Studio Build Update Part 1

Well - here we are - nearly May! How's the studio going? Ha - I will not be done by May. I didn't even realize how wishful that thinking was when building in a rather remote place in the mountains during the recovery from a pandemic. The main structure is complete - Blue Ridge Mini-Buildings did a great job. They scored some hemlock for the outside of the studio. However, winter hit and a competing project left the studio undone for most of the season.

Erika, my lovely wife, picked out a great spot on our property for the studio. She took her little intrepid riding lawnmower and cleared out the space there and even removed one small tree from the area. I staked out the approximate dimensions for the builders to use as a reference. Then Rocky's (owner/manager of Blue Ridge Mini-Buildings) crew came in and started the project. I've got photos of each major change below as a reminder of how it all came about after the project is done and my wife and I look out from our cabin window 300 feet away at the studio that exists where once there was just overgrowth.

I'm quite happy with how this part came out but I recognize that there is a lot of pandemic inspired building projects going on right now and a shortage of labor to do them. My project is much smaller than most of the others and I will have to learn how to get handy somehow - because that will be the only way this project gets done - DIY! This studio build will most definitely be an adventure.

Ian Hewlett holding a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar standing on the deck of a barewood music studio in Floyd county, Virginia.

Standing on the small deck (an idea from the building crew - I had steps in the original plans - this is MUCH better) of the completed building. Well, complete phase 1 anyway.

Uncleared overgrowth on a hillside in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

The same piece of land now cleared with flags/stakes marking the ground for the studio build in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Holes dug for the support columns of the studio being built in a small clearing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Concrete foundation columns leveled and filled in for the studio build in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

A new floor built on the concrete columns for the studio build in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

The initial frame is erected on the the base established for the studio build in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

The construction of the studio is halted for winter as the snow covered studio and landscape show after a snowstorm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

The snow has melted and as spring approaches, frames for the walls are added to the studio in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The weather continues to get better and a roof is added to the studio build in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

The outer walls of the studio are added as the roof is completed for the studio build in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

The small window is added to the studio along with the outer hemlock planks as the studio initial build is nearly complete.

There is a new building in Floyd County, Virginia. The studio build is complete with a small entrance deck and a new window as Spring begins.

thanks for reading,

ian

Studio Build Update Part 1

Leave a comment

Join my mailing list for updates