Making Windows Part II

Finished framing the 4 side windows for the main room. Here's some pictures of how I did it. There is an outer frame which is fitted to the window opening and fixed therein. Then there's an inner frame with lattice-work in the middle. The window panes go on either side of the lattice-work, sealed in with silicone glue/sealant stuff. Then the outer trim is attached which locks the panes in place. The lattice work has notches carved out so it all fits together snug…no screws on the inside. Once it's all assembled, its fitted into the inner frame and glued and screwed in place.

Wrapping up...

Alright; the exterior is all sheathed and I put the housewrap on. Just in time too, because a mega-storm nuked us right after I finished. I am on leave now, so my weekend project will be to finish or at least complete a significant amount of the windows. Once they are done (I'm roughly halfway done now, not counting the one huge window), I can install them and put the cedar siding on. That will hopefully look sweet and it will mean the exterior will be 100% done, so I can start on the interior. Okay, I still have to trim the bottom of the housewrap. Whatever.

Back Again

Now that I'm back, I have resumed work on the tiny house. I will be finishing up the exterior next, so first thing to do is the windows…I was planning to buy them, but apparently windows are mega expensive and it takes four or five weeks to get them custom made with tempered glass. That's time we don't have, so I decided to make them myself instead. A window is a window, right? I have ten windows to makes total. These are the two I made today. They're still pretty expensive because I'm using oak wood for the frames (which ain't cheap), as well as polycarbonate instead of glass since its 200 times stronger than glass and relatively easy to cut. But, I will still save well over a thousand dollars making them myself, so that seems reasonable to me. Once all the windows are finished, I can put on the exterior cladding, and then the outside will be basically done. Then I will get some long awaited leave from the Army and I will start work on the inside. Keep us in your prayers as we start approaching the deadline to have everything finished!

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.