We just got back from more than two weeks at the camp where we enjoyed beautiful sunny days, starry nights, and mist off the lake in the mornings. By the close of Labor Day weekend, we were even starting to see red and yellow hues in the trees across the bay.
But, this was also a work trip with a few important tasks: replacing the cribbing under the northeast corner of the boathouse, installing new lights and doing some painting in the kitchen, cleaning and painting the decks outside the main camp, and replacing the back porch step.
But, this was also a work trip with a few important tasks: replacing the cribbing under the northeast corner of the boathouse, installing new lights and doing some painting in the kitchen, cleaning and painting the decks outside the main camp, and replacing the back porch step.
The corner cribbing at the boathouse was close to collapse by the end of the season. I picked up 6 x 6 in. hemlock beams from a local sawmill and boated them across the lake. We now have enough to replace the remaining front cribs, although those are still in decent shape and don't need immediate attention.
We jacked up the corner of the boathouse, removed the old cribbing, and cut and installed new cribbing the same footprint before setting the boathouse corner back down. Replace the trim boards and some touch-up painting, now both bays are back in service. Thanks to my dad Andrew for all his help with this!
We jacked up the corner of the boathouse, removed the old cribbing, and cut and installed new cribbing the same footprint before setting the boathouse corner back down. Replace the trim boards and some touch-up painting, now both bays are back in service. Thanks to my dad Andrew for all his help with this!
We also power-washed the decks at the main camp, primed, then painted with two coats of a heavy-duty deck paint. The decks look nice and fresh.
Before, showing the worn red deck stain.
After two coats of Restore 4X in River Stone and hosting Hugh's Westport chairs.
It was also time to replace the step at the back porch, a 13-foot solid hemlock beam that was beginning to disintegrate. The new beam was cut by Steve Folsom, who provided lots of lumber for Hugh when the camp was first built.
The old step, in the foreground, with its replacement on a hand-truck in the background and our 3yo assisting.
Cutting the new step to hug the porch posts. Doing my best to live up to Hugh's far superior scribing skill! We've had the new step cut and waiting to be installed for about two seasons, hence its weathered patina.
Since we put in the new range and kitchen cabinets, we've been meaning to remove the old stove-pipe adapter in the ceiling and add a new recessed light above that work space. The existing recessed light over the sink was replaced with a matching LED trip kit, the wall above the sink was re-painted, the outlets upgraded to code-compliant GFCI, and plate covers switched out.
The kitchen in 2014, shortly after the new range was installed.
Now with new lights, outlets, and paint.
Those were the big projects for this trip, thanks for reading all the way through! Hope to see you next season, Aaron & Tammy.
Have brush will stain.
