Machinery Shed Doubles As Farm Home

2002 - Volume #26, Issue #1, Page #31

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"When I'm working on equipment in the winter, it's awful convenient to have the storage area attached to the house," says Ian McCreary, who's raising his family in a 48 by 1,125-ft. farm building.
    His kids love it. "They can step out the back door and ride their bikes even in winter," says McCreary.
    The house takes up the first 30 ft. of the building, giving the family a little over 2,800 sq. ft. of living area. Wall insulation 14 in. thick keeps the living area warm in winter. A double sheet rocked wall between the house and the machinery area acts as a firewall.
    Heat is supplied via a perimeter heating duct laid in the cement floor. An open stairwell with a fan mounted above pulls heat to the upper floor. The main floor is laid out like a standard bungalow, while the upstairs has a large rumpus room, kids bedrooms, and storage.
    The machinery storage area includes a utility room for the home's furnace and hot water heater. An access door and parking space for the family car are directly behind the living area, while the machinery access door is at the rear of the building. The rear is also where the shop and welding equipment are located.
    McCreary, and his wife, Mary Smillie, are generally quite pleased with the combo concept. There are a couple of changes they would suggest to someone planning to build a similar unit. "At first we had a problem with mice coming through the fire wall," recalls McCreary. "A layer of tin over the fire wall might help keep them out."
    A second suggestion would be to install an air exchange system to create positive air pressure in the living area. "When we start a diesel engine in the shop, the smell can get into the house."
    Positive air pressure might also have helped a few years ago when a combine burned up inside the shed. The heat melted the metal on the combine and even melted one of the overhead support beams.
    "We got a little smoke damage in the house, but the shed is tight enough that the fire ran out of oxygen," recalls McCleary.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ian McCreary and Mary Smillie, Box 69, Bladworth, Sask., Canada S0G0J0 (ph 306 567-2099).

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Machinery Shed Doubles As Farm Home BUILDINGS Houses When I m working on equipment in the winter it s awful convenient to have the storage area attached to the house says Ian McCreary who s raising his family in a 48 by 1 125-ft farm building His kids love it They can step out the back door and ride their bikes even in winter says McCreary The house takes up the first 30 ft of the building giving the family a little over 2 800 sq ft of living area Wall insulation 14 in thick keeps the living area warm in winter A double sheet rocked wall between the house and the machinery area acts as a firewall Heat is supplied via a perimeter heating duct laid in the cement floor An open stairwell with a fan mounted above pulls heat to the upper floor The main floor is laid out like a standard bungalow while the upstairs has a large rumpus room kids bedrooms and storage The machinery storage area includes a utility room for the home s furnace and hot water heater An access door and parking space for the family car are directly behind the living area while the machinery access door is at the rear of the building The rear is also where the shop and welding equipment are located McCreary and his wife Mary Smillie are generally quite pleased with the combo concept There are a couple of changes they would suggest to someone planning to build a similar unit At first we had a problem with mice coming through the fire wall recalls McCreary A layer of tin over the fire wall might help keep them out A second suggestion would be to install an air exchange system to create positive air pressure in the living area When we start a diesel engine in the shop the smell can get into the house Positive air pressure might also have helped a few years ago when a combine burned up inside the shed The heat melted the metal on the combine and even melted one of the overhead support beams We got a little smoke damage in the house but the shed is tight enough that the fire ran out of oxygen recalls McCleary Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ian McCreary and Mary Smillie Box 69 Bladworth Sask Canada S0G0J0 ph 306 567-2099

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