THE FINISHED PRODUCT

SALES AGENT CONTACT

Ashley Cranney (801) 885-0912

ashley@therealtyteam.com

OR   

Mandy Jack (307) 887-9619

mandy@therealtyteam.com 

This last winter has been pretty brutal in terms of snow, wind and cold weather...  Thankfully we took the RV (5th wheel pictured below, which we later traded for a 44ft diesel pusher) to Texas and Florida this winter; but we were at the house for all of last year (including winter). When we left for this last winter, in late October there was already about 6 inches of snow on the ground. We simply blew out the sprinklers, turned off the water to the house, set the thermostat in the garage to 40 degrees (F), and the thermostats in the house (1st and 2nd floors) to 50 degrees (F), and turned off the gas (propane) to the water heater. That's it!! Our neighbors have a key to the house and have gone in to check on it several times, but said all has been well with it. They have had to remove the snow pack on their house roof (asphalt shingles) twice during this winter, because of accumulating snow on it, whereas ours (metal) continues to shed, all on its own. Now, all that shed does collect at the driveway, requiring the use of a plow or a snow blower, (especially if someone is going to be in the house that needs to get in and out) but there are people in the Ranch, who will take care of doing that service for you, for about $500-$600 for the whole season. The Town of Star Valley Ranch keeps the streets and circles plowed and salted/sanded. We had our neighbor across the street taking care of our driveway for us, so they or anyone else would have access to the house (though some people who are not there for the entire winter just let it go until they get back when the snow has melted. Since Mike was keeping his boat in our heated garage, with our other car and because he has a plow/snow blower, he was happy to do that for us.

So here are some photos of the finished product of our house, restored. Whether you are buying it for seasonal use only, you can be assured that it will withstand being left alone all winter by itself. Just leave the thermostats set for a low but over freezing temperature (like 40 to 50 degrees), turn off the water, empty the water heater and turn it off, (and turn off the gas to it), and set the garage thermostat to 40-45 degrees (to keep your toys, vehicles, etc. safe). The decks will hold the weight of the snow, as will the roof, as you can see that they have done so this winter.

Here it was during this 2022-2023 brutal winter, with only the long driveway plowed, which allowed access to the front door or the back door. On this photo you can see where the top roof has already shed its left side.

It does it all on its own, whenever it is ready. No warning, so don't walk too close to the edge of the house in winter when there is a snow pack on the roof to avoit it shedding on you.

Around the house the snow appears higher from the snow sheds and from plowing / snow-blowing, which pushes it around the house, but the first floor deck is clear, under the 2nd floor deck (though icy perhaps) Notice that the roof (left side) has already shed its snow pack, all on its own.

However, here is the finished product, taken in early October, just before the first snowfall and just before we left. 

Front façade 

East Side of house with driveway to Garage and Gazebo Eastern property line is about 15 feet into the grass.

Between Garage and House is the Gazebo.

From next to the Garage, and behind the Gazebo, looking at back of the House with the new stain and seal.

From further back, looking at the back of the house.

And looking sideways at the garage and raspberry patch/propane tank, from the gazebo.

Here, Manuel of Log Care, sand/cob blasting the 3rd floor of the house.

Log Care sandblasting the southern exposure on the 3rd floor balcony, showing the before and after the sandblasting. This is the best way to remove the deteriorated seal and removing the stain down to good smooth wood to prepare it for re-staining and the re-sealing it the correct way, so that it can be kept in good shape.

The whole house sand basted and ready to start re-staining. While another crew started re-staining, Manuel started sandblasting the Gazebo and then the Garage. Log Care has this process down to a science. These guys are from Mexico that come on work visas mostly for the Spring, Summer and Fall, though some stay for the whole year, when work can be done in Winter as well. There are Field Supervisors and Project Supervisors that check on each project daily.

As you can see by the before and after views, they started on the 

back of the garage, The dark brown (on the right) is the old stain.

Behind the garage is the raspberry patch. which 

also has some strawberry pushes mixed in.

ABOVE: The push sander with which they sanded the deck boards, after all the replaced boards were installed. 

The side railing had not been replaced as of this photo. It was replaced with a three rail system bringing the height up from 24" to 36" with 40:" posts, for safety. The rails are inset into the posts to insure steadfastness and safety against their giving way if leaned on. Short of anyone deliberately trying to scurry between the rails, this railing is safe. However, if concerned, for added safety a wire cloth can be placed between the posts (to the first. second or third rail) to keep small children or pets from getting through (even on purpose).

Side rails were being installed following suit as to 

the ones in the front and rear decks.

There is no wood fireplace, but we cut up the trunks of all the trees we cut down, split them and gave them to our neighbors who do have a wood fireplace. We also kept a few for ourselves (shown in photo) to use on a Solo Stove when we go camping.

The back of the garage and the 500 gals propane tank (Salt River - LEASED).

First floor after sandblasting.

Second floor front deck after 1st coat of stain and with deck flooring just sanded, ready to stain.

Rear of house after 2nd coat of stain and 1st coat of decking stain.

Front south west corner at the stairs down to the 1st floor.

View from the golf course, without the trees that were blocking the views.

Log Care Inc. truck bringing new posts to replace ones that had dry rot. 

This post was good on the first floor but needed replacing from this point on up.

A lot of the 2" x 6" decking boards also had to be replaced. 

These bare wood photos show that now ALL the decking wood is in good shape.  

Above and below, after the 2nd coat of staining of the rear deck. 

There are several ways to install the rails into post. We chose this one because it seems the most widely used on the multi-million dollar homes in Jackson. It is a bit more costly due to the extra work, but iti s a lot more secure. Here, Fernando is cutting the holes (@2" deep) into each side of the posts; the rails are then inserted all the way into one side and then pulled into the other about 1"and secured with a thin star head screw, securing each side of it in place. That way they won't come out and cannot be jarred loose by leaning against them. 

Slowly but surely the rear deck is transformed, from its previous 24" high railing to a 36" 3-rail system with 40" posts... still allowing a decent view of the golf course and valley, while maintaining safety integrity.  

At last the rear deck railing is complete.

The same rail system continues from the rear deck along 

the covered walkway between the rear and front open decks.

And all the way around to the front deck rail system.

This is the new view from the rear deck, with the blocking trees removed, deck repaired and re-stained, and the new rail system offering protection from anyone falling off the deck, as was always an alternative before.

Personal friends, State Line Electrical Contractors (Preston, ID) did the inside electrical work and installed a new 50A plug for the RV hook-up outside (in front at landing between the 1st floor covered porch and 2nd floor open deck).

 

The cowboy and cowgirl shadow figures stay with the house. It gives it ambiance. After all Wyoming is the Cowboy State. The saddle which was mounted on the top rail of the 1st floor railing, was also added for ambiance. IF it is desired by the buyer, we would be willing to leave it as well. 

The underside of the roof that makes the covered walkway between the front and rear open decks was painted, but we suspected that it too would have beautiful wood. So we had it all stripped of the paint and finished naturally with the same color stain as the house. We were right. It is beautiful.

The garage is HUGE.  measuring 36' x 32' there is room enough for a multitude of vehicles. We have had a Ford F350 Lariat Crew Cab FX4 in there with a 6' x 10' utility trailer in front of it, just on one side. On the other side a 20 ft boat has found a place in there as well. In the middle we have kept the other toys... a JD zero turn mower, a side by side, and a 45" Toro Polar Blast snow blower. Along the back wall there were also a series of 6 metal storage cabinets and 3 freezers of our own,  plus a range. u/c microwave and refrigerator that we were keeping for a friend whose house building was taking longer than they expected. The garage is finished with an unpainted ceiling that has 4" of blown batts insulation over it. The walls are also finished with plywood (with insulation within them). The garage doors are also thermal insulated doors, and to top it off we added garage door seals all around each one. Further, we replaced the EGDO fobs and added an external wireless Keyless Garage Door Opener Keypad for either and both doors. 

IF you like what you have seen and heard about this TURN-KEY home, to view it in person and consider making it your own, call our Assist-2-Sell REALTOR agents: 

Ashley Cranny (801) 885-0912 

OR 

Mandy Jack (307) 887-9619,

OR 

Your own agent, if you have one,

for an appointment view it in person. We're very proud of all we have done and will be glad to answer any questions you may have, through our agent. Then, IF you feel so inclined, make an Offer with a Contract before someone else does. We will entertain all reasonable offers.

    

 

LINKS TO OTHER PAGES

1. An Alpine Golf-front Chalet is now Available for Sale in Star Valley Ranch, WY...                                                                   

2. Repairs, Updates and Upgrades...            

3. Tour of the House, Garage and Gazebo...