Bickal Koi Farm: Koi House Blog Framing The Koihouse

Sept 30, 2005 I got the wall of the old section of shed torn out. The old shed had been pushed 4" out of level at the top corner from the big tree that was behind it. It was also 2" out of square from top to bottom. The old T&G barn boads just didn't provided the necessary strength. Gives you an idea of what I have to work with anyway. I hung up a little wood frame so I could get an idea of where I wanted the window to be located and still have it high enough that it matched the top of the door. The door will be getting replaced also.

Oct 03, 2005 I made some progress Saturday. The old shed was so out of level and square, it took quite the finagleing to get them joined together correctly. Ive got to redo the overhangs. I can also tear out the wall (with the old door) and re-frame it.

Oct 5, 2005 Well, I managed to bust out the old foundation and sill underneath the door. Removed part of the sidewalk. This gave me an extra 6" vertical clearance for a door, and also means that you dont have to walk down a ramp once you get inside. Took me about 2 hours with sledge hammer, and chissle...

Oct 5, 2005 Also ripped out the old front wall of the shed. Now the inside is completely open. Starting to get a nice feel for what the big koi tank will look like. The old foundation wall had been lifted up and cracked by tree roots growing underneath. The new foundation is flat and level, so I have a little work to do to make the old one match. Once I do the woodwork, I should be able to level it out. This will be a nice wide area for me to stand in order to net and tub up the koi.

Oct 6, 2005 Well, I got the last section of old wall removed last night. Poured down rain most of the night. Temps dropped from 80F yesterday to 38F......Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr Hopefully I can get the new wall framed in tonight. Its only suppose to get to 50F today. Winter is comming, hurry bickal, hurry... In 30 days there will be ice on the pond.

Oct 10, 2005 Had to work on a pond all day Saturday, but I was able to work on the koihouse Sunday. We're starting to look like a real building now. Got the cement work redone for the doorway. Got the last wall built, and the windows and door in... Only had room for a 32" wide Right swing door. Had to notch out the rafter inside so that it would swing open a little more. I couldnt go with a left swing door because the foundation on that side blocked it. I should have gotten a door that swung out I'm getting really excited now, opening the door and going inside, starting to get an idea of the pond full of koi.... This is gonna be so cool. Next item on the agenda is to fix the roof, add overhangs, and then start getting poly on. Were almost ready to start doing pond stuff!!!

Oct 12, 2005 I'm back. Had to drive up to Farmtek in Dyersville Iowa. You know, home of the famous baseball diamond "build it and they will come". It was about a 4 hour (round trip). I got six 4'x12' poly panels, the aluminum H-channel, L channel, and the screws with neoprene washers. Got home and unpacked it, and low and behold they gave me no H-channel and 8 of the L channel . Ok guys, how hard is the math 5+5 =10 not 8.... So I had to call them and they are shipping the H-channel out to me. Total cost $600 I still need to seal the wood with the special paint before I can put the panels on anyway, so I will do that while I wait. Calculated up my bills, and I have spent $3,000 on this project so far. Its not dark yet, so i'm headed back out to work... More later.

Oct 24, 2005: So you want a peck of pickals pretty pond pictures do you..... Say it 5 times fast and yee shall receive .... Saturday was a busy day, 12 solid hours, from sunrise to sunset. Started off by tearing off the shingle on the far side of the roof off. Then when it got warm enough, I finished sealing the wood with the special paint. When that dried, I installed the polycarbonate panels. It rained most of Sunday, so went to town and got the truck loaded with supplies. Worked inside cleaning the koihouse up until it quit raining in the afternoon. I did mangage to get some shingles on (at dark with a overhead light on). Should have the shingling done in the next couple of days. Only 450square feet, so its not alot. And one inside shot, dreaming of the day that there is water and koi in this spot. Hurry pickal hurry, its getting colder and darker by the day, and the koi are NOT happy... Before you say I missed a spot (on the sealer), I know it. Ive got to put a second & third coat, except its too cold outside now, so I'll have to wait until after I get the furnace running.

Nov 7, 2005 Well the exterior is complete!! Finished off the last of the siding Sunday night. When I origionally removed the aluminum siding from the shed, I did it very carefully so I could reuse it. I had enough to do the entire building. I hate Aluminum siding tho, my fingers are cut all over. Every time one of those little spikes pricked my finger, I let out a scream and bleed like a stuck pig (red blood all over blue siding) Saturday I rented a ditch witch (trencher) and dug all the lines for my drains, electrical, gas, water. So now I will start installing those. After that its on to building the koi tank inside Yeah!! I cant wait...

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