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Located about 4 ½ hrs southwest of Austin, Independence Creek Ranch has been in the Buchanan family for over a hundred years. John, his wife Stacey, and son Connor enjoy spending time with family and friends at the ranch. The existing cabin on the ranch was used by the hunting lessee. The Buchanans wanted a cabin that would be completely their own. “I wanted to have a place where we could come out, spend our time, have a place to call our own and be able to start to pass along the importance and the meaning that this has to our family, to my son.” John likes to do a lot of research before buying a big-ticket item. When the couple stepped inside an Ulrich cabin for the first time, they loved the fact that it smelled like wood, not like plastic. The couple settled on a 16×48 ft Ulrich Rocky Ridge cabin in a two bedroom, two bath configuration. They love the dual loft design, which allows Connor to have one end for a bedroom and the other end for a play space. The second bedroom on the main floor serves as the guest bedroom. John and Stacey loved working with the team at Ulrich Cabins. “We’ve been involved now in I don’t know how many construction projects over the past 20 years,” says John. “It was hands down the easiest and most enjoyable.” Our mission at Ulrich cabins is to help families live more memorable lives. With such a comfortable place to stay, the Buchanan’s time at the ranch has easily tripled or quadrupled since they purchased their cabin. #JohnBuchanan

Greg and Sharon Hidden have been enjoying landscaping for many years, but with their recent retirement, they’ve become really serious about their gardening hobby. They joined the Colleyville Garden Club and agreed to showcase their property on the 2018 Colleyville Garden Club Promenade. The couple wanted a greenhouse for propagating plants as well as a place to store their potted plants during the winter. They didn’t want “just a shed,” but neither did they want to spend $100,000 on a greenhouse. Then Sharon stumbled across Ulrich Barn Builders on the internet. She was pleased to learn that we’re a local Texas-based company and was impressed with the reviews our customers have posted online. Greg and Sharon decided to visit our factory here in Cleburne to see our buildings in person. Sales Consultant Weston Ulrich helped them sort through their options and suggested customizations the Hiddens hadn’t thought of. They settled on a 10×14 Heritage Limited, our top of the line shed. Twelve windows wrap around all four sides of the building, for generous lighting and ventilation. Inside, the shed features two workbenches and pegboard. The couple painted the inside green, and loose laid ceramic tile over the plywood floor. As they prepare for the garden tour, the shed is already proving useful as a place to store tools and work with plants. The Hidden’s have enjoyed working with Ulrich. “If we needed to make changes in process,” says Greg, the response from Ulrich was, “‘Yes sir. Yes, ma’am. How fast can we do it for you?’ We were really thrilled.” Stay tuned for an update when both the shed and the landscaping are complete! #GregandSharonHidden #Ulrichgardenshed #gardenshed

Steve and Lorrie Freshour wanted a place where they could escape the congestion and the day to day of city life in Houston. They bought a 400 acre ranch near Palestine, TX and built a barndominium as the property’s main residence. The couple enjoyed hosting friends and family at the ranch, so they begin looking for a way to accommodate guests more comfortably, especially their parents. They wanted something a bit more rustic than their main home — a cabin where guests could have their own space. Steve and Lorrie began shopping cabin builders. Impressed by the reviews our prior customers had posted online, the couple decided to come to Cleburne to take the factory tour. They loved the detail of the Ulrich cabins and began to work with Ulrich Sales Consultant Tonya Johnson to design the layout. They were pleasantly surprised to find that we didn’t charge extra for the customization. They settled on two 16×40 Ulrich Bearlake Series Cabins — one for Lorrie’s parents and one for Steve’s parents. The cabins have been a great hit with guests. Lorrie’s father Charles loves relaxing on the front porch with his morning cup of coffee, soaking in the peaceful morning scene. Lorrie’s mother Susan is impressed with how much storage space the kitchen has. “We have a nice pantry with roll-out drawers and I just don’t feel cramped at all,” she says. “In fact, I made a turkey and dressing for Thanksgiving in my little kitchen and it wasn’t a problem.” Lorrie’s says her parents used to visit less frequently, but now that they have their own cabin, they come about once a month. “From the time we started dealing with Tonya, till we had our punch list taken care of, everything has been done very, very much to our satisfaction,” says Lorrie. “We really have been impressed to the point where in my mind I’m saying, ‘OK, when are we going to put some more cabins in?’” “Eventually I’d love to do that.” #SteveandLorrieFreshour

John and Stacey Buchanan own a ranch about 4 ½ hours west of Austin, only about 45 miles from the Mexico border. Built in December of 2016, the couple really enjoys spending time on the ranch in their Ulrich cabin. They loved how easy and enjoyable it was to purchase their cabin, but recently they had the opportunity to put the Ulrich warranty to the test. The light fixture over the kitchen sink appeared to have quit working, and a couple of the interior doors needed adjustment. John was ready to work on the light himself, but he decided to call Ulrich in case our warranty would cover the issue. John was able to schedule the repair for a convenient time when he had planned to be at the cabin anyway. Gustavo Garcia, one of our skilled builders, hit the road at about 4:00 a.m. to make the 5 ½ hour drive to the ranch. The Buchanans report that the work was done “Quick, fast, professional.” John is psyched to have his light working again, and his interior doors adjusted as well — free of charge. “The aftercare, the service after the fact, the warranty work . . . the little things that we’ve had done have been fantastic,” he says. #JohnandStaceyBuchanan

Quality Shed Framing My favorite Christmas memory involves a dollhouse my mother refurbished. I cherished that dollhouse. But as I got older, the dollhouse became less relevant to my life and was eventually moved to the poor quality shed out back. “I’ll save it for my daughter, someday,” I thought. However, my daughter never saw my childhood dollhouse because it didn’t survive the shed. Why do we think that when building something to protect our precious things, it’s okay to cut corners? After all, if the items in our outbuildings were not important to us, wouldn’t we give them away? If you are in the market to buy a new shed or replace an existing one, the following tips will help you compare the quality sheds from different manufacturers. These are areas that some builders cut corners, thinking that you, the consumer, wouldn’t know the difference. Double top plate A framed wall consists of a 2×4 bottom, studs going up every 16 inches, and a 2×4 top to hold it all together. On quality sheds, the top will consist of two 2x4s nailed together. The roof trusses sit on this top plate. Doubling it gives the walls extra strength and stability. Proper corners When you construct walls separately, then raise them into place, it creates a corner of two 2x4s with a pocket in between. That pocket prevents you from nailing anything to the corner of the building. At Ulrich Lifestyle, we create a proper corner (see above photo) by using a triple 2×4 on one wall and a single on the other, filling in that space. This practice gives the shed walls added strength and a solid nailing surface for wall coverings. Headers over doors and windows Headers support the weight of what is above. On the load bearing walls of your shed, that is the roof and trusses. A less-than-conscientious builder will use a single 2×4, set on its edge, for the header. However, to provide extra strength a proper header consists of two 2x4s, on edge, with plywood in between. An inferior header in your shed framing will bow under the weight of what is resting on it, making it difficult to open doors and windows. Stud spacing The Building Code for stud spacing in house construction is 16 inches on center. Yet, some shed builders will stretch that to 24 inches on center because, after all, they aren’t building a home and they want to save a few dollars. This practice leads to buckling of exterior siding and creates a structure that is less able to withstand strong winds and snow loads. Pressure treated floor Your shed probably will be sitting on the ground. To prevent rot, you want the entire floor constructed using pressure treated lumber. Some manufacturers use pressure treated lumber on the perimeter of the floor but non-treated lumber for the floor joists. But, if your shed is not elevated with adequate air flow underneath, the floor joists will rot! Galvanized nails The chemicals in pressure treated lumber will rust steel nails. Therefore, you want to make sure the builder uses galvanized nails in the floor of your shed. Galvanized nails cost considerably more than steel nails, so this is a common area that some manufacturers will skimp on and not give you a quality shed. Span ties A quality built structure will have ties that span from rafter to rafter every four feet. These ties provide strength and stability and a snow load of 45 pounds. If your shed does not have these ties, it will not hold the weight of snow and is more likely to cave in, damaging your belongings. Framed openings Each window and door of your wooden shed should have a 2×4 frame all the way around. This frame, when used with a proper header, provides the proper support the windows and doors require.

Leah Rummel owns a semi-rural property near Austin, Texas. She had a nice big barn for her donkeys, goats, and chickens. Sadly, it caught fire and burned. While all the animals escaped unharmed Leah didn’t have the energy to build another big barn in its place. She wondered what she could put in its place that would be already built, and could just be moved into that same spot and set up. Her search led her to Ulrich Cabins, and cabin sales consultant Tonya Johnson. Leah brought a friend and came to see our factory in Cleburne. Tonya showed her actual cabins being built in the factory and walked her through our display units. Leah then worked with Tonya to design the perfect multi-use space. Designed to fit the dimensions of the barn, the cabin measures  14 x 24 ft. It features a spacious bathroom, a tiny loft, a storage nook, and a kitchen. Leah knew she wanted to put a murphy bed in the main living area, to keep it as flexible as possible. Additionally, it was important to have privacy between the cabin and her main home, while at the same time allowing natural light. The solution was to include a dormer facing the main home, with two windows installed near the roof line. The cabin looks great on the property and works wonderfully as a multi-use space. It serves as a pool house when Leah’s special needs son and his classmates come over to swim. When her brother visits from Italy, he can comfortably stay in the cabin for several months at a time. Leah has had a great experience with Ulrich. “I got to design what I wanted, which was really great,” she says. “And it came back the way I wanted it.” #LeahRummel

Earlier this year, we posted about Greg and Sharon Hidden’s deluxe greenhouse and potting shed. The shed was a part of the couple’s plan to landscape their backyard for the 2018 Colleyville Garden Club Promenade – – an event that draws up to 1000 guests. With the purchase of a ticket, guests can visit any of the six feature gardens throughout the day. This year’s event was held on Sunday, May 5th. The Hidden’s had worked hard to prepare for the event, planting and landscaping extensively in their backyard. Their backyard had two main focal points — their pool on one end and their Ulrich shed on the other. Their 10×14 Ulrich Elite Craftsman looks really nice in their backyard. The couple added skirting around the bottom, a paver patio with furniture, and hanging plants to complete the effect. They also installed lights to showcase the building after dark. Besides looking great, the shed will also house potted plants that need protection from winter frosts. Thank you for your business, Sharon! We wish you many happy years of gardening! #GregandSharonHidden

How do you get your teenagers to spend more time with Mom and Dad? Vee Hanssen and her husband Keith decided a lake house might be just the ticket. The Hanssen’s teenagers love surfing and wakeboarding, and the Ulrich cabin-turned-lake house has been a hit. Vee worked extensively with Ulrich Cabin Design Consultant Brian Wrinkle to perfect the details of the layout. Borrowing from the trendy Scandinavian style, the Hanssens settled on an all pine interior. The result is a clean design that leans a bit more modern and a little less rustic than the typical Ulrich cabin. After the cabin was delivered, the Hanssens added a porch, outdoor bathroom, and custom tile shower. The porch features cable style railings and a misting system to keep the Hanssen’s cool on those warm summer afternoons. Vee loves the view over Possum Kingdom Lake, and her dog Daisy enjoys frequent dips in the cool lake water. It’s been great — the teenagers love playing on the water and Keith and Vee have a comfortable spot to relax when it gets hot. Vee is extremely impressed with the quality of the cabin. “I wanna say thank you to all the guys and gals there at Ulrich that made the process pleasant,” says Vee. “I just love my cabin and I just want to thank you so much — and hope to do it again!” #VeeHanssen

Stan and Kay Myers are the owners of Brazos House Retreat, a vacation rental property close to the Brazos River near Glen Rose, TX. The couple has had vacation rentals for a number of years now but decided more recently to add another cabin to their portfolio — this time an Ulrich cabin. Stan and Kay worked with Ulrich Cabin Design Consultant Brian Wrinkle to design their 14×34 ft Ulrich cabin. They settled on the Hardie-style exterior, painted a coppery brown color. Inside, the cabin is laid out in a compact two bedroom, one bath layout. It features a nice kitchen with generous cupboard space and an open living area. Delivering the well-built cabin was a challenge. The Myers’ lane twists and turns up the steep slope to the top of the hill. The Ulrich crew unloaded the cabin off of the truck at the bottom of the hill, then using two all-terrain forklifts, slowly made their way up the steep climb. After the cabin was safely in place, we built a porch over the front door, overlooking the Brazos River Valley. The Myers hooked up the utilities and installed a nice rock skirting around the bottom of the cabin. The Myers like that their Ulrich cabin is sturdy, tight, and energy efficient. “I would recommend Ulrich for anyone that wants to put in a rental cabin,” says Kay, “Or even a home to live in.” #StanandKayMyers

When the last of their kids left home, Susan and Greg Harris noticed their backyard was as empty as their nest. Well loved by dogs and three kids for almost 30 years, the space was not what the Harrises wanted for their autumn years. “Our backyard space was pretty much non-usable,” said Susan. “Now that we’re empty nesters, we decided we want our backyard back. We also needed storage, and so the vision started.” Since the Ulrich Barns storage shed they purchased when they bought their home was still in great shape, the Harrises turned to Ulrich’s once again. First, they added the large, oval gazebo with a shingle roof. Susan furnished the gazebo with a large dining table and chairs. The ceiling fan and light provide added comfort when they entertain family and friends. (Note: Byler is now an Ulrich Lifestyle company.) “We love sitting outside and eating,” said Susan, “and having friends over. It’s a comfortable and cozy space.” Thinking long term Next came the need for added storage. Susan’s parents passed away and she wanted a place to store boxes of mementos until she had the time to go through them and furniture she was saving for her daughter. They started with an off-site storage unit but quickly realized they could purchase an Ulrich Barn for what they were paying on something that wasn’t theirs. Looking at long-range plans, they chose a shed featuring a gambrel roof for added headspace, a second story with staircase, and the long country porch, this barn is completely customizable. The Harrises chose the Navajo white paint color with a red metal roof. Adding colorful Adirondack chairs, planters of red geraniums, wall art, flags, and the swing turns this porch into another space for entertaining friends. To bring it all together, the Harrises constructed boardwalks that connect the barn with the gazebo and the deck off the back of the house. The boardwalks provide firm footing around the mature tree roots and soft grass. It’s as though their backyard is one big family room. Once Susan completes the task of sorting boxes from her parents, she plans to use the barn for an exercise/playroom. “It will be a place to put our exercise equipment and for the grandkids to play when they come to visit,” she said. Upstairs, she’s creating a home office. So, has Ulrich Barns help solve the problems in the Harrises’ life? “Absolutely,” said Susan. “We love Ulrich’s.”

Eddie and Monetta Reyes are the owners of Reindeer Ranch at Round Top, a guest ranch for visitors to the bi-annual Round Top antiques fair. Eddie and Monetta are on a mission to share the spirit of Christmas — love — with their diverse guests. The ranch slogan is “Where Every Day is Christmas.” In keeping with their theme, the Reyes named each cabin after one of Santa’s reindeer. Their largest cabin is fittingly named Rudolph. The couple found us online, and worked with cabin design consultant Tonya Johnson to plan the details of their guest cabin. They settled on a 16×52 ft Ulrich Log Cabin from our Homestead series. Monetta wanted the lighting, in particular, to help create the perfect holiday mood. To that end, almost all the lights in the cabin feature dimmer switches, including the edison lights on the front porch. The cabin “Rudolph” doesn’t have a shiny red nose, but it does have a distinct copper colored metal roof and extra dark log siding. The front features a full length porch, and the back has a smaller porch. The Christmas tree in the living area stays put all year long, and every room has a touch of Christmas in the decor. The cabin has been a success for the ranch. Guests are wowed by the warm, Christmas themed atmosphere and the quality of the cabin. Monetta says the guests always assume it was built in place like a traditional home. The Reyes plan to add several more Ulrich cabins in the future, giving guests a range of cabin sizes to meet their needs. Monetta particularly enjoyed working with Tonya on the project. “I really value that Tonya was an out-of-the-box thinker, she says. “Together, we were able to stay within the budget and really, exceeded my expectations.” #EddieandMonettaReyes

Kenny Hague and his wife Jo Goertz-Hague are the owners of Crooked Creek Ranch, a 1000 acre ranch near Hamilton, Texas. Kenny and Jo are the founders of Equine Champions for Christ, a Christian rodeo camp for youth. ECC brings in famous rodeo champions to instruct and mentor the youth. Clinics include bull riding, team roping, horsemanship, bull fighting, and barrel racing. The organization’s goal is not only to teach rodeo skills, but to teach students about the foundation of champion performance: Christ, education, family, and then the sport. Hamilton is a very rural part of texas, and lodging can be in short supply. The Hagues decided to build a lodging park for their preachers and instructors. They didn’t want rough bunkhouses, however. They wanted 5 star accomodations for their guests. Jo is a real estate buff, and the style of the Ulrich Log Cabins suited her really well. Kenny liked the build quality of our cabins. So far they’ve purchased six Ulrich cabins. The four smaller cabins are compact 16×18 ft models, in a studio configuration. The two larger cabins are very popular as family cabins, featuring two bedrooms plus loft space. When the cabins aren’t in use by Crooked Creek Ranch and Equine Champions for Christ, they are available for vacation rentals. Kenny recommends Ulrich Log Cabins for two reasons: The build quality is superior to other mobile housing options You can customize an Ulrich cabin to your needs and wants #KennyHague