Update 7.9.12
Just a quick update, more progress to come soon!
I have been busy taking apart pallets. Nathans pallet ripper works like a dream!
Here is the other pallet. This is just the first step of the pellets. I am going to buy a planer and plane the top layer of these down and get them all the same thickness. Then I will need to cut them to nominal dimensions so I can have continuous rows around the house. Then I need to stain them and cut as i go putting them up.
Of course I couldn't just stop at the 40 pallets I took apart. My guestimation was that I needed about 30 more and there just happened to be a guy who posted that he needed to get rid of about 40 pallets about an hour before I was leaving to pick them up. Perfect timing and Nate helped me grab these last Saturday. I should be good to go on siding and you can't beat free... there are even a couple of oak pallets in this batch, and lots of other variations of wood, I am excited to see how differently these accept the stain. I still have the feeling it will look awesome!
Another view
I did a little bit of work on my garden this weekend and cleared out some weeds. All of my plants are doing very well and I should start having some fruit here soon! Thanks mom for taking care of things while I stay way too busy with other things...
I got one more piece of roofing on this weekend, I picked about the worst week yet for it, its been above 100 degrees every day this week. I can only get a small amount done before its so hot I have to give in to the heat...
You can also see a crack here between where the two pieces butt up against one and other, this is ok because I picked up some elastomeric paint that I will paint on that gap followed by using a sealant and screwing in 2x2s (which will become the meat of my trellis system) and flashing them.
You can't beat the sun sets out here.
pretty
I’m anxious to see what the pallet wood will look like. After working with some pallets myself, to build a compost bin, I can verify their durability. Planing will probably make them look great, too.
I am anxious myself, hopefully they don’t look like crap! 🙂
We considered the pallet idea, and may still do that. We are looking at cedar post fences, there are a lot of those down here in Texas and most fence companies throw the old fencing in the landfill. We found one willing to let us come get the old fencing next time he has an order for a new one. We will see, I am following your progress closely, it’s looking great. GIRL POWER, you rock!
I looked into some people that were tearing down their cedar fence too, it would have been the right amount of wood and only something like 70 bucks to side the whole place (and WAY less work than pallets). I am still kinda glad that fell through, I don’t think it would have taken stain well so it probably would have been grey-ish which I wasn’t stoked about (that’s not verified though, maybe it would have taken stain just fine). I think it’s an awesome idea though. Best of luck! Thanks so much for the support!
We considered using pallets too for our siding, and may still do that. But we are looking at used cedar wood fencing instead. Most of the contractors here in Texas just haul the old ones off to the landfill. We found a contractor willing to let us have the old ones next time he gets a job for a new fence. In the meantime, I am following your progress closely and anxious to see how your siding turns out. GIRL POWER, you rock! Did you see me on my roof too? about 25 feet up….eeeek.
OMG 25 feet up! That’s scary to work on! I’m still just convinced I am going to fall off my roof one of these days (I’m kind of a spaz) but 12 feet seems a lot less hurty for that!