Farm House Demolition and New Build

[MisterCairo]

My inlaws have given my wife and I the opportunity of a lifetime - to move onto one of the family's farms and build our dream house.

The original farm house, circa 1910 and long-since moved from the rear of the 100 acre property (site of the original well) to the front (and loooooong since its best before date), was demolished on Monday and the debris burned yesterday. Our township allows for large-scale burning to reduce landfill.

I hope to document the progress as this project moves along. Our family strongly believes in history, so our photo and video journal will be extensive.

The prior owners stopped by yesterday, mixed feelings about seeing their 37 year history with the house literally go up in smoke, but they have been invited to our open house once we move in next year!

 

[MisterCairo]

The farm house had five bedrooms, so to speak, but each was tiny. The kitchen had not been updated in decades. The home was rented out to tenants, a Mennonite family, and while the rent was paid regularly, the upkeep left much to be desired. My girls and I brought in about 500 lbs of rubbish from the tree line, including a camper van a/c unit and Ford F-150 gas tank.

A couple of interior shots:

 

[MisterCairo]

Day one - Tear down:

 

[MisterCairo]

Day two - burn up:

 

[MisterCairo]

After a day marking out corners, the excavation has begun for footings and foundation.

 

[BobHufford]

After a day marking out corners, the excavation has begun for footings and foundation.

That can't be dirt. Where are the rocks?

 

[MisterCairo]

That can't be dirt. Where are the rocks?

The best southern Ontario loam, sand and clay farm soil, baby! They dug up some old field tiling yesterday, the area where the old house was/new house will be is not the original site. The homestead was moved, in the 1940s it is believed, from about two thirds of the way back to the tree line, so this area was once worked.

84 acres of corn about to be harvested!

 

[Bugguy]

Day two - burn up:

View attachment 141678 View attachment 141679

Just curious... did the local fire department use the burn for training? Often they do.

 

[MisterCairo]

Just curious... did the local fire department use the burn for training? Often they do.

Sadly no. In our case, the local fire department will do training or at least interior videotaping (to study the intensity and spread of the fire), with a standing structure.

The old farm house was too close to several mature trees we wanted to save (seven sadly had to be downed for new construction). It was either cut them all down or just demolish and burn the rubble. We took the latter choice.

Otherwise the new house would have stood out in the open.

 

[MisterCairo]

Been a while, MUCH has happened since October. Hard to believe we are moving in less than three months, and we just sold our current house after only nine days on the market! Pics to follow.

Mr. C.

 

[MisterCairo]

Foundations to framing to windows to drywall to roofing:

 

[MisterCairo]

 

[MisterCairo]

 

[MisterCairo]

 

[MisterCairo]

The window to the right in the left side photo in post 13 is seen in the photo to the right in post 14, after drywall, taping and mud.

Further building evolution inside and out, and views from the windows soon, but we are still in the midst of snowmageddon. Temp today was 19 below C, about 7 below F.

I tried to drive out for a peek, but squalls and white out conditions sent me back home.