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Heavy Snow, The Smoke Shack takes a direct hit

thomas rubino

master rocket scientist

Posts: 7016

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

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posted 5 hours ago

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Since Thursday night, it has been 33f and snowing steadily.
On Saturday morning, there was apx 14" of very wet heavy snow.

Overnight, a 70' pine tree uprooted itself and scored a direct hit on the smoke shack!
Due to its brick construction and a seriously strong roof, it did not crumble but tipped all four brick pillars.
One small blessing is that although the smoke shack is in rough shape, it has protected my barn as it took the brunt of the weight.

The Walker Black-and-White oven remained untouched.

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For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
Visit me at
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R Scott

pollinator

Posts: 4248

Location: Tennessee 7b

356

posted 4 hours ago

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Built like a brick sh…. Er, smoke house. :)

Glad things worked out like that. Looks like a manageable repair in good weather, other than that roof does look ridiculously heavy. Do you have a machine or a way to rig it or do you have to disassemble it?

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
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thomas rubino

master rocket scientist

Posts: 7016

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

4061

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posted 3 hours ago

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I really will not know until we get the tree out of there.
With a lot of luck, it may sit back on its columns.
If it does that, I can jack each corner and make repairs.
Amazingly, the lumber all seems to be intact, except for the brick columns lifting.
Had I used three-hole bricks with rebar, the result would have been different... better??? maybe. maybe not.

With 14F for a low tonight, but then rising into the 50s by Tuesday, and they are saying 60-65F by Friday.
The snow will be gone, and we can get a better idea of how to get the tree out with minimal further damage to anything.
After that, I can see how the shack looks and decide on a plan to repair it.
I do have machines available to lift the whole roof if I need to.

For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
Visit me at
dragontechrmh.com Once you go brick you will never go back!

R Scott

pollinator

Posts: 4248

Location: Tennessee 7b

356

posted 2 hours ago

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Rebar in the columns might have avoided that damage, but it probably would have cracked rafters and punched metal. definitely would have made any repair harder/more expensive.

thomas rubino

master rocket scientist

Posts: 7016

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

4061

I like...

posted 13 minutes ago

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Well, with better lighting, I got a better look at things.
The barn is basically undamaged. The tree is leaning only on the outer edge of the metal roofing and the support boards beneath.
The Smoke Shack roof itself is undamaged, but the brick columns are collapsing.
Will it get worse? It sure could.
Will it damage the barn if the tree falls more??? I sure hope not... but it could.
Help is coming on Thursday, between now and then, fingers crossed.
We need the snow to melt before anyone can go up on the roof.

New pictures with better lighting.

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For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
Visit me at
dragontechrmh.com Once you go brick you will never go back!

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