Size does matter when it comes to decks, and is this one is in Texas, it has to be bigger. So today the joists on which the floor boards will rest were put into place.
It’s now 24 x 12 feet, or in metric about 8 x 4 meters, almost 4x bigger than my balcony in the Netherlands.
Gable Ends are the triangular open thingies you end up where the 45 degrees angled roofs meet. As it kind of windy when left open, they need to be filled,
or as it is called Framed. Exactly like the back extension I have done earlier, this requires 2×4 inchers to be placed at 16″ intervals, so that later on,
OSB and siding can be put up against it. Below is what it looks like with the lower section framed. It’s a bit of work, as the rafters that hold the roof up,
are actual trees, so not straight and with knots. The framing does have to be fairly close to the edge of the rafters, so that meant shaving (or rather using a chisel and a reciprocal saw) to make the 2×4″ go close to the edges. The second picture shows the view from the outside. I took it easy today, being a Sunday, and also paid a visit to the
real ale brewery, in Blanco, about 30 minutes from my home. They brew a beer named after the area where the log home is built; the devil’s back bone.
Very tasty and fitting to my location so I’m having one after work is done. Too bad I had to drive back; I would have loved to taste all 12 beers they brew.
These famous words of John Hannibal Smith describe the feeling when I climbed the scaffolding on the deck I made;
Now I can reach almost anywhere without any problems. Well, almost… I kinda cheated as I placed the top half of the scaffolding from above,
as I was reluctant to climb up and hold the steel parts that make the scaffolding’s second level.
I’m fine with climbing on it, but assembling a heavy railing on top of the second floor is not fun for those of us with Vertigo.
Likely I will ask Dave to do the top ends of the gable end walls (The top triangles closest to the rooftop)
Or maybe I will manage standing on the lower scaffolding floor, I will see how safe I feel doing it.
That’s right, I had to stick up 25 8ft 2×4″-ers also know as stick framing. Basically, it’s a skeleton of 2 x 4’s on which OSB boards will be screwed.
So this wall is made of 200 ft (61 meter) 2×4 pine.
The framing is good old fashion hammer and nail work, although I used screws to keep the wall flush and still reposition-able.
I’m standing in the main bedroom, behind what will be a 36×48″ window.
The next layer will be OSB boards, then a moisture protection and finally cedar siding. That’s boards horizontally placed with an overlap of about 1/5″.
It wasn’t painful, it was just a matter of putting in the remaining 20 2×6 boards that make up the second floor. Last April, I had started it, but ran out of time to finish it.
Now 3/4 of the floor is covered. The remaining 1/4 will stay open and allow a stairway. Now access is ladder only.
This pano also shows the work I will start on tomorrow;
stick framing the gable ends (where you see trees).
Much easier to do with a floor. My tent (you can see the blue top) will have to be moved, so I can place the scaffolding on the inside, to reach the right end of the gable end, although I might try set it up on the western deck, as after stick framing, OSB boards will need to go up and then siding boards.
I will start with the eastern gable end; the floor goes across the entire width there.
I am many things, but very strong is not one of them. Luckily Dave is; he lifted a 24 ft tree above his head whilst all I had to do is hold the other end in place, that was already at the right level. According to building codes we probably would have needed 8 people officially.
But he made it and it is up there, ready to receive the 13 joists of 12′ long 10″ x 2″
The picture below shows the result. You can also see the eastern deck now ready. (The backdrop is the sunset in the west)
That’s what my mug says and I thoroughly agree. So here’s me enjoying my morning coffee at 8:00 am in the sun.
The posts I’m referring to are the 4×4″ posts for the east and west decks, and the four cedar trees making the main deck posts.
All were put into place today, and I managed to put the boards on the western deck.
The first picture shows the front of the house, with the four trees up like totem poles.
Below that is the finished western deck. As you can imagine, it’s going to be much easier to set windows,
and chink and stain the logs now it is only a story and a half up.
In case you’re wondering; the wood is so called treated pine, which has an ugly green hue,
but it will be stained in a color similar to the logs.
After all the work I enjoyed my first beer on the deck, watching the sun set and the stars appear.
It’s been a while since I saw that many stars; it’s clear and wonderful weather.
To ena
ble me to reach the gable ends (top parts) of my east and west walls, I have created a deck support that will allow me to put scaffolding on it,
so I can reach the second floor safely. With a ladder from even ground this was just too risky, especially with heavy loads.
So today the east deck support was finished and the holes for the 8 poles that help support it poured.
The east and west decks now looks like this (at sunrise this morning).
As you can see, it makes reaching the gable ends a lot easier and safer.
The decks rest on both a diagonal beam;
But for extra safety, vertical posts are added also.
Sometimes hitting rock bottom can be fun; when it is intended to make holes for concrete piers.
That’s just what I did today; hacking away with a pick axe and a piece of rebar and a hammer to dig into the not so cooperative soil.
Or to be more accurate, pretty rock hard limestone filled with even harder rocks.
But I managed to dig in and all holes are dug and filled with concrete.
4 more bags 80 pounds and 4 bags 60 pounds more were needed, but now it is ready, drying in to receive a load tomorrow.
The main deck will rest on four cedar tree logs, resting on these rebar reinforced concrete piers
The east and west deck will be getting extra support from these little piers;
