Phase 1

So after meeting the lovely people at See Ya Later Ranch, we got approval to begin the restoration beginning on June 1st 2019.

The first steps was the less-than-glamorous stage of removing the wall and ceiling boards, and disposing of the original sawdust insulation. The presence of rodents and various other critters meant that no safety steps could be skipped, and that anyone on site would have to be insured and aware of the risks. Full exclusion suits, dual stage respirators and a strict hygiene routine was the key to minimizing exposure. It’s not a ideal wardrobe choice for summer in the Okanagan, but it is better than Hantavirus.

As you can see - a lot of high tech, cutting edge tools contributed to the success of phase 1.

The original lumber used; tight grain Fir

Overall the condition was found to be fairly consistent with the original diagnosis, no real surprises were found lurking under the skin. The dry climate of the Okanagan really keeps rot and decomposition at bay. Lots of the sawdust insulation I removed could have passed for 3 weeks old, rather than 86 years old. Next up, shoring and reinforcement!