Archive for May, 2006
Since the last time I posted, we framed the bathroom on the second story. That was the last of the upstairs walls and was just simple construction — two of the walls don’t even have windows (the only window in the bathroom is a big one on the back wall facing north).
More interesting is the balloon-framed stairwell that we’ve also completed. As many of you know, platform-framing is the typical method used today. In platform-framing, the first story walls are erected, the second story floor is installed, and the second story walls are built on the platform of the second story floor. We couldn’t do that in the stairwell because there’s no second story floor in there. So we “balloon framed” 17-foot tall walls that reach from the first floor platform to the top of the second story. Here’s the process in pictures:
The walls were built flat on the stairwell floor and temporary piers. That’s Marshall nailing a stud. (You can also see the completed bathroom walls in this photo.
One 17′ wall raised and swung into place. We used cable and a hand-crank winch to raise the wall up against the existing walls, then we carefully swung one corner out where it belonged. It really wasn’t too hard once we figured out how.
Two walls up. We raised both of these walls on Wednesday.
The third and final stairwell wall went up on Thursday. You can see that it has two windows in the east side. Steel spiral stairs will be installed in the stairwell later. I think it will be pretty cool, if I do say so myself. Next step: second story porch.
May 25th, 2006
My tool belt has become essential to me at the job site. It wasn’t always like that — at first I thought it was too big and bulky and I wasn’t using it very efficiently. But now that I’ve removed one of the big pouches and found a “home” for everything in the belt’s remaining pockets and niches; I like it a lot.
It’s a Bucket Boss Builder’s Rig. The belt is padded and the nylon canvas is lighter than leather. Affordable too at about $35.
I keep my hammer in the loop at my right side. The little pouch slides around to my back. It’s supposed to be for a tape measure (I think) but I use it for 8d nails. The big pouch is at my left and it holds my tape measure, eye protection and ear protection go in the main compartment. My angle square goes in a special sleeve and there are small pockets for a pencil and a pocket knife. 16d nails go in the smaller pouch on the outside of the big one. A place for everything …
May 21st, 2006
As I mentioned in the last post, we’ve been busy framing the walls on the second floor. The main room up there is the bedroom/office, and all 4 of those walls are up. All the window openings match the first floor, although that’s hard to see in the photos.
We nailed on the bottom run of sheathing downstairs to strengthen the structure — and it worked well. Even with all our work upstairs the house feels rock solid. The rough openings for the windows and doors will be cut out from the inside later.
May 19th, 2006
Sorry about the lack of updates. My computer blew up so I was offline for several days. But I’m back in business now.
The house is coming along. All the first floor walls are up and we’ve sheathed it all the way around. The second floor joists are in and the subfloor is on too. We’ve even raised 3 of the walls for the bedroom (the main room on the second floor). I’ll try to post some photos tomorrow.
Working on the second floor makes everything a wee bit harder. My knees still get a little wobbly when I’m working near the edge. Marshall and I haven’t had any problems muscling the materials up to the second floor (thank goodness). My little house is TALL and looks more like a tower every day. Cool.
Big thanks to those who’ve helped recently: Keith (with sheathing and other stuff), Sandy (with raising walls), Wayne (walls too), and next-door-neighbor John (with electricity for our tools and radio). Can’t do it without you.
May 18th, 2006
All four walls of the main section of the first floor (the living room) are up. We also installed the rim boards for the second floor to prep for installing joists.
Obviously the four walls aren’t actually complete. Still have to finish a few details of the framing and nail on the plywood sheathing. But it’s definitely looking more like a house.
May 3rd, 2006
Mahogany tongue-and-groove flooring has been installed on the first floor porch. The price of the mahogany is competitive with composite decking, so I went with the luxury stuff.
I used Cabot Australian Timber Oil to finish it. My local building supply company only has the natural finish oil, but it may have been better to use Cabot’s “mahogany flame” colored oil. The wood’s color varies greatly from plank to plank and the red oil might even it out. I’ll find it somewhere and try it on the second floor porch.
The mahogany is great stuff — hard, stiff, clear grain and relatively straight. The planks that were bowed or twisted even a little were difficult to force into place because the wood is strong. A Bowrench and clamps helped. I drilled pilot holes through the tongue and fastened the planks to the porch frame with stainless steel ring shank nails.
May 3rd, 2006
