...and so we continue

Monday 13th December setting out (drawing lots of chalk lines) on the Level 3 slab and then cutting out the top and bottom 'plates' (90x35mm pine that goes on the top and bottom of each framed wall - they're nailed together, cut to fit the chalk lines and laid out on the slab to make sure everything fits before doing anything too permanent...)  Trusses also arrived on a truck, which was a bit exciting.

Level 3 with top and bottom plates laid out to form the outline of rooms before framing.

"Posirafters" - usually used for floor joists (if you don't have a slab) but used at eightmangana as trusses where we're having a raked (sloped) ceiling inside.

[The Friday before, same day Level 3 slab was poured, we also made a human chain up a scaffold to pour concrete into our dining room 'thermal mass' wall (see earlier post) three-and-a-half metres up in the air]

Tuesday 14th Phil left me with Josh the Apprentice to start framing Level 3.  Josh, being the Apprentice, was pretty excited about being left with that responsibility and was keen to get the whole thing done by the end of the day.  We didn't quite get there but did manage to get a fair bit done.  The way our roof runs means some walls need to be different heights, which needs a bit more thought and care, so makes framing those sections a bit slower.

Wednesday 15th we kept framing Level 3 and also started trusses over the garage and study/spare room.  A note in my building diary says, "Looked like it was meant to!"

Thursday 16th was more framing and battens on the garage trusses so that the roofing team had a full roof to get started on when they were meant to come the week after.  In the end it didn't matter - the roofers rang to say they wouldn't be on our roof before Christmas and we'd have to wait until the New Year.

Friday 17th dawned drizzly and wet, which developed over the course of the morning into a complete downpour.  In a display of admirable optimism (or just out-right denial and stubborn determination) Phil decided we'd get as much done as possible and see if the rain cleared.  So coats and water-proof pants on and out into the rain we marched...  It took about 2 hours for me to work out that my 'water-proof' items were actually just 'water resistant' and by about 10.30 any resistance had folded completely - we moved from water-proof, through water-resistant and on to water-logged.  By 12.00 we'd all had enough rain down our necks and in our boots but had all Level 2 basically trussed.

Monday 20th - more framing on Level 3 while Phil and his brother-in-law Benj tidied up Level 2 trusses, adding the wider eaves, battens, etc.

Eaves out over what will be a deck someday.  Notice how much wider they are than normal - they're over a 6m set of sliding glass doors that are 2.4m (8ft) tall.

Tuesday 21st - Phil and Josh worked through Level 3 making sure all the frame was straight and 'square' before we spent the rest of the day putting most of the roof trusses on, and the house really started to look like a house!  I always reckon the roof makes a big difference - a frame is just a 2D plan extended upwards, but until the roof shape goes on the house has no personality.  Just like a hairstyle really, a different roof can make or break how a house looks.

Wednesday 22nd was the boys last day and they finished off Level 3 ready for the roofing team - made sure everything was straight, added battens, etc.  Day off for Dad the Labourer as we headed off to see family for Christmas.  They left me the fun job of adding a screw to every batten where it crossed a truss... over the entire roof... and I'm not great with heights or balance...

So after all the Christmas cheer was over and we came home again, I spent 2 or 3 days clambering around (very, very carefully - wherever possible with at least one hand as well as two feet) on the trusses with a pocket-full of screws and an electric screw gun.  Lost my nerve on a few spots where a 4 metre drop and a lack of stable-looking woodwork made me decide to leave those ones for someone more brave or experienced.

And that pretty much brings us up to where we're at - I've managed to catch up with ourselves!!  From now on we'll be able to update as we go and add new events pretty much in the present rather than in the past.