update

Yesterday we finished the sheeting and Eldon and his son Adam took the lift back as there was a forcast of a strom for the rest of the week and Dennis is going to New York this coming week. We will be able to use the last three days of the agreement later. Today Dennis and I built the stairs for the loft and also the bathroom walls for the loft. It spit rain and sleet all afternoon and there was a very strong east wind. We still have a blizzard warning tomorrow and Friday. Hope they're wrong. We're going to work tomorrow if we can get out. While Dennis is gone I will concentrate on plumbing and wiring.

After the storm

yesterday envolved shoveling snow out of the house for three hours and of course it snowed another inch last night. By the time we removed that snow and set up to work, most of the morning was gone. We made up for lost time and as you can see we put all the peaks on and got all of the roof sheeting done except what you can see. Tomorrow we plan to finish the rest and be ready for the impending storm scheduled for Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday. Could not have picked a lousier winter than this to build a house. At this point, however, it is pretty exciting as I can visualize what it is going to be like when it is finished.

Today was the first time I have set foot in the Versa Lift. There is not much of a learning curve but there is one. I found out the the up and down lever is quite sensitive and gave Dennis and Eldon quite a ride. They were not enthusiastic about it.

Good Week

It was a good week at the house. The weather was warm but there was a sea of mud. As the pictures show we got a lot done. The plumber even ran fifty feet of pipe. The floor for the upstairs was finished today. The pile of little trusses in the picture go on top. When the were shipped they were to big to have the little peak installed. Once we get these on we can finish the roof.

Sounds as if we are going to have a lot of snow and blizzard conditions tomorrow and Sunday. Monday will probably be a snow removal day. I can hardly wait!

Up with the Roof

The last two days I have been gone and Dennis with the Help of Eldon and his son, Adam, put up the trusses. Today the four of us got quite a bit of the sheeting up after setting the last two trusses and a little other prep work. Things seem to be taking shape. I hired a company from lake Park to put the put the shingles on when we get the sheeting on the house, build the garage and get the sheeting on it also. The garage is only a 6/12 pitch so it will be easier.

You may be able to see from the pictures that we are working in a sea of mud. I called the county engineer this am to see if they could put a little gravel on the road as it is only passable with a four wheel drive.

Tomorrow I have to go to Gayle's to finish up a few things and then will be able to devote most of my time on the house.

The upstairs room really looks huge and I've decided to put on a dormer facing south. I hope it doesn't bankrupt this project. Of course it will have a bathroom too.

Could not

Couldn't have picked a colderwinter to start a house. The temp as I write this is a real -16. Tomarrow we are forcast to receive one to three more inches of snow with winds of 35 mph and white out conditions. There is liight at the end of the tunnel as the weather next week is supposed to be very nice with highs well into the thirties.

Hopefully Monday I will be able to start posting some awesome pictures!

Monday came and went

Monday was not the day to set trusses! It was a day to remove about five inches of snow out of the house. Tuesday was not the day to set trusses as it was another snow removal day but not as much. Wednesday will not be the day either as it is expected to get down to 15 below tonight. Thursday may be the day (no promises). I did rent a Versa Lift with a 38 foot boom to lift the trusses and use to sheet the roof etc. Told them that we would get it either Thursday afternoon or Friday. There is hope.

Roof Trusses

Saturday mornings I try to make the coffee table at Buy Rite. Dennis, my carpenter, and Tom Cooper, one of former emplyeees are always there. We decided to set the roof trusses this Monday. Eldon will be helping. Eldon is a masonry contractor and his work is seasonal so he has time to help us. I will run the lift and Dennis and Eldon will be setting and nailing the trusses. Should be inteeresting as I have never operated a lift before!

The only work

The only work being done is snow removal. The weather is just to cold to work setting roof trusses. The pictures show my snow removal today which took at least four hours. I clean one room at a time putting the snow in a 32 gallon garbage cotainer and taking it outside. The last plan is to try this Tuesday to set trusses.

It's Friday

Well it's Friday and not much has happened this week as the weather has been unbelievably cold. Dennis did set up some scafolding to assist with setting the roof trusses and marked the plates where they will sit. I helped carry the trusses for the garage around the house yesterday. My they are heavy and seemed like there were alot of them. New trusses to replace the ones they broke are here and the plan is to start putting them up Tuesday.