8.22.2015 - Hip Rafters!

The goal for today was to see if we could get the hip rafters up - we knew these were going to be the most challenging.  Plus, once we get those up, we can take down the scaffolding in the auto bay and get ready to pour concrete. 

Jim had lots of prep work - including attaching this steel plate to the end of the ridge board that he will use to make the connection to the hip rafters.

There were some more details to do on the rafter pieces too...look at this flange.  This is what will attach to the ridge board.  Plus he put up some temporary pieces on the existing rafters to give him a place to set the rafters as he is moving them into position.

Then it was time to start.  These pieces are extremely heavy and long so just moving them down the hill wasn't easy.  Another big factor with steel that you sometimes forget is that sitting outside in our gorgeous sunshine makes for very hot steel - it's hot enough to burn your skin.  Obviously we wear gloves but that doesn't protect everything - especially when you have to carry it like this...

Bringing the first piece in...

...and lifting it up....

Once he got one side positioned on the wall, he got the other end resting on one of the steel pieces on the existing rafter.

Then he could "walk" it over into place so that it would fit into the clip angle.

Then moving into position on top...

A perfect fit!

Jim wanted to tweak the tab on one of the pieces because it was cutting into the foam a bit - but using the grinder so close to the foam is another challenge.  He had to put up a backdrop of a steel piece to deflect the sparks away from the foam.

Then it was time to fasten the rafter in place.

So many things have to be just perfect - the tail of this rafter has to eventually match up with the tails of the other rafters on both sides.

 

Success!  The first one is in place!  Trust me, the pictures make it look pretty easy - it was anything but!  It was hard to have to sit and watch knowing there was nothing I could do to help Jim.  He really needed another man or a crane or both.  But he did it!

Jim made the tweak to the design for the next piece on the ground so he wouldn't have to do any grinding once it was in place.

 

Marking the position of the clip angle on the front side.

Using the hammer drill to make the holes for the anchor bolts.

No rest for the weary...time for the next one!

He set the rafter in a starting position on the wall.

Then he had to go up and attach the temporary steel pieces on this side.

Bringing the piece up...

Setting it down and walking it over into position...

It's clamped at the bottom and putting it into position at the top....

Whew!  All in place!

Fastening it down at the bottom...

and at the top.

Now it's time to make the other side of each rafter - Jim will attach track to make a box beam.  While this piece is a little bit lighter gauge steel, that advantage is offset by the fact that it is more flexible.  So you have to be very careful not to buckle the steel.

Carrying it down...

Setting it up on the wall...

Bringing it up...

Lifting it into place...

and moving it into the right position.

Clamping the two pieces together at the bottom...

....and on the top.

Then he has to screw both the tops and bottoms of the pieces together to form the box beam.

Time to repeat the drill on the other side!

Moving the track into position...

Clamping it together on top....

Amazing!  It looks so incredible and we are so grateful that it went as well as it did.  This definitely is not a one-man job but Jim managed it.  By the end of the day, his arms and body were definitely fatigued.  Tomorrow he will have to put more screws in the rafters to connect them but everything is very stable for the night.

Jim - my hero!

We only had one glitch - while Jim went to kneel on the very top of the scaffolding in between all of the steel, his driver came off its hook and fell to the ground.  It appears to be dead but he's going to look at it tonight.  He takes such good car of his tools so he was a little bummed.  But after all he did today, that's very minor.  We are so grateful that everything is in place!  Plus it looks amazing!

 

High 78/Low 56 - beautiful!