Another step closer – seemless rain gutters
Hubby finally got someone to do the seamless rain gutters on the pole barn. It’s the strangest thing. There was a sign on the corner down from our house; we called the number, the guy came out and gave us a reasonable estimate. A few months later, hubby tried to get ahold of him with the go ahead but no answer and no return phone call. We waited in 
that guy for over a couple months.
We had some others come out who gave estimates but they were beyond the price we wanted to pay. That went on for several weeks until we saw another sign at the corner of the Meijer grocery store parking lot. When we parked the car hubby called the number. The guy gave us a run down right on the phone from the measurements hubby gave him. The guy even answered hubby’s questions about materials and options. A few days later he came out and walked through it with hubby, gave a written estimate and a date when the work would be started and finished. He was hired!
The process
Our pole barn is 40×80 and two story height. No small task. It was amazing to watch them mold 80′ seemless rain gutters then carry it up on ladders to the roof. It makes me appreciate the young guys that were doing the job. They had to measure to make sure the highest part was in the middle. Then they allow each end to be slightly lower for water flow. They cap the ends to contain the water, add the downspouts and a couple hours later they are done.
Hubby had the front down spouts angled to the back of the pole barn because there is better draining back there. We are thinking about digging a couple of trenches and burying tile to the drainage pond for the fields. A small section of it is on our property.
So, with that off our “to-do” list I asked my husband what was next, thinking it would be the floor. He said “electric”. He needs the lighting to prep the floor for the concrete. With running the pex lines for the in floor heating, laying the insulation and putting in drains, I can see his point.
Next step
We went online to check out the electric company’s procedure for installing new service. There was an application online but we didn’t know the answers to some of the items on the page. We are also at the pricing phase, not the installing phase. Hubby wants to bury the line but if it’s expensive we will have to go the overhead route. Some of our concerns are:
- Can we dig our own trench for burying the line to save money?
- Can we place the meter on the west end of the pole barn
- How long will it take?
- When can they start/be finished?
With our electric company, there can not be two dwellings at the same address. The pole barn will be listed as commercial even though it’s not. The rate for our electric will be higher in the pole barn. I thought the lady told me it was $7.00 just for having a meter and .90 something cents for access to electric. I don’t believe that is all it will be. Seems like others have spoken about having to pay $25.00 monthly just for the service being connected.
Our electric company is one of the highest charging electric company’s in Michigan. While there are several different companies providing the service, they are in different locations across Michigan. In other words there is no choice for the consumer. The company gets to create a monopoly for service. Our no good legislatures allow them to continuously raise their prices and charge fees for things like opting out of the smart meter. Why? Because their lobbyist have lots of money. They should! Our electric company charges its customers for their employee retirement fund. They also include a .99 fee so that those who don’t pay their bills will be covered at everyone else’s expense! When they don’t use that money where does it go?! So not right!
I wont leave on a bad note, but read my post tomorrow. It will be a melt down rant on our electric company! I got started now I need to vent it off.
At any rate
At any rate we are making progress towards our goal. I’m happy to be mobile in our plan! After the electric thing we will be putting the floor in the pole barn. Then hubby will be sectioning of a paint booth, putting a loft in for my craft space, a man cave space for some of our household furniture and other items. So exciting!
A little back story: The seamless rain gutters we had put on the house 11 years ago are still functioning with no real maintenance issues. We knew it would be worth the cost. The area around the pole barn is very soft when we get a lot of rain. Hubby did not want that to potentially damage his floor during the wet fall and freezing months.
I will keep updating as we go along. I hope you stay with us! Please comment if you like
Loading ...lam0beaner
I'm faithful, foremost. A blogger since 2017. Interested in photography, painting, anything crafty. I am not afraid to tackle the unknown and if I get stuck, there's always the internet. I consider myself to be young at heart in an aging body.
