12.27.2015

Today was sort of a transition day weather wise - I think the wonderful weather we have been blessed with is going to turn a tad more winter like starting tomorrow.  We had a day filled with mostly light drizzle and fog.

Thankfully, we can now work inside in our dry space - amazing!  The first thing Jim did was to fasten some plywood on top of the ceiling joists by the west wall.  This will make it easier to get the rest of the sheathing on.  Plus, it can be the beginnings of an attic space floor!

Then Jim turned his attention back to ceiling joists.  He had to first put blocking up...

Then he got the top of the wall ready...

And a ceiling joist is in place!

We had our first lunch break in the apartment space today!

After lunch, another joist is in place.

My gymnast husband testing out the strength of the ceiling joists!

Third joist in place...

Jim decided that it was much easier to put the blocking together on the ground as opposed to up above him on scaffolding.

Another joist....

At the end of the day, we got 5 new ceiling joists up into place!  Jim will still have to check to make sure they are all on the same plane once they are all in place and then put in more fasteners.  But the apartment space is taking shape inside now!

 

High 46/Low 23

 

12.26.2015

It was back to working on the wall this morning - first step is strapping.  Again, this was the initial plywood sheathing so it's good to get it all fastened down to the wall completely.

We measured for the first piece of sheathing - it was 86-1/4" which was the exact measurement on the other side!  Pretty amazing for everything to be that precisely perfect!

Another challenging piece to get outside.  First out between the studs...

...and then Jim has to grab and maneuver it while standing on the planks.

But it's in place!

Jim cut as much of the window out with his portable saw as possible but then had a little section to finish off with the Sawzall.  Jim doesn't really like to use this more brute force method because the saw blade moving in and out has the possibility of removing the galvanization on the steel.

The bottom part of the window is out. 

Putting the track on the inside of the window frame so that he can fasten the sheathing around the window.

Putting in the last piece on this course...

Then time for strapping on all the new pieces of sheathing.

Another very challenging piece of sheathing to get outside.  The only way it would fit was for Jim to stand it up on the end...

...and drag it out that way.

Then he has to flip the entire piece over on its side to put it in place.  Whew. 

After the sheathing was fastened down, time to use the saw and cut the top half of the window. 

Finishing the cut with the Sawzall - this is our last window opening in the apartment!

The last piece on this course - another little triangle that Jim could use 3 hands to help hold in place while he fastens it.

An outside look at Jim putting all the screws in this piece.  This side of the wall was more difficult - for many of the pieces, Jim had to use his left hand.  Between that and being up on the extension ladder, it was really tough to get good leverage.

Wow - really getting closed in now!  Just a few more pieces - we wished we had more time to get it finished!

Couple end-of-the-day shots.  From the front...

...and from the back.

 

We stopped a few minutes before sunset to do a few odds and ends.  We taped up the new window opening because it's supposed to rain tomorrow.

 

Then Jim got back up on the roof and put some more tape on the temporary ridge pieces of underlayment to try and keep any little drips at bay.

 

  

High 43/Low 36

 

12.25.2015 - Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!  We went to Mass last night so this morning was quiet and calm. 

 

We headed out to the site - it was a fun way to spend Christmas.  We had the local radio station playing 48 hours of Christmas songs cranking and the weather was beautiful - we felt very blessed!

 

We got the next piece of sheathing cut...

 

Strapping had to go on before we could get started...

Then Jim was able to pull the sheathing out through the wall studs.  This one was easier than the big one we did yesterday - thank goodness!

Pulling it up and setting it in place...

The inside is looking like an inside now!

Jim had to adjust the scaffolding platform - him standing on the very top of the ridge made me very nervous!

The sheathing fastened, the next task was to put in window #6!  Corner flashing first...

Then the tape flashing...

These windows are the ones that we had to reorder because code required egress windows for the bedrooms.  They are actually smaller in size than the original windows but they open differently.  These were being stored in the ground level shop so Jim had to carry it up...

...and on up the ladder into the apartment space.

Since this wasn't a double hung window, there was no place for me to hold the window while Jim fastened it in place.  He put this piece of wood on the outside so that I could hold it.

Fastening the window...

All fastened - let's test it out!

Putting all the outside flashing on the window...

That piece of sheathing and installing the window were the last jobs that required Jim to be out on the planks that bridge the scaffolding tower to the scaffolding on the roof.  So that means it's time to tear down scaffolding!

...and rebuild it on the back side of the carriage house.

Moving up the big planks...

...and getting them into place.

Next plank coming up...

Then Jim fastened the two planks together so that they act as one plank.

End-of-the-day view....  We made good progress plus we are ready to hit the ground running tomorrow!

 

High 52/Low 30