Got Roof Closed

This week I worked on closing up the roof before my trip to Africa. The trick was keeping enough spare boards on the floor to keep a catwalk while having enough material to close the roof.

I started last week putting all the boards up on the east side without regard for the synthetic paper I was putting over it, which meant a trip out on the 8 over 12 pitch roof 20+ feet in the air to put down the paper. For the West side I got smart and put the paper down as I went in 2' sections - nail the base of the paper down, then put on another 24" of boards and nail the center of the paper, then put on another 24" and lap the next strip of paper over the last strip. Much safer process.

Starting laying the paper on the east side of the building.

Working the paper across the east  side of the building.

Closing up the roof on the west side, and lapping the paper over the peak. The fun was asking Susan to come up to the attic and kick the ladder out from under me so I could close the last 16' of opening and finish laying down the paper. 

Underside of the finished roof. Eventually the floor boards in the attic will go away, after I have the gable studs and walls all in place. 

More Big Progress

Raising the frame was one of the big steps for the building. This week the big steps were setting all the rafters and starting on the roof boards. I made pretty good progress with four solid working days this week. One day was pretty much a wash-out with the rain. Can't wait until I have cover over the building to keep things dry. The plan is for that to happen this week.

Thursday Bill joined me and we got the final seven rafters set, and got them all leveled out.

All the rafters in place as seen from the gable end.  

The Laugh In Dance Platform as named by my wife - actually the staircase landing. Stairs will follow the west wall down, then turn right and follow the north gable wall to the floor. 

Had a little scare when I took a step and this joist snapped on me. By the color of the wood, problems existed long ago. Fortunately, I went to my knees and didn't go through the floor. 

There were no joists in the center of the building due to the original staircase and the chimney. I cut new pockets (lots of fun in hard, knotty, 200 year old oak), and fitted up new 4x8 pine joists. I framed part of it with a 3x4 hatch to be able to move stuff between the levels. The auto lift will be below the hatch.

Friday I installed almost half the roof boards - nearly the whole east side of the building. 

Here's a view from the 2nd floor looking up at the ceiling. In the lower left you can see the tension rod connecting the two purlins.

Looking at the building from the south east corner. Hopefully this fall the small house in front will be dismantled. Then I can cut in the driveway and remove the stump from the tree that donated the rafters and much other lumber. 

The building viewed more from the east side.