April 1, pm - The large beam in the garage is installed. Many of the second floor joists are installed. The incorrect hangers for the joists were sent, so the joists are temporarily installed on the beam. The second floor floor and wall material has been delivered.
April 1, pm - The beam that runs from front to back of the garage between the auto bays is massive. Steel hangers will attach the joists to the beam as soon as they arrive.
April 2, noon - Joist hangers have still not come, so work stops again. Hangers did arrive at the supplier so we will have them first thing in the morning (Wednesday). All TJI (wood second floor joists) are installed.
April 2, noon - The double joist is under an upstairs wall. Plywood subfloor is installed on part of upstairs floor (where hangers are not needed). Subflooring should be finished Wednesday and second floor walls begun. Rain is expected on Thursday.
April 3, pm - The subfloor is down on the second floor. The beam, floor joists and bottom of the second floor are visible. We use DryPly plywood which is coated so it does not get saturated with water and/or delaminate in case of rain. The chance of rain on Thursday (April 4) is 100%. On Friday it is 70%.
April 3, pm - Walls are beginning to go up on the second floor. The exterior wall studs are 2x6 just as they are downstairs. This makes a good, solid wall with plenty of room for insulation. Probably little work will be done the rest of the week due to rain.
April 8, pm - More walls are going up on the second floor. The second floor wall framing should be complete in the next day or so.
April 9, pm - Most of the second floor walls are up. Roof framing materials will be delivered on Wednesday. Walls will be squared and plumbed. Plywood sheathing will continue Wednesday.
April 9, pm - This is the view from the side porch. The large opening to the right of the two garage doors is where the entrance door will be installed.
April 11, pm - Plywood wall sheathing is being installed. The previous day, all of the upstairs walls were squared and plumbed. The sheathing adds strength to the structure. In our experience, plywood holds siding nails better and is stronger than OSB so we use it even if it is a bit more expensive.
April 11, pm - The back wall has plywood on it. Openings for windows have not been cut out yet. The concrete pad is for the service yard.
April 11, pm - Steel rods extend from the foundation to the highest plates in the structure. They provide a tremendous hold down force to help the building survive strong winds. Each rod will hold down approximately 8,000 pounds. We are using about 45 rods for a total hold down of over 1/3 million pounds. A vertical rod is visible near the center of the photo.
April 11, pm - This area is the stair well. The steps will have two landings. They will be framed in the next few days. Second floor ceiling framing and roof framing are next. Friday has a 60% chance of rain, so we may be slowed a bit again.
April 16, pm - The weather was better today and we got the second story ceiling joists in place. The attic space is also decked with plywood. A number (about 20) rafters are cut and ready to install. Cutting rafters with exposed rafter tails takes a bit longer than rafters without exposed tails.
April 16, pm - The small rectangular hole in the attic floor near the back to the right of center is the opening for attic access.
April 16, pm - The small rectangular hole in the attic floor near the back to the right of center is the opening for attic access.
April 17 - The view from the side porch shows two of the gables. Plywood is off the front awaiting direction from the engineer. It will be installed in the next day or so.
April 18, pm - Roof framing is continuing. The small opening in the gable above the garage doors is for a fake attic vent. Since the attic will be sealed, a vent is not needed. The house has them and one will be installed to make the two structures match.
April 18, pm - The roof valley is visible from the side porch. Work on the roof will continue Friday (60% chance of rain), weather permitting.
April 18, pm - Work has begun on the stairs. The lower landing is framed and some stringers (supports for the stairs) have been cut. Work will continue Friday if rain does not prevent it.
April 19, pm - We had a visitor to the job site on Friday. The framers were not friendly and there is one fewer copperhead in the area.
April 19, pm - The stairs are being roughed in. They should be finished on Monday.
April 19, pm - Work continues on the roof framing. Collar ties are installed. The rafters are notched at the bottom for T1-11 to be installed over the exposed rafters. Roof framing should be finished on Monday and sheathing should start. Even with all of the rain we have had, things are pretty well on schedule.
April 23, am - The front of the carriage house now has plywood on it. Not all of the windows are cut open yet.
April 23, am - The stairs are roughed in completely. There will be a handrail when the stairs are complete.
April 23, am - This is the downstairs laundry room. The washer and drier will be on the left wall. A freezer will be in the back right corner. Past the wall in the far side of the laundry room is the utility room where the well pump control, water softener and storage will be located.
April 23, am - The attic is fairly high. Once the bracing is removed, it will seem much more open.
April 23, am - This is the main house as seen from the Carriage House living room window.
April 23, pm - The windows for the Carriage House arrived. They are being stored on the front porch. In a few days, they will be installed.
April 23, pm - Plywood is going on the roof. Since the Carriage House has exposed rafter tails, T1-11 plywood is used to simulate the roofing materials from the bottom. This detail matches the main house.
April 23, pm - The Carriage House will have a small cupola where the two ridges join. The cupola has four windows in it. We have framed a scuttle hole to access the inside of the cupola. You can see it in the center of the photo.
April 23, pm - The Carriage House will have a small cupola where the two ridges join. The cupola has four windows in it. We have framed a scuttle hole to access the inside of the cupola. You can see it in the center of the photo.
April 23, pm - Most of the walls have plywood sheathing on them. The large window on the left is not fully cut open yet. There is also a single window on the right over the single door that has not been opened yet. The plywood roof that shows over the exposed rafters is visible on the right eave.
April 24, pm - Much of the plywood 'roof' over the hidden rafters is in place. Plywood sheathing is being installed on the roof in the front. The windows have been cut open in the front.
April 24, pm - The T1-11 has been installed over the exposed rafters on the front over the garage door on the left and along the left side. It is also on the back over the left garage bay.
April 24, pm - T1-11 is on the front and east gable end. About all of the T1-11 the roof lacks is over the right garage auto bay. It will also be installed under the two porches. Roof sheathing will continue today. As soon as the sheathing is complete (maybe today), drip will be installed and the roof will be covered with heavy ice and water shield.
April 25, pm - The west side of the carriage house has plywood sheathing on the roof. One strip of Ice and Water shield is on the roof.
April 25, pm - All of the 'exposed' roof is in place. The plan is to place all of the plywood sheathing on the roof Friday and cover it with Ice and Water shield to make it watertight. If time allows, windows installation will begin also.
April 30, pm - The roof plywood is finished. The roof is covered with Ice and Water shield which is much more durable than the commonly used felt paper. The plastic on the roof is covering materials that will be used to build the cupola.
April 30, pm - Inside, a closet has been built under the stairway.
April 30, pm - Inside, a closet has been built under the stairway.
April 30, pm - The bottom row of plywood looks different than the higher levels because it is treated against rot and termites. About half of the windows have been installed. Once windows and doors are installed and cupola constructed we will have a nailing and strapping inspection. This should happen in about a week depending on the weather.