What non automotive projects and repairs are you doing?

[volvolugnut]

I thank you for your posts. I have to read carefully and try to understand what I think you are trying to say. You have much to tell us that is interesting. I visited France a couple times decades ago. Actually, I went to Paris and saw the hotel, the company building and two airports. No time to see anything else.
I think you have a great idea to fix up an old house/barn/shop. We call that sweat equity - your effort (sweat) adds value to your property.
volvolugnut

[volvolugnut]

Would these buildings typically have wood shingles on the roof? Or slate? Or what?

Looks like with old stone walls, you would need to learn to do masonry work.
volvolugnut

[manovlov]

Life is not to follow rails... I would like to do something different than what I use to do. Working on carpentry, laying tiles, windows, making a bread oven, planting vegetables, a simple life with no deadlines, out of time. You want to drink a liter of red while looking the sun collapsing to linen, cool. You want to make a fire with skewers: vamos !

And, more than everything else, to give what costs the most : time. For my family, for friends, wherever they are...

[BlackBart]

I think those are slate roofs, lugnut. You can see the texture and the loose stones.

Manov -
I think you should buy this one. But have it checked out thoroughly first. I'm sure you can find building inspectors.

The main building here looks to be four buildings. The one on the far right, uphill, is newer - it has a concrete foundation. The roofing is much newer. You can spot the joints between buildings, especially on the roof. The joints between buildings is where the water will get in and problems start (just like old cars).

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#3 is the high shop space, very nice. Might not have a floor slab.

#4 is added on, and now crooked / sagging. But maybe very sound. It looks to have two levels, but the lower one might be down in the dirt with no floor. #2 looks to have a cellar below.

From these far away pics, the stonework actually looks pretty solid. It's probably very old (compared to US buildings). It's got a ton of cool texture and color.

#1 is the "house" I assume? Does it have anything inside? Plumbing? Insulation? Is it dry? Is there power to this building?

what costs the most : time. For my family, for friends, wherever they are...

This is something I think about in terms of taking on a learn-from-scratch classic car restoration project. Am I in the garage every weekend because it's taking too long and I need to hurry?

[manovlov]

All you say is full of good sense and I share your analysis about the state of the buildings. The project is to come in the 5 next years. I won't invest without to know in which my 2 kids will go in terms of studies. But as you see, we have the embarrassment of choice in terms of houses.
I consider to buy such building at the "zero stage". In my mind, no run against the time, that, by the way for me, doesn't "exist in itself " if I may say so. There is nothing I have to figure out. Neither a dream to realize, or something like this. Just to keep to go ahead. Something to matter with myself progress. I can explain very well actually. But I hope it will be understandable enough.

To come back to our reason to be on MVS, I don't really care if I make some mistakes in the way to bring Blue (my 850) in good shape. If I lost a bit money, doesn't matter, only the "fact to do" counts. And I've already won something, some good and useful tools, and the way to use my hands. I would spend more time in my garage as you do... if I had one ! To work on the parking place is not always funny, especially on rainy days. But I will be proud of me the day I will be able to involve Blue in my inquiry on the track of my last home...

Here, some others pictures of what you could find for less than 30 000 $.

Thanks also for this very interesting talk.

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[volvolugnut]

My thoughts on building selection for restoration:
1. Reject if the foundation and walls are very bad - too much effort to repair.
2. Try to find with at least a fair roof to shed most water.
3. Determine what size you and your family want. Larger costs more in every way.
4. Decide how far you are willing to drive to nearest town.
Just my quick thoughts.
This would be fun, but a lot of work.
I have built two wood frame on concrete slab buildings for shops. This work was very satisfying.
volvolugnut

[Sveedy]

These buildings are so intriguing to me, my background being in historic and vintage building restoration. I can honestly say that usually you end up spending way more restoring an old building than just building a new. But the history is irreplaceable. I have the only collection of vintage nails I've ever seen, not to mention way too much old hardware. Every time I come upon some writing on a board or cabinet that was put there by another craftsman 100+ years ago, it gives me a connection with that time and place which I really love. People ask me how and why I prefer to restore, and I tell them that I was working on them when these places were built, just as a different person.
Keep the dream !

[manovlov]

+ 1 Sweedy.

I had a discussion recently with the mayor, about the fact my Volvo was not allowed to drive in town because I can't get the right "against pollution sticker" given from the tax office. The mayor loves Nature and make photosynthesis a priority. I explain to him that in 2018, 4 Billions people have used the plane to travel around the clock, and the world by the same way. What was the level of each plane sticker, exactly ? All that to say that build new is okay. But bring to life an old house, if it has got its on spirit, it's also cool. I've chosen the way of an old building because in general, you may have several buildings on the same field, and the field could be a big one : place to park Volvos, place to start a garden, to plant fruits trees... Reach the goal is less funny than living the trip.

@volvolugnut : your analysis is full of good sens. I approve.

[BlackBart]

On your latest three photos, #1 is apparently a horse stable, with very narrow rooms.
#2 has a LOT of character, but is quite crooked, maybe settling badly.
#3 is an elegant house on a nice hill, looks quite large, but may be dark with those tiny windows.

[manovlov]

Salut BlackBart,

I am more and more interested in welding. The idea comes from my sending to protect my low engine by making a measuring plate.
Welding will be useful if I switch from an old traditional house to a container assembly...

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