Old foundation was potentially fire damaged, and not up to current seismic requirements (S.F. Bay Area).. so had to have Structural Engineer design and stamp foundation..

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New footings and Piers here after I pulled the forms (poured by pros). Ties into old one, so really is a "Double" foundation.. very strong..

Then the big rig show up and it's game time to unload..

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Precut.. but assembly needed...

Wow, glad to see stuff coming back together.

How big is the new barn? Based on my post and beam barn it looks 40' square-ish? Very pretty design!

Did insurance do anything to make you whole regarding the machinery?

Bolt parts together...

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Rent Telehandler and set them up.. then install literally tons of lumber to tie them all together (all of last Spring and Summer.. mainly with my sons and neighbor).

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and.. here we are on Thanksgiving..

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Already getting ahead of myself nosing around at 914's again... naughty naughty...

Hi Brian,

Welcome back! Good to see that you got the fire damage worked out.

Fire is a bitch. My plastic business burned up in 1978 took down the full building. I came back better than ever but lost a lot of memories I had in storage and a Alfa Romeo Duetto with a fresh race engine. I got my first 914 just after that


Bob B

about 44' square including overhangs.

What seems to be the 'Standard' is that you end up getting about 22% of the "new" purchase price on average. For "new" items (like building materials I had stored there) I got 100% of replacement value.
For used items, you have to catalog them, rate their condition, then research the "new" replacement value. They cut you a check averaging about 20% of new.

IF you go out and buy that replacement item, and mail the receipt back to the insurer, they state that they will pay you the difference to "make you whole". The process of cataloging "everything" is so draining.. there's new way I want to reopen that wound for a couple dozen tools...

I've been buying new what i need to build the barn (with a few good finds on Craigs for pennies on dollar). What pisses me off ALL the American brands are Chinese made now.. so my "replacement" isn't....

Milwaukee Hole Shooter
Milwaukee Drill Bits
Skill Drill
Skill Saw
Craftsman.. you CAN'T find anything BUT Chinese... the retail pricing is similar to what I paid new.. but the Quality....

I have found that BOSCH is generally European, or non-China-Asian made.. this has become my "go to" brand for things I have to buy new.. otherwise I scrub Craigs for old American or Japanese made.. but I'll NEVER amass the tools I had before...

It's funny, today, my wife just sent me an ad for old house windows in beautiful shape. I asked her "What project do you have in mind?".. she said.. "Oh, none, I just remembered you like to make things out of old stuff"...

After thanking her I ended with "that was old Junk Collecting Brian"... "New rising-from-the-ashes-Brian" will ONLY buy or acquire things that:
1) I'm going to use immediately
2) Only as much of a material as I need for the job

It CERTAINLY helps you clarify your priorities...

Wow- that is a great looking "barn" you will have there. Glad to see it coming together after the fire. Wishing you the best.

Wishing you good fortune with the new build. I know this is not the same, but we had a theft just after moving into my new house. Insurance co replaced everything... that I could remember, but several years later I found myself looking for that one specific tool... only find that I had forgotten I had it before the theft and never replaced it... Happened several times...

Good luck with that barn build Brian. The fact that you're doing it yourself shows real character and drive. This sad story that you're fighting thru is inspiring and makes you realize that you can come back from great losses and if need be, you do it yourself. If I were on that side of the country, I'd come over and help. Looks like your focus is in the right place and a lot of the heavy lifting is done. I look forward to seeing this build come together. Good luck!

Brian-

Wishing you and your family a warm holiday season!!!! It's been cold down here.

I just shipped you a care package...just because

Oscar



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Wow Oscar... as I've mentioned before.. there are NO forums out there where people are KINDER than 914 World!

My favorite example.. years ago a G.I. had to move but could not afford to ship his 914.. so a bunch of Forum members kicked in and moved his car for him...

The fellowship (and my favorite) - horrible sense of humor - maintained here make this the BEST PLACE EVER!!!!

Thanks Again..

Brian

The "emotions" only kick in when I wish I still had Dad's Bridgeport Mill, Enco Lathe...
and my Grandfathers.

I had to laugh when I was going through the store room at my wife's Yoga Studio... I'm come to discover she swiped my first hammer.. There is was, the first tool I bought, untouched.. talk about starting from scratch.

Hi Joe,

I can't complain. This fire happened in May 2017 during very high weird winds coming from the East instead of the Ocean. I basically caused it through stupidity so feel like a total idiot for allowing a hazard to happen. But I only lost my barn, and the possessions
inside. My kids lost old school work, toys, some family photos, etc.

Part of what drove me to "fix" it was the guilt of letting it happen.

But fast forward five months, and the high weird winds returned in October 2017 happened in Sonoma and Napa counties. An electrical fault somewhere in the system sparked it all and 80+ people lost their lives.

I had the LUXURY of sleeping in my own bed, and filling out Insurance Company Personal Property spreadsheets at my own computer in my own kitchen. I can't imagine where we'd be if this had spread to the house. 5000+ buildings were lost in the "Wine Country" fires so I feel VERY fortunate.

Also, NOW, Contractors can demand ANY price they want. The two quotes I received to rebuild the barn were $250/square foot!!! The local Barn Contractor was billing $50/square foot before the fires... This is an Ag. building with JUST walls and roof. No insulation, no drywall, no heating, no plumbing and scanty electrical.. I really had no choice but self build.

Anyhow, I actually ENJOY putting together this GIANT TINKER TOY SET!

Long term goal is find another decent 914 body and build it from scratch since they all need total tear down anyhow for a proper paint job.

I'm also going to be doing a fair bit of wooden boat building as this is my other passion, and my buddies want to help set up classes for wood working, metal working etc, sort of using this building as a "learning center".

Some 914 clinics might be fun to host as I'll have the space and a decent parking area similar to what McMark used to do at Original Customs in Sonoma before he moved to Minnesota.

Make sure you are insured for the classes. Even if it’s just your friends. Usually an umbrella policy will cover it but talk to your broker.

Sorry for your loss.

Very nice build.

Heavy timber is unusual for CA, usually we see regular 2x stud/joist/truss framing. Barn looks great.