Today we have worked on getting the roof boards ready and I can tell you this project is not for the faint at heart. Starting at 7 this morning we worked until 4 just preparing the 2x12x16 foot (the longest ones of which there were 12) ready to go up. Kirk wanted to have good thick boards up on the ceiling, these are rough cut lumber so they are every bit of the 2 x 12. First one side had to be sanded, not something we wanted to do but they were marked up, so..............
Next, on the table saw we cut a groove on the long sides, then with the router, on the short sides. We did this with 1,000 board feet of lumber. To say the least we were spent.
Then at 5 pm, Kirk climbed up on the roof, on top of those logs and began putting up those boards. Of course each one besides being very heavy was not enough, each one had to fight him. To say it is not disheartening to have to struggle with every step is an under statement. It can bring a strong, grown man to near tears.
Sometimes it may seem everything is going great because I don't tell all the difficulties, and perhaps that is not a good thing. It has been a struggle every step of the way in one way or another.
Would you like more of the gory details?
One I forgot to share was when we were putting up the logs, one fell. We were using our skid steer and one of the problems with it is the bucket jerks, well it jerked and the log jumped right out. It hit the floor and put 2 small holes in it, because of course it bounced. Thank goodness I was a long way from it. I will have to start sharing more of these kinds of things. I don't want to make it sound like things are just so easy...........heck, I am always asking God how come things have to be so hard.....of course I know the answer.
I will share pictures of the boards and ceiling at the first of the week.
We could use prayer, for safety, good weather (it is suppose to rain starting tomorrow night) and just physical strength.
Hugs to all,
God Bless
I
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Log Rafters, Starting the Roof
Time to begin cutting and fitting the logs that will be the rafters of the building.
Using the saw mill that he built before we moved up here, with the intention of cutting wood for other people, which of course did not pan out (what else is new). Kirk started getting the logs ready to become rafters.
First we need to make the top flat to accept the 2x lumber that will become the ceiling. So a slice is taken off the top.
After turning the log over, top side down, two cut outs had to be made so the logs will set on the walls.
With a template, Kirk measures his cut out. This still is not an exact measurement, as you know cutting free hand is not exact.
Next, he cut one end to accept another log, this end goes where the porch will be and is in the up position.
Now how do we get these things up there. Well you know how it is when your doing something for the first time. You try the hardest way first and that is what happened. You see that first log on the building, it was trailered over, and man handled into position and 12 more to go?!........there has got to be a better way. What about the skid steer.......well ours is not working all that great (never has.....that is another story). So we borrowed one and now he can carry the polls with it.....
Lift them up onto the building with it and even push the pole a bit with it (very carefully).
Then the man handling begins but this only requires a bit nudging, pushing and pulling before they are in place. All 12 of the remaining logs are in place by noon on the second day.
Of course on the first day, the chainsaw decided that now was the time not to work, so had to get another, and all the measurements and figuring how to do things had to be done. Yesterday was a beautiful day, but today......though sunny and clear was 96*. HOT, HOT, HOT.
Here is how it looks from the front.
And the back.
And then sadness................................I have to give up my most comfortable jeans. I can deal with a hole by the pocket, and frayed pant legs, but when the butt and crotch go...................
Until next time.
God Bless
Using the saw mill that he built before we moved up here, with the intention of cutting wood for other people, which of course did not pan out (what else is new). Kirk started getting the logs ready to become rafters.
First we need to make the top flat to accept the 2x lumber that will become the ceiling. So a slice is taken off the top.
After turning the log over, top side down, two cut outs had to be made so the logs will set on the walls.
With a template, Kirk measures his cut out. This still is not an exact measurement, as you know cutting free hand is not exact.
Next, he cut one end to accept another log, this end goes where the porch will be and is in the up position.
Now how do we get these things up there. Well you know how it is when your doing something for the first time. You try the hardest way first and that is what happened. You see that first log on the building, it was trailered over, and man handled into position and 12 more to go?!........there has got to be a better way. What about the skid steer.......well ours is not working all that great (never has.....that is another story). So we borrowed one and now he can carry the polls with it.....
Lift them up onto the building with it and even push the pole a bit with it (very carefully).
Then the man handling begins but this only requires a bit nudging, pushing and pulling before they are in place. All 12 of the remaining logs are in place by noon on the second day.
Of course on the first day, the chainsaw decided that now was the time not to work, so had to get another, and all the measurements and figuring how to do things had to be done. Yesterday was a beautiful day, but today......though sunny and clear was 96*. HOT, HOT, HOT.
Here is how it looks from the front.
And the back.
And then sadness................................I have to give up my most comfortable jeans. I can deal with a hole by the pocket, and frayed pant legs, but when the butt and crotch go...................
Until next time.
God Bless
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
We have Walls, Windows & Doors
Oh my what a busy week, I even have a stiff neck/shoulder as a consultation prize.
Lookie, our first wall for the second floor/studio. I have a door and a window. WAHOO. Like the stairs to the door?
From the inside, the far window is where my sewing machine will be. It is exciting to see.
Rocky just could not stand it that we were up on the building without him. He would sleep at the foot of the ladder, so Kirk put him up with him. I was doing some things down stairs (dishes) and I kept hearing him running all around on the roof of the house. LOL.
He did really good and was up there with us for a couple hours, then he decided to go running around on the roof of the house again, looking down and all over, back and forth.....
what we did not know is........he needed to get down..............next thing we know he is pooping on the roof of the patio....LOL. We just laughed, poor puppy......the next day he was up with Kirk and I guess decided it would be ok to pee on the roof, too.................sigh. To funny.
All of the long walls are up, I won't bore you with all the details. We now have the 8 foot wall to the North and 10 foot to the South. The North wall has two windows and a door, the South wall has 8 windows and a door. The South wall will be my solar gain wall. Why the door on the South wall leading onto the roof........in case we get snowed in?...........well maybe, but mostly so we can access the roof without a ladder. Ya, I know....we are going to get alot of flack about it. No one said we did thing conventionally.
Just an inside view of the South wall...over there under the 3 high windows?......that is where my design wall will be. Kirk is standing in the bay for the bathroom.
Note the dirt level against the wall, Kirk did some back filling now Rocky can get up AND down all by himself.
The building is looking a bit strange, but once again...we are not conventional. I think once the roof and porch are on it will be ok. Terry says it looks like a row house, we are thinking a two story trailer........lol. Maybe we can be on the show "What's with that house".
After spending all day Saturday and 3/4 of Sunday in 99* weather building the walls, we went 90 miles to get the logs for the ceiling/roof of the second story. Needless to say we are both pretty tired now.
This next weekend will be working on the roof. Stay tuned.
Lookie, our first wall for the second floor/studio. I have a door and a window. WAHOO. Like the stairs to the door?
From the inside, the far window is where my sewing machine will be. It is exciting to see.
Rocky just could not stand it that we were up on the building without him. He would sleep at the foot of the ladder, so Kirk put him up with him. I was doing some things down stairs (dishes) and I kept hearing him running all around on the roof of the house. LOL.
He did really good and was up there with us for a couple hours, then he decided to go running around on the roof of the house again, looking down and all over, back and forth.....
what we did not know is........he needed to get down..............next thing we know he is pooping on the roof of the patio....LOL. We just laughed, poor puppy......the next day he was up with Kirk and I guess decided it would be ok to pee on the roof, too.................sigh. To funny.
All of the long walls are up, I won't bore you with all the details. We now have the 8 foot wall to the North and 10 foot to the South. The North wall has two windows and a door, the South wall has 8 windows and a door. The South wall will be my solar gain wall. Why the door on the South wall leading onto the roof........in case we get snowed in?...........well maybe, but mostly so we can access the roof without a ladder. Ya, I know....we are going to get alot of flack about it. No one said we did thing conventionally.
Just an inside view of the South wall...over there under the 3 high windows?......that is where my design wall will be. Kirk is standing in the bay for the bathroom.
Note the dirt level against the wall, Kirk did some back filling now Rocky can get up AND down all by himself.
The building is looking a bit strange, but once again...we are not conventional. I think once the roof and porch are on it will be ok. Terry says it looks like a row house, we are thinking a two story trailer........lol. Maybe we can be on the show "What's with that house".
After spending all day Saturday and 3/4 of Sunday in 99* weather building the walls, we went 90 miles to get the logs for the ceiling/roof of the second story. Needless to say we are both pretty tired now.
This next weekend will be working on the roof. Stay tuned.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Standing in my new studio
Another big step in the process of our addition. Kirk and I worked on getting the final joists in, framing out the staircase on Saturday. Then while I made a parts run to town, he did some more finish work in preparation to put the floor on the second story.
Here you can see the staircase. It is going to make a T at the top. The way we have redesigned them I will have two perfect spots for quilt display, one at the bottom and one at the top. This way does take up some of my floor space, but that is the way the mop flops and the cookie crumbs. The two posts your seeing will be replaced with walls later.
Here is a view from the top before the floor sheeting goes on. Good thing Kirk got some help with this process from Terry, ain't no way I'd be doing it........I am afraid of heights.
The floor is on.............WAHOOOOOOO. Kirk is standing about where the wood burning stove will go. Just behind him toward the roof of the shop is where the longarm will go. Ya, my studio is taking shape. Way cool.
Ok now I am standing in the studio and taking in the new bathroom and its view. No I am not afraid now that the floor is on, it is just like being on the ground.
Today I drew out the final details for the
studio area, placement of windows, electrical,
and furniture.
Kirk and I were imagining sitting in this east
bay, during an early morning sunrise, wood stove going, with a cuppa, looking at the mountain and desert all covered in fresh fallen snow, or perhaps watching a beautiful snow storm or an amazing thunderstorm.
This next weekend we are going to get the logs for the roof/ceiling. The wood for the ceiling has been ordered and will be here next week. Walls will soon be going up.
Here you can see the staircase. It is going to make a T at the top. The way we have redesigned them I will have two perfect spots for quilt display, one at the bottom and one at the top. This way does take up some of my floor space, but that is the way the mop flops and the cookie crumbs. The two posts your seeing will be replaced with walls later.
Here is a view from the top before the floor sheeting goes on. Good thing Kirk got some help with this process from Terry, ain't no way I'd be doing it........I am afraid of heights.
The floor is on.............WAHOOOOOOO. Kirk is standing about where the wood burning stove will go. Just behind him toward the roof of the shop is where the longarm will go. Ya, my studio is taking shape. Way cool.
Ok now I am standing in the studio and taking in the new bathroom and its view. No I am not afraid now that the floor is on, it is just like being on the ground.
Today I drew out the final details for the
studio area, placement of windows, electrical,
and furniture.
Kirk and I were imagining sitting in this east
bay, during an early morning sunrise, wood stove going, with a cuppa, looking at the mountain and desert all covered in fresh fallen snow, or perhaps watching a beautiful snow storm or an amazing thunderstorm.
This next weekend we are going to get the logs for the roof/ceiling. The wood for the ceiling has been ordered and will be here next week. Walls will soon be going up.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Sunday's Progress
We have our first bay. Kirk has created the bay for the new bedroom.
This is what it looks like from the front door.
From inside the room. We have talked about knocking the hill down some more so we will have a better view, especially from upstairs.
The board you see here is a BCI beam and is what we used for the floor rafters and what we put up on Sat. I did not help today, there really was not anything for me to do, so I worked on Bryce's camping quilt. I am glad, too, I am pretty tired.....not accustom to all that physical work and it really was not that hard, Kirk did all the lifting all I had to do was lift my end of the BCI into place an put 3 screws in it. Climbing up and down from the scaffolding and the heat I think is what got me.
Here you can see how it fits, where the floor is going to be for upstairs. We will have a great view on all sides except to the North, that area will get a garden and lawn eventually.
There will be a 4 x 6 window in the very front,
but for now Kirk is leaving it open so we have a way to go in and out, small detail. LOL.
This is what it looks like from the front door.
From inside the room. We have talked about knocking the hill down some more so we will have a better view, especially from upstairs.
The board you see here is a BCI beam and is what we used for the floor rafters and what we put up on Sat. I did not help today, there really was not anything for me to do, so I worked on Bryce's camping quilt. I am glad, too, I am pretty tired.....not accustom to all that physical work and it really was not that hard, Kirk did all the lifting all I had to do was lift my end of the BCI into place an put 3 screws in it. Climbing up and down from the scaffolding and the heat I think is what got me.
Here you can see how it fits, where the floor is going to be for upstairs. We will have a great view on all sides except to the North, that area will get a garden and lawn eventually.
There will be a 4 x 6 window in the very front,
but for now Kirk is leaving it open so we have a way to go in and out, small detail. LOL.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Today's progress
Today's progress, the floor joists are up. The open space is where the stairs will be going, Kirk has to frame that area in and then we will add the other joists.
We are very tired. I helped do this. The side on the right is the part I set. Tomorrow will be another busy day, we are hoping that the floor will be on early this week.
We are very tired. I helped do this. The side on the right is the part I set. Tomorrow will be another busy day, we are hoping that the floor will be on early this week.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Wall Pour
I guess I am a strange female......well I AM strange but.....because I love having the excitement of construction around me. To me this has been a very exciting and interesting day.
This morning Kirk and Merlin finished up the last minute preparations before the pump truck and concrete arrived for the wall pour. About 1:30 the pump truck arrived...OH my that is one big truck, nothing like what either Kirk or I expected.
This picture is taken from the upper pad by the garden area, look how big it is compared to the house. It was amazing watching this unfold.
First he put down the stabilizer arms, looks like a big bug....notice the men at the back of this thing.
The stabilizers sit upon a wood piece that is about 24" square and 5" thick. Given that you can see how big the arms are.
It begins to unfold, I was in awe at the size of this machine.
Back up on the upper pad for a full view of this exciting machine. I like machines, I find them very interesting, love seeing manufacturing plants. About this point I was wondering how the cement gets through the boom. I will soon find this out.
The turret, that swings the boom around to any place needed.
Awe.....now I see how the cement gets into the pump truck.
This pour required 2 cement trucks, and these drivers are so good with these big things that they back up our driveway and around to the job area. Now if you have ever seen our driveway you would know this is pretty amazing......Just ask Susan and Paul about our driveway.
The trucks have mated up. Sorry I could not resist.
The driver/owner of the pump truck operates it by remote control.
The wall is ready,..... note the wood wall on the left...see the framed wall? this is the ceiling height of the lower floor, which is at 10 feet, the top floor will be about 12 inches above that.
The pour begins......now I have to tell you about Merlin, who is the owner of the company we bought our block from....Wyoming ICF & Supply Inc. He is a distributor of LOGIX block which is what we used. Merlin has spent 2 full days helping us get this done, he supplied all the bracing, helped Kirk construct the wall and poured the wall. Now mind you, you can just buy the block etc., but for $500.00 Merlin made sure that everything went right. He coordinated every aspect of the job, even to the point of saving us about $150 on the pump truck because we waited a couple days so 2 jobs in this area happened at the same time. That will buy one of my windows. He is worth every penny. In 2 days (work days) we are done with a job that would have taken us a week to do alone. Thank you Merlin......his contact info...........
Merlin Chenoweth
P.O. Box 1055
Worland, Wy 82401
(307) 431-0023
We highly recommend his service. If he can't come to your area perhaps he can recommendation someone near you. Be sure you use someone that will help you like this it makes ALL the difference.
Just another view of the pump truck boom, and how big it is, it sure can reach can't it.
Another view of the job.
See how the wall is braced? Also notice the guys supervising the job... and how tall the wall is.
After the wall is all poured, it needs to be vibrated to make sure all of the air is out and it has settled correctly.
Well that is about it, the wall is curing now and making noises as it does.
Today we are getting a delivery of BCI beams, these will create the upstairs floor, Kirk hopes to install them starting this weekend. WAHOO, we are moving along.
This morning Kirk and Merlin finished up the last minute preparations before the pump truck and concrete arrived for the wall pour. About 1:30 the pump truck arrived...OH my that is one big truck, nothing like what either Kirk or I expected.
This picture is taken from the upper pad by the garden area, look how big it is compared to the house. It was amazing watching this unfold.
First he put down the stabilizer arms, looks like a big bug....notice the men at the back of this thing.
The stabilizers sit upon a wood piece that is about 24" square and 5" thick. Given that you can see how big the arms are.
It begins to unfold, I was in awe at the size of this machine.
Back up on the upper pad for a full view of this exciting machine. I like machines, I find them very interesting, love seeing manufacturing plants. About this point I was wondering how the cement gets through the boom. I will soon find this out.
The turret, that swings the boom around to any place needed.
Awe.....now I see how the cement gets into the pump truck.
This pour required 2 cement trucks, and these drivers are so good with these big things that they back up our driveway and around to the job area. Now if you have ever seen our driveway you would know this is pretty amazing......Just ask Susan and Paul about our driveway.
The trucks have mated up. Sorry I could not resist.
The driver/owner of the pump truck operates it by remote control.
The wall is ready,..... note the wood wall on the left...see the framed wall? this is the ceiling height of the lower floor, which is at 10 feet, the top floor will be about 12 inches above that.
The pour begins......now I have to tell you about Merlin, who is the owner of the company we bought our block from....Wyoming ICF & Supply Inc. He is a distributor of LOGIX block which is what we used. Merlin has spent 2 full days helping us get this done, he supplied all the bracing, helped Kirk construct the wall and poured the wall. Now mind you, you can just buy the block etc., but for $500.00 Merlin made sure that everything went right. He coordinated every aspect of the job, even to the point of saving us about $150 on the pump truck because we waited a couple days so 2 jobs in this area happened at the same time. That will buy one of my windows. He is worth every penny. In 2 days (work days) we are done with a job that would have taken us a week to do alone. Thank you Merlin......his contact info...........
Merlin Chenoweth
P.O. Box 1055
Worland, Wy 82401
(307) 431-0023
We highly recommend his service. If he can't come to your area perhaps he can recommendation someone near you. Be sure you use someone that will help you like this it makes ALL the difference.
Just another view of the pump truck boom, and how big it is, it sure can reach can't it.
Another view of the job.
See how the wall is braced? Also notice the guys supervising the job... and how tall the wall is.
After the wall is all poured, it needs to be vibrated to make sure all of the air is out and it has settled correctly.
Well that is about it, the wall is curing now and making noises as it does.
Today we are getting a delivery of BCI beams, these will create the upstairs floor, Kirk hopes to install them starting this weekend. WAHOO, we are moving along.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
A wall of Leggo's
At this point each step in the construction process is very noticeable. My last post was about what a big step getting started on the wood/stick wall was. I have to say that this new wall is pretty impressive.
These blocks remind me of giant leggo's. There arrived in a big semi truck. Each block is 16 x 48". The insulation value of this kind of wall is R50. Kirk decided to do this kind of wall for several reasons, one being ease, the other the R value. This wall will hold the hill back and cool the house. It is 10 feet tall. The two men had the wall up in 6 hours, alot different the concrete block. It is not a cheap venture, each block is $25.00. A cool thing also is the owner of the company (in red) we bought from comes and helps the homeowner construct their project. He said people are building whole houses with these.
Here you can see the first course going in, also you can see what it will be holding back. Seems this is the view I always get of the work, elbows and behinds indicates work getting done. LOL.
Here are 2 blocks together.
The structure inside the block is this steal configuration, which holds your re-bar. Another thing that is cool about this system is it replaces studs, because where the cross members are you can screw any wall covering to it, be it wood, sheet rock, whatever. So you do not have to build a wall on the inside, since this does it all. They look like leggos don't they?
Here you can see the inside of the wall, once the end caps are put on it will be filled with concrete. Each block is tied to the one above and below it with giant zip ties. There is another part of the system I did not get a picture of, it is a Z panel that lays on the blocks, as you add each 4 feet in height, it strengthens the wall and keeps it straight. Here you see a view of the outside of the wall. This will be back filled. At the base is a french drain, just in case.
Nearly complete, it makes a huge change in the area. We are looking through the bedroom wall, which will have a bay window. You can see the bracing to hold things in place for the pour which will be tomorrow (Thursday the 7th). Then the bay wall and second floor will go on. The ceiling for the bottom floor is 10 feet.
I want to take this time to say a big thank you to those who have assured me that this blog is being read. It is my desire to encourage others to take a chance in life, step out and try something new.
These blocks remind me of giant leggo's. There arrived in a big semi truck. Each block is 16 x 48". The insulation value of this kind of wall is R50. Kirk decided to do this kind of wall for several reasons, one being ease, the other the R value. This wall will hold the hill back and cool the house. It is 10 feet tall. The two men had the wall up in 6 hours, alot different the concrete block. It is not a cheap venture, each block is $25.00. A cool thing also is the owner of the company (in red) we bought from comes and helps the homeowner construct their project. He said people are building whole houses with these.
Here you can see the first course going in, also you can see what it will be holding back. Seems this is the view I always get of the work, elbows and behinds indicates work getting done. LOL.
Here are 2 blocks together.
The structure inside the block is this steal configuration, which holds your re-bar. Another thing that is cool about this system is it replaces studs, because where the cross members are you can screw any wall covering to it, be it wood, sheet rock, whatever. So you do not have to build a wall on the inside, since this does it all. They look like leggos don't they?
Here you can see the inside of the wall, once the end caps are put on it will be filled with concrete. Each block is tied to the one above and below it with giant zip ties. There is another part of the system I did not get a picture of, it is a Z panel that lays on the blocks, as you add each 4 feet in height, it strengthens the wall and keeps it straight. Here you see a view of the outside of the wall. This will be back filled. At the base is a french drain, just in case.
Nearly complete, it makes a huge change in the area. We are looking through the bedroom wall, which will have a bay window. You can see the bracing to hold things in place for the pour which will be tomorrow (Thursday the 7th). Then the bay wall and second floor will go on. The ceiling for the bottom floor is 10 feet.
I want to take this time to say a big thank you to those who have assured me that this blog is being read. It is my desire to encourage others to take a chance in life, step out and try something new.
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