Let 'er rip!

As the Element Spray Foam insulation crew finishs their work we are beginning to prepare for the next job we will do. We fastened the curved ceiling formers into place on the trusses and joists some time ago. Now it is time to begin strapping the ceiling. The expanded galvanized steel lath will be stapled to this backing and then we begin trowelling on the fiberglass reinforced concrete. Once that is done we'll begin the painting process while below the drywallers will begin their work.

To do the strapping on the curved ceilings we will use up more than 60 sheets of plywood. The two upstairs rooms will use 1/2" plywood as the trusses are less than 16" on center or less with the rafters. On the high vaulted ceilings of the living room we will go with 3/4" stapping to make sure everything stays nice and straight.

Today Matthew and I began ripping the plywood to size on the tablesaw. The section over the gable windows will be first and for this task we were ripping the strips of plywood cross ways so they would easily bend on the curved ceilings. Eighteen sheets were put through the saw for these sections alone.

Tomorrow we pick up where we left off today.

-grampa dan

Mellow fall day.

Today was another gorgeous fall day. As I stood on the tiny porch of the old house this afternoon I could see the fall colors starting to show on the mountain. This is the view we will enjoy from the dining room and back patio of the new house. This southern view is why we oriented the house to the rear of the property rather than the front as is normal.

The building in the picture is our workshop, about 300 feet back from the house. In between will be rolling lawn and to the left, the paddocks for our miniature horses. Beyond are farmer's fields and the ever changing mountain view.

This is a commute which I will enjoy every single day.

-grampa dan

All up hill from here.

Summer came late this year, just as we started in on the inside framing of the house. Since then we've had some of the driest weaher I've seen and it has continued right through the month of September. The weatherman keeps promising rain, but after a short sprinkle or two the sunsine returns again and again. Today was another of those days. I had plenty of shop work lined up but the day was so nice I couldn't stand to work inside.

With the ground still very dry it was the perfect time to do the backfilling at the rear of the house. To do the task I had to cut a road through the massive pile of soil, filling in beside the retaining wall as I worked my way to the top by the house. As the road rose it got wider, flattening out at the top. 

Once I had the road built I used the tractor to haul the masonry sand which we'll need for finishing  to the rear of the house, packing down the fresh soil I had just moved in the process. While little got done in the shop today plenty of soil and sand got moved. It was a fun day!

-grampa dan