Shed progression

 

We met with Dmytro, a Ukrainian woodworker, who is going to erect our shelving, loft, and stairs. Alex gave him a basic outline plan, and Dmytro is going to draw up a detailed plan via CAD for review prior to build-out. He's tied up on another job for about 2 weeks so that works out well. 

We then went to McHales in Castlebar this morning to view containers that they refit for special purposes. Alex's idea was that we need a clean room for the winery and a container could fit the bill. I was skeptical but, by the time we were done, I was sold. 

So, we're going to put in a 20-foot container, with insulation so we can maintain fermentation through winter, electrics fitted for lighting and equipment, and water for cleanliness. It will have the typical container doors for equipment access and a people door for safe access. The container will sit in one corner of the shed and will have storage on top as it is load-bearing. Here's what it will look like:

It will cost in excess of €5000 but that's less than it would cost to build a room for the purpose. Now we have to order the equipment, de-stemmer/crusher, press, fermentation vats, bottler and corker. It's all coming together. 

Alex has started moving stuff into the shed, beekeeping stuff first. The RTV and mower look tiny in there whereas they looked huge in the polytunnel. He is laying down pallets so nothing sits on the floor. 

The concrete has low spots where water can collect so we have to be careful.  Apparently, the water mixer broke on the cement truck as it was delivering our cement, so one load was drier than it should have been and settled differently than the rest. Bummer. I thought this one build would turn out perfect. 

The shed doors are really nice. I am very pleased with the shed overall. I know this is Alex's casbah, but I can admire it. It still needs electricity and the water hookup. People doors are to be intalled this week. That's the last task for the builder. 

We started building the wooden fence along the perimeter where the land drops off into a steep decline. Some of the posts were misaligned so we stopped halfway, but it's looking nice and will at least stop someone from dropping into the abyss. 

The polytunnel is now all mine. The shed is his. I suppose we'll have to arrange visits. Sometime soon, we will have a party to christen it. 

Giner came back starving, 

 

New plan and schedule

 

The lads finished the shed structure and the retaining walls of the shed today. They are going to remove the frame and prepare the floor area tomorrow. They've already taken the roller machine. The new plan is to pour cement for the floor in ten days rather than the 28 they said before. Then we won't be able to drive on it for a month, but that brings us to the end of July which gives us time to prepare for harvest. Finishing up in August would not have given us much time to order and prepare equipment, and shift all our stuff from the garage to the shed. I feel a little relieved. 

I'd say the digger will go tomorrow, and most of the cement frames are almost ready to go, loaded on a trailer. 

They said the cement floor laying would be ideal for a rainy day. So on Sunday night, the 28th of May, we will perform a rain dance so they come Monday morning on the 29th. On the 30th we get fibre broadband installed here, so let's hope they finish on the Monday, 

They will come to install the drain and backfill behind the wall at a later date. As long as it's done before the heavy rains of late summer, I'll be happy. Otherwise, I'll be worrying about the hill tumbling down. 

Not quite almost there

 

This might look like it's almost finished, but we just learned that it's probably going to be another two months before we can use it. Yeah, this week, they'll finish the roof and remaining small panels, plus they'll pour the last section of the wall -- the retaining wall for the hillside. Then we have to wait a month for the cement walls to cure. If you try to pour the concrete floor or fill in the back behind the shed, the concrete will collapse. 

What a bummer. So it will be built but not usable. It will be a month before we pour the floor and then a month for it to set before we can put any weight on it. So bummed. I wanted everything moved out of the house and garage now.