8.19.2015 - First Roof Rafter!

Jim worked this morning trying to translate his paper design of the roof structure to the actual steel - and then figure out how to make it all work.  Check out this first rafter piece! 

Before we could work on installing anything, there was a lot of work to be done.  The new screws were delivered yesterday with the steel and while Jim likes the original ones better because of their highly anti-corrosive coating, these new ones work much better in the thinner steel where the track is.  They don't require all the force behind them to get them screwed down correctly so they will also come in handy when Jim is working off ladders and can't get good leverage.

He had to go back and finish all the screws at the bottom of the side wall using the new screws.  I cut more house wrap and he got that all installed at the bottom.  It looks really finished now!

I went to Lowe's and Home Depot to pick up some special hardware that Jim needed - like this 5" anchor bolt that goes in the middle hole on his clip angles.  To install this, he had to use the hammer drill to drill over 4" into the concrete at the top of the wall.  Then he put tapcons in the other holes.  This isn't going to go anywhere!

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of us actually attaching the first rafter piece because I was on top of the deck to clamp the rafter to the sheathing while Jim was getting everything in place.  It actually went very smoothly.

Just look how perfectly Jim's cuts mated with the top and front of the wall!

And how it looks from down below!  Jim just put some screws in to hold it in place - tomorrow we will put the other side up and see how everything works.  The first piece is always the hardest - trying to figure out a system and then implement it.  But we are thrilled with how it came out!

Jim got a phone call after we were done cleaning up and I was getting ready to leave.  I just thought he looked good sitting in the window talking.  It was another very hot day and this was about the first time he sat down all day!

 

High 86/Low 68