So last half of 2012 and the first half of 2013 was used building our house. Sadly, about 8 weeks before we moved in, lightning stuck and burned it down. We lost all our money, the house we had built, and all that time and labor. We didn't have insurance so it was rough. Luckily the septic and slab were ok, but due to the cost of materials, it was going to be years before we could even start to rebuild. Then some great guys on the forestry forum came and helped me fell some of my pines and cut them into the framing I needed. That was in Dec of last year. We saved up until about two weeks ago to be able to get the house in the dry.
We are building a 26x52 two story w/ a one car garage. At some point in the future we will add on and the downstairs of the two story will become a shop. That is why the first floor is framed for garage door openings. Yesterday, with some friends help, we finished setting the floor trusses. I'm hoping to start putting on the subfloor this week.
Here are some pics!
The tractor was a huge help in lifting walls by myself.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/005_zpsa4907d92.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/005_zpsa4907d92.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/015small_zpscce2af8b.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/015small_zpscce2af8b.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/039small_zps59af53e0.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/039small_zps59af53e0.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/049small_zps5fa3ea57.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/049small_zps5fa3ea57.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/030small_zps45b2aacb.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/030small_zps45b2aacb.jpg.html)
Austin
Great to see you all back under way!! [cool] I have been wondering how you were progressing.....
Austin it is so good to see you bouncing back. Many others would probably not. Same tractor? Repaired or replaced?
Thanks guys. It is good to be back. I started the rebuild at the end of April so I think we are moving along pretty well.
Yes, it is the same tractor. When you finance through Kubota, they make you purchase insurance through them as well. It is a one time fee. All repairs were 100% covered. They had to replace so much I'm surprised they didn't scrap it. One of my forestry forum friends built the forks for it. Very handy for grabbing trusses and small stacks of lumber!
Austin
Good to see your back on your feet !
And awesome that some web friends were physically able to assist !
Glad to hear from you and see you rebuilding. I was suprised to see a tractor as well, I'm glad that worked out.
Now to be picky :), cut some level flats on the bottom of your stair stringers and put supports under them, you have a snap out problem built in there. I like to cut the bottoms level and extend the landing entirely under them.
Yes! We are glad to be building again.
Ok, Don. I can picture what you are saying and I'm thinking it is so the fasteners in shear aren't the only thing holding the stringers up. I'm not sure I understand the term "snap out".
Anything else you see PLEASE let me know.
Thanks
Austin
Nice work Austin!! I'm glad to see you working on the dream again!
I did notice that your staircase is running into your HVAC duct box in the truss, are you using the duct box?
I think its real cool that you are building with sticks cut from the land you building on!
good luck, and I am looking forward to the 2nd go around of your build.
Todd
Hey Todd,
The HVAC duct won't be used past the stairs but if I really wanted to, I could hit the stairs, take a right turn, got down to the HVAC chase in the short "end of stairs" trusses, and go through there. No big deal!
I'm hoping to get caught up to you but that will be tough!
I really like you two story entry! Very fancy!
Austin
Spent the weekend making sure the floor trusses were square and braced well. Not much you can take a picture of while doing that!
Finally started cutting the boards that will make up the subfloor. The material is just over 1" thick and random width. Most boards are 4", 6", 8", 10" or 12" wide. Some are a little off and I'm saving them for later. I will run them through my table saw to get them to needed width. We will most likely live with the sub-floor for a while so I will recess the nails, sand the floor and put some poly on it to keep it clean. Later we will install oak flooring.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/026small_zps93917555.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/026small_zps93917555.jpg.html)
WOW do I ever like that nailer. The down side seemed to be a lot more recoil because of weight. Because of the recoil I had a little trouble with it right at the end of our framing. The locking E Snap Ring that holds the nose piece and depth adjustment all together broke. Lost the little steel ball bearing and a spring. Ordered new parts and dug out the Harbor Freight heavy multi - degree nailer. Holy Cow what a club, what a boat anchor compared to that Ridgid nailer. I will send you the part numbers if I get time to research, might save you some time.
The other plus was we framed that whole house and we only had one or two jams. It does not like two inch ring shanks nails very well. Or was it 2.5 ???
Oh, I will gladly take those part numbers. So far I've only had 1 jam but it was with the 3.25 or 3.5" galvanized ring shank (don't try and pull those out.....just get the sawzall if you have to take something apart!).
The beauty of this new one is it is 15% lighter than the one I had two years ago. Plus, I don't know if yours had it or not but I've got this handy little door that I can open up on the side and slip the jam right out. Actually took me a while to figure out what it was. I can get a pic if you need. Very cool and makes jam removal a 10 second job! The funny thing is, the guy at the orange place where I got it said that it DOESN'T use oil. Since it was the new model, I figured that maybe they changed something. Then I got it home and it came with a cheap bottle of oil. HA! I don't know what that guy was thinking.
Years ago I bought a cheap electric weed eater trimmer. I think it was a "grass hog". Well after a year the string wouldn't come out anymore. I took it all apart and found a little plastic piece that was worn. Called the company and they said that the piece was only $0.75 but that shipping was going to be $10. I said, give me 15 of them. Sure enough, each year the little plastic piece would wear out and I pulled out a new one. One of my buddies had the same trimmer with the same problem. Once I found out, he had spares too. At that point it had been five years and the company didn't have the parts anymore. I was sure glad to have all the parts I needed. The handle finally broke and I threw it away. I gave the spare parts to my buddy. I haven't seen him in a while but he sends me emails telling me how the trimmer is doing. He has replaced the handle twice and still has a couple of the spare plastic parts I gave him. It has been 13 years and he is still using that $30 trimmer! I love it!
Austin
[cool]
Moving right along Austin!
Good deal! Now you can say that you built at least two houses!
Thanks guys. I've got about half the subfloor done. 1/2 the work is cutting all those boards to 8' and sorting them by width. I'm hoping to finish the subfloor this weekend and MAYBE start the upstairs framing.
Austin
Almost done with the subfloor. I was going to finish last night but we had a big thunderstorm. No rain but lightning everywhere......I don't like that so I didn't go out.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/011_zps8ae45814.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/011_zps8ae45814.jpg.html)
What was the old saying lighting never strikes twice..... ??? Though I never have lived down your way. I have visited down there during a couple of those storm and pretty spooky. Impressive for a kid from Idaho where it just does not do that.....
Wife has already told me that once the attic trusses go up, the lightning rods go up as well. I'm going to drive grounding rods on each end of the house. We are up on top of a hill and have iron ore everywhere. I don't know if the iron ore brings in the lightning but I know for sure it doesn't repel it either! HA!
Austin
That seems to be an excellent idea all things considered.
Sorry for the long delay between updates but I took some time off from building to replace the engine in my wife's explorer. It took a little longer than I thought it would.
Anyway, back to house building. I've got the 52' long front wall built and papered. I'm going to build the back 52' long wall and then get a crew together to stand 'em up! I've got some friends here at work that are willing to lend a hand!
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/002_zpsa8dbb25b.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/002_zpsa8dbb25b.jpg.html)
Austin
thats a huge wall!
glad to see you moving along!
Thanks. I'm trying to keep up with you but you got a head start! Next week I'm going to be gone on business travel so not much progress will get done. I'm ready to get this thing in the dry!
Got home at 5pm yesterday and got to work around 5:30. Worked until 9 (I have a work light). Ug. I'm beat but I have my buddies from work coming on Friday after work to lift both long walls. Last night I finished framing up the 2nd long wall. Tonight I will sheath and paper it. I'm beat. I didn't get any pics because I forgot my phone at work!
your long hours and hard work have paid off!
it wont be long Austin, and all the heavy lifting will be done. (I know you have been there before)
then it will be on to all the expensive stuff. :o
Thanks! Yes, the long hours are paying off.
I was up there until 9:15 last night. I could have gone longer but I hadn't seen the wife all day.
Here are the results from Wednesday night.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/012_zps2110b59f.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/012_zps2110b59f.jpg.html)
Then I started putting on the OSB.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/014_zps83897492.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/014_zps83897492.jpg.html)
Finally finished the paper.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/017_zps120f806f.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/017_zps120f806f.jpg.html)
Today after work, I've got at least 10 guys coming to lift. Should be pretty easy with that many guys. I'm going to take off an hour early so I can get the stops nailed to the edge of the floor so we don't slide the new wall off the floor!
Austin
Like I said in the above post, I had 10 guys come after work and we got the long walls up. Then that Sunday I was out of town for a week, so I'm just now posting the pictures. I'm hoping this weekend to get one of the short walls built.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/013_zpsdd9816c5.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/013_zpsdd9816c5.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/011_zps3b26e0be.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/011_zps3b26e0be.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/006_zps7abd13ac.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/006_zps7abd13ac.jpg.html)
Austin
Looking good Austin!
since your endwall is open right now, do you have the room to slide your trusses onto the 2nd floor? If so it would be easier now then pulling them through a door or over the side wall.
if you do, just remember to seperate your gable end trusses so you can get to them. I carried all mine from the barn, and stacked the gables on the bottom d* cost me almost a day.
Both gable end trusses are on the top of the stack right now. They are 3.5" shorter than the others for the barge rafter supports.
Yes, I should have had all the guys that helped stand up the walls, throw the trusses up on the 2nd floor but I forgot. I think with some ramps and my tractor, I can push them up there.
thanks
Austin
Since the last update, I got the 26' end walls up (me and two buddies lifted them) and then this past weekend, I rented a SkyTrak to set the trusses. They were just too akward at 26' long to mess with by hand. Friday night I got two of them set up. I started on the west end of the building where the ground really slopes away from the slab. It makes it really tough for the skytrak to reach all the way. Lots of up and down the stairs and trying to manhandle the truss over the far wall.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/truss1_zps2367d89f.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/truss1_zps2367d89f.jpg.html)
Saturday when I shut it down I had 16 of the 29 trusses installed.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/truss2_zps00003216.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/truss2_zps00003216.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/truss3_zpsc5eec31b.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/truss3_zpsc5eec31b.jpg.html)
Sunday was an easy day because I was on the east end of the house and the land is higher and flat. I finished the main trusses by 1pm but then fought with the gable end trusses for the rest of the day. I was trying to install the gable end trusses with the barge rafter already installed. It just didn't work. I was able to set the subfloor up in the attic with the skytrak.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/truss4_zpsff29775c.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/truss4_zpsff29775c.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/truss5_zps1b82fd90.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/truss5_zps1b82fd90.jpg.html)
I need to finish with the attic flooring, sheath the gable trusses, and put on the barge rafters. For the barge rafters I will use my old hinge method. I will take pics for the new guys that haven't seen me do it before.
Austin
Great progress Austin!
bet your glad thats behind you.
Yes, very glad. At least this time I had my wife with me. It was rough at first but towards the end we had the hand signals just about figured out. With the height of the wall and the low pitch, I couldn't see what I was doing from the drivers seat! She usually got up to the build site around 9am after taking care of the kids. Before that, I would have to put it about where I think it should be, run up the stairs, take a look, run down and adjust, run up the stairs, take a look, run down the stairs and adjust....... My right knee still hurts.
I only put 3.5 hours on the skytrak. Last time it took a 3 day weekend. This time it really only took 17 hours total. The only reason we were working in the dark Sunday was me trying to put the gable end trusses and barge rafters up as an assembly.
working alone is a nightmare, especially when it comes to roof components!
its also the best way to lose weight fast.. :)
If I never do another roof it will be too soon. At the verybleast i will never design another 12/12 pitch. You notice I said design not build... after do the 12/12 on my shed the hoys ended up at about 9/12 which is stillbtoo steep for one person doing metal. Imo
Yeah, I haven't been out on my 8/12 trusses yet. We will see how it feels. My old 12/12 pitch trusses felt like I was hanging off the side of a cliff!
Not much got done this weekend. I finished putting down the attic floor and that is about it. I wasn't really sleeping and felt exhausted. I needed a little rest.
Austin
Since the last update I got the barge rafters installed and got some of the OSB up on the roof.
For the barage rafters, I built them as assemblies and then used the winch to lift them up the gable end of the house. Then I reached over and pulled them up onto the roof. I used rope to tie them off. The rope gave enough for me to be able to slide them around a little but they couldn't fall.
Then this past weekend, I built a ramp out of four old crooked 16' 2x4s and three pallets. I used my winch to pull it up onto the house. Then I use the winch to slide the OSB up the ramp and onto the roof. Works great and sure beats having to carry the OSB. A friend and I were able to get 3/4s of one side done on Sunday. This week I'm hoping to finish this side and then put blocks on the other side to make sure the 1st row goes on straight.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/roof1_zpscd10d081.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/roof1_zpscd10d081.jpg.html)
Austin
good work Austin.
Wow guys. Sorry it has been so long. I got all the OSB on the deck. A 8/12 pitch roof is NOT a walking roof. You have to be tied off. I left one piece of OSB out so I could tie to the peak of the roof and go out on the roof from that opening. Putting on the paper was an adventure. I rented a little bucket lift to put in the upstairs windows, facia board and I was hoping to put on the paper. The bucket lift would only reach so far. I was able to do the first two rows of paper on the front and one row on the back. All the rest was rope work. I did find that if I laid on the paper and it was warm enough outside, that the paper would grab my jeans and I wouldn't slide. That gave me two hands to work nailing down the paper. If I had to do it again, I would have gone with a 6/12 pitch.
Right now we are working on the blocking at the top of the 2nd floor wall and recessing the nails in the subfloor. Due to a tight budget the subfloor will have to be the floor for a year or so. I'm going to sand it down and throw some poly on it. I might need to foam up some gaps.
Here are some outside shots.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/front_zps7ee81ef4.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/front_zps7ee81ef4.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/back_zpsf8998fa7.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/back_zpsf8998fa7.jpg.html)
Good progress Austin,
I cant tell exactly, but your felt looks like grace triflex?
Bet your glad to have this part of the project behind you.
Todd
Yes, it is the triflex. I used it last time too. I knew it was going to be some time before I got the metal on so I needed something that would hold up. I love that stuff. I would cut it to length before going out on the roof. Then once I was out on the roof, I would pull it through the hole in the roof that I climbed out of. That stuff is tough. You can ball it up and then smooth it right back out. No tears. You can't do that with felt.
Austin
Well, we are finally working inside. We have most of the interior walls up and are working on DWV. The sanded subfloor turned out pretty good. I didn't sand it 100% flat. It has two coats of poly on there. We will finish everything and then do a light sanding and put the final coat of poly on.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/704bc205-f0d3-4bf6-beac-ec52940a63f8_zpss3cuhg6n.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/704bc205-f0d3-4bf6-beac-ec52940a63f8_zpss3cuhg6n.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/upstairs%20framing%202_zpsoac2kvyq.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/upstairs%20framing%202_zpsoac2kvyq.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/house/upstairs%20framing%201_zps3kjbuqwi.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/house/upstairs%20framing%201_zps3kjbuqwi.jpg.html)
Floor looks amazing Austin!
Thanks Todd,
We are almost done with electrical rough in so I'm pretty pleased with the progress. I'm hoping to post some pictures tomorrow.
Austin
Ok, here are some pictures for the crazy weekend. I had roofers and spray foam guys here close to the same time. It was crazy.
For the roof, I had them put 2x4s spaced 4' apart horizontaly and then put down two layers of 3/4" foam. This will give me R7.5 above the roof deck. Then they put on the galvalume metal R panel. Going from the black triflex to the silver roof, cooled off the house instantly. I'm sure the foam helped too.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/roof1_zpszgywgagk.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/roof1_zpszgywgagk.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/roof%204_zpsed1wvcss.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/roof%204_zpsed1wvcss.jpg.html)
I also got mostly done with the electric and plumbing rough in. Everything in the exterior walls is 100% done.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/plumbing2_zps8bfddlbk.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/plumbing2_zps8bfddlbk.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/plumbing1_zpsogppcmm2.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/plumbing1_zpsogppcmm2.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/electric1_zpsovhzpzqv.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/electric1_zpsovhzpzqv.jpg.html)
For spray foam, I paid for 3" but on average, I got at least that and sometimes much more. I think on average I got 4". Some spots they filled the cavity (5.5").
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/foam2_zpslbesdope.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/foam2_zpslbesdope.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/foam1_zpswdgt959l.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/foam1_zpswdgt959l.jpg.html)
Now I need to finish rough in for electric and plumbing and then start siding.
Austin
You have officially past me in progress...
Good progress. Since my foam was sprayed, the house is like a cave.. quiet and somewhat cold.
It has been my constant goal to catch and pass you. I will admit that it was cheating having the roof done, when you did it yourself, but I'm putting it in the win column anyway. A buddy of mine is building the cabinets for us so I don't have to worry about that.
I'm just going to glad when the house is under its own power. I should finish all the switches and plugs by the end of this weekend. I need to get water up to the pex manifold but that is just some 3/4" PVC. Not a ton left and I will have a functioning bathroom with flushing toilet and everything. Put up some sheetrock and it will be down right fancy! HA!
thanks
Austin
I wanted and designed this house for spray foam but we moved in it too soon because of a tree limb going through the roof of our motor home we were living in. Now I have to add a furling strip to the edge of each rafter to get it thick enough for r30 and the air gap panels. How much did they charge per Sq ft? I never actually found anyone local to do it. I'd still like to have the floor and roof sprayed but it's hard when you're living in it.
I love the floor BTW, that's the look I'm going for on my finished floor
It worked out to about 60 cents per sqft at 3" deep. When they were done, 3" was the minimum. There were lots of spots that were 4 and 5" deep.
Now even when it is bright and sunny out, it stays nice and cool upstairs and even in the attic. Before the foam and silver roof, it would get hot up there when it was sunny!
We have been working hard on the house. I've got about half of the power hooked up and then started installing the kitchen. We are going to have to wait on doing sheetrock on the ceiling because we aren't going to be able to put in the downstairs AC for some time.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/cabinet%201_zpsmygzumie.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/cabinet%201_zpsmygzumie.jpg.html)
The upstairs AC is done and once we get the bathrooms are installed, I will go ahead and get the water going.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/ac%203_zpsrghft1vo.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/ac%203_zpsrghft1vo.jpg.html)
So, tonight I will work on finishing putting in the kitchen cabinets and then can work on the upstairs bathroom sheetrock.
Austin
this project is looking great!!! I applaud you on you tenacity. When are you going to get around to the lightning rods?
Keep up the good work Bob
So sorry it has been so long since an update. We are in the house but it is far from complete. We took the summer off but are finally now getting back to work.
Here is a shot of the kitchen that is in process. I'm currently painting cabinets. The next picture is of the master bath that is also in work.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/island1_zps82fc4540.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/island1_zps82fc4540.jpg.html)
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/masterbath_zps3bf9c619.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/masterbath_zps3bf9c619.jpg.html)
Did you build or buy the plywood cabinet shells? If you bought them, where from? They look great and are exactly what I'm wanting to find for my impending build.
A friend of mine built them. They are sturdy for SURE!
thanks
Austin
Looking good
Well, we are still plugging away. A friend of mine, cut down a huge red oak and then cut me some slabs. I got three 14" wide 1.5" thick, 9' long slabs of oak. I finally got them down on the island about a month or so ago.
https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/counter%202_zps9xwhukfm.jpg
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/counter%202_zps9xwhukfm.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/counter%202_zps9xwhukfm.jpg.html)
Now I have a pile of shiplap (3000 sqft) in my dining area. We do have some sheetrock upstairs but most of it will be shiplap. I will get some shots when it is done.
Austin
Gorgeous!
Thanks. I'm very pleased with it. Momma doesn't mind how long everything is taking as long as it is nice when done. She is really liking the shiplap upstairs. Then again, anything is better than looking at spray foam!
Quote from: dablack on August 19, 2016, 03:54:28 PM
Thanks. I'm very pleased with it. Momma doesn't mind how long everything is taking as long as it is nice when done. She is really liking the shiplap upstairs. Then again, anything is better than looking at spray foam!
I like that shiplap too. I'm hoping to follow your footsteps for my cabin build by using as much self-milled lumber as I can. The Forestry Forum folks are an incredible resource.
Little more progress. Got the front porch slab poured. 10' deep and 52' long (length of house). I'm now shopping for brick to build some 3' tall pillars. Then the 8x8 posts will go on top of that, and then a 8x10 beam.
It is nice having somewhere to sit outside that isn't in the dirt!
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/slab_zpsomeiozz9.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/slab_zpsomeiozz9.jpg.html)
Austin
That's going to add a lot of character when it's all framed up.
Takes a lot of fortitude to do what you've done. Not only rebuilding the whole house after it burned down, but to also do it on the same foundation.
I'm sure you have plans for flooring, but there is something pretty awesome about the fire stressed slab on the interior.
Thanks Nathan!
If the floor wasn't so pitted in spots then I would be fine with the "distressed" look. There is about a 2' diameter area in the kitchen that is at least an inch low. Another 3' diameter area near the couch that is the same. Just too rough! I'm planning to fill those spots will cement and then put down some plywood and then wood floor.
I bought the brick yesterday! A bundle (500) and two straps (100 each) for a total of 700 bricks. I figured I needed 500 for the pillars but wanted to make sure I had plenty.
Brought them home in my 1990 F250. They rode just fine and it saved me the $100 delivery fee. Will have pics soon.
Austin
How many post are you going to use? Seem like a lot of bricks but I am sure you have it figured out. Are you going to form and pour a cap on the brick for the post to rest on? Might be tricky anchoring them down. Maybe use strapping attached to the bottom of the post and the inside of the brick pier. Make the attachment then pour your cap to cover the strapping. I would probably allow the cap to cover 3/4" - 1" of the brick. Then up the post, covering the strap attachment then the tapering the pour to let the water run off away from the post. Just my thoughts.
John,
I know you are always ready to help when it comes to stone/brick work!
There are going to be 5 posts (one every 13' for 52') and the brick portion will be about 36" high. It takes 8 bricks to go all the way around and 12 or 13 layers, so that works out to about 100 bricks per post. Instead of pouring the cap, I'm going to do a brick cap. I figure, I will use cinder blocks for the core and brick up to the height I want. I will have the anchors attached and then I will build the brick cap. The anchors will come up through the cap. Put the post on top and come the anchors will post trim (6" tall 1x boards that will go around the base of the post).
Does that make sense?
If I only end up using 550 bricks then, I will have more than a strap left over. I was just worried that I was going to need 601, and then have to make another hour drive to go pick up another strap of bricks. I figured if I have a bunch extra, I will do something cool with them later.
thanks
Austin
Those will be heafty post. Maybe lay the leftovers for a landing or stoop coming off into the yard. ;D
The posts are full size 8x8s with a 8x10 beam! It should look very heafty indeed! I'm planning to lay it out dry and make sure I like the proportions before moving forward. Each side of the post, you will see the long sides of two bricks and the end of one. That gives me a 19 5/8" wide column.
If I decide that is too big compaired to my 8x8 post, then I will go down to the long side of one brick and the ends of two. That should give me a 16" wide column. I will lay both out and see which one works better.
The 2nd way I will only be using 6 bricks for each layer and will only need 80 bricks per column. Then I will for sure have plenty left over but I tend to like the heafty look, so I'm guessing that I will like the big stuff more.
Austin
I was trying to visualize this as you was explaining earlier and I guess the proportional aspect came to mind. Seems I get caught in that more than not. When I bought my front door to the cabin I had a choice between a double 6' or the single 3' for the same money. Given the distance was only 10' I opted for the 3' as the proportions were better. Carry on. ;)
Hey Guys, Sorry it has been so long. I'm still slowly working on the house. Here is my 2nd brick column I did (no..... you can't see the 1st one). I'm just about ready to start mounting the 8"x8" posts that will hold up the porch roof. There are five of the pictured brick columns on 13' centers.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/brick%20column_zpsmwszxz1m.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/brick%20column_zpsmwszxz1m.jpg.html)
Austin
Looks way better than I can do [cool]
For the masons I've welded a vertical plate to the rebars and extended that up thru the cap. A 1/4" plastic spacer slipped over to get the post up a little. Then cut a vertical slot in the post bottom and slip it over the knife plate. Then drill thru the post and steel for 2 @ 1/2" steel pins with wooden plugs to cover them. That ties the post and roof down to the masonry.
(http://timbertoolbox.com/tf/beyer8311.jpg)
(http://timbertoolbox.com/tf/beyerporch.jpg)
Wow Don! I think that is a great way to do it. My way isn't nearly as secure but I think it will work. I embedded some of the metal ties that go between the concrete blocks and the bricks. They are wrapped around a piece of rebar that is bent with 3 90 degree bends to fit between the brick and concrete blocks. Then I filled the space between the bricks and blocks and leveled a plastic pad for the post to sit on.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/column_zpsn0mul2rs.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/column_zpsn0mul2rs.jpg.html)
After the post gets mounted and fixed to the beam, I will go back and put the horizontal bricks on the top.
Austin
Got a little more done.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/post%20pic%201_zpsnadqwm8f.jpg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/post%20pic%201_zpsnadqwm8f.jpg.html)
The posts are 8x8s and the beam is 13' 8x10. The tractor doesn't have the reach to set the beam so I'm going to rent a material lift for about $50 a day. Should get it done.
Those posts look great. I have similar plans (probably summer after next) to do a covered and screened porch like this on our 20 ft wall.
You've got some serious timber on your property. Were those posts milled from your land?
Why yes, yes they were milled from my pines. A good buddy of mine, felled them and milled them. I got a cheap electric planer from big orange and it did a good job of smoothing them out. Finished with a belt sander and they are ready. I was hoping to rent a material lift and to set the 13' 8x10s this past weekend but it didn't happen. Next couple of weekends are taken up so at this point, I will be happy if the beams get up there in March. Then porch rafters and some sort of decking. Not sure what I will use right now. I was thinking OSB but it will be visible from the underside so OSB won't cut it.
I love those pillars with the 8x8 posts. Hope to do something similar with cinder block and stone veneer. [cool]
Got a little more done on the porch. 8x10 beams, 13' long. I've got them held down to the posts with timberlok screws and the beams are attached to each other end to end with big plates that go across the ends. Rafters are 2x8s set 2'OC.
Porch is 10' deep and the roof hits the house about 10' up.
(https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm206/dablack2000/IMG_5803_zpssaoviwkg.jpeg) (https://s297.photobucket.com/user/dablack2000/media/IMG_5803_zpssaoviwkg.jpeg.html)
Looking nice [cool]
Those brick posts are incredible looking.
Thanks guys. I really enjoyed learning the brick work. The first column (way on the end) isn't the best but it is ok. The rest of them are pretty good. I'm still slow as Christmas when doing brick work, but I enjoy it.
If it doesn't rain too much this weekend, I will be putting up 1x boards as the porch roof deck. It will be visible from below so I didn't want OSB or plywood.
Austin
OK! So, the porch is mostly done and I've started on the hardie board siding. It is going up really well and I didn't have to buy a siding gun. My framer is working great but it does have a depth adjustment so it was easy to dial in. I'm also using the dark green siding gauges and they are working great. Turns it into a one man show.
I'm trying imgur now since photobucket doesn't like me anymore. Lets see if this works.
(https://i.imgur.com/tMYmiBP.jpg)
Pictures good. How did Harvey affect you?
Harvey didn't do anything to us. I don't think we even got an inch of rain. Our rain total for the month was probably about +20%. All the bands lost their power just east of here. Nacogdoches (the oldest town in Tx) is about 30 minutes straight east from us. They got TONS of rain but East TX is very hilly so some roads over creeks got lots of water but everyone was fine. The only time we ever have a problem is if the winds take down trees and then we lose power. We were away from home for a while due to work and when we got back, the chest freezer was fine but the frig freezer had lost power long enough that we had to throw away everything. No big deal. The only real loss was all the blackberries we had juiced to make jelly. We had 4 gallons of juice in the freezer that went in the compost. It broke my heart. No blackberry jelly this year. Oh well.
My sister in Houston was trapped in her dry house for about three days. My younger sister in law had 3' of water in her house in Katy. We went down ASAP and pulled the lower 4' of sheetrock, carpet, baseboards, and drill holes in the bottom of the cabinets. I set up a dehumidifier and luckily their AC was still working. We got it all out quick so mold never got to form. I still sprayed the stud bays down with mold remediation stuff. They have new beds now and are sort of camping in their house.
Next step is to keep going with the siding. I will run out of areas that I can reach with the step ladder and will need to buy some scaffolding.
Austin
The exterior is looking good. I've been using a stanley clamp i found on ebay for my clapboards - patent date of 1888, well over 100 yrs old, amazing little thing, works like new and made out of brass. Not sure it would work on cement board, but so nice having the right tools. Makes quick work out of a 16 ft clapboard.
I'm in the same boat as you on scaffolding too. I really should have bought some for the roof, I think it would have saved 2+ weeks off install time.
Anyway keep posting progress.
Slowly doing siding. The back and sides of the house only have siding up to about 6 or 7'. I still haven't ordered any scaffolding but will have to at some point. I've been spending my time putting up shiplap inside. Anyway, here is the latest shot of the front. Trim is primed but not painted.
(https://i.imgur.com/adNj9Td.jpg)
[cool] Beautiful, a long road for sure, you all should be very proud
Thanks Don. We still have tons to do but we are still enjoying it. I cut some bricks to cap my brick columns but I haven't mixed any mortar yet. I'm kind of persnickety about things and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to top those columns with a brick cap that will match my standards. I think I'm going to form something up and pour the caps in place.
On the inside, we still have spray foam wall paper in about half the rooms but we are slowly fixing that with the shiplap.
Austin
For your column caps are you thinking along the lines of a concrete countertop? It seems like a great opportunity to personalize it with something that symbolizes the work your family has put into the place. I've always liked the cast bronze inlays at the Denver International Airport. Handprints might be a little hokey, but this is what I'm thinking of:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Art-at-DIA/Permanent-Works/21st-Century-Artifacts/i-8ZLd75d/2/05811d3d/XL/untitled-43-2-XL.jpg
Yes, I have been reading up on "pour in place" concrete counter tops. It would have been much easier to pour them upside down in a form and then set them on the bricks but I have wood posts in the way now so oh well. Brass inlays would be crazy cool but I'm hesitant. I'm not sure what I would use or do. If it was a cap that didn't have a big 8x8 post on top, then I would put a compass centered on the cap or something similar.
Just wanted to put a finish line on this project. I sold the house last week. Not everything was done but we have moved to a new city and were only at the house for weekends, vacation, and holidays. I really enjoyed building the house and I will probably build again at some point. We are renting in the new town right now and if we find some land that we like, we will build on that.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ralziyn.jpg)
That's a beautiful place buddy. Turned out great.
After all you went through I'm sure that was a tough decision. It looks mighty fine, job well done :)
Looks fantastic. Keep us posted on any new projects.
Thanks guys. I really appreciate the kind works. This build was for sure a learning experience.
1. I will never build a two story again, if I'm doing most of the work. doing the siding on the bottom of the house happened in a very short period. The siding on the top part of the house took forever! I rather pay more for a slab and roof and put all the sq footage on one floor.
2. Attic trusses. SO HANDY!
3. My level lied to me a couple of times. I will use a plumb bob next time.
4. Finally, on any long walls, use the string trick to make sure the are straight at the top.
thanks
Austin
Quote from: dablack on December 06, 2018, 08:28:32 AM
Thanks guys. I really appreciate the kind works. This build was for sure a learning experience.
1. I will never build a two story again, if I'm doing most of the work. doing the siding on the bottom of the house happened in a very short period. The siding on the top part of the house took forever! I rather pay more for a slab and roof and put all the sq footage on one floor.
2. Attic trusses. SO HANDY!
3. My level lied to me a couple of times. I will use a plumb bob next time.
4. Finally, on any long walls, use the string trick to make sure the are straight at the top.
thanks
Austin
That turned out great! I also feel you on the two story, I will also never build one again, a lot of hard work, and trusses are such a time saver well worth it.
/cheers c*