Finally starting my '09 fish house project!

[Big Buck Buster]

That's pretty nice. What did your last house weigh in at? What was the size?

[SapperACE]

My last house was 6.5x12. It weighed about 2600#. I really wanted an 8' wide house so thats why I sold it. It was a really nice house though. This new one is 8' wide and has a 3' V to boot.

[Big Buck Buster]

My last house was 6.5x12. It weighed about 2600#. I really wanted an 8' wide house so thats why I sold it. It was a really nice house though. This new one is 8' wide and has a 3' V to boot.

Thanks. I am looking into different materials that would make it lighter. I am in the process of building a 8'X16' with 4'v-front.

[landscaper]

SapperACE

SO your new house is 8x___ plius 3' v front?

Do you put any stain or finish on the T&G??

and yes pic of the new 09 house would be great!

[SapperACE]

My new house is 8x12 on the square plus a 3 foot "V". So that makes it a total of 15 feet.

I do not stain the T&G, I put a clear polyurathane on it is all.

[landscaper]

Is the clear polyurathane better than stain..?

[elkrivermn]

Stain colors the wood, Poly seals the wood

Is the clear polyurathane better than stain..?

[SapperACE]

Exactly elkrivermn. The reason I always do clear poly is because it brings out the knots and wood grain, but it maintains a natural "pine" color. If you like darker wood, you can stain it. It's all adout what you like. I have seen guys do red cedar stain on knotty pine and it makes it look like cedar. I really like the natural pine look myself though.

[elkrivermn]

I a m with ya sapper on the naturual look, there is nothing like the beauty of the grain and knots. I am a pro painter It hurts my insides to paint over t& g . your house looks great by the way!!!!

[SapperACE]

Well I got the house home today from the spray foamer. I thought it turned out really good. It's nothing pretty, but it is rock solid! You'll never see it anyway. It cost about $275. I was very pleased with H.I.S. Foam. They are out of Mankato and they treated me well. They got my house done really quick, and I thought the cost seemed fair.

I'm sorry about the picture quality. It was night when I took them, and I'm no photographer.

[hawkeye43]

they sprayed the bottom of the house for $275???

[SapperACE]

Yeah, around $275. Is that bad?

[SapperACE]

You're killin' me hawkeye! I'm dying to know what was with the ??? in your last post.

[hawkeye43]

My brother is having them come to spray a crawl space and 300' of under ground water lines. I have someone that will spray my house for $750, but then I have to get it there and back and I thought if the price was fair I would have them do it, save the hassel of moving. I have one arm in a cast for another 2 weeks, so the house project is moving slowly. I have been able to spend alot of money getting most of the things I need or lined up so when I can go it going to go fast. They have done work in the past for us, but when I called about spraying this house, they said over $1100 for a 8.5x12 with 3' v, I thought that was alittle much.

[kevfish1]

That is a good price for the foaming job. You will now have a warm floor with the added benefit of no road salt coroding the underside of your trailer. By his reply it sounds like he either thinks it is alot or a good deal. If you bought the pink board insulation, and another layer of plywood and something to protect the trailer from rusting i would venture to say it would cost around the same. Great decision to have it spray foamed

[SapperACE]

Thanks Kevfish1, Hawkeye had me wondering.

Like I said, I thought it seemed pretty fair. I didn't do alot of checking, but this place was the cheapest most convienient one I found in my area. Fish houses can be tough for these guys to do. It is messy and it takes alot of work to set up and clean their equipment. That figures into the cost alot I think. Anyway, I was very happy with H.I.S. Foam, and like Kevfish said, once you figured out the cost of pink foam, plywood, something to undercoat the frame, and my time, it seemed worth it!

[hawkeye43]

I been down the road before with spray foam. You should do the bottom before the house is built and build the walls, panel the walls, wire and everything else, then spray from the outside. The clean up is much easier for everyone. I know that doesn't work for all people. I will see what they will charge me on Wed. when they come

[SapperACE]

The method of fish house construction you mentioned, hawkeye, works great if you have a place indoors to build your house, and have the foam guy come to you. Every foamer I talked to has a minimum fee just to set up their equipment, then they charge you for the foam on top of that. Thats why I had no choice but to do it like I did and take the house to the foamer. You should talk to your foamer. I bet if you took your house to a jobsite where he already has his equipment set up, it will save you a ton.

Also, contractors I know don't build homes by sheetrocking the inside walls, then insulating, then wiring, then plumbing, and then finally sheeting the outside walls and putting on the siding! I realize they don't have a roof over their heads to allow them to do that, but they figure it out. If you know how to use a tape measure, wiring a fish house is never a problem.

[kevfish1]

hey hawkeye i know a guy in your area that has built a few the way you mention----I built a house last year and was going to do it that way but was hesitant because of the travel to the foam company. Also i figured i would be more apt to want to change the interior than the siding so i went and sided it before the foam

[Nisswaguy]

Any new pics to share ACE?

[hawkeye43]

I was going to cross brace it with 2x2 to hold everything straight, just like you would do when you build a house. The foam company said they would take them off and once its foamed there isn't a chance it will shift. I also weld 3" bolts to the frame and drill holes thought the plywood so the bottom plate can be bolted to the frame. I have seen screws pull out of the frame that went thought the plate and the plywood, when that happens then you got your work cut out for youself. Once I get my hand out of this cast and moving again I will start posting pic. as we start building. The only thing I have to get is the cargo door with the entry door in it yet, other than that I have a big pile of a house sitting there. I have been drawing on the floor where I want things and what might get moved yet. The foam company already did the underside of the house last week when they did another project for my brother. They tipped the frame up its side, and done. $125 was the cost.

[SapperACE]

Sorry I have not posted new pics in a while. I had some vehicle troubles which has set me back a bit $$$!!! I hope to get rolling on it again soon. I look to really kick into gear mid september at the latest. I will start posting pics again as soon as I do.

[Big Buck Buster]

Sorry I have not posted new pics in a while. I had some vehicle troubles which has set me back a bit $$$!!! I hope to get rolling on it again soon. I look to really kick into gear mid september at the latest. I will start posting pics again as soon as I do.

Did you get the trans rebuilt, or purchase a re-manned one?

[SapperACE]

I traded up for a different truck triple B. Hated to do it, but what can you do?

Now I just returned from an unsucessful archery elk hunt in Colorado, which I had the tag bought before the truck trouble. Still had alot of fun. That killed alot of time and $$$ though too.

Hopefully I can get to work on the house finally, and have few additional setbacks! Ice is coming!

[NAG]

I have a couple questions as I am looking to build another wheelhouse.

1.) Did you use any metal strapping to help secure and stabilize the framed walls?

2.) Did you use fiberglass in the ceiling or sheet foam?

3.) I am planning on building a 6.5'x12' house with a 3' v. Do you suggest 2x2 or 2x3 walls.