I wasn't able to round up any apprentices today but I have to get a roof on this cabin. The good news is I discovered my framing nail gun was not broken but I had bought the wrong nails for it when I originally bought it. Too bad I didn't get that figured out until after all the walls were framed. It would have saved so much time.
We loaded all the lumber, generator, and all the tools and pulled out of the drive around noon. I know, I should have started earlier but my two year old sounded like he was coming down with something so we let it warm up a bit first. We had a couple of stops to make before we could head out.
After grabbing lunch we hit the lumber yard for nails for the gun and some brackets.
We got out to the land and got everything unloaded. I had to fix a couple of mistakes and place some more nails in a few of the studs it was time to pick up the girls from school. I stayed behind to continue working. The plans called for doubled 2X6's at each end to act as ties and the start of the loft joists.
After getting those set I began work to prepare for placing the ridge beam. I doubled up two 2X4's and set them atop the middle of the end walls and braced them. I thought it would be smart to attach a short 2X4 at the top on each side of the ridge beam studs.
After setting the ridge beam atop the supporting studs I realized my mistake. If I was using a doubled 2X8 for a ridge beam it would've worked out great. Since I wasn't I realized I had no way to nail the beam to the studs. I had to cut off the "safety studs" and got the ridge beam secured.
I just started to figure out the angle for the plumb cut for the first set of rafters when my daughter advised me her Christmas program was starting in 30 minutes.
We hastily gathered and loaded the tools and covered the flooring and all our lumber with tarps.
I have to work a 24 hour shift tomorrow and they are calling for a lot of rain and/or snow for Saturday. Hopefully everything stays dry and I can get the rafters up on Sunday.
Wish me luck, I need all I can get.
Wow! The cabin is really coming along. It's been months since I even tried to catch up on my blog reading, but how fun it was to swing by your blog and see so many changes! Hope things are good. Have a great weekend!
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