Ep 6. Cabin at a Crossroads

In the sixth episode of season 6 of Barnwood Builders, entitled "Cabin at a Crossroads," the team travels to Sugar Grove, Virginia to restore a 200-year-old cabin. The cabin is in a state of disrepair, with vines growing through the walls and fallen trees surrounding it. The team must first clear away the debris before they can begin the restoration process.

The cabin has a unique feature: a large cooking fireplace. The builders decide to salvage as much of the fireplace as possible and incorporate it into the final design. They carefully dismantle the fireplace and take note of each piece, trying to preserve the original structure as much as possible.

As they repair the cabin, the team discovers some interesting historical artifacts. They find an old ledger book from the 1800s filled with recipes, and a hidden compartment in the wall that contains a Civil War-era Confederate uniform. These discoveries only add to the history of the cabin and make the restoration even more meaningful.

The team also faces a difficult decision regarding the cabin's foundation. The original foundation is unstable and needs to be replaced, but they must decide whether to use modern materials or stick with traditional methods. After much deliberation, they decide to go with a combination of both, using modern materials to stabilize the foundation while incorporating traditional techniques to maintain the cabin's historical integrity.

One of the challenges the team faces is dealing with the large number of bees that have made a home in the cabin. They must work carefully to remove the bees without harming them or damaging the cabin.

Throughout the restoration process, the team is mindful of the cabin's history and tries to preserve as much of the original structure as possible. They use salvaged materials to rebuild the walls and reinforce the foundation. They also incorporate local materials, like chestnut and hickory, to maintain a connection to the cabin's surroundings.

As the restoration nears its completion, the team is faced with one final challenge: getting a giant fireplace mantle into the cabin. The mantle, salvaged from a local church, is a perfect fit for the cabin's fireplace. However, it is too large to fit through the doorway. The team comes up with a creative solution, using ropes and pulleys to hoist the mantle over the roof and into the cabin.

In the end, the team leaves the cabin transformed, but still true to its history. The restored cabin is a stunning example of how modern building techniques can be used to preserve the past. The team's efforts have breathed new life into the old cabin, ensuring that it will be enjoyed by generations to come.