WALLS !!!

Walls!  It makes me feel like we are getting closer to being done, although we are far from it.
We worked through all the hassle of getting the tongue and groove boards to the house. Now I am in training on installing boards as high up as I can reach (that is not far).  This way I can help while the Foreman works on other things. Here is my first wall. Short and sweet.

  

As luck would have it, the nail gun bit the dust and we both had to stop working. The process is relatively easy. My main goal was to get them on straight, level, tight, with the groove side out and nail in the top, not the notch, so the nail won't show. No problem....you can only see a couple nails.

Back to business

12-8-16 update

Beams up an installed over 1/2 of the house - bedrooms, bathrooms, washroom

The beams over the living area are a work in progress. 

Each 20' beam is being lifted and installed by myself and my husband. No small feat!  

Break for Deer Season

Just a quick post :: After our Break for Deer Season and our First Annual Thanksgiving Family Dinner, we are getting back to building.

The rafters are going in slowly and carefully. Ladders don't take kindly to your knees after continual usage. Never the less, as of today, we have rafters up and over 1/4 of the rooms.

Oh and deer season went well:

Beam me up!

Oct 22 2016 Beam and wall framing

One man - SOOO many boards

After a brief hiatus we are back at it! All the walls are framed up to 10'. The wall in the center of the house separating the living space from the bedrooms is 90% complete. Wall sections above the 10' height are being completed now.

Photo of center wall. The ceiling in the living area is a cathedral ceiling. The wall up to 10' was built in sections and lifted up and bolted down and to the adjoining sections and floor. Above 10' is a work in progress.  An opening on the left will remain there until the A/C and plywood attic flooring is completed.

The last two days we have focused on our 24' foot exposed I beam in the center of the living area and preparing it for rafters. First we attached a 2' x 10' to the top and bottom of the metal beam. These 2 bys will make installing the 40 rafters easier and more stable. Then we added two metal straps for just a little extra support. The straps will not be visible once the ceiling boards are installed. Finally, we added 24" wide plywood on both sides of the beam.  Our final vision is for the beam to be finished off with a nice finishing wood. It is way up there!

While waiting for the sun to rise high enough to work inside, we installed our first set of shutters. We tested out a few ideas and finally have this set installed with supporting block between the shutters and the exterior wall ridges. We think it looks great! What do you think?