Build A Shop - Installing Lap siding and Board and Batten 

My 7 year old daughter and I are loving keeping up with your progress on these videos. She asked me to say thanks.

"Don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't know something. It is by far the quickest way to learn something.". I love that and couldn't agree more. Thank you for posting your journey of materializing your shop! My curiosity of watching your videos was stemmed from modifying an existing structure of our own to an office space/rehearsal studio and also because I am ramping up to potentially become a home inspector and therefore always looking to see how construction is done "according to code".

April you are doing an awesome job. We were talking about your project on Stone and Sons Live stream last week and everyone was saying the same thing, That shop is crazy ... What an awesome job she is doing... That woman is amazing. Just thought you might want to hear what everyone is saying and I couldn't agree more. You go Girl We love you and your projects.

The best part of your project videos is watching you sum up the progress. You are so into it.

In case nobody has told you this, you Are frickin amazing.

Couple of things that you do that are so inspirational. One, you listen to others, but make your own decision, and two, you always(as far as i can tell)credit the tips you get. The amazing journey from a few projects to first workshop, the move, and now this has been amazing. I remember when you quit your job, how happy you were with only a little trepidation. Keep on keeling on, you truly inspire. Can't wait for the fist final happy dance~!~ P.S. huge kudos to the folks that truly help, without reservation or judgement. You folks are what make me understand that we do indeed have a great community.

I'm so proud to have been allowed to see you grow this much in your craft. keep it up! great job

April, you are so cute! You get me excited and motivated about my own small home projects. The progress you have made over these few years with building new and more challenging projects is truly outstanding! Few people have accomplished what you have achieved. Bravo!

April, you must be very proud of yourself? It was not that long ago that you knew very little about woodwork or metalwork, and you just decided to learn. My hat is off to you, I don’t have the confidence or money to achieve what you have done, but I do have a hell of a lot of respect for you!!! Cheers Sean

I'm not tired of watching you build, but I am getting tired watching you build!

April, WOW! GREAT VIDEOS!! I'm learning SO much from you! Keep up the good work!!

I don’t build anything or know anything about building, but I love watching this so much.

I give you a lot of credit April. That's a mighty big job and you are handling it admirably.

I grew up in the 50's and 60's where any woman trying something like this would have been ridiculed, harassed and put down to no end (probably wouldn't have been able to get financing for a project like this). Here we are 50 yrs later and things have changed so much that you can get all this great encouragement AND help from all the men (and women) posting positive comments here. Like everyone else I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment of your build. You're the kind of woman I was looking for in my youth but never found. Go, Grrl, go!!!

I have been a painter for over 40 years. I have done a number of houses with Hardie siding. Even though the manufacturer states that you don't need to prime before painting. I tried it once and it didn't turn out to good. My suggestion would be to apply a good solid coat or two of primer and 1 or 2 coats of finish.. Trust me you will be a lot happier with the final outcome.

I really enjoy your videos, I think they are very informative for individuals. I am a contractor in southern Illinois for the past 30 years. People ask me all the time why I have never started posting videos of my work. They just don’t know how long it takes to produce a information video. Yours are very good! Keep up the good work, and your buddy that give you the tip on the tape, hats off to him. People need to understand the importance of good quality House wrap and tape. Saves your home for sure!

All I can say is that you are an outstanding talented woman. Jobs always well done!!👍👍👍😎🇨🇱

I built my shop in 2006. Hard to believe it was 12 years ago. I have a memory shelf, I put things there that remind me of the good days and the bad days....in my case, racing and the kids. Its my sanctuary...I never argue there, never do bills, and seek only to create when under "the roof". Love your videos April.

I am so enjoying watching this come together. I love your enthusiasm, your hard work and your ability. I am delighted you will end up with a fantastic work space and all through your own effort. 😊

April, you are going to give viewers diabetes with that sweet smile. Looks like you are having inspirational fun every day. Also, that tired look at the end of the day, feels well earned. Great job.

This is just magnificent. You are doing an amazing job. I've been following your work for some time, but doing this (and I know you have help and all) on your own, in such a scale is just fantastic and my deepest respect for that.

April, I feel your pain and exhaustion! I built an oversized two story, two car garage with a studio apartment above the garage. I was working a full time job on the opposite side of Dallas from my home, that added at least an additional two hours a day to the time I didn't have to work on the garage. I had the slab and the driveway poured by a concrete company, and I did the rest with some occasional help from a couple of sons. I did the plumbing and electrical, a full bath in the apartment, a deep sink in the garage, etc. It was way more work than I expected, but well worth it. We lived there for 23 years after the garage was completed, and I moved to Canyon Lake. The deep sink came in very handy for making wine and brewing beer, and that's two things I miss about not having that garage!! Great work on your building. You're almost there and you're really going to have a wonderful shop. Congratulations.

All that work is why I went with a steel building. Never regretted it!

Your making major, major progress girl! It won’t be long and it will be the fun part of placing everything and watching your dream come to life. I’m proud and happy for you April. Your oh so talented and you deserve what all your getting. Stay grounded and I know you will and you will prosper even more. Take care and be safe.

Looking awesome April! You 1000 % deserve it!

April, YOU ROCK................Your videos are Fantastic, content, details, narration, not to mention the Expertise of your skill and carpentry work. Keep them coming and I will keep on watching.

Fascinating to see everything come together. That and the "...and tape..." -wink was just priceless. ;-) Best Regards, Daniel

It was great seeing you and your dad working together!! You're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel---you will be moving into the shop in a few weeks!!

Confession: I watch your videos because I love the way you wave at the end of them. 10:28

I am learning so much about the construction process from learning from your videos April. Thanks a bunch. What I especially like is your open and honest approach to sharing your key learnings from the community. From a story-telling standpoint, that level of transparency is refreshing and is very much appreciated. :) Keep up the great work!

Wonderful video as always! I love the third "hand"! I do that all the time! Congratulations on making it so far so quickly with your shop! It is really coming together and it looks fabulous. Can't wait for the next episode!

Your an inspiration to us women who use real power tools!!! Since watching you over this last year made me realize why and try to hide the fact that I love building/ carpentry and you most defiantly helped me overcome that fear!! Thank you for your videos!

Perfect video not to long not to short good information. Keep up the good work

April, you are such a hard worker. Excellent progress and super learning curve. You are an excellent teacher!

Well done April!!

WOW WOW WOW, no one can tell you go big or go home, You just did it any way. looks GREAT!

I love watching your shop come together but I am so much more excited for the projects you’ll build in it :)

Awesome! You will be given the highest regard here in New Zealand, a HardMan. That is the best compliment I long to receive!

I'm stoked for you. This project is a beast and I'm learning so much from you.

Oh, we’ll tune in. No question. I’m almost as excited as you guys.

You need a HUGE ‘AW’ logo for the side of your peaked roof

The best thing you are doing is taking advice and letting that pace your excitement and joy of building your own building. So wonderful to see. My advice about siding(or just water proofing in general) is that it just as important to provide a way out for moisture as well as preventing it from getting in which it will eventually one way or the other.

This is great work. Being in the medical specialist field of wound care, please slow down! I have seen this type of fatigue get folks hurt. There is a get it done no matter how tired and worn out you are mentality but there isn't any rush worth having to rush to the hospital for...It takes years to build the stamina and mental acuity to handle what you are putting yourself thru and I really don't want to see a video of you in an ER talking to nurses and doctors instead of us 👍🏻😋😳

Wears me out just watching these videos - can't begin to imagine doing the actual work.

I swear your smile is getting bigger and bigger with each update video. You re gonna run out of face before you complete your shop. Lol.

April, this is amazing... I recognize I started follow you just because was a girl with woodworking skills. Proyect after proyect you show you are an amazing proffesional and this is your Mona Lisa, just my best wishes for you and the building will be a wonderfull place to work!!!

Go, April. Love it.

First of all... Your Dad rocks!!!! Secondly it must be so fun to build exactly what you want in a shop.

Omg been waiting for this for ages

We used to make our own gauge blocks and thought we were so clever in them days however, siding is a tedious job that I never looked forward to but, when finished you knew you were close to being done with the exterior process. Great video April!

As always a very informative vid.

"How do you know how to build it?" My wife and I are on our second building (house and workshop) and having a good knowledge base to reach out to is a huge help (friends, books, codes), but also I am sure that you have been doing this, even if sub-consciously look at each piece logically. When you are doing structure think how the weight of each piece will travel down through the structure to the ground to support it. When doing roofing or outside finishing, think about how every drop of water can travel from the top to the bottom and enter your structure, and where critters can get in. I just becomes a big puzzle to play with. Keep up the great work. R.J.

Rocky had a dedicated cutman, too. His name was Mick.

Your enthusiasm and smile are infectious

Next time like at 2:12 bevel the piece to be flush with the casing. Don't bevel at 45 degrees to fit. Mark the height so the rail piece meets that vertical stile and does not go below.

I have been watching your new shop coming together since the start and with every video is even more inspiring. Well done April.

Great video!

I think the "Build A Shop" series is the one that gets me the most exited on YT, cauz I am the type of guy that needs 3 days to put a nail in a wall ^^ so I can just bow in fornt of this efficient, clean and professional work, wating for the next episode with a lot of impatience!! Keep on building you're amazing!

April, Can you talk some about obtaining permits, inspections and that whole side of this process (unless you did that and I missed it) ? Looking good! Cheers, Chris.

When I was doing heat tracing and instrument tubing in gas plants we used to instruct any new hires that in ten years no one would remember how long it took or how much it cost, but they'd see the work in front of them daily. I know it has paid off more than once. That attitude shows in what you do every time you do it.

I hope you planned all of this with "expansion" in mind because even as big as it is eventually you will fill it with tools and need more room.....ask me how i know??

April ur almost at the Finnish line, after all is done you have give yourself a big hug and a pat on the back and say to yourself, i did all of this and im Dam proud of it. Keep up the awsome work.

I'm 14 years old and I've all ways wanted to try this but i cant cause I'm too young, and I've been wood working since 10

I grew up in a construction family. All men, It's nice to see that women can do the same thing especially working by yourself alot. Keep it going.

Hey April, I’ve seen timber battens attached vertically to the outside of the tyvek before the horizontal siding goes on. This creates a ‘rain screen’ and allows water to run down behind the siding (if water gets in). I’ve also seen it done like yours with the siding (cladding as we call it in the U.K.) attached straight over the tyvek. Did you explore having treated battens and if so why did you decide not to have them? Maybe the weather there or something? Be great to know! Thanks, great vids, it’s huge!

You look so relieved and happy at how this is all turning out.

Снимаю шляпу!!!!!

I absolutely adore you and your videos! The way you face your fears and doubts and are willing to ask for help and learn.

shop is looking great! I am a woodworker and builder also, and when i sided my house, My dad flew out from colorado to help me, at 73 years old! Up and down the scaffold with those wiggly cement board!

Awesome job and good information. What will be most valuable are the memories of working with your dad. Keep up the good work and making memories.

No wasted motion. Your narration is so awesome and you touch on every detail. It is like 'builders university'. I want you to know how appreciated your work is! I cannot believe how much energy you have!

Watching your complete build from start to finish. One thing you said that so like me when talking about viewer comments and question. You advised your viewers, if you see something you don't know then asked, which is great advise. I have installed dozens of kitchens and bathrooms and before the contracts are signed I would tell them all, "remember, the stupid question is the one you did not asked!. Love watching your builds. :)

Congratulations on all the hard work you have done and also the good people who have helped you to build such a nice and strong looking building. Looks as good as any building I have seen.

This is great to see this huge project unfold. While watching the siding going up it looks like your pretty much roofing the side of your shop the way it was going on pretty much like laying shingles.

Congratulations on the good work you have done all together by the lack of a last effort

This whole series is nothing short of amazing! Very educational as well. Thank you for documenting this and explaining all of your steps.

Wow April. Congrats. It’s built. Next to fit it out. You are an inspiration. How far you have come over these past few years. Keep up the good vlogging. Oh and the building and Making.

I've enjoyed the whole process of the workshop, but I am exhausted just watching. Especially going up and down the ladders. I think I am ready for a nap.

i am really loving the videos on this build , but the pure joy in your smile and on your face is showing so much in this video !! We can tell how excited you are with your progress ! Great job !

Your attention to the little details like flashing behind the vertical seems in siding is great. It’s little tips like this that many home builders and even some contractors miss. It’s truly the difference between a structure that will last beyond its life expectancy vs one that won’t even come close.

April, this is an extraordinary series. Thank you. And having friends like that is PRICELESS!

Doing a great job April. I agree, the best thing to do when you don't know is to ask someone. Sounds like you have a lot of really good people looking over your shoulder and willing to give friendly advice. Looking forward to the next step!

BRAVO!! You are really amazing!!! Congrats on a job well done! I have had several buildings constructed during my 28 years as Executive Director of a non-profit. Yours has turned out perfect. Again, congratulations.

It's extraordinary , even my wife and kid ask me about you , first my kid ( 7y old ) thought this is " builing off grid " ( the tv show ), and asked me when the next episode will be available ! Keep it up , u're almoust there !!!

April has come a long way from DIYing around her home to this HUGE shop project!!!

My goodness April, remember the adorable gal showing me how to use a drill? How to install French Cleats? Then there was a bed build... Then, WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE??? Amazing, strong work all of you. Keep it up, videos keep getting better, projects bigger, and the talent all around is amazing... You're living the dream buddy, keep it up.

April, You are an amazing craftswoman, I enjoy your videos and watching your skills improve. Keep up the good work.

Wow! That's coming along very nicely. I don't like to make any negative comments or point out mistakes on people's projects for several reasons, mostly because it's their baby and most of the time things are already done and it wouldn't help any. It's good you have friends able to coach you on things to be useful. Looks great and can't wait to see the next one.

Nice to see how happy this makes you. Thanks for sharing your joy.

Super fantastic!!! Living the dream! I'd be in heaven in that location too, I can't help but keep looking at all the old logs lying around, i'd love to make a tree truck/root glass top table.

You are one very smart Lady with a smile and a laugh to die for well done you, stick your chest out and tell everyone I built this. thanks for the vids you put them over great.

Many, many kudos to you April, ❤. . Two things, here: #1 you will always try and do YOUR work better than any contractor would ever think of doing. #2 There are lots of strong men that wouldn't even ATTEMPT to do what you're accomplishing. 🌷👍👍👍👍

Looks great, April. The Instagram stories throughout the week are good as well.

April I have been following you for sometime, And I want you to know you are the reason this old man finally broke down and got Instagram, not my kids or grand kids, just so I could follow you and this build.lol

I watching these videos and they strike me on many different levels. The first is what a great opportunity you have to create the shop of your dreams. We are all living vicariously through your experience. The second is tougher to express because I don't want to come across as insulting or condescending, but you are blazing a trail for women taking on such enterprises. Not that they were incapable, but they have been discouraged or denied such opportunities to venture into the territory you're in. You should be proud of yourself, and your parents need to be applauded as well. This doesn't happen by accident, and they raised you to be strong enough to "swim against the current." I look forward to the opportunities that will be afforded by granddaughter (who turns two today!) when she is you age! Finally, while you might feel pride in what you've accomplished so far, that is nothing compared to the way you will feel in a year, when you look back at this from a distance and see everything you have done. I am happy for you April!

Well done, April! Very impressed with your skill and enthusiasm, especially with this build. Much inspired!

I love every bit of the work you do and the sharing while you are at it! You are a tremendous craftsman!

your husband and father, and other helpers, must be very proud of you for your accomplishment in this build. Shows FEMALES can do a dominantly male work of building a structure of this size. GOOD FOR YOU !!!!

Had a bad morning but always enjoy this channel to take me away from my trails . Thanks

Your shop is coming together and looks great It's a lot of work but you seem to enjoy the process, You will be proud of the end results even if you find things you wished you had changed.