Sunday, March 6, 2011

Week 19: Stacking the Deck....or a Stack of Decking

Week 19:  
Stacking the Deck....or a Stack of Decking

Day 135
February 23, 2011

More supplies arrive...this is the wood used for the decking.  





 More decking goes up trying to get the roofers started soon...

Intricate layers of rafters to form a beautiful roofline

Looking out over the back porch from the guest bedroom window




Week 20:  
Spring has sprung and things are blooming around here!!

Day 143
March 3, 2011

The snow delays have given way to rain delays and March is roaring like a lion.  So far the house has gone unscathed in our early spring storms although I hope I never see an inch of standing water in the bathroom and bedroom or basement for that matter ever again!  However the roofers arrived this week and hopefully that will cut down on the amount of rain dripping into the house. 
Landmark Heather Blend Demensional Shingles:  the roofer said they are is favorite shingle color...pretty good coming from a guy that looks at shingles all day.



Roofing tools, taking a break 






More views of the "guts" of the house

Knee board in the attic space for stability



Closing in the attic




Are you starting to get the idea yet?  Just wait it gets better...

Garage and playroom external walls


Sometimes I wish we could spin the house around so more people could enjoy the back of the house.  Gorgeous, huh?


While there are many details yet to be completed the main bones of the house are almost complete.  The roofers are hard at work and hopefully in 1-2 weeks will have our home shingled. The electrician is lined up and hopes to start in the next week or so.   It's coming along!


Week 18: Resume this Program already in Progress

Week 18: We now resume this program already in progress

February 16th, 2011


So after 2 weeks of snow delays we pick back up completing last of the ceiling joists, subflooring and celing rafters over the garage.
Front view over the garage

Rough interior view of future playroom over the garage


 View the the East out the dormer window in the future playroom. This room will not be finished out to begin with.


The hay is gone and it finally looks like a garage instead of a barn

Can't wait to look out the door and see Sullivan and Patrick playing in the yard like this, hopefully with a few less hazards. 










The highest peak is now framed.  Starting the look not so lop-sided

Sweet Sully and his tractor seeking "muddy" dirt to dig



East side view at sunset.  Now the next project is to get a top on that breakfast nook!


Day :  End week 18
February 20th, 2011

So we decided to forgo the open feeling of the breakfast nook and put a weather proof ceiling, aka roof on it...and when we did it was even more AWESOME!




We wanted the feel of a sun room here but wanted it to be an integral part of the living space.  The peak of the cathedral ceiling  is about 15 feet high.
I know it's not quite as impressive in 2-D but once it is finished I hope it will airy and breathable




More Breakfast "nook" views from above


Exterior views of the cathedral ceiling 













360 Views

Front

Back

West view

East view

SE corner-Garage


Noteworthy views of the roofing rafters:  
Sometimes when I look it seems like a work of art.  I am amazed at the precision it takes to get the corners to come together and actually look like the original plan.  I wonder if when the Builders dream at night they just see measurements dancing in their heads...

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view down the upstairs hall and the "attic" above the 2nd story rooms


View of the front porch roof from the playroom window
Looking front to back in the upstairs "to-be-finished" rooms


Attic corner with decking now on....next come the shingles!
This hall will be closed off to begin until we grow into it






Thursday, February 10, 2011

Week 16 & 17: Raise the Roof !

Week 16: Raise the Roof

Day 114
While the snow is beautiful yet more delays for the week


Day 115

January 27th, 2011
The next few days were beautiful and work continued on the roof. As I was looking out the window I was thinking, wow,  that roof is tall but I think there is supposed to be an even taller part than that.  I grabbed my plans and as I was standing in the kitchen looking out the window this is what I saw....

....and there it is! 


Andy and Dexter hold the top rafter as Chris balances on the rafters of the porch roof to recieve the 26 ft. planks from Mr. Larry below.  They've got a system and I'm just glad its not me teetering up there.
View from below...watch your head!




By the end of this beautiful day they had the rafters over the foyer with the space for the front dormer framed out. 

Side view with the "burnin' barrel" for scraps and Mr. Larry carrying a beam.

Perched awaiting the next beam











Standing in the foyer looking up at the progress of the ceiling rafters
Rafter view from above.  At this point I am completely at a loss of how they know the exact measurements to make the ends meet at the top.  Glad someone remembers Geometry 101. 



Day 117
Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Such a beautiful day.  I felt bad as we played in the yard most of the morning while they were hard at work.  But it was fun watching the progress! 



 By lunch the roof over the box seat window in the front nursery was completed


I thought this was really cool,  each rafter in the roof line had measurement written on them counting down the span I suppose.



 Then work began on putting up the decking on the west roof.  They put up about 4-5 boards so they could stand on them and then filled the gaps in as they worked down.  Clever.
 Nail gun taking a lunch break

 Pretty geometric shape in the attic to the NW.  I kinda wish we didn't have to put a roof on it but I think it would be for the best.

Another view of attic space over the nursery.  I'm beginning to think we may actually have enough storage in this house.  Of course, ask me again in 20 years. 







 Rough views of the foyer and stairs...have a little vision but I think it will be really pretty.!
A rare view looking down at the stair way.  I love our stairs!

Space for the dormer and window in the foyer
Foyer balcony:  Romeo, oh, Romeo

 
Sullivan checking out his new bathroom upstairs!
Patrick and Sullivan playing between the walls of the upstairs.  So sweet!

Jasper...whatever your thinking don't do it! 



It still makes me really nervous when Sullivan is at the construction site.  I will be so glad when the doors and windows are put in. 

It was a beautiful weekend and I love seeing progress made.  Now if we can just get that crane in for the beam over the garage and the weather would stay like this we really will be getting somewhere!  We shall see...














Week 17:  
Just when things get rolling they come to a screeching halt

Monday, January 31, 2011
But before all that....
Sullivan and I got to watch the crane arrive early Monday morning finally after a few dry days and the last large beam went up over the garage. 

First the crane stabilizes by putting down it's "feet". 

Then I guess a test beam is lifted to make sure all is set

The beam is harnessed in and the go ahead is given to begin lifting

Up, Up it goes.  Please don't drop it!

With Andy guiding one side into the pre-cut notch, the 38 foot beam is lowered down...

....anchored by our very own Chris "Builder" as Sullivan knows him.













As Mr. Larry gives one last direction the beam reaches its final resting place over the garage.  The remainder of the morning was spent placing the I-joist over the garage and a set of decking on the West facing roof.  

At this point the snow set in and progress came to a screeching halt.  Stay tuned though for I think warmer weather is HOPEFULLY lurking around the corner...one day!