tornado.”
“I’m impressed,” Bob said. “You don’t see any problems with winter a couple months away?”
Hill shook his head. “No sir. While we’re building the basement we’ll have the water main put in. The old structure was balloon framed which is not up to code. So we’ll be using platform construction which means we can frame entire sections on the ground. Once the basement is finished and the cement has cured, we’ll begin fitting the prefabricated components of the house together. We'll use a crane for the decked joists and the roof trusses."
“And the barn?”
Hill swatted at a fly. “More like a very large storage shed. The biggest you’ve probably ever seen. The older barns—well most barns, really—don’t have concrete floors, just packed dirt. So that chore isn’t one we have to deal with, far as demo. Your new large shed, though, will have a concrete pad for a floor.”
Hill took another vicious swat at a fly. “And again, the shed will be smaller than a barn, but still plenty big to store two riding lawnmowers, snowplows and snowmobiles, lots of work benches, tools, and abundant space to move around. Two large sliding wooden doors will be in the north and south ends so you can easily access whatever you need.”
Debbie pulled out her iPad and looked at something that brought a smile across her face. She tilted the screen so Bob could see a computer generated image of a yellow with white trim grand Victorian Manor, complete with a wraparound porch, turrets and spires. She sighed and held it close to her chest.
“This is our dream come true. Thank you both. This is not just a bed and breakfast. It’s our home and I love everything about it.”
“You’re welcome,” Hill said. “Next spring I’ll build a white latticed gazebo in the front yard. And we haven’t forgotten about your husband. Although the outside is fashioned in Grand Victorian just like you want, the interior will be modern in every sense of the word, per Mr. Stevens’ instructions.”
DeShawn Hill directed Bob’s attention to what remained of the barn. “And on the east side of the storage shed will be a cement patio with basket hoops on each end. It’ll be smaller than an NBA court. But the hoops will be adjustable. You can raise them to be regulation ten feet tall. Or, you can lower them so you can dunk and pretend you’re a super star.”
“That’s great,” Bob said. “I’m sure I’ll be spending a lot of time out here.”
“And we’ll add two soccer goal posts. When families bring their kids with them here, they’ll have a place to play outside.”
“You really did think of everything.” Bob smiled wide, imagining a small crowd of reckless freckled rascals playing outside, rather than destroying the inside of Murcat Manor.
“Let’s take one quick walk around,” Hill said, leading Bob, Debbie, and Fronteria. “Remember, everything’s set in stone. If you make any changes, it’s going to cost a lot of money and probably hold back construction. And we all want Murcat Manor finished by next Memorial Day.”
“I understand,” Debbie said. “It’s perfect as is.”
Hill had to yell over the sound of three bulldozers attacking and breaking down barren oak trees that looked like they’d been standing there dead since the fall of Rome. They crashed to the ground with an awful sound.
“The framing and roof will be up by Halloween,” Hill said. “We’ll have the walls up and wrapped with Tyvek, entry doors and windows installed before the first snow falls. That’ll allow us to complete the interior by spring, then finish the exterior before Memorial Day weekend. You’ll be open for business just in time for summer.”
Hill jutted his chin and winked at Debbie. “And you can take my words to the bank.”
Bob stopped as he again heard the cries of small cats. He wondered if he was losing his mind, what with all the deafening sounds of bulldozers and rowdy men noises—yelling
“I’m impressed,” Bob said. “You don’t see any problems with winter a couple months away?”
Hill shook his head. “No sir. While we’re building the basement we’ll have the water main put in. The old structure was balloon framed which is not up to code. So we’ll be using platform construction which means we can frame entire sections on the ground. Once the basement is finished and the cement has cured, we’ll begin fitting the prefabricated components of the house together. We'll use a crane for the decked joists and the roof trusses."
“And the barn?”
Hill swatted at a fly. “More like a very large storage shed. The biggest you’ve probably ever seen. The older barns—well most barns, really—don’t have concrete floors, just packed dirt. So that chore isn’t one we have to deal with, far as demo. Your new large shed, though, will have a concrete pad for a floor.”
Hill took another vicious swat at a fly. “And again, the shed will be smaller than a barn, but still plenty big to store two riding lawnmowers, snowplows and snowmobiles, lots of work benches, tools, and abundant space to move around. Two large sliding wooden doors will be in the north and south ends so you can easily access whatever you need.”
Debbie pulled out her iPad and looked at something that brought a smile across her face. She tilted the screen so Bob could see a computer generated image of a yellow with white trim grand Victorian Manor, complete with a wraparound porch, turrets and spires. She sighed and held it close to her chest.
“This is our dream come true. Thank you both. This is not just a bed and breakfast. It’s our home and I love everything about it.”
“You’re welcome,” Hill said. “Next spring I’ll build a white latticed gazebo in the front yard. And we haven’t forgotten about your husband. Although the outside is fashioned in Grand Victorian just like you want, the interior will be modern in every sense of the word, per Mr. Stevens’ instructions.”
DeShawn Hill directed Bob’s attention to what remained of the barn. “And on the east side of the storage shed will be a cement patio with basket hoops on each end. It’ll be smaller than an NBA court. But the hoops will be adjustable. You can raise them to be regulation ten feet tall. Or, you can lower them so you can dunk and pretend you’re a super star.”
“That’s great,” Bob said. “I’m sure I’ll be spending a lot of time out here.”
“And we’ll add two soccer goal posts. When families bring their kids with them here, they’ll have a place to play outside.”
“You really did think of everything.” Bob smiled wide, imagining a small crowd of reckless freckled rascals playing outside, rather than destroying the inside of Murcat Manor.
“Let’s take one quick walk around,” Hill said, leading Bob, Debbie, and Fronteria. “Remember, everything’s set in stone. If you make any changes, it’s going to cost a lot of money and probably hold back construction. And we all want Murcat Manor finished by next Memorial Day.”
“I understand,” Debbie said. “It’s perfect as is.”
Hill had to yell over the sound of three bulldozers attacking and breaking down barren oak trees that looked like they’d been standing there dead since the fall of Rome. They crashed to the ground with an awful sound.
“The framing and roof will be up by Halloween,” Hill said. “We’ll have the walls up and wrapped with Tyvek, entry doors and windows installed before the first snow falls. That’ll allow us to complete the interior by spring, then finish the exterior before Memorial Day weekend. You’ll be open for business just in time for summer.”
Hill jutted his chin and winked at Debbie. “And you can take my words to the bank.”
Bob stopped as he again heard the cries of small cats. He wondered if he was losing his mind, what with all the deafening sounds of bulldozers and rowdy men noises—yelling
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