phoenix / goodwill rebuild

dablack · June 09, 2014, 09:29:09 AM

Got a little more done this weekend.

Bill's bucket forks sure come in handy when you need to move some lumber.

The 12" wide boards were a little tough to cut with my little chop saw.

Here is the real progress. All the 1x material got cut into multiples of 16" and sorted by width. Almost all of them are 8' long.

We also got a couple of boards on top. I'm sure I will finish the subfloor this week and finally be able to start framing the 2nd floor walls.

Austin

Leigh Family Farm · June 09, 2014, 11:27:08 AM

That looks awesome! I bet the stairs make it a lot easier getting material up to the second floor ;)

P.S. I just joined the HT Forum and saw your handle over there.

dablack · June 09, 2014, 12:04:30 PM

Thanks! Yes, stairs are REQUIRED. The last build, I did the stairs almost last. I think I was afraid of building them. Read about it and now it is easy but does take a little planning. After we set the floor trusses, stairs were next on the list. I do carry about half the boards up the stairs but the rest my wife just hands to me between the floor trusses. I used old 7/16 plywood for the threads and that isn't going to do it! I'm going to have to put something a little thicker on there.

HT is a great forum. There are more than a couple of us that are on both boards. I mostly read over there. Don't post too much. I usually don't have much to add since I'm a novice.

dablack · June 16, 2014, 08:12:02 AM

I got really close to finishing the subfloor this weekend but it isn't there yet. I refuse to post pictures until the deed is done! I'm crazy ready to get on to framing up the 2nd floor. I thought the subfloor would take me a week or less. Oh well. I can't buy more OSB until payday on Thursday anyway! About the time I have cash for more building, the subfloor will be done. Hoping to post pictures of a finished subfloor sometime this week!

Austin

Andy White · June 16, 2014, 11:57:59 AM

Austin,
I know what you are thinking! But believe me the elephant does get smaller with every bite! Keep "chewing" and you will get there. We may be ready for another weekend to stand up walls, so let us know and we will plan to be there. Andy

dablack · June 16, 2014, 02:08:26 PM

Andy,

I'm chomping at the bit to get to framing again. I'm now officially sick of subfloor! I think I'm at 90% complete right now. Tonight should be 95% complete and if I have enough wood (gonna be close) I should finish up by Wednesday. Thursday I'm hoping to cut 2x6s to length for studs. I might be ready to do framing this weekend. We will have to see. I want to get both long walls built before I get a lifting crew together. Might be the 28th before I'm ready for some lifting. I'm hoping to have a bunch of guys so it will be an easy lift. I also have a wall jack so that will help too.

I will keep everyone in the loop.

Magicman · June 16, 2014, 03:11:52 PM

dablack · June 17, 2014, 10:39:31 AM

Almost done. I have a few more strips to do on the far side of the stairs. Of course going around the stairs, I lost square so the last strip will have to be a little angled. No big deal. It is just subfloor.
I also need to put on the 2x4 truss tie and put the last row of boards there. I don't have anything that will fit that well so I'm going to have to rim some pieces.
Hoping to finish tonight if it isn't raining.

Austin

Leigh Family Farm · June 17, 2014, 10:56:09 AM

That looks awesome! Keep it up and you'll be hosting the Southern Pig Roast soon!

Andy White · June 17, 2014, 10:57:28 AM

Austin,
Looking good on the second floor! Looks like you could land an airplane on that deck. How much does it bounce? Not too much I hope. You should have plenty of room to frame all the exterior walls before standing them up. Are you going to put the osb on before standing them up? We are planning to be there for the standing, because you will need lots of hands to keep them from going over the edge, like that first truss! Keep up the good work, and stay safe. Andy

dablack · June 17, 2014, 11:53:02 AM

Thanks guys.

Yes, I'm going to put on the OSB and house wrap before standing up walls. I'm going to make sure the walls are tied off, will have a back stop to not allow the bottom to slip out and maybe even a couple of hinges...... belts and suspenders!

Before I do that I have to put OSB on the outside edges of the trusses.

I think I'm going to do the short walls first. I think I can get those up with the wall jack. Then they will help brace the long walls. I will do the west wall first! It is hot up there!

Austin

Hilltop366 · June 17, 2014, 11:56:59 AM

Looks great, I have enjoyed watching this build thread, if I was closer......

When I built my house I was by myself and live on top of a hill that gets some strong wind at times so for me it was easier to frame the walls in place one stud at a time and sheath with t&g boards.

You may already know this but I will put it out there for you, to prevent the bottom of the wall from running away when lifting besides some blocks on the outside wall you can toe nail the bottom plate to the floor before you lift it, it also helps keep the wall from tipping over the side as well.

This talks about it some under "Raising & Bracing Walls" http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/framing/frame_3.htm

dablack · June 17, 2014, 03:02:21 PM

Hilltop,

You might be far away but it is all downhill from there!

Yes, I've seen the toe nail trick and I will most likely try it. I'm at the top of a hill too and I will be sure to brace well. I would hate for something to come down once it was put up (unless I get really mad again and throw something over the wall like that floor truss.....) I'm thinking strong ropes at the cap plate to stop the wall from going over, toe nail trick and blocking at the bottom to stop it from scooting out, and a bunch of guys. Lots of prep work but that will lead to no stress (or less) during the lift.

Since I'm up to the second floor now, there is no way I could wait on the sheathing. That has to go on the wall before I lift it. I rather a heavy wall that I need more guys to lift than a lite wall that needs a bunch of ladder work later.

Austin

dablack · June 20, 2014, 08:06:30 AM

It has been raining and lightning here on Tue and Wednesday so not much got done. I did get to spend a little time up there yesterday after work and found these little piles on my subfloor. I think it is a little ant. What is the best thing to spray to get rid of them.

thanks
Austin

BBTom · June 20, 2014, 08:30:58 AM

My vote is for borax. 1 to 1-1/2 lbs per gallon of water and spray it liberally with a garden sprayer. Make sure you stir until it is all dissolved in the water. 20 mule team from the grocer works just fine. Takes care of almost all chewing insects and provides some fire retardant also. Safe for humans and pets.

dablack · June 20, 2014, 08:53:36 AM

BB,

Thanks. That will be easy to do. The wife has some of that in the laudry room right now.

Also, I saw that you lost a building to fire too. So sorry.

Austin

WDH · June 20, 2014, 03:29:15 PM

I believe it to be ambrosia beetles that are exiting the boards after the boards have been drying. They have come and gone. Spraying now is probably a waste of time and chemical. They cannot live in dried wood. They are different than the dreaded powderpost beetles that infest dry hardwood. I believe that you are OK.

dablack · June 20, 2014, 03:53:56 PM

Thanks WDH,

I'm going to spray some anyway because I am seeing a bunch of ants. If the borax drives the ants away, it will be worth it.

Austin

beenthere · June 20, 2014, 04:38:03 PM

Austin
The ants are not eating any wood. I wouldn't worry about them. Waste of time, effort and borax.. as mentioned.

An ant spray, like Ortho Home Defense, might be more worthwhile.

dablack · June 22, 2014, 06:11:16 AM

If they aren't eating wood, where do they get the material to build the little mounds?

Could they be carpenter ants?

Magicman · June 22, 2014, 07:35:24 AM

They are only boring their way out to escape the dry wood. Those little "escape holes" will cause you no problem.

beenthere · June 22, 2014, 10:21:17 AM

QuoteCould they be carpenter ants?

Carpenter ants don't eat good, dry wood, only after the wood is decayed, wet and they bore it out for nesting.

ARp · June 22, 2014, 07:13:02 PM

Austin,

Borax is approved for new home construction pest prevention. It is inexpensive and will help keep other bugs away even after completion. If you have the time to do it, it does no harm.

I don't get to the internet often enough, but your phoenix is looking good. 8)

Allen

dablack · June 23, 2014, 11:23:42 AM

Hey Allen,

Thanks for the info. I hope all is well with you and your projects.

All,

This weekend I finished the subfloor abd got the OSB put on the "face" of the floor trusses. I need to finish putting up the house wrap and some other odds and ends so I can move on the framing up the 2nd floor. I also measured for square up on the 2nd floor and got within a 1/4" on a 26x52 floor. Not bad in my book. Not bad at all. Lastly, I got about 1/3 of the 2x6s for the upstairs studs cut to length.

I hope to have pictures later this week.

Austin

Andy White · June 23, 2014, 05:03:29 PM

Austin,
You're showing off now!! That 1/4" is really close on a build that size. You can eliminate that little bit when you snap the chalk lines on the floor to set the walls to. Keeping it close will make for great fitting trim all thru the house. And the cabinet builder will really thank you for a good square room!!! Keep up the good work, and stay safe. Let me know when raising time is, as I am back to the Hondo project for a while. :P :P 8) Andy