is a nice touch. When I hear sugar shack I think of the song and going down to the sugar shack. To me I like the name and don't think of it negatively. It is definitely a nice building.
Is the cupola functional, to allow smoke to escape?
Steller
I'm impressed with the Sugar Shack.....I really am.
My kind of ideas being built by someone else. 8)
First time I see I sap house with a wood floor.
Have a guy up the road with a new wood floor blacksmith shop.
Best of luck with your build.
Quote from: samandothers on July 12, 2018, 09:44:22 AM
The posts on the porch is a nice touch. When I hear sugar shack I think of the song and going down to the sugar shack. To me I like the name and don't think of it negatively. It is definitely a nice building.
Is the cupola functional, to allow smoke to escape?
The cupola's function is to allow steam and some of the heat to escape!
The smoke goes up through a pipe!
he cupola will be functional for the release of steam. As Chuck mentioned, the smoke will exit through a chimney.
Peter - I'm not crazy about the wood floor, but due to the slop it was really all I could afford to do. My plan is to pour a lightweight concrete floor on it. A friend at work is trying to convince me to tile it instead as he thinks the concrete will crack. Any suggestions/experience would be appreciated!
I would have used the Cat to level the ground, Stonewall to make a wall on the uphill side. But too late now, It looks good. No matter what you put on the floor it will crack. Wood moves, that southern PT Pine will have ½ rings in it and will move a lot. I would wait a year + before I did the floor.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5108_2800329.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1533221870)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5110.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1533221870)
Here are some updates! I need to wood side the ends of the cupola, install rake trim on cupola, and the ridge cap on the cupola and the roof is DONE!
Windows, doors, railings and stairs and then I can get my inspection!
Mine was starting to rot,so I took it down.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10257/IMG_0382.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1531580420)
Going to put pier's in down to ledge. Some places it only down 2 ft.
Some updates. Majority of the windows are in and I'm getting ready for the cement.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5134.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1534947335)
Some interior shots as well.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5133.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1534947334)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5132.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1534947333)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5131.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1534947332)
Nice timber frame. Do you have a picture of the cupola framing so I can copy it ;D . Is the lean-to for room to strain and can syrup?
Quote from: Ed_K on August 22, 2018, 03:43:20 PM
Nice timber frame. Do you have a picture of the cupola framing so I can copy it ;D . Is the lean-to for room to strain and can syrup?
I can take a picture of it this weekend. We're hoping to get doors on it.
The lean-to is for firewood currently but we do have plans to finish off part of it for bottling once we go to RO and should be using less wood.
Quote from: Ed_K on August 22, 2018, 03:43:20 PM
Nice timber frame. Do you have a picture of the cupola framing so I can copy it ;D . Is the lean-to for room to strain and can syrup?
Cupola framing:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5137.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1535130901)
"Shopping" for more posts/railings:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5138.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1535130899)
Looking good. You obviously enjoy climbing steps. :D
Steam will be coming out in the spring. 8) 8)
Thanks DeerMeadowFarm, it will help a lot.
This weekend's update: Cupola doors!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5140.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1535383099)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5139.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1535383101)
Just hanging out!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5141.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1535383140)
Are you going to use rope and pulley's to open and close them? Or climb up to tight close at season end?
Quote from: Ed_K on September 01, 2018, 08:04:39 AM
Are you going to use rope and pulley's to open and close them? Or climb up to tight close at season end?
I am going to use ropes and pulleys to open and close during the season and hard latch it with hook and eye closures during the off season.
I added window stays this weekend:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5168.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1536086969)
looks awesome. nice sugar house. im planning on building a legit compound just like this next year to expand my maple operation over here in Colrain MA. i really like all the timbers you used.
Nice Work!! 8)
Got some more work done. The floor has been poured:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5201.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1539109006)
I also added chain stops to the cupola doors and built a pulley system for opening and closing the doors:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/IMG_5184.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1539109005)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/007~13.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1539109185)
I also built some doors for the woodshed side (inside view showing locking mechanism):
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/005_28329.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1539108868)
I also built the front door and added some more work with railings on the woodshed:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26694/003_28329~0.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1539108865)
I have front door hardware on order and my new maple equipment is on a truck and heading my way! I should get it sometime by the end of the week. We're getting there!
Nice looking sugar shack!
What brand and how big is the evaporator?
Quote from: Chuck White on October 10, 2018, 07:05:57 AM
Nice looking sugar shack!
What brand and how big is the evaporator?
Thank you! We went with a Smoky Lake Maple 2x6 Corsair with a raised flue pan. Can't wait to get it!
Not familiar with Corsair, but I like the raised flues, that's what my brother has in his CDL evaporator!
Down in Mississippi we have sugar shacks but they are not used for boiling sap!
For your check chains on the cupola doors you will be happier if you make them just long enough that they tilt out just past 90 degrees. That way they still close easily but they do not drip melting snow and rain inside. I actually have a stop on mine just using a knot in the rope I close the door with. I then have a cleat mounted vertically (a boat terminology and piece of hardware) on the wall. When I open the doors I position that knot on the on the low end of the cleat and wrap the rope 2-3x to hold it there. The doors stop slightly past level and all drips then fall to the roof.
All looks good!!
Yes,maple flats,good idea.