advice needed, fixing a 1:1 roundhouse

TIMBER HERITAGE ASSOCIATION has leased the Samoa Roundhouse, now comes fixing the Roundhouse, and moving whats left over at Glendale to Samoa.

We haven’t got the keys yet because we need a plan to fix it up. We need the keys to see how bad it is. http://www.timberheritage.org/samoa_roundhouse.pdf

I have volunteered to manage and fix the Roundhouse. The Harbor District is supposed to $27,???.00 worth of materials. We are supposed to supply the equivalent in Labor to the rent agreement.

We would like to put in a security/fire alarm system. I do put in a lot of business phone systems myself plus wiring as part of my job. I have even put in video surveillance as part of my job. Alarms is not part of my job. Is it possible to put in our own security/fire alarm system?

I figure someone here has done some fix it work, on buildings. What advice do you have?

We do have a Dinner and Auction coming up on the 3rd of Feb 07 in Fortuna.

You need to find a friendly alarm system installer (one that will work with you, not insist that you need to hire him) and find out what the codes (local and otherwise) are for such an installation. Won’t do you any good to put the system in if the inspectors won’t sign off on it.

That said, wiring an alarm system isn’t rocket science. Most involve just two wires, on a couple of type of circuits - sensors and alarms.

I hope you don’t uncover any major problems in that Roundhouse. You could go thru that $27,000 in a hurry. Good Luck on your project. – Rich

I bet the security system wouldn’t be a problem to do yourself, escpecially since you have done phone systems and things. Talk to contractors and other people like that, see if they have materials that they are throwing away that you could use. it may just save them a trash fee.

Priorities

  1. Apply for a grant to restore the roundhouse.
  2. Fix the roof. Get it water tight.
  3. Secure the entrances. Locks, new doors.
  4. Security system. Can you get a local security company to donate their services?
  5. Clean up interior, catalog or throw everything (empty it down to bare walls and the floor – rent storage bins and dumpsters as needed) I mean everything.
  6. Survey the building with a structural engineer (again someone may donate this)
  7. Install a sprinker system (big expense, but absolutely needed)
  8. Refurbish interior, build exhibits, bathrooms, gift shop, artifact storage…

Minnesota Transportation Museum
Jackson Street Roundhouse
http://www.mtmuseum.org