The original 24' x 30' three bedroom cottage was built in 1967. Its tiny bathroom had only a toilet and sink. In the '70s a shower stall and 40 gallon water heater were added, sacrificing a significant portion of the smallest bedroom.

Originally the cottage was 'winterized' but not 'year round'. It was equipped with electric baseboard heaters and insulated fully but inadequately for full winter occupancy. The septic system was also inadequate for full time and winter use.

In 1999 the original undersized septic system was replaced with two 4500 liter (total 2000 gallon) holding tanks that were buried 40 feet west of the cottage. With careful water use these tanks can handle up to 800 people-days before requiring a pumpout. 

NOTE: If the bathroom light won't turn off it means the holding tanks are within 10% of overflowing and need to be pumped out by French Septic within a week or two. A switch is installed under the cottage to turn the light off so the full tank capacity can be used before calling for a pumpout. Don't forget to turn it back on after the pumpout.

In 2000 a heavily insulated addition was built on the west side of the cottage (on the left of the picture above). It provides a larger bathroom with a spacious corner shower stall, a storage room where the water pump, water heater and pressure tank are located. I has exterior door for convenient washroom access directly from the lot. 

In 2001 the original Franklin fireplace was replaced with a Regency air tight wood burning fireplace.

In 2002 a 125' long heavy duty (100 psi) water intake line was installed in 75' of 4" Big-O that is buried 18" deep to the lakeshore. A troublefree HanFlo foot valve is installed and elevated off the lake bottom by a stand built using PVC drain pipe filled with sand. 75' of EasyHeat cable is inserted inside the waterline to insure year winter flow and to thaw out the frozen waterline in early spring.

In 2003 an entrance addition was built on the east side of the cottage to provide additional closet and storage space. The addition walls are insulated but not the floor. It was built with provision for a staircase to a basement should the cottage be raised in the future.

Since 2001 all single glazed windows have been replaced with no maintenance double glazed vinyl windows, and vinyl siding has been installed over 1" styrofoam insulation. In 2002 Roxul R25 insulation was added in the attic.

The final step in converting the original 3 season cottage into a comfortable year round residence was the removal of the original under floor insulation bats and the application of The Icynene Insulation System in 2005. It is a sprayed on expanding foam that seals, insulates and sound deadens.

The cottage is now suitable for comfortable "year round" use.
 

A Shaw Direct (Star Choice) satellite dish was installed in 2002. It provides a wide array of television and music channels. NOTE: Three cables are buried only a few inches below the ground so no digging please.

Vehicle access from the year-round Nestle Trail is via a laneway down to the back of the cottage. The turn-in off Nestle Trail has been widened and built up for easy access. A turn around area has been created at the bottom where there is parking for 4 or more vehicles. A tandem load of 2" A mix limestone was added to the laneway in 2012. 

Additional parking is provided in an upper lot just off Nestle Trail at the top of the hill behind the cottage.