Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Closing In

There was some buzzing around for a bit to find a solution for the vented roof's ridge caps. Then a little more buzzing to find a heating and air conditioning shop with a break machine that could bend the ten foot sections of ridge cap from 135 to 90 degrees.



We did it. Now the roof sections are ready for lift off. What you see is as ready as we can make it. At each end of the roof where the ridge cap is missing is where the straps attached to the crane will drop through the vent in the roof, wrap around the main ridge beam and pick this sucker up and put it on the living room walls. The right side of the roof with the missing section of panel will butt up to the wall that joins the two roof sections. There is special end wall flashing that attaches to this yet to be built connecting wall. So it has to wait.



The loft section of the roof is more complete. Only the end pieces of ridge cap will need to be added after the crane lifts the roof through the vents in the top. One other detail, the vent for the plumbing system, still needs to be cut through this section of roof and the shoe that surrounds the vent pipe added while it is still on the ground. Details. Details.



It was decided to add more of the plywood siding subwall before the roof sections went on. That process has begun. The plywood is being lifted with a rope and a clamp from inside the cabin. Plywood laid on the floor joists of the loft allows a good part of the nailing of these sheets to be done from inside and standing on firm ground. Less time is spent on a ladder high off the ground pounding nails and getting the heavy sheets of plywood up that high is relatively easy this way.

Maybe you can see why it was decided to build the roofs on the ground.



The back wall of the loft is ready to go.



It won't be long before the cabin begins to look more like a whole house instead of a headless house and two giant bluebird nesting boxes.



Just think, when it decides to rain here again, I might be able to stand inside my cabin and stay reasonably dry.



There are of course a few more details to attend to before it is water tight and weather proof.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's looking good, Christopher.

Cindy, MCOK said...

I'm enjoying the vicarious thrill of building a mountain cabin. Being an armchair builder is much less stressful, I suspect!

Frances, said...

Your cabin will be dried in before the cold comes, Hooray! I bought a hummingbird feeder today. I even bought the mix to make the nectar, just to get a good start. It is hanging by the patio doors on the deck where we all have a good view. So far no guests though. It has been about an hour. Am I being too impatient?

Anonymous said...

Hi Christopher! You must be so thrilled that your roofs will be in place very soon. Everything looks great. I wait with anticipation for your "crane" post!

Anonymous said...

She's looking good Christopher. Won't be long now. Am anxious to see "lift off" of roof post.Great job. You will be proud.

Christopher C. NC said...

The crane is now scheduled for 8AM, Wednesday August 20th. We have made it to the launch pad. Last minute details are being detailed. The countdown will soon commence.

I am saving the stress for the day of. Trying to anyway.

chuck b. said...

Sounds like the next step is a big engineering project--good luck! (Have fun!)

Frances, said...

I like that, saving the stress. How nice to be able to compartmentalize such feelings. You seem so laid back, your stress is probably very different than mine. ;->