It came in a big box, tightly packed with hundreds of numbered pieces and some polycarbonate panels. We started putting it together in the tractor shed on 12/11/2006.
Click on photos to see full size image.
Tied down with six-foot fence posts pounded into the ground.
Stiffeners (blue), and straps (at end of uprights).
Harbor Freight Openers -- a total waste of money. They fail just after the warranty is out. Have now devised a tool for opening and closing from the ground and securing latch.
Some of the details were slow coming together, especially the modifications to make it sturdy enough not to blow away in the next storm. Lots of trips to town for extra bolts, aluminum tape and pieces of metal .
Treated 2X10s for the base were cut, leveled attached and secured.
Christmas present from our son. The white box at the end is a sending unit for the remote thermometer. I'll need to paint the old metal stool.
February 7, 2007 -- The chandelier is up. We didn't aspire to a chandelier, but we did have this old fixture lying around. It holds three 60 watt bulbs, so why not? The pull chain is not in use; the light turns on by the red toggle on the electrical set up.
The timer for the water barrels is installed and hot water circulates back to the barrels from the hoses once every hour while the sun shines.
February 3, 2007--Electrical is in with GFIs and conduit to code specs. Timer and toggle switches installed. Water is piped.
Heat sink: pump circulates water through 170 feet of black hoses to be warmed by sun and back to four 55 gal drums.
Nine 12x12" pavers in rows of two did not quite reach across under the barrels. Pieced with lines of brick between each three on which to set the barrells.
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January 14, 2007
Looking inside.
Bed in the center is 32x70" -- pavers are 16" square.
Finished the paver placement and put down soil and mulch. We still have to do some kind of electrical and water set up, move in the potting bench, make some shelves; hang a chandelier.
