Last Post For a While

The roof is done. Well, I still have to put on the fascia trip and stuff, but for all intents and purposes it is done. This was my main goal to have complete before I leave. So this will be my last post for a few months while I'm out of the country. Be sure to check back on the blog next year for more updates once I start building again.

Putting the Roof On

Only got six panels on today…it was a busy day. I went to go vote after work, which took forever, then I had to get a haircut and then we had to watch The Two Towers with dinner. So not much done today. Plus the mosquitos were really massing forces. Hopefully I will finish the roof up tomorrow.

Roof Cladding

Outside view…roof cladding all in place.

Interior view from the main loft.

Interior view from under the main loft. Not much different. And below are my helpers taking a break and getting some chow. Pretty tuckered out.

I think I set a new standard yesterday in shady construction techniques. In one fun filled four hour period I: 1) sawed with a skill saw while holding the wood with my hand and knees. 2) Nearly guillotined myself with a monster sheet of plywood trying to solo muscle it onto the rafters. 3) Balanced precariously on the roof ridge while screwing and hammering the last plywood sheet, including one event where I hooked my feet on the top and suspended my body down head first so I could reach the bottom edge to secure it. Awesome. We all came out unscathed, the roof is sheathed, we're ready to put on the metal roofing. So mission accomplished. In retrospect, if I had two other dudes working with me and a medium sized step ladder I probably could have gotten it all done in like an hour with no near death experiences. But anyone who knows me knows that's not how I roll. I apply one of my old military mottoes to these situations: if it don't suck, it ain't worth doing.

Cuttin' Rafters

- Cutting out the rafters… -

- In my obsession with structural integrity, I took the liberty of adding some Simpson Strong-Ties ™ to give some added stability. Also in this picture you can see the now stucco'ed earthbag hut. -

- In this one you can see my death-trap platform to stand on while I'm working in the greatroom span. - That's about it for this weekend. The walls are basically buttoned up and once all the rafters are in place I can get the roof on.

Buttoning Up The Walls

Evie's loft

They were supposed to be helping me, but it seems instead that Gunnar was just air-guitar'ing some 80's butt-rock ballad.

I was going to start the rafters today, but there was an elevation issue that I had not forseen. So I worked on that and also began attaching the wall paneling. Got 4 panels done, the rear loft done, the roof walls and roof beam done, and possibly nuked my skill-saw motor. We'll see tomorrow. Next step will be to do the rafters and finish the wall panelling. Then the roof.

Loft Done

Bay wall frame and door.

The progress this week was pretty minimal, due to lots of rain. Bummer. I had wanted to be a little further along by now. But, as of this evening the main loft is done, the rear loft is framed, but only partially floored due to running out of 2x6 and it getting dark outside. Tomorrow morning I should be able to finish that up and then raise the rear wall roof frame and start on the rafters. I will feel much more satisfied when the roof is on and I can board up the walls.