phoenix / goodwill rebuild

[Leigh Family Farm]

If I had no equipment to lift the OSB, I would make a lean to arrangement of a couple of 2 x 6s with a support about 4 ft from the bottom.  Put the sheets on that and then pull them up from the second floor, lots of work but better than carrying them up a ladder or

To assist with the pulling, could you attach a capstan winch to a place on the second floor? That way you're not doing all the pulling.

[JohnM]

Austin, do yourself a favor and pick up a book called "Working Alone" by John Carroll.  Subtitle is 'Tips, techniques for solo building', it's a small book but packed with good info for...well...working alone. ;D  It's a fantastic resource!

Looking forward to watching your build.

[dablack]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.  There is no way I could actually carry OSB in the bucket.  My tractor is way too small and the bucket isn't deep enough.  They would all fall out.  I think the best way is like what Dennis drew so they are all leaning well against the house.  Then I can use the bucket to slide them all up.  They should end up at least three feet proud of the 2nd floor so it won't be too bad to grab them from there. 

For the roof trusses, I will do like I did last time and set them with a skytrak.  It worked great once I got used to running it.  Last time I had a long weekend to set 27 32' long 12/12 pitch attic trusses.  The first day I had a rough time of it and actually knocked down the four trusses I had set.  I started on the end of the house where the ground is sloped away from the slab.  It was rough!  By the time I got to the other end it was easy.  I did this by myself.  This time the attic trusses will be 26' long and 8/12 pitch.  MUCH SMALLER and easier to set.  Plus I will have someone helping me.  I will also use the Skytrak or a man lift to put all the roof decking on. 

JohnM,

I have that book and he says not to set trusses by yourself!  HA!  While I wouldn't suggest someone set trusses by themselves, I've done it!

thanks
Austin



 



 

[JohnM]

JohnM,

I have that book and he says not to set trusses by yourself!  HA!  While I wouldn't suggest someone set trusses by themselves, I've done it!

thanks
Austin

They're 'tips' not 'rules'. ;) :D

[beenthere]

Could get the OSB up the old fashion way, with a ladder and walk up, sliding each sheet, one at a time.

Did the same with shingles... one bundle at a time over the shoulder and up the 20' extension ladder. But that was 40+ years ago. 

Sliding up several at a time with the FEL can lead to some embarrassing moments if all doesn't line up "just perfect" and the controls don't move "just perfect".

[dablack]

JohnM,

You are right.  And it IS a very good book.  I actually read it AFTER I set the trusses and laughed as he listed why it was a bad idea and I had stumbled over every item on his list. 

Beenthere,

I'm already hauling an extra 40lbs everytime I go up a ladder!  For the little triangle trusses that sat on top of the big trusses on the last build, I bought a little 120v winch.  I would leaned some boards up againt the house to use as ramps and then I would set 10 or 15 little trusses against the ramp.  Then I would go up on top of the big trusses and throw down the line.  My then 9 year old would tie off two little trusses and I would winch them up.  There were only 27 so it wasn't too bad.  We did the same with most of the roof decking.  If the tractor idea fails then that might be the way I go again.  Last time I had thought of a million other uses for it after the house build.  It was up in the attic last time I saw it. 

Austin

[dablack]

So, it wasn't that great of a week.  Family was down in Houston and I wasn't feeling that great so not much got done.  Then this morning my nail gun wouldn't work.  GRRRRR!  I took it apart, cleaned it, looked for anything broken and couldn't find anything.  I took it apart again, cleaned it and oiled it.  Nothing.  Oh well.  It is new so I will return it. 

Dennis (Den-Den) showed up this morning about 8 and we got to work.  We finished up the east 26' wall and stood it up with the tractor.  Again, it worked very well.  The only problem came when I was straightening the wall at the bottom and we had forgotten to brace it on the far side.  Sure enough it started coming down on me.  I caught it before it got too far and Dennis braced it for me.  HA!  If it would have gone down, I could have stood still and been fine.  I was standing in the door way! 

Then we got started on the long north wall (52').  We decided to shorted it to 40' to ease lifting.  If we would have had one more guy we could have done the whole thing but with lifting from the center with the tractor, it would have bowed too much on the ends.  Since we were doing all this with hammers and put on all the OSB before standing it up, it took some time.  We finally got it in the air and it went well.  This time we had it braced on the back side too.  At that point it was about time to shut it down.  I'm hoping to have all the lower exterior walls and floor trusses set before next weekend.  We will see if that gets done or not. 



 

The above is Dennis fixing a slightly missdrilled j-bolt hole. 

In the two below pictures you can see the 26' wall that we put up in the morning and the mostly complete 52' wall we put up in the afternoon. 



 



 

It is nice working with someone who knows what they are doing.  Dennis was a huge help.  I didn't get him an ice cream for helping but lunch was provided!  HA!

Austin

[Den-Den]

I had fun and felt pretty good about the progress.  Not having a nail gun bothered Austin more than it did me.  Working with Austin was great.

[Andy White]

Austin,
What kind of nail gun are you using? I will be bringing my Bostich, and nails. I can leave it with you when I leave if you can't get yours up and going by then. The progress is really showing now! Don't let those walls fall on you or Dennis before I get up there. Will contact you Thursday to get the latest update.   Be safe.       Andy

[dablack]

Andy,

I'm taking the old one back.  It is a ridgid and is pretty much brand new.  I am going to take it back to HD and swap it out.  No bid deal.  I had a similar one on the first build and it did great.  I just think this one was a lemon.  It was acting a little funny Friday night and then Saturday morning you could tell the piston was dragging inside.  Instead of a "thut" sound, you got a "thuuuuuuuut" as the piston slowly slide in the barrel.  I checked the air pressure and that wasn't it.  Then after you hit the trigger, the piston wouldn't go back and it just leaked air.  I took it all apart, cleaned it up and oiled it.  Put it back together and this time the piston was in the closed position and wouldn't open.  I took it apart again, cleaned it up and put the piston in the middle of its travel.  Still no good.  Oh well.   I will be back up and running soon. 

[Bill Gaiche]

Looking good Austin. Talked with Andy yesterday about the weather. Looking at the weather map, it shows rain on Thursday thru Saturday. I hope that this changes. Got the forks made yesterday. bg

[dablack]

Just spoke with the truss guys and they are going to be delivering the floor trusses Wednesday.  I'm hoping to have the front wall done this week so I can start setting the trusses this weekend (depending on weather).  Then I can start work on the stairs and subflooring.

Austin

[ARp]

Way to go Austin!!!

Glad to see the house is going up. 

8)

Allen

[Bill Gaiche]

Allen, is it possible that you send Andy White your phone #. bg

[dablack]

Thanks Allen,

Yes, it is very exciting.  I can't wait to get up to the 2nd floor. 

Austin

[dablack]

Got a little more done since the weekend. 

Floor trusses got delivered yesterday.  Poor delivery guy had a rough time of it.  His big diesel died twice but my F250 was able to jump it off.  Then the battery for the roll off was dead too.  F250 to the rescue. 



 

Also got the garage headers up. 



 

Since it is supposed to pour for the next two days, I set up a little shelter over my work bench for the tools.  The plywood is scrap from the last build. 



 

Austin

[Magicman]

Looking good my Friend.   8)

[Bill Gaiche]

Next week end looks to be without rain.

[dablack]

Yes, things are looking good for next weekend.  I'm actually looking forward to some rain.  My allergies are giving me fits. It makes it tough to work!  Sneezing fits are not good when you are lifting a wall.  Trying to use a nail gun through blurry, watery eyes is tough too.  The property needs to be mowed badly.  I'm hoping to do it right after a rain so it won't be so dusty. 

Austin

[dablack]

Well, it is Monday and that means it is time for a weekend update.  The end of last week was filled with lots of rain.  We were even getting some Friday night.  Saturday morning my wife and main helper were leaving for a birthday party so I had until they left to get stuff done.  After that I spent time with the younger three.  Sunday was all about Momma with a little time up on the build while she was picking black berries.  I didn't get any pictures yesterday and it was too dark when I leave for work, so my wife sent our oldest to get a couple of shots.  These are the ones she sent me. 



 



 

I finished framing the garage door openings and we are almost ready for floor trusses.  In one of the pictures you can see one of the floor trusses resting on the slab.  I just didn't have the energy to try and set it by myself.  The three garage bays on the right will be filled with windows and a front door.  I'm hoping at some point in the future I can turn the first floor into a shop but that is decades from now, but it doesn't hurt to plan ahead. 

I'm going to have to mow this week and it looks like there is more rain coming so I don't think I will get much more done on the house until this coming weekend.  This weekend I'm hoping to build a couple interior walls and maybe the stairs.  If I'm really lucky I will get to set some trusses. 

Austin 

[Magicman]

Each step that you make takes you one step closer.   8)

[dablack]

Well it was finally dry enough to try setting a couple of floor trusses.  I didn't get up there until about 7pm so there wasn't much time.  Luckily they went up quick using the tractor.  I was really pleased with how it went.  This weekend I'm going to have some help.  I'm hoping to set all the floor trusses and build the interior downstairs walls.

Austin



 



 



 

[Magicman]

Those trusses look good up there where they belong.  The lumber stacks will get smaller now.   8)

[dablack]

Thanks Magic,

I haven't even finished the first stack of 2x6s yet.  I still have a whole 'nother stack to go! 

I was looking at the pictures and the trusses don't really have a scale to them.  They are 2' tall and the two I put up frame the stairway.  Those two that are up are set 4' apart.  A wall will go under one of them this weekend.  The rest of the floor trusses are 16" OC. 

Austin

[Magicman]

Because of a link that I posted in another thread, I ended up reading the "Goodwill" thread again last night.  What a breath of fresh air.  :P  Not about me, but about the "Heart" of the Forestry Forum. 

Pat and I plan to see you sometime toward the end of July.