We Bought A Church - DIY Church Renovation and Home Makeover in Nova Scotia

Did I mention me book? www.fototripper.com/chasing-awe-landscape-photogra…

This is such an exciting project. I'm very envious. You can get so creative with the conversion. Can't wait to see it all come together. Nice one, guys.

Heaton and Gibbs do van builds…….Gavin says “hold my beer” and does a church build. 😂

Hydronic heating is the only way to go Gavin. Circulation of hot water, underfloor heating, radiator panels and ducted air radiators. So as the cost of fuel changes you don’t have to change the heating infrastructure, just the heat source, be oil, gas, geothermal (would be my choice.. while you have the water drilling rig!!) or heat pump. All sounds very expensive…! Better sell a few more copies of “Chasing Awe” by G.H. …there’s a link… In the description 😳 Good luck. Watch a few episodes of Grand Designs to see the traps of such an endeavour. Cheers from down under 👍🏼❤️🍷🇦🇺🎪

Garret, if you want to get an architect's opinion, you may want to rethink you design plans and consider making half of the church nave into a two story great room with a wood stove or fireplace chimney off to one side, leading your photographic eye to those magnificent timber rafters and ceiling decking. The other half could be a kitchen with an open loft (master bedroom/master bath for you and Amanda) looking down to great room below. It would be a shame to cover the beautiful ceilings with guest bedrooms only for your mother-in-law to enjoy. The other space would be more appropriate for bedrooms, baths, and storage. Electric heat pump with potential ground source seems to be your best route for heating/cooling. My 2 cents, but happy to advise more in exchange for one of your famous books.

Heating engineer here. Heat pumps will work even in Canadian winters (they do in Scandinavia too 🤷‍♂) with 3 caveats. 1) Insulation 2) Insulation 3) Underfloor heating (UFH) 4) Did I mention insulation? As we say in the trade, insulation is the cheapest form of heating. However as you're in Canada, a biomass boiler may be the most appropiate system to use as wood should be available in abundance. They come in 3 flavours fuel wise. Either system will require to install a wet system which works better than a hot air system anyway and as it is a conversion you may just as well do it properly. Message me if you want some more detailed info on options. Looking forward to your new adventures. 👍😺

Exciting project! Amanda playing the keyboard was absolutely hilarious!😂😂😂

As a licensed HVAC contractor I would start with a load calculation including upgraded insulation factor and windows that you’re going to have. That will help size the heating load you will need and cooling load you will need to evenly heat the structure. Then based off Heating sources available propane,oil, electricity,geothermal. do the cost of operation and comfort expected. It beings us an old remodel I would be thinking more long a Mitsubishi duckless with a possible ducted option for a large area they have the best HSPF for Heating and balance point. This is a large subject and completely possible to cover in e-mail/txt I have 24 yrs OTJ experience plus Bachelors degree in HVAC —. Can do a phone conversation to help.

Ceiling is way to high to keep the place heated, all the warm air will rise. I'd use the far 3/4 parts of the building and put a second floor up and just keep the first quarter as a grand entrance hall. . As a builder/joiner I'm very interested to see the mess you've got yourself in unravel 🤣🤣🤣 Ps, don't sell the camper 😳😁👍

I’m very happy for you guys. And I’m looking forward to seeing the landscape photography from the new location. Your landscape channel is probably the only photography related video my wife wife really enjoys. She doesn’t know a thing about photography but she says your channel is entertaining either way.

Best heating Solution in my opinion would be to install a wood pellet boiler and underfloor heating.you would have to insulate the existing wood floor and then install the underfloor heating hose on the insulation.after that you lay screed on it.then you put your choice of floor on it. Here in Austria this is a very popular way to heat old renovated houses.

Holy Mother of Pearl... you bought a church! Man, now I have another YouTube channel that I have to watch! Wishing you two all the best. Looking forward to all of your new adventures.

Gavin, I understand why you moved, but now is the time to invite mom in-law. While there's work to be done and living is toughest. With luck and exploitation, there may never be a return trip. Don't forget to plan photographic trips to the southern hemi during the winter months. Amanda and her mom can keep working on the Reno in winter while you are working hard in the sun. This advice is taken at your own risk.

Wow, you’re going to need sponsors. You could easily drop a fortune in that beautiful church. There’s a reason they sold it. I look forward to seeing what you and Amanda do with it.

This certainly trumps those van conversions (mentioning no names)! The very best of luck to you both.

Can’t wait for the Adam Gibbs cameo as Manuel

Well Gavin your project makes anything I need to do around my old house look like child's play. I would stick with electric - as we do, but keep the furnace for AC. Those old buildings can get stinking hot in the summer. Your other option is propane but if you want to be in the new moral majority, stick with electric. Your stove will also be cheaper as well a hot water tank. Glad you have the camper and each other, you will need to get away from time to time for photography. I am an enthusiast of your channel, I'll stay tuned. Any improvement in your situation is a big improvement at this point. I do admire your pluck. You two are the best

This is going to be 100 times better than anything DIY or HGTV has to offer. This looks epic!

Keep the furnace and add a heat pump. The plenum will move the heat around and the furnace will act as a back up heat source. Air conditioning as a bonus.

I think doing a DIY camper van project would have been simpler than escalating everything to this level. But will be fun to follow. 😀