9.28.2016

A big portion of the day was spent getting things ready for our trip.  Jim got the dozer blade all strapped down.  Plus, he had to get together tools, oil, whatever he may need just in case, God forbid, something happens along the way.

He got another section of scaffolding on the side.  It must be that time of the year, but the wasps have been terrible and they were really terrible today.  So much so that Jim couldn't work on the front section - they just were swarming.

Instead he worked on making more trim.  He also installed the trim boards for the side doors.  Putting up the right side...

...and then the left.

Lots of caulk before and after installation...

I got another 100 shingles painted and more unwrapped.

 

High 66/Low 47

 

9.27.2016

Another busy day (which days aren't?).  Jim came up with this design to use to mount the window and hold it securely in place.  Can't wait to see this window in!

Then he spent time back up on the roof working on the dormer wall.  It rained overnight some so the roof was wet and slippery.  Plus, things are really getting complicated as it gets closer to being done. 

Then it was back to working on the front wall.

Good progress...

Putting up the last shingles for the day.  Jim feels like he never gets a full day to just work on putting up shingles but he's making great progress!

This morning, Jim also brought down our 5th pallet of shingles and unloaded them in the shop.  I worked on starting to unwrap and separate them.

The nights are getting so cool that we are moving the painting to only the indoor station.  We may set up another station in the shop later on if need be.

After the shingle work was put away for the day, Jim moved on to his next task.  He sold the dozer blade!  However, part of that transaction involves us taking it to the buyer in Tennessee!  This will be a long, busy trip in the box truck and is the last thing that Jim wants to do right now.  However, if all goes according to plan, we'll be able to cross off a few blocks that have been hanging out there for awhile. 

However, Jim has had to spend some time getting the truck road worthy for a long trip - this will probably be over 2200 miles altogether!  This evening, he used the Bobcat to get the dozer blade up into the back of the truck...

...and then pushed over the rear axle to distribute the weight appropriately.

 

High 68/Low 45

 

9.26.2016

Jim again started the morning working on the dormer wall - he has it in really good shape now.  Of course, all the really hard parts are remaining.  So besides working up higher with even less room for tools and shingles, a lot of these shingle pieces will now have to have multiple angles.  That requires a lot of time up/down to get pieces cut, primed and painted.  Jim can't wait for this section to be done!



He set up another section of scaffolding on the current tower so that he can work up higher.

 

Working on the shingles...

In order to keep working up, Jim had to rearrange planks.  The way he set up the scaffolding by the stairwell allows him to bridge between the two towers so that he can work in the corner area.

Time for lots more measuring and marking...

Looking great!!

 

Shingle painting continued on too - the last of the 4th pallet of shingles is now painted.  Tomorrow, we'll have to load up another pallet and start the process all over again!

 

High 64/Low 52

 

9.25.2016

Jim worked on getting some scaffolding ready to be able to work up higher.  He set it up so that these two towers are connected and it makes it easier to get on/off.

But then it was back onto the roof to work on the dormer wall.  This is a frustrating area to work - there's just no room.  Jim even had to move some of the planks on the roof jacks because they were in the way for fastening the shingles.  Finding spots to keep all the different tools and shingles needed is a real adventure.  But it's coming along...

After a later lunch, it was back to working on the front.  Ugh - ladders on planks - my favorite.  Jim needed the extra height to attach the flashing next to the trim board.

Once Jim started working, he decided he needed to redo the scaffolding tower at the side.  Finally, time to work on a few shingles - but not too long, since this is our shorter work day.  There was lots of prep work and set up but that's just par for the course.

I had to get busy painting right after lunch so that I would have enough time before I had to leave, but I got another inside/outside shingle set up done.

 

High 63/Low 33 (another frost advisory out for tonight!)

 

9.24.2016

Jim's system of where he is putting the shingles on is working really well.  He started this morning by working on the dormer wall area.  Of course, the roof was all wet from the rain we had as well as morning dew, so it was pretty treacherous.  This area just takes a long time to do each piece and there is absolutely no where for him to put all his tools and the various shingles.

He also got the next angle pieces figured out and cut - I later primed and painted them.  They'll be ready for installation tomorrow.

The morning's progress...

Then after lunch, Jim can work on bigger areas where he can really make some good progress.  He started by installing the rest of the starter strip to the overhang.

This area is so nice to work - Jim put a plank behind him to hold all the various tools and shingles (and the ever-present water bottle!). 

Jim had to reconfigure and move his planks up higher now that he's making good progress.

Doing the touch-up painting at the end of the day.

I got all the rest of the 4th pallet of shingles unwrapped and separated as well as painted another batch of shingles. 

End-of-the-day....looks amazing!

 

We actually have a frost advisory out for tonight....brr! 

 

High 64/Low 36

 

9.23.2016

I had a few errands to run this morning, including getting more driver bits and trim screws at Lowe's.  Jim headed out and got busy on the siding.

You can peak through the scaffolding to see the progress on the dormer wall.

Plus, he got the next courses cut for the dormer wall - these had to be primed and painted so they'll be ready to install tomorrow morning. 

At lunchtime, we took the box truck and headed to the roofing supply store to pick up our soffit.  Jim didn't order everything we'll need; he wanted to try out this product first.  It looks really nice - the vent is built in.

All unloaded and tucked away in the shop.

Jim needed to transfer the outline of the porthole window that will go in this area as a reference when he is putting up shingles.  So he drilled a screw through from the inside to the outside, made this compass that fit over the screw on one end and had a hole for a pencil in the other end to draw the circumference.  Pretty nifty!

Attaching more shingles...

Moving around to the front...

Making good progress!

 

We have been going through lots of paint to get all these shingles painted and if anyone has bought paint lately, you know how expensive it is.  We decided that we really don't need to paint the whole shingle - the top is totally covered by all the other shingles.  The shingles are already factory painted so they have a good coat on them for protection.  So here's the first batch of two-tone shingles!

 

The forecast had called for the possibility of showers both in the morning and mid-afternoon - thankfully they never materialized.  But the ones for early evening came through about 5:30 so we had to scramble to get tools put away.  There was quite the difference in temperature today - yesterday was 80 degrees - today's high was 67 but with a brisk wind, it felt like it was in the 50s for a good part of the day.  Still a great day with lots of forward progress!

 

End-of-the-day picture in the rain...

 

 

High 67/Low 43