The Big Addition: Framing
Transition
Week 9 starts with the transition from concrete into framing. There were deliveries of more Hardy frames and lumber. Work continued on the roof - the back side is now covered with felt - and doubling of the insulation on the front is in process. The main supports for the bedroom tree house are mostly in place. A 6x6 (reused from the old garage) is added under the house connecting the subfloor to the foundation. Last week, hardy frame number 1 was inserted in the laundry room. This week, three more were installed on the Superman footing. There are two more to go to complete the treehouse structure. Support posts flank the hardy frames, and paralam beams follow the tie-back footings below. Paralams are pretty interesting to look at up close. They may look strange, but they are very strong.
55/35
The 55/35 degree angles of the treehouse presented some problems - all solvable. The floor is taking shape - truss joists form the base. The 6x6 which will hold the ridge beam was installed, but a small hiccup with the ridge beam will delay its installation until the week of 8/27. We had a productive meeting with architect Dan Gomez, the GC, and a rep from Western Specialty Fabrications who will be providing our Swisspearl siding. Many issues were addressed, and as a result, we have finalized the Swisspearl order, and the GC should have window bids in short order. We had structural engineer Josh on the line as well to help solve some issues with the ridge beam and the skylights. So, lots of issues closed, which should make next week quite busy.On 8/28, a huge lumber load was delivered. The first garage wall went up. Work continued on the treehouse. You can see it take shape as the new roof rafters go in. A truly Herculean effort was put in by the crew to raise the ridge beam. More Hardy frames are in. In two places, the roof is tied directly to the foundation: at the laundry room wall, and at the point of the treehouse. By 9/4, half of the bedroom roof is done.
Over labor day weekend, we did a little work on the woodshed. Andy had already removed the rotted out floor and the dirt which caused it. He reframed the floor and decked it with some discards from the back deck. Beth applied a base coat of paint. It will be a bonny wood shed!
Steel is still delayed. Even by 9/4, we are still perhaps a week out. This may work in our favor as the crane may be better utilized.
First Triangles, Now Hexagons
We've got 3 new opening Velux skylights upstairs! Re-insulating the existing roof continues, as well as insulating the new bedroom roof. The focus this week was getting the bedroom framed in. You can really start to appreciate the difficulty involved with a triangular room by staying home and watching the process for a day. Big wood is involved. Not a single cut is straight anywhere in this room. In order to neatly capture the 6x14 roof rafters which land on an odd angle, Dale and our new crew member Jimmy worked out how to shave two corners off each of the beams so to make a hexagonal post which could be boxed in by 2x8's . Very clever. The pictures at right show this process.Hoisting the rafters was a challenge - they are quite heavy. Once the rafters are up and temporarily supported, the posts are set and flanked by 2x8's. With the structure in place, the framing of the north wall went quickly. A few of the verticals are just temporary as the tub is expected any day and we'll want to get it stashed up there while the walls are open. The roof prep is basically caught up.
Late in the week (9/7) we had air conditioning and plumbing contractors show up to prepare bids; we should have those two subs locked in soon. Earlier in the week, we signed up the roofer. Next week, the bedroom ceiling and framing should be complete, and yes, steel may actually be coming.
Zipping Up and Steel Prep
Ten days into September, lots of progress closing in the treehouse. The ceiling is installed. The bedroom window sill is framed, and plywood shows up to really start closing in the walls. Some of the interior walls are started. The sole bathroom window is framed. Plans are firming up to run plumbing and ventilation up to the second floor.Some prep work for the steel installation included cutting back the roof rafters in the great room transition area, and installing two 6x6 posts to hold the main steel beam which will span the transition. Rather than rush the transition beam, it was decided to wait a week to raise it. The crane raising the steel moment frame (see next section) will be back next week to hoist the roof rafters in the great room, so that is the right time to raise the transition beam.
In the bedroom, the temporary rafter supports were removed. It's really starting to look like living space. The window bids should be in next week so we can really close this in. We've got about 6 weeks before the main rain "window" opens. It's gonna be close.
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