Dexter Barnstay
Our latest project involves the development of two self catering barnstay accommodation units on our farm. We felt the need to renovate an exisiting building and decided we would love to share our farm experience with our Dexters with potential visitors. The project is in the construction stages at present, but we hope to have it completed by the end of 2012 or early in 2013. It involves the replacing of walls with stone from our farm, building an upstairs bedroom on a mezanine level, installing character windows and fittings to give guests the best possible experience.
I will post pictures here of our progress, so make sure you visit, who knows you might want to be our first guest!!
Our progress to date has been relatively quick, it took approximately 3 weeks to strip out the rotten timber stud walls and install the cement blocks and recycled windows. Then it was onto the rock work, as you can see it takes time as you can only do a small section at a time. But the result is worth the effort. All of the rocks have come off the rock heaps on our top paddocks.
Well it is the 5th of June and we are progressing reasonably well. The weather is kind to us at the moment so Mark is making in roads with the stone work on the outside. All the stone is coming from our paddocks, so we have to go and collect a ute load at a time, and then each rock is split to expose the black face of the basalt to give a knapped flint look.
We have been able to source some great beams to support the mezanine floor which have come from an old workshop, the big one is 6 metres long and 300 mm x 300 mm and will span the bigger unit. We also got two smaller beams which are the same length but 150 mm x 150 mm and these will be plated together to form the bearer in the smaller unit. They are very impressive!!
We have been able to source some great beams to support the mezanine floor which have come from an old workshop, the big one is 6 metres long and 300 mm x 300 mm and will span the bigger unit. We also got two smaller beams which are the same length but 150 mm x 150 mm and these will be plated together to form the bearer in the smaller unit. They are very impressive!!
We have been very busy druing these cold wet months working on the inside, a much more comfortable option.
The beams and joists for the mezanine floor have been installed, along with cast iron cross bracing brackets. The steps to the upper level were made from an old set lying around. The floor upstairs is blackwood floorboards left over from our house extension. Next to start on the compact bathroom.
The upstairs area which will be the bedroom, is lovely and warm with the setting sun coming in through the west facing window. We are both very happy with how it has worked out.
The beams and joists for the mezanine floor have been installed, along with cast iron cross bracing brackets. The steps to the upper level were made from an old set lying around. The floor upstairs is blackwood floorboards left over from our house extension. Next to start on the compact bathroom.
The upstairs area which will be the bedroom, is lovely and warm with the setting sun coming in through the west facing window. We are both very happy with how it has worked out.
