Construction of a historic gardening shed

[Anne Repnow]

The exact measurements are 3.5 by 3.25 m! And frankly - I can't wait either! 

[Anne Repnow]

The beams fit perfectly.

My friend from Kazakhstan and the carpenter have erected the first vertical beams. And have prepared the next beams to be put up tomorrow morning.

[Graeme]

it looks exceptionally well made - nice to see that there are still some craftsmen left

[Anne Repnow]

Indeed, Graeme!

Here is a photo of today's construction work.

While the Kazakhan builder is hopefully having a wonderful night's sleep in a local B&B I am worrying about the roof. The historic tiles are to be placed on the roof using an old technique. The tiles are bedded in specially bound bundles of straw on the wooden slats. (The straw bundles are in those large plastic bags.)

Unfortunately the specialised builder can only stay tomorrow and he thinks the time will not suffice to put the tiles on the roof. Needless to say I cannot find any roofer in our region familiar with this old technique. - - - I wonder whether this is the time to try bribing my Kazakhan friend...

[Brian Ellis]

Anne, this is a wonderful project and lovely for us to share.  I do hope the bribing is successful and you get an authentic roof too.

[Anne Repnow]

Thank you, Brian! Your words are soothing - particularly as hubby thinks I am mad...

This morning I actually found a little local roofing firm who came to the building site within 10 minutes (!!!!!) and told me that they would be able to resurrect some old knowledge put up the tiles properly.

I've also found a solution for the 4 palettes of bricks which will arrive by freight lorry at some unspecified time tomorrow. They will be unloaded at the hard gardening firm's yard. As they will brick in the framework they might as well unload and store the bricks. I'm rather proud of myself having thought of that... 

Fitting the organisation of building the wee house round about daily doses of radiation therapy and dates with various doctors as well as too many clients' requirements is the real challenge. Mind you, I am not grumbling - compassion is probably keeping my husband from getting a divorce right away on the grounds of idiotic expenditure. 

[Brian Ellis]

It looks as though it will be well worth the money, time and effort.  Excellent news that the local roofing firm will be able to complete the project

[Anne Repnow]

I think so, too, Brian. Considering what a car costs these days  - and that only lasts for a few years.

When I arrived at 8 a.m. this morning the two men had been at work for an hour already. And look what they achieved! The beams were heaved up and placed in the correct position manually. Only for the largest and heaviest beam the little crane on the lorry had to help.

The beams are fixed by wooden pegs which are hammered in with a wooden hammer. They are left to stick out a little because it looks nice and - should the wood shrink - they can be hammered in further.

Aren't the little decorative bits around the door charming?

[Anne Repnow]

By midday the roof beams had been put up and the two men were closing the gable on the neighbour's side.
The gaps between the boards are covered by narrow slats.

The woodwork on the front of the little house is almost finished.

[Anne Repnow]

Yippee! 2 p.m. and the my Kazakh builder and the carpenter (who isn't really a carpenter but a cabinet maker - what a different type of work!) have finished their job. Now one can imagine how it will be actually using the house/shed - and enjoying a sit-down in front of it.

I must confess: I am really pleased!

[Anne Repnow]

A few details.
A weird contrast between the old worn beams and the modern house behind (first photo).
I wonder what those beams have seen, good times and bad times, how many generations lived with them in houses, barns, stables... And the carpenters who originally formed them and built with them would never in their wildest imagination have believed it possible that hundreds of years later these beams would be used to build a little gardeners house/shed hundreds of miles away from their original home.

I hope the roofer will tile the roof within the next few days. More photos then.

[Brian Ellis]

It's all in the detail Anne, I love the little windows.

[Anne Repnow]

Right! I particularly like the little gable window (which will probably never be cleaned!).

[Margaret]

It's looking wonderful. I think you are right to call it a little house.

[Maggi Young]

I wish when our neighbours build things they would be this attractive.