All Wrapped Up

As you can see, I was trying to use up alot of extra material I had from the house siding project... it is only a shed after all!

Shedding Along

Two more productive nights on the shed. First pic you can see I have the roof framing finished.


Then I covered the structure with 1/2 inch sheathing...






Now it's time to wrap it up, trim, siding, and roofing.

Today's Shed Report

The weather was too nice, so I took full advantage... though the skeeters were attacking all freekin day?!

So with the base finished I started building the walls. Everything above the floor is 2x4 construction. I built all the 44 inch high wall sections and attached them to the floor, leaving a 4 foot wide opening for a pair of front doors... basic carpentry 101 work for this part.


Then I nailed another layer of 2x4s on top, staggered from the walls joints, to help tie everything together and have a nice base to mount the trusses.


Next step, roof trusses. This was a first for me, and a gambrel style roof adds an added dimension of fun. After a little online research, an easy 8 foot wide gambrel truss can be made with using 4 pieces cut 3 feet long with 22 1/2 degree mitre cuts. So I cut the first 4 pieces out, layed them out on the floor, tweeked them a little, then nailed scraps down to lock the pieces in place making a temporary jig. Now when I build the other trusses, they will all be exactly the same... obviously an important detail for this to all come together and make a nice structurally sound roof!


Next I had to make gussets for the joints. These add the structural strength to the truss. I ripped down the leftover floor piece into four 6 inch wide x 8 foot long strips and then cut into 12 inch sections. Taking one of these I set in place at a truss joint and marked my roof angles, cut on the table saw, and now had a template to make the other 30 I needed.


Fasten them at each joint, both sides, and walla... a completed truss! Then repeat. The end trusses only get gussets on one side, the sheathing will secure the other.


Now, to get these suckers in place... by yourself. I marked the location for each truss mounting, then nailed a pair of scraps to the top of the wall leaving a gap the width of a 2x4. Next lift and drop the truss in place. The scraps hold it in place while you make any adjustment and nail it in place. And repeat...



This is as far as I got today, tomorrow night I should finish the roof contruction and be almost ready for sheathing.

Finished the Shed Floor

Made some good progress yesterday...

I set 6x6's on the footers that I had lying around and then built an 8x10 base using 2x6's. Then added the floor. Next is some walls and make trusses for the roof. Time for another Depot run!

Drying Rotation

Lately it seems I'm always waiting for something to dry! So while I have a coat of drywall mud or a coat of paint/prime drying in the kitchen I might be working on one of the kitchen doors... or outside digging and pooring footers for the shed... then while those are drying it's back to applying or sanding more mud. But it keeps things moving along.



The long wall is done in the kitchen. One more section of wall left.


Forms for pooring the footers.

Footers poored and drying.

I need a shed...

... like yesterday! So I mulched my way through the pile and have a clear spot for the shed. Originally I was going with an 8x8 but too many people just laughed, so I upped it to 8x10. But I don't have room for anything bigger than that. I thought about setting on cinder blocks, but I think I'll go ahead with the extra effort and dig some footers. That way I know it won't settle any. Under the tarp is a bunch of rough sawn shakes that will be for the roof. I have left overs from the house for the gables and then the lower side will be the cement board like I used on the back of the house. I have 6x6 posts that I can use to set on the footers and then build a floor on them.


Time to start diggin...

Wall Progress

About half way around the room now getting the walls finished and primed. So far so good. I've been taking it a section at a time, so I can quick open a window with a fan, sand, cleanup, and get thing closed up and some nice cool air back in the room again. Drywall work is no fun when it's been steady 90+ out!



The stemware holders came and are mounted, I like em. Still need to do the wine rack.

A Little Something for the Front

I had been wanting to do this for awhile and finally found a pair of nice arbors with the right design for the right price.


Some assembly required!

A few hours later here they are. I used pressure treated deck railing pieces to anchor them in the ground. They didn't come with any way to anchor them and I've already had the back one blow over several times without any anchoring.

They add a nice touch to the steps. I still need to stain them white. Next year I may get to some more landscaping.

I'm Painting In The Rain

Weeks and weeks we had NO rain at all. The day I decide to take all the window sashes out to paint... you guessed it, some surprise storms!


Well the bathroom was finished earlier in the day along with the jamb. The door is in final sanding and almost ready for paint.


The large window and window over the stove are done.

The kitchen window? Well let's just say I'm in a rain delay!

Something Followed Me Home Today!

Just to make sure I don't get bored when the Hall House is "done"... 1955 Chevy Bel Air hardtop, a real nice originally from Arizona car with almost no rust and all for a too good to pass up price. Stay tuned...



Tucked away for a rainy day...

Finished the Step-Back

Well I finally finished that. It came out pretty nice.


In the meantime I've been debating the use of the one built in shelf I made. I tried running a toaster in the bottom shelf and there's just too much heat. I can already picture paint blistering off..... not good! So adding the outlets now seems like a waste but too late now. I've been wanting to add a wine rack but thought it was not deep enough, that was till I actually tried a bottle. It actually will work just fine! So after looking online for some ideas, the simplest thing to do is lower the shelf a few inches so I have a square opening and install an X insert. This will create 4 triangle openings to stack bottles in.


Then I have a shelf for cookbooks/garden books... this will stay the same.


Below that I wanted to add stemware holder racks for storing wine glasses. Well I found some brackets for a few dollars each, so that'll work. I might raise the next shelf down and add one more so I can have two sets. Finally the bottom shelf will probably just be a place to store the KitchenAid mixer.

Sounds like a plan...

Heat Wave!

A little tough to get much done when it's breaking 100 outside! Of course working for a power company in this weather, that's keeping me busy right now too. Speaking of work, the sale went through, the strike is over and it's looking more and more like I won't have to relocate for work. So I won't be leaving the Hall House any time soon! In the kitchen progress, the step-back cabinet is almost done and I've been sandblasting the hoosier style metal cabinet... at least any parts I can get in the blaster cabinet. Looks like another change of plans for the appliances too... the final change to the plan.

Meanwhile the yard is taking a beating, but the garden is surviving pretty well. The irigation system I built last year and only had to use twice is now getting used daily! But it makes life so much easier... turn on the hose and walk away for an hour. It uses far less water and all of it goes straight to the roots and not in the air or evaporated. Cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots are almost ready!! Already harvested tons of lettuce, chard, radishes, and snap peas.



I also need to start cleaning out half the garage and get the shed built sooner than later, more on that later! Let's just say I have a new project for when the Hall House is finished.

Happy 4th!!