#benhardtconstructionandremodeling

#remodelingtheworld

#youcandomore

#remodelingtheworld

One CAN do more and that is a fact.  I have become aware these past couple weeks about just how much more there is I can do.

So much more that I can learn and experience to in turn to provide you, my customer (yes I am talking to you) an even better service than I provided yesterday.

Better materials

Better attention to details

Better projects

Benhardt Construction and Remodeling

I have been witness to something this past year to sixteen months that I would like to share with you.

Last spring a couple of robin's attempted their first spring together.

They were in firm control of the territory in the back yard and it was obvious that they wanted to attempt to build their nest upon the patio door sconce light.

Well, between their lack of understanding exactly how to build and my better half's consistent knocking down of (to my dismay) there just was not a chance for them to have a family last year.

So the summer went into fall as winter did it's thing

Fast forward to this spring.

Whoa, they are back.  Yes it's them.  Trust in this that robin's have a unique personality and are very fun to watch if you take a moment.

So it made me feel all warm and fuzzy that not only did they make it through the winter but they found their way back.

Good news for them that my better half finally gave up trying to knock their nest down.  Yet, I still felt sorry.  They tried and tried and tried and day after day there was straw and grass on the decking!  They just couldn't seem to get it right.

Not for a lack of trying mind you!  These two busted their butts making this nest but it just wouldn't stick together.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. (so wake up!)  The Friday those storms came through the St. Louis Area?  The one's that Benhardt Construction and Remodeling is in the middle of helping several homeowner's clean up?

That very Friday, that afternoon I looked up at the nest.  I did a double take.  They figured it out!  Heh, they even threw a little mud in there with the straw and grasses and made a fine nest!

Talked about it over a couple beers (it was Friday but most of you know the day of the week doesn't matter to me much) and went on to dinner time.

The storm a came, the storm kicked some royal butt and the storm left.  Aluminum deck cover - gone!   Roofing - gone!  Soffit - gone!  Robin's Nest - STILL THERE!

Them dang ole robin's made that nest so good it stayed there during the storm and it was on the side of the house the storm attacked!

I was proud of those robins!

Last week on a hunch we took a mirror so I could see inside the nest.  (I am tall but this was just a little out of my comfort zone if you know what I mean.)

FOUR blue robin eggs in the nest!  Ha ha!  High five little birds!

Then I got a little worried as with the new roof going on I didn't want them to be stressed out (even though they withstood an F1 tornado!)

Then it gets warm then hot!  There's no patio cover anymore.  So I put out a little water for like a bird bath.  I mist the nest a little bit to help the eggs not get too warm.

Looked yesterday morning and there was TWO baby robins!  One was starting on his shell and the other one was just fine sleeping in that egg.

This afternoon, three of them out and the fourth starting to come out!

All these two birds have known for the past year is they were to build a nest and lay some eggs.  

It was instinctive.  No one told them to do it.  No one showed them how to do it.  Nobody did it for them.  They just knew in their little hearts what they were to do and kept on, kept on, kept on.

Funny, how much I can relate to a couple little stubborn birds...

Oh, the lonely ole bulkhead...standing there diligent like a Great Britain guard standing outside the castle gates.  Always there day after day until you notice that it's uniform is a little ragged, the soldier has aged and it's time to give him a bath!

OK, first and foremost you must be safe!  You can easily change the bulkhead out but remember you are working around a hole in the ground and that is what the bulkhead is there to do.  Keep weather, varmints and people out of that hole.

I would suggest making sure that the steps are sturdy and not need of replacement first.  If they are, they will require more work and I would attend to them first.  Reason being is that you will most likely stand on these to deconstruct and construct your new bulkhead.

  OK, steps (a different guide altogether) are fine so now we can remove:

The doors, sides and framing (if need be)

If you remove these in the order I suggested carefully you can use them as a guide (template) to rebuild your new bulkhead!

  From the hardware store:

3 sheets of 4 foot by 8 foot T-11 Siding board

6 - 8 foot 2x4's Pressure Treated.

1 - 8 foot 1x4 Pressure Treated.

1 Gallon of Primer

1 Gallon of Outdoor Paint of Your Choice 

1 tube of Alex Plus Painters Caulk

1 tube of silicon

(Don't go cheap on primer or paint unless you want to be repainting this every other month for the rest of your life)

4 hinges 

1 or 2 gate latches

(Padlock?)  Not sure if this is the only way in or out of the basement/crawlspace

1 one pound box of exterior wood screw 3 inch long

1 one pound box of exterior wood screws 1 1/2 long

Back from the store

Prime the t-11 sheets front (and back) and let dry.

Cut and replace any wood framing needed with your new 2x4's

Now that the sheets are dry, cut them to fit using your old ones for a template (remember the grooved side is out and it is easy to flip them around so stay aware of which side you are on.

Cut the strips for the sides of the doors

Cut your two by fours into length needed to back the frame for your doors (if the old frames are bad)

Once all your pieces are cut get your 1 1/2 screws ready and open up your silicon caulk

Lay a bead of silicon on all sides of the framing that will have your new plywood attached.

Screw the new plywood to the framing.

Caulk the area of connection between corners of plywood and the house with your printable caulk.

As that dries, attach your hinges and latches.

Apply two coats of that exterior paint you bought

Clean up