He Used A Welder To Build Their House

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #1, Page #28

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When it comes to welding, Gary Taber has tackled all kinds of unusual jobs for himself and his neighbors. But there's no question that his biggest job was the 3 years he spent welding together his 7,000 sq. ft., three-level home.
  "There are 210 lbs. of welding rods in here," says Taber of Lake Park, Iowa. "I put lightning rods on the roof and nine grounding rods around the house."
  The house is a blend of steel I-beam studs and rafters, with thick insulated concrete walls, finished with wood and brick. Taber and his wife, Judy, spent years looking for ideas and drawing up plans.
  Judy explains that she wanted an open kitchen, living room and dining room area without support beams. That's when Gary first suggested using steel. In addition to the main structure, many other items in the home were welded together. The kitchen light, for example, is an old scissor-type casket carrier. The living room chandelier is made from the wheel of a church bell ringer, hung from an old chain hoist.
  Gary also made an exhaust fan using drain spout pipe with a hog pit fan on the outside of the house so it's quiet. He built a stainless steel countertop and cut the rim off a regular sink and made an undermount sink, molding the stainless steel in one smooth piece.
  He plumbed a hand pump into the half-bath with a steel bucket sink. He bent stainless steel for the outdoor deck railing and stretched cable for the horizontal rails.
  "We wanted a railing that we could see through," Judy says. "And this is no-maintenance."
  Even though the walls of the house are up to 19 in. thick, thanks to layers of concrete, Styrofoam and brick, he built a "safe room" under the fireplace. It has a door from one of the farm's old walk-in egg coolers, with a vent over the top to ensure there is fresh air.
  He mounted a pulley on the end of an 80-ft. long, 24-in. I-beam outside over the garage. It comes in handy to unload heavy cargo.
  The Tabers' home showcases their eclectic interests from preserving old pieces from the farm, such as a De Laval separator case that held spare parts, to a basement with rooms with different themes from Western to fishing to the Southwest.
  It's also practical, Judy adds, built to be virtually maintenance free and completely handicapped accessible on the main level. Well insulated, it has the same energy costs as homes up to half the size.
  Though they live and entertain in the home, it's still a work in progress. Judy has stained glass projects to finish and an endless stream of ideas.
  "She thinks of projects and then expects me to do it," Taber laughs. So far she hasn't come up with anything he can't make.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Taber, 112 Beachcomber Dr., Lake Park, Iowa 51347 (ph 712 832-3876).

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He Used A Welder To Build Their House FARM SHOP Welders/Torches 64 When it comes to welding Gary Taber has tackled all kinds of unusual jobs for himself and his neighbors But there s no question that his biggest job was the 3 years he spent welding together his 7 000 sq ft three-level home There are 210 lbs of welding rods in here says Taber of Lake Park Iowa I put lightning rods on the roof and nine grounding rods around the house The house is a blend of steel I-beam studs and rafters with thick insulated concrete walls finished with wood and brick Taber and his wife Judy spent years looking for ideas and drawing up plans Judy explains that she wanted an open kitchen living room and dining room area without support beams That s when Gary first suggested using steel In addition to the main structure many other items in the home were welded together The kitchen light for example is an old scissor-type casket carrier The living room chandelier is made from the wheel of a church bell ringer hung from an old chain hoist Gary also made an exhaust fan using drain spout pipe with a hog pit fan on the outside of the house so it s quiet He built a stainless steel countertop and cut the rim off a regular sink and made an undermount sink molding the stainless steel in one smooth piece He plumbed a hand pump into the half-bath with a steel bucket sink He bent stainless steel for the outdoor deck railing and stretched cable for the horizontal rails We wanted a railing that we could see through Judy says And this is no-maintenance Even though the walls of the house are up to 19 in thick thanks to layers of concrete Styrofoam and brick he built a safe room under the fireplace It has a door from one of the farm s old walk-in egg coolers with a vent over the top to ensure there is fresh air He mounted a pulley on the end of an 80-ft long 24-in I-beam outside over the garage It comes in handy to unload heavy cargo The Tabers home showcases their eclectic interests from preserving old pieces from the farm such as a De Laval separator case that held spare parts to a basement with rooms with different themes from Western to fishing to the Southwest It s also practical Judy adds built to be virtually maintenance free and completely handicapped accessible on the main level Well insulated it has the same energy costs as homes up to half the size Though they live and entertain in the home it s still a work in progress Judy has stained glass projects to finish and an endless stream of ideas She thinks of projects and then expects me to do it Taber laughs So far she hasn t come up with anything he can t make Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gary Taber 112 Beachcomber Dr Lake Park Iowa 51347 ph 712 832-3876

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