Sunshine Cottage - House Moving Tennessee Style
Our 16,000 Pound Flying Cottage Is Finally Home

On May 16, 2007 Sunshine Cottage was delivered to Neal Creek Farm, set off and leveled
on concrete blocks.  See more about learning to live off grid.

On August 17, 2011 Country Barn Construction returned to Neal Creek Farm,
picked up the cottage with their sliding tilt trailer and moved it up the road
near the new full basement foundation. 

The sliding tilting trailer used to move the building is an amazing machine
that is highly maneuverable.

Setting the cottage down at the pick point for the crane.

On the morning of August 18 we were up early to get ready for the arrival
of the crew and crane.  Granddaughter Sierra stayed home from school
for the morning for what might be a once in a lifetime learning experience.
The cottage is on the left, the foundation is on the far right.

Bryan Johnson's 60 ton crane backing up the road.

The outriggers on wooden dunnage stabilize the crane to handle the load
and the reach of the crane, also known as counteracting the moment.

Extending the boom is done with hydraulic cylinders.

A spreader beam is rigged with heavy steel cables.

Below the cables round polyester lifting slings are added to the cables.
The poly slings are in a sheath to prevent abrasion.  Polyester stretches
less than nylon when lifting heavy loads.

Polyester slings and steel cables joined with shackles.

The spreader beam is now ready for connection to the lifting straps
under the cottage.

Steve on the ground and Carlos on the roof move the rigging into position.

Almost ready for the lift.

The ropes around the ends of the cottage are called a "tag line" used to
control the rotation of the cottage when it is in the air.  They are also helping
to control the position of the straps beneath the cottage to keep them from
moving toward the center of the lift point.

The test lift.

Up we go! Jessie on the corner.

Moving toward the foundation.

A little over 16,000 pounds in the air.

Marc on the forward tag line.

Getting closer.

Steadying the load for descent.

Checking the clearance of the cottage beams and the foundation wall.

Checking the clearances for the outside beams.  They had to be removed.

Holding steady while the outside beams are removed.

Carlos is trimming the ends of the beams with a chain saw to clear
the foundation end walls.

Down we go.

Jessie ready to make the final positioning on his corner.

Carlos on the opposite corner.

Moving into the final position.

Sunshine Cottage is finally home. The move took about 2 hours 40 minutes.

October 1 the cottage remodeling work is completed, a 10 x 36 foot covered
deck overlooking the creek, an addition to the front cottage roof to shelter
the front door and provide the support beam for the solar panels, the turbine
has been moved to the front column, and the cottage has been re-roofed with
aluminum coated galvanized steel.  We are ready for a little landscaping.

The panels are mounted on T-hinges and are angle adjustable using a cable
winch.  The extended porch column includes a directional antenna for the
cell signal booster and an antenna for the radio.

A view of Neal Creek from the deck.

There are a number of manufacturers who make portable and transportable
barns, sheds and storage buildings.  Country Barn Construction was our
choice because of their excellent design, use of top quality materials and
impeccable workmanship.